I like Stadium Mustard better overall but Bertman's is pretty good on a deluxe burger.
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I typically only play an open string when I need to pull my pants up or adjust the level on my IEM pack.
Years ago I read an interview in a magazine with Phil Lesh where he said something like "Only play an open note if you really mean it" which to this day is the most pretentious thing I've ever heard in my life. Play it however you want, man!
Jacob
Years ago I read an interview in a magazine with Phil Lesh where he said something like "Only play an open note if you really mean it" which to this day is the most pretentious thing I've ever heard in my life. Play it however you want, man!
Jacob
I've been playing 39 years. I got it about 38 years ago. Not using open strings is limiting. Sorry if you're triggered by the truth, but there is no need to be rude to me for stating it.
Nothing pretentious about it at all. It shows a respect for the talent and taste of the player - and the sensibilities of the listener. It displays a deep respect for the art and craft of music making.
"Play it however you want" stikes me as being far more pretentious. That's just a statement of pure egotism to my ears. The "screw everybody" and "Don't tell me what to do!" mindset of a toddler.
But to each their own.
Talk about a vague statement... If a bass guitar is all about flaws then why bother tuning it.
I'd rather have different instruments than uneven or inconsistent tone.
Yeah, it all comes Down to the timbre you want. Thick and low, high but thick, thin and bright? With guitar, it's not so apparent as on bass. Guitar players like to make use of those ringing open strings.
I usually will go with fretted notes on the E as they are thicker and bassier. For notie fills D&G but fro bigger things played with emphasis I'll slide up past the 12th. For example, I would never play an open D or 5th fret A for a root note. Way too thin and trebly for me.
I usually will go with fretted notes on the E as they are thicker and bassier. For notie fills D&G but fro bigger things played with emphasis I'll slide up past the 12th. For example, I would never play an open D or 5th fret A for a root note. Way too thin and trebly for me.
I mentioned doing this sort of thing earlier in the thread- I'm surprised more people haven't mentioned it.
Playing both really adds to the sound.
I started doing it on my own one time while just kind of noodling around, coming up with ides for bass riffs.
Then I found out other do it.
Guys like John Paul Jones--who is no slouch as a musician.
I saw a video of him describing it--and he explained the same thing I noticed--
That big sound on some of Zep's biggest riffs?
Not just Page--but JPJ playing open and fretted notes together.
Exactly what I meant when I said I use it as a drone note. Great example of that sound is 46 and 2 by Tool. Also, ringing out a both notes togeather is Means to and End by Joy Division, Peter hook played like that a lot.
Flaw or not (?) it is not unique to the bass guitar. Any stringed instrument, especially fretless and orchestral string instruments suffer the same phenomenon. It is not uncommon to see explicit direction in scores to use open strings - the default understanding, and by implication, is not to use open strings. Open strings are resonant and bright and to my ears also quite 'raw' by comparison to stopped notes.
The nut is a fret. If it were made of the same material as the frets on the neck, maybe it wouldn't sound so different.
I've not played anything with a zero fret for years. In theory I would expect what you say to be true, which begs the question why so few instruments have them. I've seen reasons such as 'the fret wears faster than a nut' (which might be true) and 'a good bone nut contributes to better overall tone' (which I think is voodoo). On the other hand I've seen 'it avoids having to cut the nut properly' used as an 'excuse' for having a zero fret, leading to the association of a zero fret with cheapness, at least on guitars. I don't know the answer, but I suppose the consistency of tone argument is one I could buy into.
One thing for sure though - it wouldn't solve the problem for fretless players though, where the differences between stopped and open notes are clear. I do recall from the 80's I think it was either Status or Steinberger fretless basses where the end of the fingerboard just fell away through a spacer - even then the open string tone was different because there was no damping due to contact with the fingertip.
I have a brass nut on my fretless bass. Other than the open E, which I approach differently to other notes, I only really use open strings when playing harmonics. My reality is that I've had all sorts of nuts over the years and honestly in the grand scheme of things I can't really tell them apart provided they are cut properly, but that is a different question.
Trouble saved.
To me, that main bass riff in Hysteria and the left-hand "boogie roll" on piano have something musically in common. Establishing the foundation, as it were.
I think you are right, and the chorus too. The main riff of hysteria uses E, A, and D pedal points, chorus uses G and A. That boogie seems to be playing a majadd6 and maj7 chords (not sure, don't really play piano), often omitting the 3rd and 5th.
Something I read that explained why a Bass or Guitar is laid out the way it is (That really opened my eyes), If four fingers used on each of the first four frets, using open strings, you can play chromatic scales..
G--G#-A--A#-B
D--D#-E--F--F#
A--A#-B--C--C#
E--F--F#-G--G#
G--G#-A--A#-B
D--D#-E--F--F#
A--A#-B--C--C#
E--F--F#-G--G#
So telling someone how to play their instrument is "showing respect for the talent and taste of the player"? By the very definition of taste, it's the exact opposite. If an open is more to your taste, play an open.
One guy might play the 12th fret on the E string, another might play 7th fret on the A, and another might play 2nd fret on the D. All correct notes. Play whichever one you want. Nothing pretentious about that. In the words of Inigo Montoya, "you keep using that word... I do not think it means what you think it means."
There's a big difference between telling somebody what or how to play their instrument, and suggesting they have sufficient respect for themselves and the bass role, to consciously and intentionally play their instrument.
Lesh isn't saying "do this" or "don't do that." He's simply asking you show some artistry when you play. So I think you might be taking a stand against something he didn't say. Or me either. Go back and read my post again if you don't believe it.
One thing I've observed after playing music for 50+ years now is how musicians who really know their stuff - and display a level of mastery in their craft - never seem to feel threatened or offended by any critique, advice or instruction they're given. They heed and use whatever they think is valuable and disregard the rest. Pretty much the only people I've ever run into who get defensive and sing "I gotta be me!" are self taught and busy spending their time and effort reinventing the wheel.
Suggestion: take what Phil Lesh for what it's worth. He doesn't know me or you personally. So whatever he said wasn't directed at either of us. If it makes sense, use it. If not, ignore it.
---
PS - thanks for that quote from The Princess Bride. Great movie! Inigo Montoya is my favorite character too. (See my tagline bellow.)
They don't, and I'm not angry. I don't care how anyone else plays. And I don't tell them that they're wrong, and I do NOT cast aspersions if they don't agree with me. Nowhere did I try tell anyone else how to play, what to play, or attempt to belittle their opinions; nor did I say that I never use open strings. I merely stated why I use fretted notes (which was the original topic, wasn't it), without a judgement on those who don't. That other poster is like so many here ... if someone disagrees with you, just launch an personal assault, impugn their integrity, call them names ... and thereby proclaim oneself to be the final arbiter of all things bass-y. Yeah, I'll call a poster on it if that's how he rolls.Why do everybody needs to be like you?
The level of immaturity seen in the forums is troubling. Like a kindergarten playground.
Very nice of you, but...
You said to another TB member that "he/she did not get it".
P.S. What if I start a thread called, "Why do I need to learning Tapping on the bass?"
There are no hard feelings here. I still roll my eyes at the Lesh quote - just always struck me as something very smug to say, and I'll probably always think that, for better or worse.
I look forward to playing another 30+ years to get to your level of experience! Have a good day my man!
Jacob
