Songs for Fretless?

i_got_a_mohawk · #1 12-26-2007, 07:22 PM

Ive been playing fretless for a wee while now, but ive just been playing things i played on a fretted.

Any songs which are particularly good or fun to play on fretless?

Im sure Jaco will get mentioned, but anything else?

Ive been thinking of maybe some classical pieces.

Any suggestions as a whole?

Cheers

ManuelJG · #2 12-26-2007, 07:26 PM

anything by paul young with pino palladino on bass
start with: im gonna tear your playhouse down (octaver+fretless)

Wootsticks · #3 12-26-2007, 07:56 PM

Try that song by Bela Fleck and the Flecktones called Big Country. It's from the DVD Live At The Quick, and it's an amazing song. There's a beautiful exchange between the saprano sax and bass at one point. It's just impeccable.

Link: http://youtube.com/watch?v=FXHOyqHzupk

AlphaMale · #4 12-26-2007, 08:09 PM

Why do they have to be specifically for fretless?

TrevorOfDoom · #5 12-26-2007, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlphaMale

Why do they have to be specifically for fretless?

+1!!

i've been playing my fretless nonstop since i got it, and my favourite thing is just to play the same songs i've always played, but find ways to put the mwah into them. so many of my runs and little licks sound downright sick on fretless!!

if you're looking for a fretless workout, try Paul Simon's Graceland, or some Bad Company. my favourite song for Boz's fretless sound is Electric Land.

doctorjazz · #6 12-26-2007, 08:42 PM

I've always liked Continuum better on fretless than on fretted basses.

agreatheight · #7 12-26-2007, 09:01 PM

How 'bout some rock?

Living Colour - Nothingness (Doug Wimbish)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9s-zfpFIFE

Pearl Jam - Rats, awesome line, or Evenflow (Jeff Ament)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SPMfr38fCA

Joan Osborne - St Teresa (Mark Egan)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqoA_yYKuOY

MirageBass · #8 12-26-2007, 10:11 PM

Michael Hedges - The Funky Avocado.

I could swear that it was Jaco playing that track.

i_got_a_mohawk · #9 12-27-2007, 04:11 AM

Thanks for the list so far guys, digging quite a lot of this

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlphaMale

Why do they have to be specifically for fretless?

Ive only really played songs that are generally played on fretted basses on my fretless, and was just looking for things that were a bit different

Rhythm N. Bliss · #10 12-27-2007, 06:39 AM

Tony Franklin~ with The FIRM. Tony's work with Page & Paul Rodgers is fantastic!
His playing on the first Blue Murder cd is great too!! He may reunite with Sykes & Carmen Appice & tour soon!!!
I also got his solo album WONDERLAND which hasn't been released in the US yet.
Check him out at www.myspace.com/fretlessmonster

I love ol' Boz Burrell in BAD CO. tooo
BB RIP

5andFretless · #11 12-27-2007, 07:14 AM

Early Bad Company stuff was recorded with a Fretless in most cases. Specifically Feel Like Making Love is a fretless.

The Band bass player used a fretless for the most part. Most of the videos you see on youtube are being played on a fretless. I can't access youtube from work, but there is one video in particular where The Band is performing and the bass player's monitor is apparently not working. He is way off in the intonation department. Happens to the best of us.

osciphex · #12 12-27-2007, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MirageBass

Michael Hedges - The Funky Avocado.

I could swear that it was Jaco playing that track.

That would be Michael Manring, who briefly took lessons from Jaco. So you're very close.

emerica · #13 12-27-2007, 03:32 PM

I am pretty sure jack Bruce from cream played a fret less maybe try some cream songs?

collicsws6z28 · #14 12-27-2007, 03:56 PM

Pearl Jam- Oceans and Evenflow

Ryan Mohr · #15 12-27-2007, 04:00 PM

311 - Creature Feature

Entre Nous 2007 · #16 01-22-2008, 03:47 PM

-Hey You (Pink Floyd)

-[i think it's called] Oh My God (Police, from the Synchronicity LP)

-Ready For Love (Bad Co.)

-somebody else had already mentioned, pretty much the entire Graceland LP (Paul Simon) and the first Firm LP are absolutely 'mwah...'

-Birdland (i'm still getting the artificial harmonics down perfectly but this one is otherwise great fun)

kerryg · #17 01-22-2008, 04:50 PM

can't go wrong with trombone etudes. They're in a perfect range for fretless bass. And because trombones require breathing, the etudes will make you think of phrasing much more naturally - much more like an instrument that breathes. Lack of "breaths" in a continuous fretless melody or solo can give a listener a subtle, unconscious, claustrophobic and choked feeling as they follow along.

Depending on your tastes, grab a book of jazz or classical pieces, you won't be sorry. Cello etudes are great too.

tkozal · #18 01-23-2008, 06:08 AM

ya know what was one of the things I worked on when I was really into fretless, was Brand X's "Malaga Virgin"...there is some great Percy Jones playing on that, lotsa of tough stuff, and some beautiful sliding harmonics....

c_joseph_lier · #19 01-23-2008, 08:58 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EcDwbyYqwo
This is Tony Franklin playing "Rain Song" by Led Zeppelin ... I am a huge Fretless Fan, and basically, (Or BASSically), any song can be great on fretless depending on your arrangment ...
Jaco's "Amerika" i cool too, i play that with some of my own little flurries
Victor Wooten's "Amazing Grace" ... slower and with beautiful harmonics ...
I assume that you were looking for more Stand Alone peices for you and your fretless ...

jschwalls · #20 01-23-2008, 10:12 AM

Fat Albert Cartoon theme....

Barney Miller Theme.......

Hey You by Pink Floyd was already mentioned so this is all i could come up with...

Plus i have found learning cartoon/TV show themes makes for great solo spots in songs and when the singer introduces you... Nothing like watching the audience ENJOY your bass fill, while they gaze in boredom when the guitarist blast through his favorite scales & patterns.. HAHHHAHHAHHA