Members db. Posted September 2, 2009 Members Share Posted September 2, 2009 I've played a few fretless basses over the years, but never long enough to really get used to them and understand the approach to the fretless fingerboard. I love the fretless sound, albeit not for every tune on the song list, but I think I could be a bit more expressive on the fretless - I like to slide my fingers and do all the fun little extra tricks. Question: How do I know if a fretless is right for me? Question: How long does it take to really get used to the fretless, especially with one no fret markers? Thanks for your advice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sunburstbasser Posted September 2, 2009 Members Share Posted September 2, 2009 Watch this video. If you like that groove, a fretless is for you. [YOUTUBE]OafqYNCzq5U[/YOUTUBE] Lots of beginning fretless players will use lots of slides and vibrato to find the right pitch. You should strive to not rely on those for normal playing and instead for expression. Try playing along with a few recordings and you can get the feel down matching a pre-recorded pitch. You could also record yourself on fretted, then match that with the fretless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Billystrat Posted September 2, 2009 Members Share Posted September 2, 2009 Playing with recordings is excellent advice. Also keep a tuner handy and tune the bass before playing so your ears and left hand fingers add up. I had a fretless in the house for probably 3 years, then about a month ago I started picking it up and throwing it in my daily practice routine. And I just played my first gig fully fretless. Surf around YouTube there's always great lessons if you dig. Also to mention, play to regular recordings, not just recordings with fretless bass. Learn to play it and treat it as a regular bass. Vibrato and Harmonic tricks are cool, but don't forget the bassics; of pitch, rhythm and groove! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bnyswonger Posted September 2, 2009 Members Share Posted September 2, 2009 Bottom line - it's a bass. Play it like one, keep it in tune, and nail your parts with the right feel and don't sweat it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members db. Posted September 2, 2009 Author Members Share Posted September 2, 2009 These are good tips, guys. I'm not feeling so freaked out about the fretless as much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 82Daion Posted September 2, 2009 Members Share Posted September 2, 2009 Bottom line - it's a bass. Play it like one, keep it in tune, and nail your parts with the right feel and don't sweat it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members coyote-1 Posted September 2, 2009 Members Share Posted September 2, 2009 A fretless demands you LISTEN. You cannot play it the way so many guitarists and bassists play - by looking at the fret markers. Instead, you have to HEAR whether your intonation is correct. For most, that's such a fundamental change in approach that it takes years for them to get it. I recommend practicing scales and intervals so that you really get used to the feel of the instrument. DON'T LOOK at the fingerboard at all; instead, listen closely. Once you get comfortable with your positioning, pull out some books and play melodies using your sight-reading skills. Look at the music and listen to your accuracy. Then start improvising over the changes that go with those melodies. Only after you are certain you can comfortably play appropriate choices with proper intonation ought you start doing the typical 'fretless' tricks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members degroove Posted September 2, 2009 Members Share Posted September 2, 2009 I did not find it tough to learn. I have been playing bass for a long time though. I have a good ear and can tell if my notes were sounding sharp or flat. I have a lined fretless which helps. I was mentally making it seem way harder than it was. Not until I could fly around on a fretted without looking what what I thought was needed prior playing fretess. The answer is no, its not that hard. You can get a nice tone quickly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Pine Apple Slim Posted September 2, 2009 Members Share Posted September 2, 2009 Its not to hard really. Lines may keep your hand position in the ballpark, butyou gotta LISTEN, like everybody says.Also, I found it was something I had to to do often, like daily practice on it.Found that if I laid off fretless for a while, it took a while to get back good chops. