REGISTER & RANGE TECHNIQUES

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On a six-string bass, musical ideas can stay in one hand position while moving across strings, not up the neck.

This keeps tone consistent, reduces motion, and makes lines feel connected.

A simple melodic bass phrase that:

• Covers more than an octave
• Stays in one position
• Uses low B through high C
• Would require multiple position shifts on a four-string

Tuning: B–E–A–D–G–C
Position: 5th position (index anchored around 5th fret)

C|-----------------------------5--7--|

G|----------------------4--5--7-------|

D|---------------4--5-----------------|

A|--------3--5------------------------|

E|--3--5------------------------------|

B|------------------------------------|

   i  m     i  m     i  m     i  m

• The entire phrase lives in one position
• No jumping up the neck
• No sudden timbral change
• The melody feels continuous, not stitched together
   

On a four-string, this same idea would force:

• A position shift past the 9th–12th fret, or
• A register jump that changes tone and feel
   

Here, the bass stays grounded while the idea expands.

• Evenness of tone across strings
• Smooth transitions between registers
• How relaxed the left hand feels
• How naturally the phrase “sings” without effort
   

This is the moment many players realize:

Six strings don’t add notes; they remove friction.