Proper way to play fretless

[hobobot009]

I was wondering, what is the proper way to play a fretless?

[sunburstbasser]

Place finger on string.

 

Push string down to wood.

 

Sound string with your other hand.

 

Same as fretted, minus the frets!

 

Intonation, though...

[Dave Martin]

I would answer, "In tune?"

[illidian]

Originally posted by hobobot009 I was wondering, what is the proper way to play a fretless?

 

Correctly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you have fret lines? That would help. Best to start with your intonation right, though.

[hobobot009]

yeah the neck has fretlines

[hobobot009]

The reason why I ask is that I have heard some people say that the proper way to play fretless is to press down exactly where the fret would be on a fretted bass. Would it matter much if you pressed down in between the frets instead of exactly at the fret marker?

[BoundandBlocked]

That depends on your intonation. Your intonation depends on your preference. If you set up your bass so that it is tune when you press directly on the fret line, if you press down anywhere else, it will sound out of tune.

 

Here's a link:

 

http://www.garywillis.com/pages/bass/bassmanual/intonation.html

[bassmanjones]

Has nothing to do with intonation until you get past the 12th or so fret.

 

You are supposed to place your finger exactly where the fret would be in order to play in tune (assuming of course, the bass is actually in tune).

[illidian]

I too heard it depends on your intonation.

 

Example:

 

Fret````Fret

|-----------|

|-----------|

|-----------|

`````````^

`````Intonation

Means your finger should be slightly behind the line.

 

|-----------|

|-----------|

|-----------|

``````````^

``````Intonation

Means your finger should be exactly on the line.

[bassman1956]

Yup, finger right on where the fret should be. Intonation's a different beast on a fretless. It has to do with how well you hit those notes in tune. Adjusting at the 12th fret to match the harmonic really isn't a big thing, since actual fingering position decides the note, not adjustment of the bridge/fret spacing.

 

However, there are 2 notes here:

 

First, certainly if you have a lined fretless, and possibly even if you only have side dots, you may want to adjust so that your finger falls right at the same place at the markings down the full length of the scale. Second, then you will want to adjust so fingering's at the same place across the fingerboard for all of the strings.

[Zebra]

 

Originally posted by hobobot009 The reason why I ask is that I have heard some people say that the proper way to play fretless is to press down exactly where the fret would be on a fretted bass. Would it matter much if you pressed down in between the frets instead of exactly at the fret marker?

 

Well, if you want to make real notes then it does.

[bassman1956]

Originally posted by Zebra Well, if you want to make real notes then it does.

 

 

:D

Dayum!

[jazzbassist]

Fret lines are like training wheels...

 

No lines for me, thanks!

[Perfessor]

And one other thing. Play it in the dark, with your eyes closed, whatever. But get the feel. It'll take a couple months maybe and then who knows. I started out on fretless and don't have one now.

[nicebigstrings]

Refer to open strings constantly and relate your intonation to them. Start by fretting one tone against an open note, then two etc. PLAY SLOWLY!!

 

And Perfesser's right; try playing at least some of the time in the dark.

[james on bass]

 

Originally posted by nicebigstrings And Perfesser's right; try playing at least some of the time in the dark.

 

 

 

I like playing in the dark;)

[bnyswonger]

When you're starting out, play through a tuner and check constantly & LISTEN. You will eventually get to the point where you don't near to stare at the tuner because you hear when you're wrong.

 

Be right.

[ezstep]

There are several bassists who start out on a note just a tad flat and "slide" or "slur" up to the correct note. It enhances that patented "mwah" fretless sound.

 

I agree with all the advice above. Play in the dark for a while to keep from cheating and looking at the lines. Notice, too, that your side dots are exactly where the fret should be and not between the frets. (Hold your fretted bass and your fretless bass together and look and the side marks - they aren't aligned with each other. Get used to not looking.)

 

One other thing. Your tuning and your intonation need to be as perfect as you can get them. Get a good tuner and, as Bob said, and then, ween yourself from looking at it.

 

Good luck. There is nothing quite as rewarding as playing a four hour gig with a fretless.

[Perfessor]

My old '73 fretless Precision had the dots where they are on a fretted neck, not in line with where the frets used to be. I think I've seen replacement necks that have this arrangement. I'm not sure if there are any basses with the dots out of sinc with the fretlines being made today.

[fretless]

I think with your fingers , but I have seen Tony Levin use sticks

[james on bass]

I really miss playing fretless.

Two of my fretless basses were Ibanez's that had been de-fretted, so of course they were lined with dots in the traditional spot.

My FBass had dots and lines on the side where they would normally be on a fretted bass, and dots only on the fretboard on the treble side above the 12th "fret".

If I was to order a fretless now, I would have a blank fingerboard with dots and lines on the side.

 

Like someone else mentioned, fret at the "fret-line", and use open strings occassionally for tonal reference.

 

Did I mention yet that I miss playing fretless?