The NUMBER ONE Bass Myth (and why it's ridiculous!)

[@Mighty_Atheismo]

You're right Mark. The common myth that the Irish arent that funky is just plainly wrong!

[@gonnfishy2987]

😂

[@santosmadrigal3702]

I have a short scale bass . It's it's own thing . I play it everyday . It's not a bass , it's not a guitar . But it is a bass , and it is a guitar .

[@grantkoeller8911]

@@santosmadrigal3702 it is not a guitar.

[@santosmadrigal3702]

@@grantkoeller8911 I like that it's it's own thing .

[@MarkPeotter]

Great job! Even with my computer speakers I can easily hear the difference in the timbre of every string. "Come Together" is a good example. Paul McCartney plays the opening bass line starting on the 10th fret of the low E string. So, even though the song is in D minor, it sounds deep in the bass.

[@kevinhoward8410]

One factor that's being overlooked here is right hand position. If you pluck the strings at the same distance from the bridge, it will be closer to the middle for notes fretted higher on the neck, also making them bassier. If you move your plucking position closer to the bridge for the higher frets, it lessens this effect. I try to be conscious of this when playing, and if my tone sounds thin, I move my right hand closer to the neck. It's a seamless way to adjust my tone while maintaining my preferred left-hand position.

[@grantkoeller8911]

This bass lesson was golden!!!! its not the position of the money notes, it's the string you choose in terms of brightness or darkness.

[@tjsogmc]

I play a 5 string and it's 100% true that you can play "meatier" notes the higher the bass you go and still be boomy bassy. For me, it's about playing in a more comfortable position and being able to do more without having to shift. With the 5 I can play most everything centered around the 10th fret.

[@markblackstad8705]

A 5 string also helps greatly when the singers shift the key to Eb, Db, etc... LOL!

[@martinheath5947]

4 string with a low B string tuned BEAD works for me in similar fashion. On a 2 octave neck you only lose a few high notes

[@tjsogmc]

@martinheath5947 I had a BEAD tuning, but it didn't work out for me because I needed the higher notes and it was too much fret shifting. It was like a EADG trying to get low notes, only the opposite. The 5 string is the right fit for me. At the end of the day, you have to use whatever is right for the music you play and for your own style of playing. Other people's opinions have only two meanings: jack and shit.

[@RobfromNorCal]

That's kind of what I figured a five-string bass was for. Being able to play in the middle of the neck and still hit those low strings and notes.

[@TenFalconsMusic]

I play a 1 string bass and find that I utilise every fret to it's optimum capability.

[@MissingMars]

This is why I take a regular light gauge set of bass strings & replace my low E (100) with the next lightest gauge (95) and the opposite with my G string replacing the 45 with a 50. Because I sing I like to stay in position & this string replacement keeps them more similar low e through the g string ;-}

[@shipsahoy1793]

The electric bass guitar is one of the unique class of “polyphonic” instruments, whereby each string has its own voice, and some of the same notes are available to be sung by each voice. Hence, at any given time, all notes on all strings need to be accessible for best effect. Voicing is an important part of professional bass tone, as Mark points out! There’s also some BS going around about how you’re never supposed to play open notes, and that’s not entirely true either.. it has its place, but it’s a conditional requirement, just like which strings to be playing certain notes on.🥳

[@WowIndescribable]

Also on a split single coil like a P-bass, the E and A strings are deeper due to the offset placement of the pickup being closer to the neck position.

[@NiechoBGCSL]

The timbre is so much more beautiful higher up the neck. Excellent lesson! Thank you!

[@pics0265]

Thank you. I am in a situation where I am being "instructed" on how I should be playing my bass by someone who is younger than the bass I am playing. Meaning I have owned my bass longer than they have been alive. I have had to show them that playing the riff my way was no different sonicly than their way but a better technique. You are a great teacher of the bass. Thank you again.

[@SwashBuccaneer]

That has to be annoying for sure. I would've strangled them with my strings so you're doing better than me lol.

[@kane6529]

Talk to em Mark I’ve got Socks older than some of these whipper snappers 😂 I was slapping Da Bass before they were shaving their face!

