Why no open strings?

[Gilmourisgod]

I love open strings, when i first started playing, I used to arrange fingerings around using them whenever possible, like "free" notes you didn't have to finger. I gradually got to "closed" fingerings to make them more move-able, but still love to whack on the big open E or A string. Doesn't make as much difference sound-wise with D & G to my ears. if it SOUNDS good, it IS good. Any teacher who discourages using them is off base IMHO.

 

[cheapbasslovin]

When I was new to the instrument, open notes we're a crutch for me and prevented me from learning proper fingering higher on the neck. I usually don't use open notes now, because I prefer the more natural muting, mellower tone, and hand position of fretted notes, but once you learn proper fingering that high there's no reason not to use open notes when they're useful.

 

[FretNoMore]

When I was new to the instrument, open notes we're a crutch for me and prevented me from learning proper fingering higher on the neck. I usually don't use open notes now, because I prefer the more natural muting, mellower tone, and hand position of fretted notes, but once you learn proper fingering that high there's no reason not to use open notes when they're useful.

When you say "higher on the neck" I'm guessing you mean nearer the nut/headstock?

 

[Mushroo]

What the heck is "proper fingering" anyway?

 

[FretNoMore]

What the heck is "proper fingering" anyway?

Please let's not go there.

 

[cheapbasslovin]

When you say "higher on the neck" I'm guessing you mean nearer the nut/headstock?

This is what happens when you post in a hurry from your phone .
I meant I would force open notes to work when a fifth, seventh, or twelfth fret note would work better.

 

[Flabass]

I use open strings when I want to, especially E. However, if there is an easier way to play the riff using fretted, I will do that.

 

[Kmonk]

My decision on whether or not to play an open string depends on two things. The sound I want and the position of my fretting hand in relation to the next note I am going to play.

 

[RustyAxe]

I prefer to learn my bass lines without using open strings. I play in multiple projects that have many songs in common. It's easier for me to transpose on the fly using closed shapes. There are some songs where an open string is preferred, of course.

 

[Stranger Danger]

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.

Because Phil Lesh said so.

 

[bikeplate]

Well, if you start playing professionally there will be times when band leaders will change the key of a song or songs you perform. Happens at my church gig often. We have different singers and keys are changed a half step to a step and a half othen. If you get in the habit of playing lines w open strings you're gonna have a huge headache transposing when preparing or on the fly at gigs.

 

[static0verdrive]

I suspect it's mostly a preference thing. Early in my lessons my teacher recommended using the open strings when possible because (as far as a fretless goes, and assuming you tune before playing) they're definitely the correct intonation. Later on as I improved (and learned more shapes/patterns), he advised against using them to maintain shapes/patterns and tone consistency. The tone consistency is less of an issue on a fretted in my opinion.

 

[electracoyote]

If you play open strings, you only have control over the attack of the note, not the release. (Unless you deliberately mute.)

So then, by your own admission, you do have control over the note length on an open string if you develop that relatively simple technical skill.

I can get the exact precision, including short note values and syncopation, on a phrase played with open strings as I can on the same phrase played with all fretted notes by using a combination of left- and right-hand muting, and it's not a hard technique to develop.

 

[electracoyote]

Well, if you start playing professionally there will be times when band leaders will change the key of a song or songs you perform. Happens at my church gig often. We have different singers and keys are changed a half step to a step and a half othen. If you get in the habit of playing lines w open strings you're gonna have a huge headache transposing when preparing or on the fly at gigs.

Solution: Get equally good at both. Why not?

 

[Ric5]

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

Ya my first bass teacher taught me that ... I pretty quickly learned to ignore that advice.

 

[Lee Moses]

Personally, I try to avoid thinking in terms of physical patterns when playing. I try to think in terms of notes and especially in terms of scale degrees and chord tones. If you can do that successfully, transposing is no big deal whether or not you are using open strings. If your transposing only involves moving a finger pattern from one place to another on the fingerboard, you're liable to find yourself using fingerings that don't make as much sense in the new key.

 

[mambo4]

the point is not to avoid open strings but to avoid depending on them.
Which is better stated as : avoid learning only fingerings.
Also learn the notes , intervals, and chord tones, and possible alternate fingerings
and learn to transpose your riff.

In closed position, transposing is as simple as moving your pattern up and down the neck.
But that can still lead to learning only fingerings.

Personally I love open strings, thanks to James Jamerson.
I learn things in closed position first and then I go looking for excuses to include open strings.
they are great for those Jamerson-esque chromatic muted anticipations
I also enjoy the technical challenge of controlling and incorporating open strings smoothly.

 

[Mushroo]

Well, if you start playing professionally there will be times when band leaders will change the key of a song or songs you perform. Happens at my church gig often. We have different singers and keys are changed a half step to a step and a half othen. If you get in the habit of playing lines w open strings you're gonna have a huge headache transposing when preparing or on the fly at gigs.

"Huge headache" is debatable and depends on the player's tool set... there are certainly players (including myself, he says modestly) who spend time practicing this skill in various ways. How do you think pianists who are professional accompanists do it? They certainly can't just move their hand up or down a fret; each of the 12 keys on piano has a different "fingering" due to the pattern of white and black keys. And yet all the pro pianists I know can transpose instantaneously into any key.

 

[Pimpernel Smith]

I often play octaves, and certainly would take advantage of grabbing an open string and it's octave while moving through chord changes

 

[Celtic59]

Most importantly, playing on the open string is the only way to do the "Spinal Tap" salute with your left arm, during the song! These are important techniques one must learn IMO.