How often do you venture above the 12th fret?

[Ritter667]

How often do you play above 12th fret, and what is the highest fret you fairly frequently play at?

Personally I frequently play above the 12th fret, fairly frequently up to the 16th fret, occasionally up to 18th fret, and on rare occasions above that, and all the way up till the last 22nd fret.
Did use the 24th fret on rare occasions back when I had a 24 fret bass as well.

 

[Lowbrow]

All the time when I'm obsessing over setup, almost never afterward.

 

[Ritter667]

All the time when I'm obsessing over setup, almost never afterward.

Maybe I should have used the word "play", as I actually did in my OP, rather than "venture", even if I thought that was implicit, and pretty clear.

Thanks for specifying though.

 

[2saddleslab]

I venture into the high rent district when it serves the song.

 

[jimmydean]

I hear it's nice up there .........I'll be sure to include it on my Bucket List .

 

[Lowbrow]

Maybe I should have used the word "play", as I actually did in my OP, rather than "venture", even if I thought that was implicit, and pretty clear.

Thanks for specifying though.

Answer remains the same

 

[Rib 13]

It depends on the genre and song itself.....when I'm playing fusion/jazz, I'm up there quite frequently.......if I'm covering a Joan Jett song, I don't need to go above the 5th fret

 

[sokolasty]

I have about 15 songs in setlists and there's one four bars long solo on 10th and 12th and 14th frets
Plus the setup

 

[mambo4]

I’ll play high as often as the material demands. Context always gets the first vote.

 

[nonohmic]

Love it up there.

 

[tb-player]

I consistently play above the 12th fret. Many times a song will start softly and build. That’s typically when I’m playing the bassline an octave up to complement keys or guitar. A high B on the 3rd string/14th fret sounds so much better/fuller than on the 1st string/4th fret.

I also find myself doing octave slides up to that area, as well as solos, fills and stings. When I’m playing octaves, tenths, palm muting a melody, doubling a guitar line, chording or tapping, I’m not ‘venturing’ up there… I live there.

I paid for the whole guitar. I’m gonna play the whole guitar.

 

[Ritter667]

I’ll play high as often as the material demands. Context always gets the first vote.

And how often on an average does material demand that?

Context indeed...

 

[Danny C]

I mostly stay outta the upper register. I like hangin down lower in the cash register.

 

[HolmeBass]

Depends a lot on the band, because different bands play different songs with different arrangements.

Most of the time up there is due to taking a lead (aka solo), but sometimes it can be good dynamic choice even for “bass lines”.

 

[Bar Band Bassman]

And how often on an average does material demand that?

"Sir Duke" and "Smooth Operator" among others, demand it.

 

[bhunt1]

For the music I play in my cover band, rarely.

 

[dustinymichaels]

There's a lot of fun above the 12th fret.

 

[JazznFunk]

I play whatever the music demands, especially if it's a trio and I'm helping to fill sonic and chordal space with double stops, etc. My solo work demands playing up there in order to keep things from getting muddy, and to voice chords in ways which work best. Do not fear the 12th and above.

 

[micahwc]

I generally hang out around frets 5-9 with an octave pedal, and then go above 12 for slides.

 

[onda'bass]

I play the entire neck, why wouldn't you? I guess if all you do is cover band stuff, you might not use it.