[@grahamtyler5382]

I tend to hover around the McCartney area (frets 4 to 7) and venture outside if necessary. I rarely use open strings (useful for punk though).

[@DavidRamos-nz4bh]

Thank you. I’ve played bass professionally for 40+ years and of course you have to play the songs. Having said that, Tom Hamilton said best, I’ll be damned if I’m just going to pump 8ths all of the time”. It’s also a “don’t outshine the master “ clause.

[@LeftiBassist]

This is one of the reasons I took your Simple Steps to Walking Bass course. The course accelerated my fretboard note knowledge, allowing me to walk the entire fretboard, instead of mostly using 1st through 7th fret. Now I have the confidence to walk the fretboard, and play lower toned notes higher up to the fretboard. Thanks, Mark for all the great courses you provide!

[@jonthecomposer]

I play a 5 and routinely go all the way to fret 24 even on my low B. And it's not for the groove. It's for fills or to emphasize a note. Perhaps the V on Superstition when done in E (instead of Eb). Also, a lot of notes above the 12th fret are really good for the "singing" sound like what basses tend to do when playing higher during breakdown sections. But really, it's whatever fits the player's style. The placement in the bassment is just part of how the player plays and/or defines their sound. I tend to "hang out" between frets 3 and 10, but that's not right or wrong, just how I do things. And as for consistency in low B sounds above the 12th fret, I use a heavy gauge B and mediums on E through G. I also (get ready for this!) LOWER my pickups since the magnetic PULL can greatly affect the low B's tendency to start sounding "rubbery" after a certain fret. This will cure 99% of the causes of rubbery B sounds: gauge and pickup string proximity. I understand it weakens the signal. However, I'll gladly sacrifice some signal for a MUCH better tone.

[@MungoMickey]

Thank you for an excellent, thought-provoking video. I also noticed a decrease in volume as you moved up the neck. That's another factor to consider.

[@OlettaLiano]

I totally agree with everything you said here, Mark. I've began playing bass in the mid 70s, and for the past 20 years I've been playing a 24-fret 6-string bass tuned low E to high F. I use all the notes on the neck and I never has a problem getting hired by bands. So, Myth confirmed.

[@sliverhandsonbasses]

The “money area” it’s an inside joke concerning mostly the sight reading. When you have to sight read for work playing high on the neck means taking extra risks, that’s why expert readers suggest staying on position as much is possible. Other than that there’s no reason not to love bass fingerboard on his entirety! ❤

[@gallitoonbass4243]

This is something I always have in mind when I arrange or compose basslines. Depending on the song and feel, if it needs more low end, then I play low on the neck. If I need more of a trebble type of tone, then I play high on the neck.

[@novadhd]

thanks I was wondering that!

[@flatwoundfisker]

This is why I love playing a 5 string! Can play above the 5th fret, maintain the low end and be in a more comfortable playing position.

[@frmcf]

For sure! I don't currently own a 5-string, but if I did, it would be to fatten up the notes that I already have, more than to access the lower notes.

[@stephenhookings1985]

​@@frmcf I have one strung low B to G and another strung E to C. Can get up to guitar territory on the latter

[@bits-of-bass]

I love coming up the neck and "humming" out a string of straight eighths every once in a while. Those "whoom-whoom-whoom-whoom" notes on the E and A string can sound fantastic. They're really powerful and great for transitional fills. You don't even need to play anything complex... just pound out a single note through the transition.

[@RkyMtnBassist]

So totally spot on! I love playing higher up to grab those juicy thick string tones that shake the house when songs call for it! Awesome Mark! (As usual...) =)

[@RadioMattM]

Me too.

[@bits-of-bass]

100% agree. I love pounding out some straight eighths on those upper E and A strings. They add so much energy to the right parts of songs.

[@garethevans2650]

Great advice. There are many ways to sound better in a mix by choosing string also varying pick/fingers/close to bridge etc. Its a mystery to me why so many guys just use one tone all night on every song.

