Behind the fret, or middle of fret???

[ric1312]

I've read several players here say to play just behind the fret. That is I'm assuming just about touching it.

But, whenever I go to my local guitar shop and the owners see me play they tell me I should be fretting right in the middle of the fret, that this is technically the way it should be played. (Both of these guys can play bass, but are really guitar players)

I always listen to people more skilled than me, (which is just about anyone who can pick up a bass) but I've also seen quite good bass players play just behind the fret.

Lately I've been playing just in the middle of the fret, it doesn't really hurt or help my playing.

What is the most accepted way and why?

[Phalex]

Accepted?? I dunno.

Personally, I play almost on top of the fret. I guess I probably got that from playing without frets for a long time. It's just where my finger goes, that's all.

[Demon]

Id say the difference isnt that big, but try not to go above middle, so it should be atleast middle to right above, but id try to stick to right above cos technically thats the best way to stop the note at the fret cleanly, but the minimal is most often not noticeable.

[guy n. cognito]

Originally Posted by ric1312

But, whenever I go to my local guitar shop and the owners see me play they tell me I should be fretting right in the middle of the fret, that this is technically the way it should be played. (Both of these guys can play bass, but are really guitar players)

These guys are technically wrong. Just because you CAN, doesn't mean you SHOULD.

Their "techinque" is nothing more than a recipie for fret buzz and a near inability to ever sucessfully transition over to a fretless. Next time you're in that shop, go pick up ANY beginner bass book. I'd be willing to bet that all of them recommend fretting directly behind the fret.

Next time he tells you this, ask him WHY. I bet he can't answer that one. Remember, just because he can play a bass doesn't mean he's any good at it.

[Alec W. Conway]

I play on the edge of the fret as much as I can. Thats a habit I took very early on, I always played like that.

Consequence => I can play my lined fretless without having to concentrate all that much on putting my fingers at the right place.

[ric1312]

Thanks all, back to behind the fret I guess.

[battery]

the reason for playing close to or on the fret is to avoid fretbuzz.
so try out which option suits u best.

[slybass3000]

Originally Posted by battery

the reason for playing close to or on the fret is to avoid fretbuzz.
so try out which option suits u best.

NOT JUST FOR FRETBUZZ BUT FOR PITCH AS WELL!

When you play in the middle of the fret you actually pulling the string down on the fingerboard and you play the note sharp.
So you can play out of tune with a fretted bass like that.

TRY IT!
So get use to play very close to the fret by locking the string on it.
That is why it is good to practice 4 fingers-4 frets technique and place your hand to get the good habit!

SB

[SLaPiNFuNK]

Just behind the fret...

on the lower frets (1st / 2nd position) if you play too far in the middle and press too hard you will be sharp as well as some frett noise...

but best to be just behind the frett...

[Erick Lam]

You want to play just like a fretless, that is when pressed down, the edge of the finger lines up with the fret. That's what "behind the fret" means. If you play directly on the fret, half your finger is on the other side and it can create buzz/mute.

[Dr_Funkdamental]

Interesting replies. Ive always played in the middle and never had a problem with any of that.

[bassist15]

I used to play in the middle just kinda of lazily hitting somewhere . I recently saw a clip of Jaco's instructional dvd and he said the way to get the purest note and best pitch is to play "behing the fret" . The man had awesome intonation and an awesome musical ear so I started playing that way and Ive noticed a better sound

[daffy]

Originally Posted by guy n. cognito

These guys are technically wrong. Just because you CAN, doesn't mean you SHOULD.

Their "techinque" is nothing more than a recipie for fret buzz and a near inability to ever sucessfully transition over to a fretless. Next time you're in that shop, go pick up ANY beginner bass book. I'd be willing to bet that all of them recommend fretting directly behind the fret.

Next time he tells you this, ask him WHY. I bet he can't answer that one. Remember, just because he can play a bass doesn't mean he's any good at it.

+1000000

A great source of info on this is Gary Willis the fretless guru (it's in his book "101 tips" next time you are in that music shop) - he has an exercise/discussion on where you should fret. Basically, his conclusions were:
- if you fret anywhere else but just behind the fret, you will have issues with your pitch/intonation when playing a fretless. I picked up my first fretless a couple of days ago and had no pitch problems at all. The owner was really surprised!
- it requires far less finger pressure to stop strings buzzing when you play just behind the frets. This translates to less tension in your fingers and therefore greater speed and dexterity on the fingerboard.

I used to teach guitar and the same fretting information applies. If I was in that shop I would have given those guitards a great big slap upside the head for handing out that sort of rubbish - they are ones that don't know how to play (but you can get away with more when you have small strings)!

[SLaPiNFuNK]

When it comes to a frettless bass... I have problems playing them if they are Lined fingerboards... I tend to play just behind the line hence play flatt... hence why my fretless basses are unlined

[Depth_Charge]

If you look at the markers on a fretless, they line up to pretty much end of the fret, not the middle like the markers on most fretted bassesdo

Symettry (sp?) is perceived as beauty and it looks more uniform and "better" to mark the positions in the centre of 2 parallel lines, IMO at least