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ModmanQ6 Posted September 2, 2009 Members Share Posted September 2, 2009 It takes a big man to play a fretless....just sayin'.... I figure everyone else pretty much had it covered... I love both of mine. My suggestion...practice in the dark or just don't look at your hands. The positioning will feel natural quickly as your ears get used to it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members db. Posted September 2, 2009 Author Members Share Posted September 2, 2009 It takes a big man to play a fretless....just sayin'.... Sheesh. Well, I play about 95% of the time without looking at the fingerboard; I sometimes look at the fingerboard when I get way up there around the 10th or 12th fret. So, I'm thinking it might not be a huge stretch learning fretless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Thumper Posted September 2, 2009 Members Share Posted September 2, 2009 Bottom line - it's a bass. Play it like one, keep it in tune, and nail your parts with the right feel and don't sweat it. Yep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ModmanQ6 Posted September 2, 2009 Members Share Posted September 2, 2009 Sheesh. Well, I play about 95% of the time without looking at the fingerboard; I sometimes look at the fingerboard when I get way up there around the 10th or 12th fret. So, I'm thinking it might not be a huge stretch learning fretless. Shouldn't be a problem then. Just pick one up and start playing. Once you get away from open notes, your hand position is the same, so it'll feel very natural quickly. Your ears will help you with the micro adjustments and soon you'll just hit the notes dead on without any sliding at all... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JacieFB Posted September 2, 2009 Members Share Posted September 2, 2009 It's hard. Probably not worth your time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JacieFB Posted September 2, 2009 Members Share Posted September 2, 2009 Just felt like being argumentative. :poke: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Renfield Posted September 2, 2009 Members Share Posted September 2, 2009 Bottom line - it's a bass. Play it like one, keep it in tune, and nail your parts with the right feel and don't sweat it. People often say I play my bass like it's a guitar (I use lots of chords and distortion) but they never make that remark when I have my fretless out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Thrustin Posted September 2, 2009 Members Share Posted September 2, 2009 It takes a big man to play a fretless....just sayin'.... Maybe someone could recommend a nice short scale for db.. Also, get some of those nylon coated strings, so they don't hurt your soft hands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members db. Posted September 2, 2009 Author Members Share Posted September 2, 2009 Maybe someone could recommend a nice short scale for db.. Also, get some of those nylon coated strings, so they don't hurt your soft hands. Who's the pesky fly now, hmmmm? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bnyswonger Posted September 2, 2009 Members Share Posted September 2, 2009 Maybe someone could recommend a nice short scale for db.. Also, get some of those nylon coated strings, so they don't hurt your soft hands. Wrong. Intonation is more difficult on a short scale. Nylon strings are a taste thing, but I can't stand 'em. Even deader than flats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Thrustin Posted September 2, 2009 Members Share Posted September 2, 2009 Who's the pesky fly now, hmmmm? I figured I'd try something new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Thrustin Posted September 2, 2009 Members Share Posted September 2, 2009 Wrong. Intonation is more difficult on a short scale. But what if you're just a little man? [YOUTUBE]ihZ84PsNLrs[/YOUTUBE] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members coyote-1 Posted September 2, 2009 Members Share Posted September 2, 2009 Not on a fretless. There, intonation is easier. Wrong. Intonation is more difficult on a short scale. Nylon strings are a taste thing, but I can't stand 'em. Even deader than flats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Teletypist Posted September 2, 2009 Members Share Posted September 2, 2009 Bottom line - it's a bass. Play it like one, keep it in tune, and nail your parts with the right feel and don't sweat it. Playing a fretless perfectly is difficult. In most cases it's also unnecessary. So relax, play your groove, and explore the possibilities. It's a lot of fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Super_Donut_Man Posted September 2, 2009 Members Share Posted September 2, 2009 Playing a fretless perfectly is difficult. In most cases it's also unnecessary. So relax, play your groove, and explore the possibilities. It's a lot of fun. +1 I am learning that. I have also learned that I don't like flats at the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Teletypist Posted September 2, 2009 Members Share Posted September 2, 2009 +1I am learning that. I have also learned that I don't like flats at the moment. You know: it's part of the process. "Conventional wisdom" tells you fretless=flats. I don't get that. Sometimes I use flats, sometimes rounds, sometimes half-rounds. I don't know why one thing (fretless) determines the other to some people. The way I see it, there's this "sound". For some songs that is what I want. Some mix of gear achieves it, so that is the gear I need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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