[@bassmaiasa1312]

There is a repetitive strain issue also. Holding your hand in one position chronically is asking for trouble. Moving up and down the neck is analogous to the Taubman method for piano designed to avoid injury. I tend to use frets 1-5 only on the E-string to minimize that dangerous chronic stretching. For that reason, jumping and changing position seamlessly is one of the first exercises I try to do 'maiasa' - every day! I find the A-D strings the safest to play on with the least contortion of the wrist. Wrist contortion is a big RSI timebomb!

[@CirrusSR20Pilot]

Wow Mark! Thank you. I've recently been striving to learn/master the entire neck while sight reading music after completing your "Simple Steps To Sight Reading" course. I believed (incorrectly) that it was simply for "convenience" of limiting travel up and down the neck. I never thought about the tone differences! Epiphany!!

[@maduroholdings]

there is another factor ( open strings) and the ability to cleverly use them to assist the line also James jamerson

[@kimmorgan379]

Great. Thanks Mark! Just as a bass player, the tone when you're playing way up the neck sounds like it's about to slide down because I associate it with just-about-to-go-down-the-neck!

[@johnknight9150]

One of the reasons I like a five-string much more than a four. Normally I would say it's because I can reach much lower notes, and more accurately than with down-tuning, but I can also have the option of playing four-string notes with a bassier sound, playing higher up the neck on the B string.

[@georgefustos7243]

Great presentation along with an explanation that most bass players can grasp. Just when you think you know it all someone comes along and proves that you don’t.

[@grantkoeller8911]

For instance if I have to play Eb on a four string bass, I go to the A string up a tri-tone to Eb, or I play Eb on the D string up one fret,.

[@gingafuzz1]

I tend to choose where on the neck I play a sequence of notes based on the ease of playing the next sequence of notes! It’s never really occurred to me that it makes a noticeable difference to the tone of those notes.

[@DJFarallon]

Yes, string thickness matters. You can get most of the same difference between up the neck and down the neck on an acoustic guitar. However, the difference is more pronounced on an electric guitar or bass. Relative to the string length, the single P-bass pickup is positioned like a bridge pickup when one plays near the neck, and it is is positioned like a bridge pickup when the same note is played higher up the neck. The neck pickup gives a thicker timbre.

[@peterbridge7940]

Final question.... take a numbers such as the Game of Love (Wayne Fontana). Typically C F G ...I could play C on the A string and F and G on the D I could play C on the A the F and G on the E string. In the first case the F and G are higher than C but in the second lower. Does either sound "better"? In reality, I will play some sections above the C and some below and I go up and down the fretboard and play the whole sequence an octave higher. You can see why they unplug the amp when I play😮 Seriously..... What do people see at the pros and cons of going above the I to the IV and V compared to going below the I for the IV and V 🎸🎶🎸

[@brianmiller1077]

Someone made the comment "If your bass player is playing up here ( D or G string up past the 12th fret), you need a bass player)

[@peterbridge7940]

I couldn't bring my 64 Gibson EB0 or my early 80s Fender Jazz and I have two absolutely wonderful Harley Benton basses (PJ and TB70). They seem to be in tune up to the octave and beyond but are some of the cheaper basses likely to be slightly out of tune higher up the neck? DIOLCH 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 thanks

[@marshwetland3808]

Loved your attitude on this one. And, yeah, the thicker string is a big difference!

[@davidbalan6571]

Also learning's Melody's Chords 🎹 Am , Bm and Cm and Dm for variation .

[@diggmo]

Brilliant info! Thank you!

[@thomasfioriglio]

Very cool lesson Mark and a good reminder of the different tones produced on the fretboard by the same notes. I tend to live on the E and A string mostly. With the D string in there as well, but that G string, unless playing octaves, is a little too thin for me most of the time.

[@aijlee]

Quite right. I gig most weekends and hardly ever play the D and G strings below the 5th fret. They sound too tinny. D and G are obviously there for us frustrated lead players to NOODLE on though, bands always say they want a bass player to stick to the root low down, until a gifted player shows up...

[@jimmythejock4376]

I always thought that some notes sound better up at the dusty end but never knew it was a bone of contention.

