Trouble Reaching Top Frets on P-Bass

[johnvic]

On the E string I cannot reach the highest 2 notes, B & C. I can sometimes reach Bb. I can barely reach those frets on my A string.

Am I fretting ( pun intended ) over nothing? In reality I don't think I would need to play those notes on those strings.

 

[SamanthaCay]

Personally I don't understand how this is possible that as you say you can't reach.
Have you ever seen an upright player reach for those notes?

Second from my own personal experience, as it is for the most part uncomfortable most people don't go there but rather play those notes in they're octave positions.

 

[smeet]

If you can't reach them in your normal position, bring your thumb around the neck like an upright player in thumb position.

 

[Spin Doctor]

Why would you need to play those notes from that position anyway? Just play them from the A string. They are the same notes.

 

[Phil Smith]

On the E string I cannot reach the highest 2 notes, B & C. I can sometimes reach Bb. I can barely reach those frets on my A string.

Am I fretting ( pun intended ) over nothing? In reality I don't think I would need to play those notes on those strings.

Yeah, you're fretting over nothing.

 

[agreatheight]

I have played a lot of notes over a lot of years and have never needed to play those notes in that position. Yup, no worries.

 

[4Mal]

Only trouble is in thinking you need to be up there ...

 

[johnvic]

Thanks all. I was just trying to get a reality check.

 

[Clef_de_fa]

Personally I don't understand how this is possible that as you say you can't reach.
Have you ever seen an upright player reach for those notes?

Second from my own personal experience, as it is for the most part uncomfortable most people don't go there but rather play those notes in they're octave positions.

Maybe not jazz DB player but in the classical scene, yes they do ...

In the bass electric world ... many people get by their whole carier with only 5 frets and 2 strings ...

Also I sure would have a problem playing at that place on a P bass with that huge-in-the-way neck heel.

 

[oniman7]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCp8vE1ZT0g Unless you're playing this, it's unlikely you'll need those frets. And even there he is tapping haha.

Unless you really feel the need to develop the technique, I would spend the time on other things.

 

[walterw]

besides, notes that high on strings that thick tend to just not sound that good.

 

[Schmorgy]

Also I sure would have a problem playing at that place on a P bass with that huge-in-the-way neck heel.

That thing has a neck heel like Steve Buscemi has eyes.

 

[johnvic]

I love my P-Bass but the radius of the neck is tough, at least to me it is. A couple of years ago I played a friend's Sadowsky J-Bass and it was so easy to play, lol.

 

[u84six]

On the E string I cannot reach the highest 2 notes, B & C. I can sometimes reach Bb. I can barely reach those frets on my A string.

Am I fretting ( pun intended ) over nothing? In reality I don't think I would need to play those notes on those strings.

I use those notes quite a bit when I'm playing because it puts me in position to play their octaves. A good player uses the whole fretboard to their advantage. The trick to handling those high notes is to start angling your hand so that your fingers are starting to point towards the bridge. I really love using those high octaves! They cut through the mix nicely!