"There's no money above the 5th fret"

[micguy]

I take the advice to mean that, when I want to solo, play a fretless. I'm never above the 5th fret on that.

 

[drumvsbass]

If you really want to get into it, first position gives you access to the most notes at once without moving your hand.

 

[DirtDog]

Early builders of electric basses used readily available coins as fret markers for the 3rd and 5th frets. They used linoleum dots for the others.
Hence the phrase "there's no money above the 5th fret".
True. It's all true.

I'd buy that.

 

[Jefenator]

I am aware of the saying & what it implies; I have never actually had anyone tell me that directly.
If you're getting that a lot, you might want to 1) play more Jazz & Fusion or 2) learn to enjoy playing Rock & Country the way most BLs want.
Or do both!

 

[eJake]

I had an upright teacher who told me it came from upright players being able to walk most of their lines in the lowest position and go up the G for higher notes.
But if you ask me I'm with the guy who put coins in the inlay

 

[Bunk McNulty]

I've posted this story before, maybe not in this context:

10 years ago, I got on with a band of ex-pros. The drummer, William A. Chatoney, spent part of the '70s playing for Bo Diddley. I had gigged with them for two months, and nobody had said a word to me about my playing. One night, at rehearsal, I couldn't stand it anymore, and asked "Is everybody cool with what I'm doing?" Billy looked over at me from his kit, and said "Just keep doing that boom-boom-boom." I've been following his advice ever since.

 

[MDBass]

Can someone explain this to me? I'm a drummer turned bassist and completely self taught thus far. I've heard this phrase or seen it written multiple times now, and I really don't understand it. I get that people are most likely referring to the lowest 'pitched' notes on the fret board, but it doesn't make complete sense to me.

If, in fact, this statement is referring to the lowest pitched notes, then I'm really confused. For example...As I understand it, the 'D' located at the 10th fret of the 'E' string, is the same pitch as the 'D' located at the 5th fret of the 'A' string. Same pitch, but one is 'above' the 5th fret.

It seems the saying should be more like...'there's no money above the 10th fret on the lowest 3 strings, and above the 5th fret on the highest string'.?

If you are detecting sarcasm in my thread, it's unintentional. If it seems remedial to you, I apologize.

Thanks in advance for any clarification.

Randy

It's reductive way of saying "support the rhythm and harmony first".

A well intended bit of advice, phrased in a way that's objectively wrong due to the number of bass lines on hit songs with notes past the fifth fret

 

[SLPimp]

Can someone explain this to me? I'm a drummer turned bassist and completely self taught thus far. I've heard this phrase or seen it written multiple times now, and I really don't understand it. I get that people are most likely referring to the lowest 'pitched' notes on the fret board, but it doesn't make complete sense to me.

If, in fact, this statement is referring to the lowest pitched notes, then I'm really confused. For example...As I understand it, the 'D' located at the 10th fret of the 'E' string, is the same pitch as the 'D' located at the 5th fret of the 'A' string. Same pitch, but one is 'above' the 5th fret.

It seems the saying should be more like...'there's no money above the 10th fret on the lowest 3 strings, and above the 5th fret on the highest string'.?

If you are detecting sarcasm in my thread, it's unintentional. If it seems remedial to you, I apologize.

Thanks in advance for any clarification.

Randy

I'll just say this: I've come in an replaced several bass players who, as related to me by band members, over played. Rarely am I asked to play more notes, and rarely am I asked to play fewer, except in a rock band who didn't like my walks (learned from years of playing country western music) .

So those money frets are appreciated and required, depending on the band and music.

BUT! Sometimes I need the broad, dobby tone an E gives me at the 12th fret over the bright, quick attack of the E on the 2nd fret of the 2nd string.

Mostly it just means don't over play and you'll keep getting paid.

 

[JRA]

it's a bit misleading because there hasn't been any money below the fifth fret for a long time, either!

 

[overit]

I am currently designing a regular long scale bass with only the first 5 frets. The rest of the neck/fingerboard is planed down to 7/8" thickness to reduce weight. The heavier the strings, the more flexible the neck becomes and it will bend for ergonomic comfort.

 

[jamro217]

I believe it started out decades ago with record producers who wanted the bassists in the studio to provide a solid foundation. This was before slapping and maybe even prior to Jamerson. He was the one who broke that mold. The gist of it is to fulfil the traditional role of the bass. There have been many successful players who blazed their own trails, but the bass has a unique function that holds music together. Tampering with that role can wreak havoc and cause many a train wreck.

 

[fdeck]

It's a reminder that if you look for rules to follow, you will find them.

Every musician faces the balancing act between satisfying the band, the audience, and their own interests. There's no substitute for mastering the basics, but also no guaranteed formula for success.

 

[Lagado]

'tis a silly old saying. Register is important, bass has evolved from constant root fifths.

 

[Neon Scribe]

If you do nothing more than hit the root of the chord on the strong beats in either of the two lowest octaves, you'll have done about half of what's expected of you. If you add a little something to indicate a chord change that's about to happen, you'll get about another quarter of the job done. Those are your responsibilities to the band. The rest is just a little something to keep things flowing. This is simple, but it is not easy! If you aren't happy doing this, you're probably playing the wrong instrument.

 

[Robscott]

Kind of like saying, "It's called a bass, not a treble" to a guy at the folk/country/blues jam playing with a modern clattery, twangy tone.

Yep, or telling the keyboard player to sit on his left hand....

 

[Johnny Crab]

Um, how about this?


View attachment 4116860

No money for that guy, fire 'em!
Note: Exception to the "money zone" can be made for basses that can actually make upper register notes sound as "fat" as lower register notes.
Earlier John Entwistle comes to mind.
More recently, had to relearn "Fooled Around and Fell In Love" for a wedding reception at the Bride's request. Many notes above the 5th fret.


PS: Oldest and most-used bass I ever had and sold in 1989, 1963 Gibson TB, had TONS of and the majority of wear on all frets 1 through 5. I used it for over a decade 1970's-early 1980's. Rotosound rounds will do that.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

I've made a lot of money by remaining in "the money zone"

 

[farmertom]

I think the OP may also (if I'm reading his post correctly) be confused about the, down is up, up is down aspect of a guitar neck.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

no money above the 5th fret ... tat didn't work for McCartney

View attachment 4116791

The phrase generally refers to working musicians, not world famous iconic singer-songwriter-bass-players.

 

[Eric Swaim]

I am sure whoever said that played old Country music from the 1950-1970's. There is money above the 5th fret, you just have know how to play something that sounds better than root and 5th for the song.