[@EddieG1888]

Yeh, that's nonsense. I'm all over the neck during the course of a gig, and on occasions my band members will ask me to put something high into a song, even 12th fret and beyond. Play what you feel.

[@RobR386]

I notice you have a ring on your fretting hand, does it get in the way? I also have a ring on my fretting hand and I find it catches the neck sometimes

[@talkingbasslessons]

Yes it does actually. I usually don’t wear it for playing.

[@shipsahoy1793]

A good bass guitarist needs to be conscious of everything that’s going on around him rhythmically, harmonically, and even melodically If he/she is going to be 100% effective.. Many musicians of solo and even rhythm instruments kind of forget sometimes what’s going on around them and expect other people to play around their preferences. Keyboard players are sometimes infamous for that, since they have all the octaves and a simpler layout, doing wacky alterations of the harmony on the fly without warning bc they can. It’s really f’in annoying when you rehearse and they change it on the fly during the live show. Even audience people that don’t know music well can tell when something’s a little too off. Bands are a team sport, if you want the best band foot forward. I’ve met many dazzling keyboardists that couldn’t seem to fit in well in a band due to bad habits, like trying to play the bass line! But I’m not here to pick on keyboardists. Players of lots of instruments can be guilty of that sort of thing.

[@joec2083]

When writing bass lines I tend to try all different positions on the bass like describe in this video. After that then its what sounds better for the song that will dictate where I play.

[@beatlesrgear]

I make money playing bass and I use every fret on my P & J basses. Only people who don't know sod all about bass say you must only play the first 5 frets! 😂 They should try telling that silly BS to Paul McCartney, Geddy Lee, Chris Squire, John Paul Jones, Stanley Clark, Geezer Butler, Flea, John Entwistle, etc!

[@doonyboy42]

Norman Watt-Roy, Les Claypool, John Taylor, Peter Hook, Bruce Foxton, Bernard Edwards, Tony Levin to add a few more... I agree mate, sometimes they don't realise we sometimes make their boring songs actually interesting.

[@67NewEngland]

-If there’s no money above the 5th fret there’s a lot of legendary players that I’d love to be poor like.

[@darwinsaye]

I’ve always been aware that the thicker strings are the real “money area” in regards to thicker timbre, but I think it’s also worth keeping in mind that the higher up the neck you play, the less sustain your notes may have. We should all just accept that the real “money area” is the whole neck, and all regions are useful depending on the needs of the music. -As long as your playing to the song and not just noodling/shredding, of course, haha

[@elpeluca7780]

I think the most important part is playing what you wanna play, be it simple root note or noodling

[@dopenoize42]

I primarily play all my stuff on the E and A strings, just because I love the deep bassy tone I get with the thicker strings. It makes for a lot of travel, but I think it's worth it. IMO

[@TheAT5000]

I was thinking that the #1 bass myth is, "old strings are fine". Great video! Well explained

[@reallivebluescat]

Depends on how old.

[@TheAT5000]

@@reallivebluescat , that is true. And it does depend on how much you play them, how well you take care of them, etc. But in general, if your bass still has the same strings you bought it with years ago... Change them! (And don't change the pickups at the same time, otherwise you'll think the new pickups sound great, when, in reality, it's your new strings)

[@skiphoffenflaven8004]

A lot of KZbin commenters should listen to Mark when he used the “pilot advice” analogy. Far too many get on KZbin only to leave the most banal and cliche statements, with horrifying confidence.

[@Briansgate]

Times have changed. You literally have to play every note on that bass now, including the harmonics.

[@frmcf]

I agree with your broad point, but there are bassists that need to be reminded that noodling up the neck is not what best serves the song most of the time.

[@frmcf]

Nice intonation, by the way! I'm not sure that my bass sounds quite so in tune playing that E-F-G in the higher octave on the E-string!

[@ileutur6863]

​@@frmcf Yeah but how many times do you actually see that happening? Almost never. You're more likely to run into a bass player using nothing but root notes

[@MartinMichiels]

Never heard of that first frets thing. I Heard that money notes were the root notes though. 😊

[@kerijan2003]

I've wondered about that. Thanks for teaching me.

