Why no open strings?

[Dana R Gregory]

I think it depends on what key you are playing in and what genre you are playing. I like to play below the 5th fret when possible and use the open strings all the time.

 

[TheLowEndMedic]

I play in a worship setting with a lot of loops, so sometimes, tonally, i'll slot into the mix better by playing a fretted B rather than an open B. I might also play fretted over open for consistency of sound/ease of playing a given set of changes. That being said, sometimes I need the low sustain of an open E or B. Also, sometimes the songs are in a key that requires me to de-tune the bass, and play open strings for ease of transposition. The bottom line is, sometimes it's preference, and sometimes, it's situational.

 

[Marko 1]

I'm not a great player, but I play fivers, and rarely play an open string. My brain just doesn't register lifting a finger as playing a note, haha…

Some years ago for some reason I learned "Give Me Three Steps" played at the end of the neck playing a lot of open strings.

I had it fine in rehearsal, but live (didn't help that the guitar player played everything 90-mph) I screwed that song up every time.

Guitard would look at me like "You know this song"--

I'd just shrug my shoulders lol…

 

[Atshen]

I've heard about that too, but then I read somewhere that the great James Jamerson used to play open notes all the time, due to his double bass background. Since then, I have tried to incorporate more open notes into my playing and man, it's tougher than one might think! But it's just one more string ('scuse the pun) to your bow (oops, 'nother pun).

 

[jthisdell]

I rarely use open strings but now play bluegrass and have transitioned to an EUB. Most bluegrass players live and breathe the open notes, esp D and G but I struggle with them, preferring to play the lower register fretted. Old dogs have a hard time changing their spots.

 

[Zooberwerx]

I'm not a great player, but I play fivers, and rarely play an open string. My brain just doesn't register lifting a finger as playing a note, haha…

Some years ago for some reason I learned "Give Me Three Steps" played at the end of the neck playing a lot of open strings.

I had it fine in rehearsal, but live (didn't help that the guitar player played everything 90-mph) I screwed that song up every time.

Guitard would look at me like "You know this song"--

I'd just shrug my shoulders lol…

That's the first tune that came to my mind followed by "Fast as You".

Riis

 

[nicopiano]

There is nothing wrong about using open string when it sound good that way.

Personnally, in most situations I avoid open G because I'm not crazy about the thin sound that it gives. I play a lot of open E and A.

 

[Phalex]

There are few things I find more pleasurable that beating the snot out of an open D tuned E string.

 

[hintz]

don't listen to them,they are idiots. Open notes sound different, and are easier to play than a 4 fret stretch, so I don't see their logic.
Yes, it is a pain to transpose a line with open string notes, but how often do you need to transpose?

I agree with your first statement, but as a gigging musician I use open strings *and* transpose songs depending on the needs of the vocalist *all* the time....

I'm guessing many of you open string enthusiasts play metal or rock. I started listening to a little metal recently but that's not what I play.

I aim to play things along the lines of old school funk, jazz, and blues grooves if that helps.

Most "old school" jazz/blues guys know how to do both, not just rock/metal players....

A teacher of mine says: no control over the tone.

Your teacher is wrong, he should study upright or revisit fundamentals, any competent bassist knows how to have control of both hands *and* transpose....im assuming he has never played upright, only an "electric" only would say this...why limit yourself, if you know you fingerboard and intervals good enough this shouldn't be an issue, open strings are your friend especially in 1st position, the whole four fingers per fret idea is a great recipe for future fretting hand problems

 

[FretNoMore]

...
Yes, it is a pain to transpose a line with open string notes, but how often do you need to transpose?

Only if you are very "pattern oriented" on the fretboard ... I tend to use my ears and grab the next note that way rather than play a bassline based on positions or patterns. We often try different keys until the singer is comfortable and I get to play songs where open strings are possible one try and not the next. One or the other may be more comfortable but if you know what note you want it should be equally possible to play it on an open string or on a fretted string. Theoretically.

 

[Mushroo]

One of the best exercises I ever learned was to use open strings to facilitate position shifts. Practice this in every key.

For example, here is the F scale. Notes in parentheses should be played on an open string, and while the open string is ringing, use that opportunity to shift your left hand up or down the neck (except when going from the open E to the low F, you don't really need to shift for that! ):

(E) F G (A) Bb C (D) E F (G) A Bb C D E F G A Bb C D E F E D C Bb A G F E D C Bb A (G) F E (D) C Bb (A) G F (E)

That is a 3 octave F scale from the top to the bottom of the neck, which you can play with a very smooth and legato sound because the left-hand position shifts happen while the open string is ringing out, so you can really take your time and make accurate shifts. (If you run out of frets at the top of the neck, then just go as high as your bass allows.)

If you do this in every key, it will really help you learn the fretboard AND it will will break you out of the rut of playing patterns/shapes, because each of the 12 keys will have a completely different relationship to the open strings. (What I mean by that is, in the key of F, the open strings are the 7th, 3rd, 6th, and 2nd of the scale; in F#/Gb there are no open strings; in G the open strings are the 6th, 2nd, 5th, and root; in Ab the only open string is the 7th; and so forth).

