Re: How high do you go
Those frets are sort of like cops. It's nice to know they're there but most of the time I don't need them, I get along fine without them, but if I need them, they're available. I guess I could have said "fair-weather friends" or some such, but that's not as funny.
I generally don't venture up there, though I have on occasion gone up to the C or D on the E string. That's rare, and would be in the heat of the moment in a live performance, wherein the unexpected and unplanned may well occur, and would depend on the key. But in some of my songs such ventures are part of the plan.
I have a shuffle in D in which the lead goes up to a quick accent using the A above the octave (fret 17). I have a slow blues in E which ventures up to a wow moment on the B above the octave (fret 19). In another song the intro/traveling riff is Am Am F G, and for the coda/fade I keep moving this up the neck to its final position with the Am at 14-14-15-17. This is thematically important, as the title is "Bluebird" and the effect is supposed to evoke flying "right up into the sky," as the line says. Lastly, I have a song which begins with a riff in Am/Em then modulates by a full step to a verse in Bm, second verse in C#m, and final riff in D#m. That's 11-13-13-14.
Single notes are easier to finger cleanly than chords, of course. I mention these instances because they are parts of the composition, as well as the arrangement, so I have to go there. Bear in mind, when fingering these high frets, that you don't have to fit your fingers between the frets. What your fingertips are doing below the frets doesn't matter, as long as you don't go above the frets. I find myself having to explain this to audience members who ask about this, though players should know this already. But I thought I'd leave no question, so I went the Captain Obvious route here.
But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller
Furthering Mandolin Consciousness
Finders Keepers, my duo with the astoundingly talented and versatile Patti Rothberg. Our EP is finally done, and available! PM me, while they last!
Bookmarks