[@johnfollis2357]

I've noticed this for a while now. And it's not just on Bass either. Any stringed instrument has more than one of the same pitch note on different strings. And they all sound different from each other.

[@ajdayton101]

Great demo.

[@8981USMC]

I've only been playing for five years. There is a whole new world to explore above the fifth fret.

[@jacksmith4460]

its the range that is unique to Bass, taking it to an extreme of dont ever cross the 5th fret line is silly. I like bass players who switch it up and I think its a real sign of a great bass player who knows when to do that, but there is more logic in keeping in the unique range of the instrument than there isn't, if that makes sense. I am just saying as a general rule of thumb it makes huge amounts of sense. Just as if you are a lead guitarist it does not make much sense to play mostly below the 5th fret (although at points it can be brilliant i.e. SRV does that quite a bit in mid flow) but between 7th and 15th makes a lot of sense and is the unique range of the guitar (somewhat unique, but obviously Pianos live there too) I am a Rhythm Metal guitarist who also plays Bass, so for me it makes a lot of sense to keep below a certain point on the neck (around 7th fret), and have the root note usually on one of the 3 thickest strings. that does not mean I don't deviate from that, I do, but its about playing the thing in the (generally) desired range /neck position(s) that makes sense. On Guitar If I start "Thrall" muting on a Chord on the 11th fret, its not going to work. If I do this on frets 1, through to 7 or even 0/open its going to work very well. (Not sure the correct name of the muting technique, its when the muting hand is almost on the saddle and you partially let some of the ring out happen, it "growls", a sound in metal which is known as "Thrall" these days)

[@ferox965]

Correct! I almost never play open D and G strings.

[@jonviall5566]

HEY BUD GREAT JOB EXPLAINING STUFF !!!

[@peterbridge7940]

I am not playing in a gigging band and I tend to play with friends at small concerts for other friends and at open mics and Jam sessions and I go across or down the neck fur fun and the challenge and usually get it right and I've never thought about the science behind it and anyway my hearing isn't great. I love the "obvious" science but hadn't thought about it but I'll be on the case tomorrow. 😁 Diolch 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Thanks

[@gibsoneb3]

Arrangements determine where bass notes sound best - a guitar playing an open E chord is fertile ground for an octave bass note - creamy harmonics -

[@YTPartyTonight]

I've always taken the "money area" as a colloquialism, possibly some kind of intended mild punny, maybe euphemistic, humor at its origins, but it does occur to me that I've never looked into the etymology of the term. I go where I get the preferred or best combination of comfort and efficiency for my reach--I have small but strong hands--with the voicing, I want or that works for song or music in whatever given situation.

[@duncansmith69]

I feel like once you get up to the 21st fret on the e string it does sound a little too "fluffy".

[@gonnfishy2987]

People suchlike myself use a 5 string to get money notes in comfort and style without having to expend energy reaching 🎉

[@mauriceharvey4300]

I get what you're saying but a couple of things come to mind. I've taught a few people the basic rudiments of bass playing over the years and one thing that always seems to happen is the tendency for them, when playing, for example a 12 bar progression in "C" is to start on E string 8th fret, drop to the A string same fret for the IV and then move up to 10th fret A string for the V. It's like they've cut off two thirds of the fret board! It sounds quite poor I think and is a lazy way of doing things instead of learning the notes lower down the neck. Sonically, they're in the guitars space, octave wise. I do understand what you're getting at but to put all that into practice would require a fair bit of moving around the fret board. I also, personally, prefer the punchier sound of "C" third fret A string rather then 8th fret E. We've all got our own ways of playing, of course, but one of my pet hates is seeing a bass player spend to much time up at the dusty end - unless he's Jaco!

[@talkingbasslessons]

The point I’m making is that all the those different positions provide different tones. I’m not saying you should play further up the neck. Not at all. You should choose the correct position for the song.

