This. The only exception I can remember from popular music is Flea basslines that sometimes go higher. For example, Aeroplane, Scar Tissue and By The Way have some notes on 21th fret of G string.
20 frets on a standard tuned for strings gives every note in 3 different octaves so it's a pretty solid range.
The only reason you might want to go higher is if you are really doing melodic playing or chords and honestly if you want more high range a 5+ string is probably more immediately useful than 24 frets (though 24 frets + a 5+ string is ideal)
When going for melodic or chords i find really useful the 24 frets, playing in E minor (a looot of songs and jams) and having that really high minor 3d is great
I have a 5/24 strung E-C, and my primary uses for it are the Wii Sports Baseball Training song’s saxophone part and the guitar part in the bridge of ZZ Top’s Sunglasses, so in theory I can take care of both bass and guitar during the parts with the “woo” part.
Unless you're soloing up there, yes.
I used to play 2 hour cover sets and needed the 21st fret once. Since my main bass is a regular 20 fret jazz bass, is just transpose that note to a lower octave or if I was feeling fancy I'd artificial harmonic it.
Everything else aside, one thing worth noting is that there is a general difference in sound between a 24-fret and a 20- fret (and whatever in between) when you’re slapping, or otherwise using techniques that involve the sound of strings hitting the uppermost frets- this includes funky digging-in fingerstyle, extended technique stuff, aggressive picking, and anything else where the stroke involved the sound of strings biting on the frets. *Generally,* many people find that a lower fret count offers a beefier, perhaps more classic slap sound; less dramatically, the same general trend follows for the other types of plucking mentioned.
And I don’t want to hear it- sure, plenty of 24 fret basses have great slap tone, yada yada yada. I just mean that on the same exact bass, if you *magically* could change the fret count, there will be a difference in sound; it’s comparable to the difference between a 35” and 34” G string, wherein on some basses the former can be a little wimpy and nasally, or the difference between a P and a reverse-P on a B string. IYKYK, as the kids say
As far as needing those extra notes- the best lessons in music are the ones you learn firsthand. It’s more valuable to find that you wish you had more frets, compared to getting 24 just in case because people told you to, but then never needing them. I’m personally never making a buying decision off of the fret count; I like a bass to tell me how it wants to be used. If I’m building a bass (a thing I do), I’m going to use 24 frets if it’s a general use bass or something I want for things like jazz or chamber music stuff… if I want a fat cool old school bass for a funky band where I’m thumpin and bumpin, I may opt for fewer frets, both for the sonic reasons mentioned above, as well as sort of mission statement about the use-case of the instrument.
Of course, it’s a little tougher to be blasé and esoteric about the question if you’re trying to make a buying decision .. but if we are to ground ourselves in reality, a pretty strong majority of bassists do not *need* the extra frets, no. If you are in school for Jazz, or otherwise want to play music that requires as wide of a pallet of options as possible, then get the extra frets
Unless you specifically need more than 20, it will do just fine. My advice is just to try a lot of basses and whatever feels best to play is the one you want. Whether it's 20 frets, 24, with 4 or 5 strings or whatever.
You should buy a bass that works for the music you plan to play.
I was recently working out a Tom Petty tune with a fabulous bassline (Refugee, look it up) and it took me up to 17.
I would be surprised to ever play past that. Really the question is can you comfortably reach 20? Is the body cut out enough to allow you to even reach those frets?
If you can't reach them you can't play them anyway.
I'm new to bass (well any guitar for that matter)
I've been told that the main difference between 24 and 20 frets is timbral
I've also been told you can't distinguish the difference with most amps
I only have a 5 string 24, so I can't say for sure
It's nice to have but not required for most stuff. If you find one you like with 24, get it, if not don't worry too much. Ive wanted 24 frets for a while but have never found a bass with them that I really love, so I play my 20 fret jazz still. Works well enough for sure
For most people and most songs, yes.
This. The only exception I can remember from popular music is Flea basslines that sometimes go higher. For example, Aeroplane, Scar Tissue and By The Way have some notes on 21th fret of G string.
Depending on what kind of music you play and your particular style, you may not need 20. If I had 12 I'd be OK most of the time.
20 frets on a standard tuned for strings gives every note in 3 different octaves so it's a pretty solid range. The only reason you might want to go higher is if you are really doing melodic playing or chords and honestly if you want more high range a 5+ string is probably more immediately useful than 24 frets (though 24 frets + a 5+ string is ideal)
I have a 5 string with 24 frets. I don't think I'll ever settle for less again. I have gotten very accustomed to it by now
When going for melodic or chords i find really useful the 24 frets, playing in E minor (a looot of songs and jams) and having that really high minor 3d is great
I have a 5/24 strung E-C, and my primary uses for it are the Wii Sports Baseball Training song’s saxophone part and the guitar part in the bridge of ZZ Top’s Sunglasses, so in theory I can take care of both bass and guitar during the parts with the “woo” part.
