Why do tab writers think i can only play 2 strings at a time???

[Khatur]

For example
G -----------|---------------|
D ----------|--------------|
A ------3-3-|-7-777-7--5-5-|
E --3-3------|---------------|
1 2 + 4 1 +e2 + + 4

This is from More than a Feeling by Boston


its far easier for me to play

G -----------|---------------|
D ----------|-2-222-2--0-0-|
A ------3-3-|--------------|
E --3-3------|---------------|
1 2 + 4 1 +e2 + + 4

I can easily manage the muting of the strings and still get a solid tone...
And you dont have to move your hand the entire time to fret the 5 and 7 position
so im lost as to why soooo many tabs out there are focused on keeping you on two strings per line...... when its far easier to go up one more string...

 

[Lesfunk]

maybe they just don't know you well enough

 

[DeanT]

The beauty of the bass is that the same thing can be played in more than one position. If it's easier for you to use the D, A & E instead of just the A & E strings, then go for it.

 

[jady]

playing higher on the lower string usually gives a thicker tone than playing the same notes on the D and G strings.

 

[MonetBass]

Here's an idea: stop reading tabs and play it the way you want to play it.

 

[projectMalamute]

If you learned to read music you wouldn't have this problem. You could play stuff anywhere you want. Or you could just tab the stuff out yourself.

 

[Herrlster]

why are you complaining? play it any way you want...

 

[Just J]

playing higher on the lower string usually gives a thicker tone than playing the same notes on the D and G strings.

What he said. There are certain songs where you should play higher on the low strings to get the proper tone.

 

[Grueber]

playing higher on the lower string usually gives a thicker tone than playing the same notes on the D and G strings.

+1

 

[cowsgomoo]

because they're morons, what do you expect?

 

[Khatur]

good points everyone actually
im used to reading real music from 6 years of baritone sax, i really am used to having 1 set way of doing things.
I need to learn to read actual music for bass not just settle for tabs or ill end up going crazy.

 

[Depth_Charge]

I find when working stuff out by ear it's easier to work on only one or two strings, and I jot my notes down the same way.

Whether I choose to play it that way once I work it out depends on the best fingering for me.

Maybe those who post tabs are too impatient to refine a fingering before unlocking the necessary notes for the masses to regurgitate, but really it's no big deal to find the best notes for yourself.

 

[vinny]

I need to learn to read actual music for bass not just settle for tabs or ill end up going crazy.

Yup.

 

[willg95]

playing higher on the lower string usually gives a thicker tone than playing the same notes on the D and G strings.

agreed. most of today's modern rock bassists play up high on a lower string because than the note is deeper w/out so much brightness to it.

plus... most people who write tabs aren't very experienced and to play it that way sometimes requires less thinking.

 

[SirCanealot]

I don't like playing a high E on the D string -- it sounds a lot better on the A string.

Imo of course. There you go.

 

[dlloyd]

The correct fingering is this:

G -----------|--------------|
D -----------|--------------| 
A -----------|-7-777-7--5-5-|
E --3-3--8-8-|--------------|
    1 2  + 4   1 +e2 +  + 4

 

[SirCanealot]

The correct fingering is this:

That makes a hell of a lot more sense

 

[Fallout55]

I honestly have no idea why they do that, its frustrating.

 

[tplyons]

good points everyone actually
im used to reading real music from 6 years of baritone sax, i really am used to having 1 set way of doing things.
I need to learn to read actual music for bass not just settle for tabs or ill end up going crazy.

Then you know as well as any that there are alternate fingerings for a bunch of notes... Don't do things the way someone else interprets it, do it how it works for you.

 

[jbaird]

When I first started playing I found a tab of O' Canada that was done entirely on the G string, from the open string to the 23rd fret or something. I redid it so I could play it in one position.

The guy writing that was either hoping for me to work on knowing the notes on the fretboard or was just insane, not sure which.