Learning to fretless

[Alduroth]

I've got fret markers, but they seem off when I use my tuning machine to watch what I'm doing. I'm gonna use my new bass tomorrow for the first time with the band.
Anyone got some tips or tricks to learn to fretless?
It's a defretted bass btw.

[Anonymatt]

Intonation issues with the bass don't have to be the worst thing ever on a fretless--but you may be able to adjust it to "optimize" fretline positions, if you haven't already. I'm sure you'll just learn where all the notes are in relation to the fretlines. Fretted and lined basses make my "dizzy" when I look at them because I'm not used to them. I use the dots on the side of the neck as a guide. I'm sure my brain does something like "drawing the frets" in my head (because I have played guitar for years).

There are some places on my bass where half-steps are so close together! Or there are a few notes that are off by 5mm from where the fret would be.

Thank your lucky stars that the thing doesn't have frets!

[BassChuck]

If you're putting your finger right on the line where the fret used to be, likely the note is sharp. When you put your finger on the line you're actually stopping the note a little closer to the bridge than the fret.

Now, if you are working with the dot on the side of the neck, remember that as a fretted bass that dot was INBETWEEN two frets, and so that mark would be way off for use on a fretless bass.

Fretless is a beautiful sound and a wonderfully flexible music experience. But it is no where near as forgiving as a fretted bass. Good hand position and ear training are very necessary.

Good luck, its a great journey.

[fretlessguy]

When I intonate my fretlesses I always intonate it where the note is played directly on the lines instead of the middle between them as if on a fretted. This allows me a little better tuning as I play.

You can do this using a credit card directly on the line at the octave bar when you intonate the bass. There are plenty of resources on this website and others if you haven't done this before.

Playing fretless is it's on reward. There are plenty of tricks and techniques you can do on one which are quite sonically cool. To get more of the classic laid-back mwah sound, play right over the neck down at the heel of it before you get to the body of the bass. If you want a little more of a fretted sound, or a little more punch, play over the body near the pup(s).

FG