Fretless tips

[WesW]

Any to be had?

I did some searching and didn't see anything specific to fretless, so I thought I'd open this up.

Thanks!!

[Depth_Charge]

Practice each and every day!

[JohnBarr]

Buy Gary Willis' book "101 Bass Tips"

Play scales against a "drone" tone. One way is to tape down a note (C, D, what ever) or a triad on a keyboard.

Play along with _very_ slow songs, ballads. A few notes, lots of open space, to get a sense of your intonation (or lack there of) and note choice.

Search this forum, and others, (again) for endless threads on this very topic. Try searching "intonation"

[doctorjazz]

Play lots of intervals (octaves, fifths, thirds, etc.), learn to get them in tune at every point on the neck.

Work more open strings into your basslines, so they can act as reference points for your intonation mid-song.

Run your bass through a chromatic tuner and play scales very slowly to check that every note is in tune.

[Eli M.]

Expanding upon doctorjazz's comment: in addition to working open strings into your basslines, also try incorporating harmonics. That's sometimes an even more accurate indication of whether you're in tune. Often in band situations, the 12th fret harmonic won't even sound like one.

Learn the "vibrato cheat" but don't rely on it (that's when you initially play the note out of tune but correct yourself through the use of vibrato).

[Deacon_Blues]

That's funny, I avoid playing open strings as I love the mwaah sound too much , I want it in all notes. I use other instruments, or practice over records, to ensure I'm in tune.

It should be obvious, but I mention it anyway: Make sure the bass is correctly tuned and intonated. Even though it's possible to play in tune without that being ok, it will be a disadvantage for your muscle memory and it will take much longer time for you to learn to play in tune.

+1 to practicing scales, intervals etc... I'm still a newbie on fretless, but I've found practicing octaves all over the neck is very valuable and it's very easy to hear if they're in tune.

[Pilgrim]

Originally Posted by Eli Maniscalco

Learn the "vibrato cheat" but don't rely on it (that's when you initially play the note out of tune but correct yourself through the use of vibrato).

That's the first time I've heard vibrato referred to as cheating. I've always considered it a helpful basic technique. But I suppose it can be mis-used like anything else.

[Eli M.]

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

That's the first time I've heard vibrato referred to as cheating. I've always considered it a helpful basic technique. But I suppose it can be mis-used like anything else.

Well, vibrato isn't always cheating. I was basically referring to the ability to get the note in tune without having to correct it mid-note.

[WesW]

Great stuff guys - thanks.

Appreciate all the good tips!

[SundanceChile]

Practice with a piano.

Practice daily.

Fretlines are a big helper.