Playing open...What should I do?

[txbasschik]

If by 'from the south' you mean 'from Hell'... (JK) Dad fancied himself a clever man and we don't have the heart to tell him otherwise! LOL

And I am in a 'phase' these days with recording stuff, so it will be no problem - if that mood hits me and the time permits (no kids hanging on my head or 'honey do' things that have to get honey done) - but I had a good run on Sunday where I was able to do some fun stuff, so if and when I do, I will post it and let you know.

Well, we're just a bit north of Hell...but only a bit!

(108F when we left NAMM.)

Thanks honey!

Cherie

 

[Lazylion]

Well, we're just a bit north of Hell...but only a bit! (108F when we left NAMM.)

We're not too far behind you up here! Yesterday's actual temp 98, heat index 105, thanks to the humidity.
I used my shades .

 

[txbasschik]

We're not too far behind you up here! Yesterday's actual temp 98, heat index 105, thanks to the humidity.
I used my shades .

Yep, gots ta have ya shades! The future may be bright, but the present is *blinding*.

I have practice tonight. They have a window unit. In an A-frame. On a hilltop. Sweaty. Thank God for the wind. Their back deck is nice and windy, so that's where we take breaks.

Cherie

 

[fcleff]

Yep, gots ta have ya shades! The future may be bright, but the present is *blinding*.

I have practice tonight. They have a window unit. In an A-frame. On a hilltop. Sweaty. Thank God for the wind. Their back deck is nice and windy, so that's where we take breaks.

Cherie

Hi Cherie. I'm late as hell on this and you may have already gotten this resolved but here is my $.02 anyway. Tell the drummer that this is how you play and sorry but I'm not changing for you. The end. Good luck.

 

[Atoz]

Hi Cherie. I'm late as hell on this and you may have already gotten this resolved but here is my $.02 anyway. Tell the drummer that this is how you play and sorry but I'm not changing for you. The end. Good luck.

That was my initial reaction. I personally tend not to play the open string much so I can change keys without thinking too hard about it. That might not be a good reason, though.

 

[tZer]

[Billy Joel]
Don't play open, if you don't want to
It sounds just fine the way you play (mmmmmm)
I'll take the fret 5's - and all that hand jive
I love the basslines that you play
If I go sayin', "Hey play it this way"
You just tell me where to go (mmmmmm)
I'm just the drummer - and that's a bummer
And what the hell do I know?
[/Billy Joel]

 

[Atoz]

[Billy Joel]
Don't play open, if you don't want to
It sounds just fine the way you play (mmmmmm)
I'll take the fret 5's - and all that hand jive
I love the basslines that you play
If I go sayin', "Hey play it this way"
You just tell me where to go (mmmmmm)
I'm just the drummer - and that's a bummer
And what the hell do I know?
[/Billy Joel]

You're really enjoying this thread, aren't you?

 

[fcleff]

[Billy Joel]
Don't play open, if you don't want to
It sounds just fine the way you play (mmmmmm)
I'll take the fret 5's - and all that hand jive
I love the basslines that you play
If I go sayin', "Hey play it this way"
You just tell me where to go (mmmmmm)
I'm just the drummer - and that's a bummer
And what the hell do I know?
[/Billy Joel]

Tzer, you rule man!

 

[tZer]

lol - yes I am enjoying this thread - but Cherie deserves the attention - especially after being dissed by a drummer!

 

[txbasschik]

Hi Cherie. I'm late as hell on this and you may have already gotten this resolved but here is my $.02 anyway. Tell the drummer that this is how you play and sorry but I'm not changing for you. The end. Good luck.

Yeah, its looking that way, at this point. I'm wasting valuable time trying to play the way he wants, and it is making me take longer to learn the material. For the time being, at any rate, I need to do what comes naturally. He can have ringing, open, incorrect notes, or he can have fretted, correct notes. Myself, I kinda prefer correct!

Cherie

 

[txbasschik]

[Billy Joel]
Don't play open, if you don't want to
It sounds just fine the way you play (mmmmmm)
I'll take the fret 5's - and all that hand jive
I love the basslines that you play
If I go sayin', "Hey play it this way"
You just tell me where to go (mmmmmm)
I'm just the drummer - and that's a bummer
And what the hell do I know?
[/Billy Joel]

Oooooh honey, you're singin' my song!!!