It is good to know BOTH "movable" patterns (fretboard shapes with no open strings that can easily be moved up/down to different keys) AND "non-movable" patterns (that use open strings). Two different ways of thinking, and it massages the brain to learn both.

 

[Nephilymbass]

Whenever I ask anything about technique or learning, people advise away from using open strings. Why?

Is it to avoid odd shapes/patterns?
Is it to avoid sustain or articulation inconsitency?
Is it to avoid the different tambre of open strings?

I just want to know exactly why many bass players choose to stick with fretted notes most of the time. I've already started playing all the sheet music I have on frets only in order to find out why it is preffered. For example, playing the 5th fret of the B string to acheive an E instead of the open E string, despite both options being just as easy.

I want some more experienced bassists than myself to tell me why to do this though.

Several of my more interesting lines use open strings to drone while I'm playing a higher string so I definetly use them. But at the same time I play 5 string beadg and my guitarists tunes c#f#beg#c# and bf#beg#c#. When he's in c# theres a lot of second fret action. When I'm playing open notes the guitar typically isnt but I often play open notes when he's not also. The majority of our songs are in the key of c# or f# minor, And I've always liked tuning differently than the guitars. Briefly had a side project with guitars in drop c and I tuned c standard.

I will say I don't like to look at my hands while I play and don't like seeing others stare at their hands. In my opinion it really takes away from the show as it normally hurts youre energy/performance. A lot of people get into bad habits overusing open strings. Often times people will stop using strings and be going up and down the neck constantly on one or two strings. Not that I don't use the full neck but I typically don't within a single part. I use all 5 strings In nearly all our songs.

 

[Mystic Michael]

Whenever I ask anything about technique or learning, people advise away from using open strings. Why?

I have no idea. Perhaps a deranged form of group think? Superstition? Old bassists' wives tales?

I want some more experienced bassists than myself to tell me why to do this though.

If someone is telling you that you should observe this principle, I'm not one of them. I use open strings frequently, especially whenever I'm playing in a particular position that makes it comfortable for me to play all the notes for a given musical passage...except for one of them that just happens to be an awkward reach...and for which an open string is conveniently located. Under the circumstances, why make things unnecessarily difficult, merely to observe some arbitrary, rigid, doctrinaire rule that somebody dreamed up?

Not me.

MM

 

[buldog5151bass]

A note will always sound different depending where on the neck you play it. I generally like the sound of the lower position, including open notes, especially for rock.

Obviously, open strings messes up patterns, and impedes transposing. But play what you like.

 

[Bassman Spiff]

My use of open strings is more often based on whatever fingering is more efficient for the passage.

That, and the fact that a lot of mid-fretted notes on my cheap-@$$ bass sound dead! D'oh!

 

[electracoyote]

The only time I am sensitive to playing a note on an open string is when it presents a noticeably different tone from the fretted notes in the pattern. I've worked out many songs where the open string was noticeably brighter to the point of distraction. Otherwise, I can't conceive of a legitimate reason for anyone to propose playing only fretted notes.

And as has been mentioned above, there are also times when the open string is actually more appropriate and tonally desirable than its fretted equivalent.

I let the most comfortable position and my ears be my guides with all fingering decisions. I often work out a pattern in multiple ways and then decide.

 

[JimmyM]

I used to avoid open notes like the plague because they always sound like different basses all of a sudden, especially with rounds. Then I put Geezers on my Precisions and the differences became way less apparent, and now I use them a lot.

 

[7dollarbologna]

I agree with your first statement, but as a gigging musician I use open strings *and* transpose songs depending on the needs of the vocalist *all* the time....



Most "old school" jazz/blues guys know how to do both, not just rock/metal players....



Your teacher is wrong, he should study upright or revisit fundamentals, any competent bassist knows how to have control of both hands *and* transpose....im assuming he has never played upright, only an "electric" only would say this...why limit yourself, if you know you fingerboard and intervals good enough this shouldn't be an issue, open strings are your friend especially in 1st position, the whole four fingers per fret idea is a great recipe for future fretting hand problems

That was more than twenty years ago, when I was about 5 years in - the guy could play circles around anyone

 

[Lee Moses]

There is nothing wrong about using open string when it sound good that way.

Personnally, in most situations I avoid open G because I'm not crazy about the thin sound that it gives. I play a lot of open E and A.

This is my thinking as well. And that part about open G goes at least double for open C on a 6-string.

 

[Medicine Man]

If you play open strings, you only have control over the attack of the note, not the release. (Unless you deliberately mute.) If I'm playing a note longer than an quarter, I don't play play it open if I can help it. I love using open strings to hammer onto fretted notes for big time multi octave glissandos. Some lines ain't getting played without open notes. On fretless and upright open notes help keep your intonation in check.