Who plays above the 5th fret?

[Claymore]

I play all over the neck. Thankfully, you didn't say play well.

 

[SLPimp]

The other recent thread got me thinking, there is a difference in the timbre of the note, depending on where you play it (likely due to changing string length, etc....I don't know all the physics but I'm sure it comes into play).

IE: 5th fret on the D string (G) sounds different than the 10th fret on the A string (same G)

There isn't a right or wrong answer, just wondering who prefers playing where?

I prefer playing above the 5th fret, if possible. There is something about the ultra-high frequencies and ultra-low frequencies that are "tamed" and the mids just sing. There is something about the notes on those upper frets...they sound more like an upright bass, but still have many qualities of an electric.

Totally depends on the tone I need. I often play B and E on the 7th fret for country music for their more subdued tone. I think i also learned the fretboard up and down E and A better than D and G.

 

[fdeck]

I play above the 5th fret line.

I appreciate the sentiment behind "no money above the 5th fret" and am perfectly capable of holding down a basic supportive bass line when appropriate. But every musician has to decide how much they care about the rules of a given instrument, genre, etc. I'm a jazz player, and I enjoy playing extensive solos.

 

[pcake]

i often play above the 5th fret. not that often above the 12th, however.

 

[Stewie]

I'll go as high as the double dots on a Fender, but only to where the 9th fret would be on my upright. Above that, there is too much wood in the way.

 

[Yellow Bang66]

Normally I play the first four frets. This is how I was taught and probably it had to do with use of the open strings.

Over time I am finding fret 5 and above more attractive. Not only does that area sound good, it fits comfortably under the fingers.

I had a stupid notion when I was a teen,Thinking You had to play in the "money Zone" if you were any good, compounded by my older brother noting Only Poor (crappy) bass players use only the 1st, 2 strings(E&A) in the money zone.And bacause I wasnt crappy,I ventured higher up & hung out around the 7th fret and beyond often. Sometimes up to the 12th! so to this day Im very comfortable between the5th-7th& 9th frets, the Small Change zone!
I also could stretch my index & middle fingers very wide ( from F to G,in 1st position.it became a stupid point of pride! "Look at what I can do!"But I go into the Money if the song calls for it.

 

[NKBassman]

Just play what the song demands.

 

[Ric5]

Who plays above the 5th fret?

every single day ...

 

[Flamingo21]

The famous British viola player William Primrose wrote that a viola's open strings are like a woman's tresses: her pride & glory.

I played my viola close to the nut, with a lot of open strings.

Now I play my basses the same way.

 

[Gearhead17]

Black Sabbath is all over the damn neck. So that's what I play! It's about what fits for the song and current instrumentation.

 

[Dr Zee]

I figure we have all those frets for a reason.

 

[lermgalieu]

I don't mark out territory on my bass like that. I think the better metric is E and A string versus D and G string. I would much rather play, for example, the E at the 7th fret on the A string rather than at the 2nd fret on the D string. More meat to it, unless you are going for something thinner (perhaps a chord or picked line that sounds better down lower). Notes sound markedly different depending on where you play them. When reasonable, when recording I try to play as much of the line on the lower strings as I can.

 

[WestyBassBob]

Normally I play the first four frets. This is how I was taught and probably it had to do with use of the open strings.

Over time I am finding fret 5 and above more attractive. Not only does that area sound good, it fits comfortably under the fingers.

Same. Playing those higher frets let's you move your fingers fast. And as Miles Davis said "people like to see you move your fingers fast"

 

[One_Dude]

I think most songs lend themselves to one of a couple of positions. Those are the positions that give your fingering hand the shortest distance to travel as the song progresses. Jumping all over the fretboard looks flashy to non-musicians, but is usually not efficient and does not add to the impact of the song. But to each their own, personally I play anywhere from open strings to the 12th or 14th fret depending on the song.

Thump on,

One_Dude

 

[moreblues]

I play mostly 1st to the 10th fret. Depending on the song it could be more towards the nut, middle or higher...really depends on the song and the way you prefer to play it....Since there are only 12 Notes why limit yourself?
There is money all up and down the neck...just be where you should be...

 

[micguy]

I tend to play diagonally across the neck - obviously, the lowest notes are only available low on the neck, but as I go up in frequency, on the middle strings, I'm higher up the neck. The G string is used mostly for octaves, which means I'm playing a couple frets higher than on the A string. Net result is I don't often play low on the G or D string, or high on the B or E string.

 

[somegeezer]

Why wouldn't you? I play whatever is needed to be played to get what I'm after. If I want high notes, they're all up at the higher frets.

 

[2playbass]

I play all over the neck. All depends on the song. One of my favourites is a song with a drop-D tuning that drones the open D while playing chords high up the neck on the other strings.

 

[pcake]

I think most songs lend themselves to one of a couple of positions. Those are the positions that give your fingering hand the shortest distance to travel as the song progresses. Jumping all over the fretboard looks flashy to non-musicians, but is usually not efficient and does not add to the impact of the song. But to each their own, personally I play anywhere from open strings to the 12th or 14th fret depending on the song.

Thump on,

One_Dude

i often play all the notes from a song on the E string rather than doing the shortest distance because i sometimes prefer the timre of the E string. and sometimes it's just more fun that way.

 

[Matthew_84]

It depends which string I'm on, as I detest low notes on high strings, and high notes on low strings. I'm also not a fan of open strings.