[@JVMC_ZR1]

I've seen so many rock bassist literally only use the E string because of this. In basic Rock and Metal bands most bassist don't play anything outside of the and A Strings

[@tonybrown7408]

That 'C' on 20th Fret of the E string is quite Sharp to my ears !

[@Ss0oUuLl]

2:02 somehow mentioning the key of C major made me hungry for chicken strips

[@KellanMeigh]

I was always told it was, "There's no money to be made above the twelfth fret. "

[@hcmao2]

Awesome video! 👏❤️

[@marklowe7431]

This totally destroyed this myth. No other band member gets told how they should play like a bass player.

[@peterbridge7940]

Can't stop now😂😂😂 The higher the short the length of vibrating string as you. If you play C on the A string 3rd fret it is the same note as C on the Re string 8th fret so just the same note on a thicker but also less of the string is vibrating. How does this change the fundamental and harmonics? I haven't done any physics since 1971-2 rusty?

[@NachshoN55555]

Great teacher.

[@neverganktop5964]

Thanks

[@Nikosi9]

I would think that that "myth" comes from upright bass players. Those notes below the 5th fret have 4 open strings, which give a deeper sound to that "area"...

[@adamwalcott_official]

In my almost 30 years of playing bass, this is the first time hearing this "myth."

[@peterveres2942]

I’ve only heard the expression used in reference to country music

[@thelastchannelonyoutube]

I was arguing with a guitarist friend who didn’t get why rock bands use 7 string and baritone guitars when in theory, you can get those notes on a bass. This is why. Bass serves a different function to guitar and has a different tambre, a different “sound”, than a guitar.

[@jirivorobel942]

Weird. Aren't all guitarists conditioned to obsess about tone (timbre) to the detriment of everything else? Not that a guitarist would understand that there are instruments/jobs other than guitar and percussion, but still...

[@thelastchannelonyoutube]

@@jirivorobel942 Jesus Christ, that's my best friend you're talking about. Just because he was having trouble understanding an certain concept doesn't mean he's a moron. I know we've all had problems with guitarists but don't project that crap onto my friend.

[@SO-ym3zs]

Tell John Deacon there's no money to be made above the 5th fret. I imagine he has some nice houses and cars paid for by playing up above the 12th fret on the high strings :)

[@jazzman0173]

That was cool!

[@thecuriousgardener]

Nice, thanks.

[@bobt5778]

Maybe I'll re-install frets 6 thru 24.

[@kurdtx27]

this makes me give a BEAD tuning a try

[@willschwabenbauer2577]

Very interesting

[@scottbubb2946]

The ol" Tony Iommi Method.

[@user-pr5tx9ep4m]

I thought the myth was, it's really easy to become competent but really hard to get good.

[@camerakungfu]

It's called the "cash register"!

[@theredshirts7245]

It’s a myth started by the drop-tuning guitarists ever reaching into bass territory.

[@si5883]

I have only one thing to say John Entwistle.

[@eckie4679]

Isn’t the Number 1 Bass Myth a P-Bass sits better in the mix? Like Geddy Lee, John Paul-Jones, Greg Lake and Marcus Miller ever had problems in the mix 😅

[@troyclayton]

I've never heard that said in almost 40 years of playing bass. Guess this video isn't for me.

[@RobfromNorCal]

I don't think tool received this message or memo.

[@chriscantor6329]

The following dirge (brilliantly sad repetitive song) by Free in Ebm is played by both bass and lead, but the bass played at the 11th fret is far more hypnotic than when played in lower positions. kzbin.info/www/bejne/h2eZfpuVhJWIo68

[@kahwigulum]

Justin Chancellor routinely plays between the 8th and 14th fret, only playing lower that than when he plays an open string. He's in arguably one of the biggest and longest lasting bands in modern history, that band being called Tool, which has arguably one of the the most devoted and fanatical audiences out there ever.

[@andreasfasold9841]

Amen

[@danielwoods2531]

Steve Harris made a whole career galloping up high🤘

[@Kitkatd4rk]

Jokes on you all my strings are E strings

[@juanfranmar]

Paul is dead?

[@scorpio622]

Mind blown