LEFT-hand nails on fretless?

[Rob Mac]

I've played ouds before, the Middle Eastern lute, which is fretless, and I've also dallied with the fretless, gut-strung banjo. Both these traditions go back a long way, and both have a technique of using the left hand nail to dig into the string when doing slides. I've not heard of this technique on the double bass or the electric fretless bass guitar. Does anyone use this technique? The whole point of it is to give a clearer sound to the slide.

Just wondering...

Rob Mac

[lemur821]

Originally Posted by Rob Mac

I've played ouds before, the Middle Eastern lute, which is fretless, and I've also dallied with the fretless, gut-strung banjo. Both these traditions go back a long way, and both have a technique of using the left hand nail to dig into the string when doing slides. I've not heard of this technique on the double bass or the electric fretless bass guitar. Does anyone use this technique? The whole point of it is to give a clearer sound to the slide.

I'd think bass strings would destroy your finger nails if you tried it. But in any case, the strings have so much mass that I don't think it's necessary.