Two hand tapping on a fretless

TVBBass · #1 04-24-2007, 09:54 AM

I've been playing the Fretless (6 string) for a few years now and the Cello for MANY years before that, so my internation isn't too bad (deffinitly the thing for continuing eternal work!!!)
I've just recently entered the wonderful world of 2 hand tapping. I was just wondering if there were any fretless players out there who could sympathise with my frustration of having to basically learn a whole new set of muscle memory skills when trying to keep my right hand taps in tune!!!
It's sounds horrid, like I've never played a fretless instrument before, I know its just practice thats needed since my right hand doesn't know what the word 'tuning' means but can anyone offer sympathy or some useful exercise tips except play everything I know, with my left hand behind my back, til its in tune!!!

MarkMyWordsXx · #2 04-24-2007, 10:04 AM

a quick tip in general, its much eaiser if you bar or play notes under the note your tapping with your right hand.

what i mean by this is if you hold down the string a bit(assuming your not playing open strings and or pulloffs) it makes it much eaiser to frett the note

HaVIC5 · #3 04-24-2007, 10:25 AM

Two-handed tapping on a fretless is unfortunately extremely difficult for that exact reason - one must learn the muscle memory not only for the left hand but the right hand as well. For this reason, very few people can tap, or are willing to shed enough to learn how to tap on a fretless. The only person I have ever heard to convincingly tap on a fretless is the master himself, Michael Manring.

TVBBass · #4 04-24-2007, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HaVIC5

Two-handed tapping on a fretless is unfortunately extremely difficult for that exact reason - one must learn the muscle memory not only for the left hand but the right hand as well. For this reason, very few people can tap, or are willing to shed enough to learn how to tap on a fretless. The only person I have ever heard to convincingly tap on a fretless is the master himself, Michael Manring.

VERY true, it really is chuffing hard!!! But hey all the more reason to experiment with it I say...I guess it really is just a practice, practice and oh yeah practice!!!

If there is any "normal" (normal meaning not Michael Manring - I love you're music but I'm not in your league!!) people out there who have "succesfully" reach a degree of good quality two hand fretless tapping then let me know.

lemur821 · #5 04-24-2007, 01:57 PM

I can do it in tune, although I'm not the fanciest tapper ever. It just takes a little while to get the muscle memory going.

santucci218 · #6 04-24-2007, 02:03 PM

Claypool....yeah i know im a get good and bad opinions on that, BUT he does do fretless 6 string tapping!

TVBBass · #7 04-25-2007, 03:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by santucci218

Claypool....yeah i know im a get good and bad opinions on that, BUT he does do fretless 6 string tapping!

Do I dare say it... Claypool was actual the main reason I decided to give it a go. I'm not a huge fan but I bought a Primus album as a bass research project (any excuse to buy music!) And I'm glad I did cos the stuff he does is real intresting...All the stuff I was told I couldn't do when I bought my first fretless like slapping and tapping. (I still think fretless slapping sounds too much like a wet blanket being slapped...IMO you need the frets for a good slap tone -just my opinion...some people do it really well)

lemur821 · #8 04-25-2007, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVBBass

(I still think fretless slapping sounds too much like a wet blanket being slapped...IMO you need the frets for a good slap tone -just my opinion...some people do it really well)

Your strings make a huge difference. With flats, yes. With some round wounds, yes. With fairly new D'addario EXPs, no. There are probably others that would turn out the same, but these sound pretty good.

TVBBass · #9 04-26-2007, 02:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lemur821

Your strings make a huge difference. With flats, yes. With some round wounds, yes. With fairly new D'addario EXPs, no. There are probably others that would turn out the same, but these sound pretty good.

Cheers mate I'll check them out!!

sir juice · #10 04-27-2007, 09:52 AM

i've found it much easier tapping on my fretless maybe for the simple reason that it's less to press down on.

but as far as intonation goes, it's not such a problem as long as you keep an eye on where your playing and not just leaving it to your hand recognition to guide your fingers