Hello there.

I found this forum looking for advice on learning to play fretless. I've been a bass player since 1968, but I got my first fretless, a Michael Kelley Dragonfly acoustic, about a month ago. Thanks to the advice I found here I had little problem making the transition (though I do wonder when I'm going to pick up the Fender again - I'm having way too much fun with the fretless!).

I was professional for a while but the music business and Life In General can be incompatible at times, so at the tender age of sixty I am employed in the field of television postproduction. Fortunately for me, I have a rich musical life outside of work, jamming regularly and finding the occasional gig. I've played most every type of popular music and have been involved with rock cover bands, original progressive bands, bluegrass bands, folk bands, country bands, and have even sat in the pit for a few musicals along the way. I had an excursion into jazz territory a year or two ago as a side project, but I'm most comfortable playing rock. It's all good, but hey, follow your passion.

First time I was grabbed and shaken by music was Freddy Canon's "Buzz Buzz A Diddle-It", a rollicing blues shuffle that turned my young head on its ear.

My first blast of bass was in high school. There was a live band, and the bass was so loud and deep. I was intrigued. But it was later on, in college, that bass fever really gripped me. I remember a smoke filled room, and this new Beatle album called "Sgt. Pepper", and an incredibly melodic approach to bass working its way into the center of my head.

Before I knew it I had a beginner's bass, a little red teardrop number, and a Mel Bay book. I taught myself and stuck with it. By the time I got drafted into the Army, I was actually capable of playing, and was lucky enough to find myself in demand at the Service Clubs where we could check out instruments and jam.

The last few months of my tour in Vietnam, I was reassigned to special services and toured the country playing (and acting) in various shows. The core group of that time all met in Colorado when we got out, and we started a band. Lasted almost two years, not bad actually. We're still in touch. Moved on to a few other bands, but the writing was on the wall and, as my family grew, I got into video postproduction.

So here I am, hopefully not too verbose an opening shot. I'm still passionate about music and I'm grateful to be able to kick back every week and rock out. I think music keeps you young. Honestly, I don't feel a day over thirty-nine.

Peace!