Basic steps in learning to play fretless

schnigges · #1 05-17-2009, 08:05 AM

Hi people,

As the title says, I'd like to have some opinions ( and also exercices) on what steps are important for switching from fretted to fretless.

What bothers me most is intonation, any exercices are welcome.

Also if this has already been discussed in another thread, pls post a link, I did a few searches but didn't find anything.

JTE · #2 05-17-2009, 10:38 AM

A. Just do it. Seriously, that's the best way.

B. When you play fretted, learn to put your fingers exactly behind the fret. That will transfer to the fretless, and will help your muscle memory

C. Play along with recordings. Listen closely. Don't play fast, and avoid time-based effects. A chorus pedal will cover a multitude of intonation sins, and if they're covered, you won't fix them.

D. Play a lick and stop in the middle somewhere. Keep your finger on the string and play an open string that's either the same note, or a good harmonic reference. For example, if you stop on an F#, play the open D or B to check your intonation.

E. Play paifully slow. Beside getting your intonation together, it'll also help your timing. And it has the cool side benefit of opening your ear up to common phrases.

F. Sing, hear, think the note's pitch in your head BEFORE you play it. Why do lots of solosits sing the notes they're playing (e.g. George Benson, Otiel Burbridge, Oscar Peterson, Slam Stewart, etc.)? Well, it's a cool hook, but it started out as them singing what they wanted the solo to sound like. Learn to do that and your sense of pitch will improve a lot.

G. Don't separate fretless from fretted. Practice all the same stuff on the fretless as you do on the fretted. Jaco's broken scale exercise where he goes up on the I chord, down on the ii chord, etc.? Play that thing on fretless while focusing on your intonation.

H. ||: Steps A - G :||

jte

schnigges · #3 05-17-2009, 11:09 AM

Thanks JTE

rllefebv · #4 05-17-2009, 12:18 PM

JTE pretty much nailed it... There also was an excellent series in Bass Player a few years back by Ed Friedland that outlined some key elements. Dunno if it's online or not, but it's worth searching for...

-robert

PDavyduck · #5 05-17-2009, 12:35 PM

one of the best things to do for your left hand (fretting hand) is to play using upright fingering. 1 2 and 4, especially from the 7th "fret" towards the nut. using 1-2-4 fingering will vastly improve your intonation.

Johnny StingRay · #6 05-17-2009, 12:49 PM

The previous suggestions are all excellent!

I would like to put my two cents in, though.

When I learned to play fretless way back in 1980, the salesman who sold me my fretless gave me one piece of advice that I think you should follow, too: "When you practice, practice in the dark so you cannot see the fretboard. Your hand and fingers will learn where to go and be guided by your ears. Your brain won't be able to interfere by thinking about it."

He was right.

PDavyduck · #7 05-17-2009, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny StingRay

the salesman who sold me my fretless gave me one piece of advice that I think you should follow, too: "When you practice, practice in the dark so you cannot see the fretboard. Your hand and fingers will learn where to go and be guided by your ears. Your brain won't be able to interfere by thinking about it."

not sure I totally agree but hey, different strokes for different folks!

vive le difference!! for it is goooood!

Toronto Bassist · #8 05-18-2009, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PDavyduck

not sure I totally agree but hey, different strokes for different folks!

vive le difference!! for it is goooood!

Actually, Steve Bailey recommends the same thing in his book on fretless bass. And, since his intonation seems to be pretty decent, I don't mind heeding his advice. And actually, his book/DVD is pretty handy for improving one's intonation.

PDavyduck · #9 05-18-2009, 02:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toronto Bassist

Actually, Steve Bailey recommends the same thing in his book on fretless bass. And, since his intonation seems to be pretty decent, I don't mind heeding his advice. And actually, his book/DVD is pretty handy for improving one's intonation.

like I said, different strokes for different folks. it's all good. as long as the player gets out of 'em what's in 'em then it's all good.

Chebass88 · #10 05-18-2009, 08:26 AM

I recently started playing on a fretless (Christmas 2008), but I have several years worth of playing on an upright, and this advice applies to both.

1. SCALES. All 12 keys, all 7 modes. All over the neck. Backwards & forwards. You can probably recognize a half step & a whole step, and can always double check against an open string.

2. SHIFTING. Practice shifting. Isolate the part that is tough and work on that (e.g., shifting downwards from first finger to 4th finger). A good exercise for this is to play the 1st 5 notes of a major scale ON ONE STRING & then back down, say C: C D E F G G F E D C. Repeat beginning on a D, E, etc.

3. ARPEGGIOS / BROKEN SCALES - These will help you learn the positions & intervals. The more you play them, the better you'll recognize whether you're out of tune.

4. Make sure your strap is at a good height for you - if your 'fretting' hand is uncomfortable, the intonation will suffer.

5. PLAY. Along with the radio, live, etc. Take it to rehearsals if possible. But, be prepared with a fretted if you aren't ready yet.

6. SLIDING - unless you are going for the sliding sound, practice shifting to a note without sliding.

7. PRACTICE. The best helper is time on the instrument.

hope this helps!

ian

Rigel42 · #11 05-18-2009, 08:30 AM

A chromatic tuner helps me. I leave it on all the time, and *surprise* it tells me what note I’m playing and if I’m sharp\flat.

grifff · #12 05-23-2009, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chebass88

I recently started playing on a fretless (Christmas 2008), but I have several years worth of playing on an upright, and this advice applies to both.

1. SCALES. All 12 keys, all 7 modes. All over the neck. Backwards & forwards. You can probably recognize a half step & a whole step, and can always double check against an open string.

2. SHIFTING. Practice shifting. Isolate the part that is tough and work on that (e.g., shifting downwards from first finger to 4th finger). A good exercise for this is to play the 1st 5 notes of a major scale ON ONE STRING & then back down, say C: C D E F G G F E D C. Repeat beginning on a D, E, etc.

3. ARPEGGIOS / BROKEN SCALES - These will help you learn the positions & intervals. The more you play them, the better you'll recognize whether you're out of tune.

4. Make sure your strap is at a good height for you - if your 'fretting' hand is uncomfortable, the intonation will suffer.

5. PLAY. Along with the radio, live, etc. Take it to rehearsals if possible. But, be prepared with a fretted if you aren't ready yet.

6. SLIDING - unless you are going for the sliding sound, practice shifting to a note without sliding.

7. PRACTICE. The best helper is time on the instrument.

hope this helps!

ian

Got any resources that you can offer that clearly list them?