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Should you "try" to stay away from open strings?

#122
JimmyM said:
Topics like this are timeless and always worthy of discussion, even in zombie threads.

The answer is "it depends." What does it depend on? Lots of things. For example, I find open notes much more palatable on flats than rounds. On some basses, the open notes sound completely foreign to the bass, especially the D and G strings.

Context is key. I will hit an open note using rounds if there's no better way to play something. I will hit an open note more regularly if the open note doesn't sound too different from the fretted notes. Otherwise I stick to fretted notes.
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I've found this to be the case as well with flats.
 
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#124
Two things from this old self taught bass player. 1 my band tunes down 1/2 step for ease of vocals. I use a Digitech drop pedal for this.
2 over 50+ years of being a semi professional player I have found the open strings are my friend. Case in point is Piano Man by Billy Joel. The changes come quickly so to hit the walk downs on time I use the open A and the open E. They make playing this tune very easy.
Just my $0.02 worth
Duke
 
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#125
i play open strings all the time, but TBH, most of the time those open string notes are passing tones (i.e., the keys in which i'm playing).

i think each instrument lends to avoiding or employing the use of open strings differently --- with some axes, and with some player's techniques, there's a huge difference in sound using open strings, and with some axes/players, not so much. also, there are ways the player can compensate for some of the differences in sound if they exist.

i wouldn't think of the idea as 'a rule', but rather as possible good advice based on "it depends" = e.g., some players, some axes, some tunes, sometimes.
 
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#133
Donald Thompson said:
...................... or the bass player losing bass playing open G.
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#136
Donald Thompson said:
Thinner strings has less low end. Compare playing open E vs E on a B string. I have seen people explain why they don't like using D and G strings on a bass on the forum.
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I guess some lose their bearings if the bass frequency is not maintained.
Donald Thompson said:
He was a jazz player, so his exprience is heavily molded by that.
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So is my experience.
From a jazz perspective.
 
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#137
First, it’s *not* snobbery. How could it be??? I don’t get that at all.

Second, it’s useful advice for beginners. You learn the neck in a way that’s independent of open strings, and you can play anything anywhere in the neck, in any key. You’re tonally consistent, since every note is fretted.

However, as you gain experience, you also learn that it provides limitations as well.

First, sometimes that open A string being hammered away on a straight eighth note pattern or a dotted quarter-eighth note pattern just sounds so damned good - different harmonics than playing the same note at the 5th fret E string. Same with all the open strings.

Second, some licks and riffs really need that open string to be able to pull them off. I know “Footloose” can be played without open strings, but I can’t imagine playing it that way (fun tip: check out the isolated bass track of this song). Being able to use open strings in these situations gives your hands a lot more freedom and agility.

At the end of the day, you’re going to face limitations in the habits you’ve developed either way, and to progress, you’ll need to find ways around them or through them. So don’t worry about it.
 
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#140
mambo4 said:
The advantage:
Once you get aways from open strings, you begin to see each pattern you play as a "closed position" 4 fret span. This helps you learn the moveable 'box' shapes of scales and patterns without being dependant on open strings for specific notes. This helps you understand some of the abstract patterns that music takes. It also helps you play many patterns without much left hand movement. It also makes control of the notes under your left hand more consistent. So it has its pluses.

the disadvantage:
The patterns in music go way beyond 4 fret "boxes", and ultimately you want to understand the way the scales/arpeggios fall on your entire neck, and be able to choose where you play freely.
Open notes also have a timbre that is different than fretted notes.

In the end, know both and use what your ear tells you is best.
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I was shown a long time ago how to use my index fingerto fret both the note below my middle finger and the note below that. Giving me a five fret span across the fretboard. It was sold to me with a "this is what Jack used to do" and a warning that Jack had his share of injuries. I use a combination of stretching and micro shifting to get that job done. But I started out using 4 frets and open strings to get a full range of notes under my fingers. Either way gave me a much better understanding of scales and accidentals than one finger per fret ever did.

I see 2 uses for open strings. One is for playing at the end of the neck because you like low notes. In that application you would logically work to make them sound as close to fretted notes as possible. The other use would be to pound away on a big old root note, a la slapping. In which case go nuts.

I can't see any reason to avoid open strings if you know enough about your fretboard to play in all 12 or 15 keys.
 
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