Setting Out on a Fretless Adventure

*ToNeS* · #1 03-19-2011, 02:40 AM

So it's decided: I'm going over to the fretless camp. I've a nice Ibanez five-banger all picked out and ready to go. It has lines on it, though, which I feel is cheating a bit but it's pretty hard to get rid of them

Do any of you fretless virtuous have solid advice for a guy taking his first steps with the instrument? I've been farting around on four and five-string fretted basses for about a decade, so it's not as if I'm a complete noob.

I was also wondering whether it's possible to utilise pickstyle with fretless bass? I've embraced the plectrum in recent years and would hate to have to forego it just because of some missing metal strips. It also forms the basis of a lot of my band's newer songs, so er, that would suck.

makkE · #2 03-19-2011, 05:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *ToNeS*

I was also wondering whether it's possible to utilise pickstyle with fretless bass?

That is a weird question. Why shouldn't it be possible? Use whatever right hand technique you want, I'd say.

*ToNeS* · #3 03-19-2011, 05:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by makkE

That is a weird question. Why shouldn't it be possible? Use whatever right hand technique you want, I'd say.

I've never seen it done, and I'm curious as to why. That's not to say I won't try it, of course, but if it's something that just sounds like arse no matter what, perhaps I'll have to rethink the venture entirely.

AmadeusXeno · #4 03-19-2011, 06:45 AM

I've used a pick on my fretless without any problems. You always get a warmer tone using your fingers with or without frets, but doesn't mean you can't use your pick on a fretless. My fretless bass doesn't have the lines but when I first started playing fretless I wished it did. The lines will help you a lot on putting your fingers in the correct position. I don't consider the lines to be cheating. I just think it looks better without them. I still mostly play with frets but fretless is fun. Best of luck to you on your fretless adventures. Always keep learning and have fun.

unclejane · #5 03-19-2011, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *ToNeS*

I've never seen it done, and I'm curious as to why. That's not to say I won't try it, of course, but if it's something that just sounds like arse no matter what, perhaps I'll have to rethink the venture entirely.

Tony Franklin plays with a pick all the time and it sounds great. I also see no reason not to use a pick on the fretless. If I could play with a pick, I'd do it on mine too....

LS

queevil · #6 03-22-2011, 06:08 AM

^^+1

Intonation is the most important thing. All of the things that make the fretless such an expressive instrument are also the things that make it sound bad if they're overused. You don't have to constantly play harmonics and slide into every note or apply vibrato to every note that you play. With that being said, I think it's important to learn to play the fretless in a way that you can make it sound fretted. That way, when you use the techiques that I just mentioned they will have much more impact.

*ToNeS* · #7 03-22-2011, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by queevil

^^+1

Intonation is the most important thing. All of the things that make the fretless such an expressive instrument are also the things that make it sound bad if they're overused. You don't have to constantly play harmonics and slide into every note or apply vibrato to every note that you play. With that being said, I think it's important to learn to play the fretless in a way that you can make it sound fretted. That way, when you use the techiques that I just mentioned they will have much more impact.

Question: the spaces between the notes, that I now have access to... what are those? Is this what they call 'micro-tonal'-type stuff?

Danny Fox · #8 03-24-2011, 10:15 AM

due to CTS in my right wrist i used a pick for years. Obviously it gives a different tone to using fingers, but it is possible to still get a nice warm brassy tone playing near the neck. The only thing i hated playing with a pick was arpeggios, and probably still would

Michael Campbel · #9 03-25-2011, 04:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danny Fox

due to CTS in my right wrist i used a pick for years. Obviously it gives a different tone to using fingers, but it is possible to still get a nice warm brassy tone playing near the neck. The only thing i hated playing with a pick was arpeggios, and probably still would

I don't use a pick so I'm curious why arpeggios are something you hated. I feel I'm missing something obvious =)

Danny Fox · #10 03-25-2011, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Campbel

I don't use a pick so I'm curious why arpeggios are something you hated. I feel I'm missing something obvious =)

sorry, I should have said playing them fast. Purely because of the string skipping involved, its so much easier with fingers.