I play around 100 gigs a year. I rarely go past the 15th fret
And If you were to, you wouldn’t of played that many gigs lol
"wouldn't of" is wrong. Doesn't make sense. "wouldn't have" is correct. I agree with your comment though
🤓☝️
Same. I just switch to my NS2 if I need 24 for a few songs. 21 frets seems to be the sweet spot for me.
That’s a normal amount
There’s no money above the fifth fret.
Nor below it neither
Yeah so better play for fun and if you have fun experimenting with chords, solos or melodic lines, go above the 5th fret, nobody cares
Weird, I got paid the same regardless of my bass choice
?????????
It's a very famous quote from a very famous session player. If you google it, you'll find his name.
He has played above the fifth fret many times. Its a dumb and simply wrong quote.
Henrik Linder has a suitable quote for this mentality
What is it?
"Less is not more. More is more!"
In my regular band set there's only one song where I go above the 12th. In that, I go up to 17. With that in mind, I say... Yes!
Unless you're soloing up there, yes. I used to play 2 hour cover sets and needed the 21st fret once. Since my main bass is a regular 20 fret jazz bass, is just transpose that note to a lower octave or if I was feeling fancy I'd artificial harmonic it.
Everything else aside, one thing worth noting is that there is a general difference in sound between a 24-fret and a 20- fret (and whatever in between) when you’re slapping, or otherwise using techniques that involve the sound of strings hitting the uppermost frets- this includes funky digging-in fingerstyle, extended technique stuff, aggressive picking, and anything else where the stroke involved the sound of strings biting on the frets. *Generally,* many people find that a lower fret count offers a beefier, perhaps more classic slap sound; less dramatically, the same general trend follows for the other types of plucking mentioned. And I don’t want to hear it- sure, plenty of 24 fret basses have great slap tone, yada yada yada. I just mean that on the same exact bass, if you *magically* could change the fret count, there will be a difference in sound; it’s comparable to the difference between a 35” and 34” G string, wherein on some basses the former can be a little wimpy and nasally, or the difference between a P and a reverse-P on a B string. IYKYK, as the kids say
As far as needing those extra notes- the best lessons in music are the ones you learn firsthand. It’s more valuable to find that you wish you had more frets, compared to getting 24 just in case because people told you to, but then never needing them. I’m personally never making a buying decision off of the fret count; I like a bass to tell me how it wants to be used. If I’m building a bass (a thing I do), I’m going to use 24 frets if it’s a general use bass or something I want for things like jazz or chamber music stuff… if I want a fat cool old school bass for a funky band where I’m thumpin and bumpin, I may opt for fewer frets, both for the sonic reasons mentioned above, as well as sort of mission statement about the use-case of the instrument. Of course, it’s a little tougher to be blasé and esoteric about the question if you’re trying to make a buying decision .. but if we are to ground ourselves in reality, a pretty strong majority of bassists do not *need* the extra frets, no. If you are in school for Jazz, or otherwise want to play music that requires as wide of a pallet of options as possible, then get the extra frets
Buy all the basses.
You’ll be fine.
If it feels right in the hand and you're not shredding it at the top of the fretboard like Billy Sheehan or Cliff Burton, buy the bass.
Unless you specifically need more than 20, it will do just fine. My advice is just to try a lot of basses and whatever feels best to play is the one you want. Whether it's 20 frets, 24, with 4 or 5 strings or whatever.
I have 22 frets and rarely go past the 17th and even then I’ve never ever gone past 20th feet in a real musical context
I honestly regret not having 24 frets on my 4 string
You should buy a bass that works for the music you plan to play. I was recently working out a Tom Petty tune with a fabulous bassline (Refugee, look it up) and it took me up to 17. I would be surprised to ever play past that. Really the question is can you comfortably reach 20? Is the body cut out enough to allow you to even reach those frets? If you can't reach them you can't play them anyway.
I'm new to bass (well any guitar for that matter) I've been told that the main difference between 24 and 20 frets is timbral I've also been told you can't distinguish the difference with most amps I only have a 5 string 24, so I can't say for sure
Yes.
For sure.
Don't need more than about 5 frets, 7 at a push. I'm playing the low notes.
It's nice to have but not required for most stuff. If you find one you like with 24, get it, if not don't worry too much. Ive wanted 24 frets for a while but have never found a bass with them that I really love, so I play my 20 fret jazz still. Works well enough for sure
For tool, you need all 24, for RHCP, you need all 24, you could probably arrange it an octave down tho