Fretless tips and hints

[Kaneesel]

I just bought a fretless acoustic and just want to know if anyone has any hints, tips, techniques, or advice on playing a fretless as apposed to a fretted.

(I searched for a thread like this and couldn't find one. If it exists, let me know please.)

[Chebass88]

I just bought a fretless myself (1998 Warwick Corvette Fretless), and am in the same boat. I play upright also, so I have been applying the same style of learning to the fretless. LOTS of scales (all modes in all keys), position studies, and shifting (without sliding into the pitch or having bad intonation). I've also been practicing the Simandl book (for upright) and the Arban trombone methods for scalar exercises.

I hope this helps!

ian

[thombo]

learn your your intervals (what's what and the sound they make when played in tune) and use open strings as tuning references when practicing (ie; G# against your open E sting is a Maj 3rd, a C against your G sting is a Perfect 4th).

some people will dispute this, but i find that i have to use an upright (index, middle, pinky) technique when fingering certain intervals (like octaves) in tune below the 5th fret.

[ezrs]

i practiced my intonation by using a drone and playing in that key, that way i would hear precisely when i was off.

[fettbass]

Don't do vibratto by bending the string vertically, like you would on a fretted, this causes premature wear to the fretboard when there aren't metal frets to protect it. Instead do your vibratto with a side to side motion.

[bassrique]

The lower down the neck you go [towards the nut] the more in front of the "fret" you'll be, while the farther up the neck you go, the more behind the "fret" you'll be.

And don't be too proud to look.

[Kaneesel]

IT CAME!!!! Recieved it last night.

I've been playing for 10 years now, fretted, so I know positions. The only problem i seem to be having is while playing, my root note starts to move. The scale is in tune to itself, but it changes key.

All and all, I like it a lot. Fun new style to learn.

[fretlessguy]

Congratulations. Welcome to the world of fretless bass. Besides the usual tricks of the trade, I have learned that if you play off the neck in a mid to bridge position it sounds more like a fretted (which could be good for the effect or perhaps if you do not want to haul around an extra bass). Another is that if you want more mwah, play over the fretboard (fingerboard? It is fretless, you know).

[BassChuck]

Originally Posted by Kaneesel

....The only problem i seem to be having is while playing, my root note starts to move. The scale is in tune to itself, but it changes key.

If you have a keyboard or tuner or someway to hear a constant pitch (drone) while you play, set that sound for the root note of your scale and compare all the notes to that drone.

Keep listening. Be very careful of your hand postion. Its OK to look at the lines (if you have them) or position markers, just be sure to listen first and let your eyes check the work you ear does (not the other way around).

Other things that are good are any kind of play along records, or Band in a Box, or buying your friends a beer and having them over for a jam. Keep playing and listening.

[Aurel]

I just bought a Fender Tony Franklin Precision with an unfinished ebony fretboard.
What kind of finish should I use to protect the fingerboard from wear? (I use flats)
Any tips on fingerboard cleaning?

[davidjbass]

All great advice. Keep it coming.

[Jools4001]

Originally Posted by Kaneesel

IT CAME!!!! Recieved it last night.

I've been playing for 10 years now, fretted, so I know positions. The only problem i seem to be having is while playing, my root note starts to move. The scale is in tune to itself, but it changes key.

All and all, I like it a lot. Fun new style to learn.

Throw a few open strings into your scales and you'll recalibrate your pitch so the root won't move. In reality, this issue is only likely to happen when you're practising alone, in a band situation there are all sorts of other instruments like keyboards or guitars to reference your pitch to

[justBrian]

Use your ears, not your eyes.

[pbagley]

Originally Posted by justBrian

Use your ears, not your eyes.

Excellent advice. I've been a fretless player since '93, and I often (still) look at the position dots way too much. Dots, no lines.

Other tips from someone who has flailed through learning fretless like a blind bull through a chinal shop:

Play in a group setting as often as possible. Learn to hear how your pitches fit with the other instruments in the group.
DANGER: You may become the tuning Nazi in every group you play in. Once you begin to pay close attention to pitch you begin to hear out of tune-ness perhaps too well.

You may begin to notice how your notes fit into the mix... I found that if I went a cent or two flat I disappeared into the mix, and a cent or two sharp and I stood out. Not far enough out of tune to be annoying, just enough to sound louder... It is very odd, and maybe just an illusion (or delusion).
You may also find that some notes are in a different place than you thought. Thirds, etc. You may start to use a just temperment instead of even, so your notes sound more in tune (to you).

Use a very mid-range heavy tone to bring out the mwaaa in your tone. Without the mids there is no bloom, and you may as well be playing fretted. Experiment with changes in the upper mids to enhance the growl.

You'll find that old string have false notes in the upper mids. You will probably change strings more often. See the tuning note above.
I like the tone of round wounds. Some like flats. You'll find what works best for you.
When changing strings I like to give the fingerboard a fresh coat of lemongrass oil. This cleans and seals the board, and once dry I think this helps make a better mwaaa tone.

Good luck, and have fun,

- Paul

[dmusic148]

Play it exclusively for a while. Like several weeks. This is the best way to 'make friends' with it. Eventually it becomes easy.

[Jared Lash]

While I agree with those who say to use your ears and not your eyes, I'd suggest something different when you first get your bass.

Assuming you have an accurate tuner, plug it in and make sure the bass is intonated well. If not, set it up correctly or have it set up for you.

Then, use the tuner to see exactly where your finger should be placed to get the note in tune. See how your finger placement varies as you go up the neck. You definitely should play fretless "with your ear" but your ear can only tell you if you're hitting the right note after the fact. Establishing a good frame of reference about where your fingers SHOULD be is a big help in my experience.

[tZer]

Practice your scales and arpeggios slowly up and down the neck in all positions listen to each interval of each scale or arpeggio as you go. If the pitch you hit sounds 'sour' and vibrato doesn't massage it into place, you'll need to slide a little. That's part of the charm of fretless - the sliding. Now you cannot be going gooey all over the place, so you do want to strive for landing on pitch all the time. But it's OK to land your finger, hear it's just off by a bit and to slide it to pitch.

Your ear should tell you if the intervals are good - and you can check yourself against open strings and harmonic benchmarks to verify your 'anchor points' are sound.

Sliding and vibrato are your friends! Train your ears to know the sounds of the intervals and use them to move your fingers accordingly.

[ga_edwards]

Something I've found is if you normally 'fret' notes with your finger tips, playing them with the pad of the finger will bring out more of the characteristic 'mwah' voice.

Also, where you would normally try to reduce fret buzz on a fretted bass, purposely setting the action so that there's a slight buzz will also bring out more of the character of the fretless tone.

[dvh]

All kinds of both good and wierd advice so far.

The mystique of fretless disappears soon after you start playing it. I made my first fretless out of a pawn shop special just for fun. Once I started at it I wondered what all the fuss was about.

My advice: just play the damn thing. Another piece: don't worry about looking, especially in the early going. There is nothing wrong with looking - no matter how accomplished one is. I don't get the snobbery about it.

[justBrian]

Originally Posted by dvh

My advice: just play the damn thing. Another piece: don't worry about looking, especially in the early going. There is nothing wrong with looking - no matter how accomplished one is. I don't get the snobbery about it.

I don't know if it's a snobbery issue, but more one of economy of motion. If you're reading a chart it's difficult to look at the measure, then look at your hand, then back at the next measure, then back at your hand , then back... At least that's the way I look at it (no pun intended ).