Playing my fretless without looking at my fingers...

Fassa Albrecht · #1 02-17-2009, 09:37 PM

Seriously, I've been playing my fretless Shergold for 2 years now and I still look at my fingers.

Anyone got any idea how I can stop doing this?

Ampeg SVT · #2 02-17-2009, 09:40 PM

Practice, looking at your bass while playing isn't necessarily a bad thing.

fretlessman71 · #3 02-17-2009, 09:44 PM

A few things you can do... practice with a tuner with nice bright LED lights that works well in the dark, and play with the lights off. OR, play along with other songs, also with the lights off. Make sure you adjust your volumes of both bass and music so you can hear both well and hear when you're out of tune. It's good practice. OTOH, I agree with Ampeg. I have lined fretless basses and I look at them all the time. But the "lights off" thing is good practice for your ears.

Fassa Albrecht · #4 02-17-2009, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fretlessman71

A few things you can do... practice with a tuner with nice bright LED lights that works well in the dark, and play with the lights off. OR, play along with other songs, also with the lights off. Make sure you adjust your volumes of both bass and music so you can hear both well and hear when you're out of tune. It's good practice. OTOH, I agree with Ampeg. I have lined fretless basses and I look at them all the time. But the "lights off" thing is good practice for your ears.

I'll try this when I get a chance.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ampeg SVT

Practice, looking at your bass while playing isn't necessarily a bad thing.

It is a bad thing when you're trying to read sheet music, sing and lead a crowd at the same time.

fdeck · #5 02-17-2009, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fassa Albrecht

Seriously, I've been playing my fretless Shergold for 2 years now and I still look at my fingers.

Anyone got any idea how I can stop doing this?

Hopefully you have fret lines. Two things come to mind, from when I studied cello before taking up the bass. It is my opinion that better technique leads to better intonation.

First, when you are looking at your fingers, concentrate on having the best possible technique. Learn to be conscious of correct technique. Get the correct spacings burned into your muscle memory. In other words, don't just use the fret lines as a crutch, but as an aid to improving your technique.

Second, when not looking at your fingers, another cello exercise is, whenever possible, to check a note against an open string, a familiar interval to an open string, a harmonic, whatever is available. This is a sort of ear training as well as helping your technique.

Short of getting a tuner, just close your eyes, finger a note, and look at how close you are. And as mentioned above, when playing electric, I occasionally glance at the fret lines despite almost 35 years of playing non-fretted instruments.

fdeck · #6 02-17-2009, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fassa Albrecht

It is a bad thing when you're trying to read sheet music, sing and lead a crowd at the same time.

+1. While an occasional glance may always be needed, you are right about not letting it get in the way of everything else.

Another suggestion is to make sure that you've got a comfortable bass and strap that allow you to have good posture, arm, wrist, and hand position without having to maintain a tight grip on the neck in order to avoid neck dive.

fretlessman71 · #7 02-18-2009, 08:45 AM

When I was at MI and Jim Lacefield was teaching there, he gave me a great tip that I use today: If you're reading music and playing your fretless, place the music stand where it will be directly opposite your bass neck from your head; i.e., on your left if you're a right-handed player, and low enough so you can almost "see" the music through your fretting hand (fret-less-ing hand?). So every time you look at the music, you get to check on your hand as well. It's one head/eye motion instead of two, and helps keep you honest.

Phil Smith · #8 02-18-2009, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fassa Albrecht

Seriously, I've been playing my fretless Shergold for 2 years now and I still look at my fingers.

Anyone got any idea how I can stop doing this?

The simple answer is to just stop doing it. Seriously, you have to get to the point where you here what you want to play that your technique and knowledge of what notes are where enable you to do this.

Practice not looking at your fingers, but you are still going to need to look when you have to hit a note cold that isn't easily landmarked.

This takes years of practice.

**Freddels** · #9 02-18-2009, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fassa Albrecht

Seriously, I've been playing my fretless Shergold for 2 years now and I still look at my fingers.

Anyone got any idea how I can stop doing this?

Right hand or left hand?

Mr. Mig · #10 02-18-2009, 09:47 AM

Be conscience of looking away when practicing. Practice at not looking.

fretlessman71 · #11 02-18-2009, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Mig

Practice at not looking.

I'm looking at not practicing, myself.

Mr. Mig · #12 02-18-2009, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fretlessman71

I'm looking at not practicing, myself.

BOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

adube810 · #13 02-18-2009, 11:39 AM

i know it doesnt really pertain to this but when i practice (with my fretted) i play in the mirror and watch my hands in the mirror (not my actual hands) to show me exactly what im doing and if im doing something wrong i can look from a 3rd party perspective and correct it

Fassa Albrecht · #14 02-18-2009, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddels

Right hand or left hand?

Right, seen as I'm a lefty.

**Freddels** · #15 02-18-2009, 03:25 PM

Well, for a serious answer . . . it's takes practice and the better technique you have the easier it will be. Try to be conscious of not looking and do a trick that upright players do . . . check your intonation with open strings (e.g., when you play a D on the G string, you can play the open D string and check to see if you're in tune. You can do this with the other open strings and matching notes. Another way is to check with the harmonic.).

**Vorago** · #16 02-18-2009, 03:29 PM

If I were you I'd practice on my intonation, looking or not looking...who cares? It's secondary at best...

Jaco looked at his fingers, too

deckard · #17 02-18-2009, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vorago

If I were you I'd practice on my intonation, looking or not looking...who cares? It's secondary at best...

Jaco looked at his fingers, too

+1

So do Gary Willis, Michael Manring and Mark Egan & probably quite a few others.

What really matters is... how you sound. Period.

MNAirHead · #18 02-18-2009, 03:39 PM

It's good practice NOT to look a the fretboard.... if you're playing for the crowd, it's bad communication.

When on the road, the'd blind fold us OR we'd lay on our backs looking to the ceiling.

RTL · #19 02-18-2009, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deckard

+1

So do Gary Willis, Michael Manring and Mark Egan & probably quite a few others.

What really matters is... how you sound. Period.

+2

I've been playing fretless since I've been playing bass, and I've always looked at the fingerboard. I've always done this with fretted instruments as well.

I don't see anything wrong with looking there. Especially if the crowd is full of ugly people

Besides, it makes you look "focused".. And apparently, that turns women on.

Fassa Albrecht · #20 02-18-2009, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RTL

+2

I've been playing fretless since I've been playing bass, and I've always looked at the fingerboard. I've always done this with fretted instruments as well.

I don't see anything wrong with looking there. Especially if the crowd is full of ugly people

Besides, it makes you look "focused".. And apparently, that turns women on.

The bolded part is kinda a problem for me...I'm a girl.