Does anyone else play a lot of open strings?

[Cat Burrito]

It leaves your left hand free to punch the air

[ZMech]

it also gives you a free hand to scratch your nose, or wipe the sweat off your brow. Probably doesn't look as good as air punches though.

[Dom in Dorset]

i've found that throwing in the odd open string is a good way to check your intonation when learning fretless.
[b][/b]btw DEREK SMALLS IS GOD!

[skankdelvar]

Oh yes, indeedy. 12 bar in A, means I can do the whole song one-handed. Leaves the other one free to sign autographs.

My [i]very good [/i]friend Victor Wooten (or Vic-baby, as I call him) was [i]enormously[/i] impressed by this when he caught my solo set in Pillerton Priors village hall. Expect a few surprises on his next tour.

Edited October 30, 2009 by skankdelvar

[rasher80]

[teen t-shirt]

its a convenience really and one i like to rub in my guitard(s) face's because they have to fret almost everything where as i could potentially play an entire song with out ever touching the fret board...

Go Smalls!

Love that Big Bottom!

[Geoff]

[quote name='teen t-shirt' post='640930' date='Oct 30 2009, 11:45 AM']Go Smalls!

Love that Big Bottom![/quote]

You want to love Derek Smalls big bottom?

I have a few open sections in places, but there's more boxer re-adjustment than air punching unfortunately!

[TDM]

If you have two guys playing you can do this:

[arsenic]

A dodgy left hand means that I play as many open strings as I can ...

I find it the only way to play some things.....

T.

[wesfinn]

the only open string i ever use is the E string. I also generally only use the bottome 2 strings unless i really have to or am playing octaves....poor technique I know but it's all part of my sound! (i don't really like treble )

[EssentialTension]

I use them whenever I can - especially playing fretless, when they are the notes you know should be in tune, or when changing left hand position to gain a bit of time.

[Marvin]

[quote name='skankdelvar' post='640893' date='Oct 30 2009, 11:19 AM']Oh yes, indeedy. 12 bar in A, means I can do the whole song one-handed. Leaves the other one free to sign autographs.

My [i]very good [/i]friend Victor Wooten (or Vic-baby, as I call him) was [i]enormously[/i] impressed by this when he caught my solo set in Pillerton Priors village hall. Expect a few surprises on his next tour. [/quote]



Are you telling me there are more than 4 notes on this bass thing?

Send my best to Victor.

[Pete Academy]

I actually have a bit of a phobia of open strings. I will avoid them whenever I can and do ridiiculous stretches that my small hands can barely cope with.

[thunderbird13]

[quote name='Pete Academy' post='641302' date='Oct 30 2009, 04:53 PM']I actually have a bit of a phobia of open strings. I will avoid them whenever I can and do ridiiculous stretches that my small hands can barely cope with.[/quote]

I do the same thing - I have a tendancy to hammer the open strings too hard which is OK if I'm only playing open strings but sounds strange if I'm playing fretted notes

[xgsjx]

The only opens I tend to play is E & A but will always try & play the A fretted as I prefer the sound of a fretted note as opposed to the flabby twang of an open string.
I dare say if I used more of open strings then my technique would be better.

[kets]

I never really used to use any other open strings than E, sometimes A. Then about 5 years ago I started playing a lot more guitar, learning various bluesy/country licks where using open strings is the norm. I now find myself using them more on bass because of that. Maybe it's a bad habit?

The're obviously handy on fretless for checking intonation though.

[Jobiebass]

[quote name='skankdelvar' post='640893' date='Oct 30 2009, 11:19 AM']Oh yes, indeedy. 12 bar in A, means I can do the whole song one-handed. Leaves the other one free to sign autographs.[/quote]


Im stoked I understood what this means.
reading theory is helping obviously. lol

[beerdragon]

Anyone use a zero fret? wondered if they can hear the difference.

[darwin]

I always avoid open strings unless I need to drink/scratch/adjust my amp etc. I've always felt I have less control over an open note than using a fretted alternative probably as I use a lot of damping/muting ?

[thepurpleblob]

I'm trying to play open strings more. I always used to avoid them but now I realise it's a whole bunch of new sounds I didn't know I had. The only trouble is that I'm actually having to relearn some stuff to do it.

[Alz]

[quote name='thepurpleblob' post='641406' date='Oct 30 2009, 06:34 PM']I'm trying to play open strings more. I always used to avoid them but now I realise it's a whole bunch of new sounds I didn't know I had. The only trouble is that I'm actually having to relearn some stuff to do it.[/quote]

I try and avoid them like the plague as they can have a different tone compared with fretted notes. Havig said that, I will always grab one if I need to scratch my backside or something.

[spike]

I've never avoided open strings, if it makes some things easier to play I'll use them. There is a difference in tone but I don't think it's big enough to worry about.

[Bay Splayer]

i dont.....

real bassists dont use open strings........

just like they dont use plectrums

[teen t-shirt]

[quote name='Bay Splayer' post='641476' date='Oct 30 2009, 08:21 PM']i dont.....

real bassists dont use open strings........

just like they dont use plectrums






[/quote]

Oh God...

[urbanx]

Ha ha great thread, I thought I was the only one! One of our songs has a great oppertunity for open strings. I place my right thb on my nose and wave my fingers at my drummer whilst blowing a raspberry, before giving the crowd a cheeky wave, pointing at the guitarist and rolling my eyes before getting back to the bass solo. Oh yes.