ROTFL!!! That's priceless.

Cherie

 

[txbasschik]

lol - yes I am enjoying this thread - but Cherie deserves the attention - especially after being dissed by a drummer!

MWAH!!!

Cherie

 

[fcleff]

I've also read plenty of other comments left by you (Cherie) and have checked out your sites as well. It seems that you have been playing long enough to have developed a sound that is unique to YOU. The drummer needs to accept that. Then you can develop the all important drummer/bassist relationship. Besides, we like you just the way you are.

 

[Marcus]

He says that all the best, most-fluid bassists play open, and that it kills him to see my little fingers all over the neck. He feels my sound and playing would be better if I played open.

Cherie

Some people just like to make stuff up to feel better about themselves.

 

[txbasschik]

I've also read plenty of other comments left by you (Cherie) and have checked out your sites as well. It seems that you have been playing long enough to have developed a sound that is unique to YOU. The drummer needs to accept that. Then you can develop the all important drummer/bassist relationship. Besides, we like you just the way you are.

Thank you, very much!

Yeah, I do kinda have my own style. I *do* want to learn more and be a better player, but not at the expense of the songs.

They decided they wanted me when they heard my old band play. That was a tremendous gig. But now that the memory of that gig has faded for them, they seem to be trying to make me over. If I was good enough to impress them and make them want to take me on, right then and there, shouldn't they be happy with my playing style?

We'll see how it goes tonight. I am going to just play the songs the way I play them. We can worry about playing more open strings when this big, private party gig we have coming up is over with.

(All the way over in Willow City...The venue's owner has a birthday party every year. Lots of bikers...300 of them.)

Muchos besos!!!

Cherie

 

[txbasschik]

Some people just like to make stuff up to feel better about themselves.

Yeah, they do!

Cool thing...A local, touring bassist whom I respect *immensely* and who is one of my "bass heroes" paid me a lovely compliment in MySpace. I love his style...and he told me he loves to hear me play. I walked six inches off the groud all day, reading that.

He's well-known locally, and it is generally accepted that he's one of the best bassists playing in our area. Everyone says he's a bada$$. Well...that bada$$ likes my playing. That's plenty good enough for me!

Cherie

 

[s.m.80808]

Ultimately, you are the bass player so you should decide.

Just don't let them see what/how you're playing.

 

[mgood]

He asked me, at practice, why I play up on the five so much. I told him that it is easier for me. When I play open, I lose control over my sound, and lose track of where I am, note-wise. Playing on the five is like a placemarker for me. I can get up or down the neck easily from there. I only play open strings when I have to.

I agree with you here. I tend to avoid open strings if I can do so without making the fingering overly difficult. That way, I can easily move that lick or that whole song into a different key without having to rethink all my fingerings.
Also, I don't have large hands, and maybe I'm lazy. The stretches down around the first through fourth frets are much more difficult for me than the ones higher up. Basically, I'll play wherever it's easiest. But occasionally, will sound more right with an open string than a fretted note, or vice versa so I'll go with what sounds better at that point in the song. With all else being equal though, I'll avoid open notes. One exception might be during a fast passage with a big position shift, hitting an open note while my fret hand is moving from one position to another allows me to play the passage more smoothly without having to cut off the end of the last note before the shift to avoid coming in late on the first note after the shift.

One of the things I love about the five-string, one of the reasons I'll often choose a fiver for material that could be played on a four, is that I don't often have a need to go way out there to that end of the neck.

 

[mgood]

Ultimately, you are the bass player so you should decide.

True. They may give suggestions which you may or may not use. But when it comes down to it, "This is the way I play. Accept it or find someone else."
You may have to be more flexible with that if you're a hired session musician and the person writing the checks wants something done a particular way.

 

[txbasschik]

True. They may give suggestions which you may or may not use. But when it comes down to it, "This is the way I play. Accept it or find someone else."
You may have to be more flexible with that if you're a hired session musician and the person writing the checks wants something done a particular way.

Checks? There are checks?

I played 'em like I felt 'em, last night. No one said anything about it. The singer was too busy being, well...a singer, for anyone to notice what I did, unless I made an error.

Saved By The Singer! LOL!

Cherie