G-strings, huh?

[ras52]

This is tangential to the "Does anyone else avoid open strings?" thread... does anyone else avoid the (unopen) G string?

I've been playing an accompanying line in Dm with a range of a 12th from the low F to middle C and I'm racing up and down the bottom 3 strings (of a 4-string). Playing the C on the G string just doesn't do it for me. Is this nature's way of telling me I need heavier-guage strings? I'll quite happily use the top string for solo passages (and of course religiously practise my scales all over the board), but it occurred to me that I'll typically only use it in octave passages in a "regular" bass line.

[Lozz196]

I pretty much avoid the G string altogether - those notes are just for guitarists!

No, seriously, I do prefer to keep away from the high notes, but thats just my personal preference when playing, my two fave bassists, Bruce Foxton of The Jam & JJ Burnell of The Stranglers were quite happy to zip up & down those high notes, its just not for me as a player.

Think in answer to your question, heavier gauge strings may be a way of not having to avoid this, or maybe, if your happy with the sound of the rest of the strings, just a heavier gauge G?

[xgsjx]

I use all the strings & could do with more to make some basslines a bit easier.
Why not try buying a low B & restringing BEAD? Might suit your style better.

[EssentialTension]

All the strings (=4) and all the notes up to about fret 9 (i.e. two octaves) - I rarely venture much further.

[dan670844]

[quote name='ras52' post='1183536' date='Mar 31 2011, 04:49 PM']This is tangential to the "Does anyone else avoid open strings?" thread... does anyone else avoid the (unopen) G string?

I've been playing an accompanying line in Dm with a range of a 12th from the low F to middle C and I'm racing up and down the bottom 3 strings (of a 4-string). Playing the C on the G string just doesn't do it for me. Is this nature's way of telling me I need heavier-guage strings? I'll quite happily use the top string for solo passages (and of course religiously practise my scales all over the board), but it occurred to me that I'll typically only use it in octave passages in a "regular" bass line.[/quote]


All the strings all the time, I am very economic with movement ha ha, I think its important to have some nice balanced pickups, which are set up right, to give the right volume and tone. Also using hybrid string helps I am into the Fender 7250's at the mo, they have a very balanced sound across the board, they are prob just Ernies!!! but they sound good, Roto's are also good for this, but to me they are like saw wire

[icastle]

Nope.
I abuse them all equally.

[thumbo]

I use the G loads, my Yamaha TRB 6 string is tuned EADGCF because I get so much use out of chords and harmonics on high strings.

[TimR]

No you're not alone. I find I have to EQ quite a lot to get my G string and sometimes in certain venues the D string to sound as strong as the E and A.

I think it's more likely that the strings are dead but heavier guage D and G may last longer. I'm sure you can buy individual strings on the interweb.

[BigRedX]

Depends entirely what I'm playing.

Some songs pretty much only use the G string.

Others use everything but.

[Chris2112]

I subscribe to Joe Satriani's school of thought, that you might as well use the full range of your instrument because you can get some fantastic results. I can see that if you were just wanting to plod along pumping 8ths in a rock band this idea might not work for you.

[munkonthehill]

Which one is the G again?

I am all strings and all frets. I hate to have anyone feel left out hahaha.

[Spike Vincent]

E string or all 4 at the same time,usually.

[ras52]

Thanks, good to know that I'm not alone! And thanks for thw interesting ideas re. strings.

[ead]

I manage to get up to the 16th fret on the G string after which I get nose bleeds.

[Blademan_98]

I use the G on my fretless a lot

It gives great Mwwaaaahhhhh

In fact, I get told off for sliding along the G string constantly!

(Hey all the notes are on all the strings!)

It's just great fun finding them all

[risingson]

No, not at all. It came as a surprise to me that so many people avoid using open strings, and equally it surprises me that some choose to abstain from ever playing your G. I'm a positions player, so that I can allow for everything to fall under my fingers anywhere on the neck. I can understand if the music you play dictates that you should take on role that comprises of you playing in a lower register, but the 4 strings on my bass all get equal use and as someone said a little further up in the post, it's a great thing to be able to be unhindered by the full fret board of both guitar and bass.

[BB3000S]

Every one knows the A string is the best of the lot, right?
G-string - great for octaves, popping and fills, but I don't use it much for meat and potatoes playing.

[Doddy]

[quote name='risingson' post='1185404' date='Apr 1 2011, 11:03 PM']it's a great thing to be able to be unhindered by the full fret board of both guitar and bass.[/quote]

This.

Why would anyone want to limit their use of the instrument?

[Spike Vincent]

[quote name='Doddy' post='1185417' date='Apr 1 2011, 11:14 PM']This.

Why would anyone want to limit their use of the instrument?[/quote]


The style of music played may not require fiddly bits.

[Doddy]

[quote name='Spike Vincent' post='1185439' date='Apr 1 2011, 11:54 PM']The style of music played may not require fiddly bits.[/quote]

That doesn't mean you should purposely avoid certain strings.

[Spike Vincent]

[quote name='Doddy' post='1185441' date='Apr 2 2011, 12:00 AM']That doesn't mean you should purposely avoid certain strings.[/quote]


Agreed,and I don't,but if the tune requires 360 BPM E string then that's what I play.It has it's appeal..

[risingson]

[quote name='Spike Vincent' post='1185443' date='Apr 2 2011, 12:05 AM']Agreed,and I don't,but if the tune requires 360 BPM E string then that's what I play.It has it's appeal..[/quote]

360BPM?? What kind of music are we talking here??

[Spike Vincent]

Fortunately very short tunes...

[icastle]

[quote name='Spike Vincent' post='1185452' date='Apr 2 2011, 12:27 AM']Fortunately very short tunes...[/quote]

[OzMike]

On Fenders, and perhaps other basses (with which I don't have experience) there can be the issue of dead notes around the 5th fret area; on my p-bass, for example, the C is so dead even the guitarist in my band noticed when we were playing 'Crossroads'. If possible I play in oher positions to avoid the problem, or avoid playing anything other than staccato notes in that area. But .. the G-string and all it's associated notes are lovely for playing the occasional minor or major third over a root note on the E string. Really fills things out in a trio situation.