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ADVICE FOR A FRETLESS-NOOB

#21
I struggled when I had a fretless Fender Jazz, because it was lined. I dowanna get into the whole "lined v. unlined" debate, because that's an individual thing, but with unlined...I can't cheat. I have to use my ears...which is how one gets good with a fretless. I wouldn't go so far as to say I'm good now, but much better than I was with the lines.

Another thing that was mentioned above is playing on the lines, instead of between them. I think that was another struggle for me, since I had to alter what I was seeing and thinking about left hand technique.

Immersion also worked well for me. When I started learning fretless, I didn't so much as touch my fretted basses. These days, I play my fretted basses some, but by far fretless is more fun for me.
 
#22
Whether one plays with lines or not... having a "system" of fingering is key to consistently playing in tune, particularly when reading, or playing complex material.
Violinists, cellists, double bassists, all spend years working on a system. Most electric bassists pick up a fretless and use the same inefficient fingerings that can "get by" on fretted.
Also... most pitch drift is caused during shifting (assuming that one has been working on the ears)... yet few practice shifting.

Spend an hour or two watching a fairly good cellist practice if you can. Very enlightening.

A System.. Jaco had one, Alain C, Michael M, ..... they all have one. Not necessarily the same.. but they are not just "putting their fingers down". lots of slow practice, listening, adjusting, repeating.. then doing it again.
Alain has a very similar approach to fingering as I practice, emphasizing efficiency, consistency, versatility, and discipline. I love listening to him.. AND watching him play. sb
 
#23
Keep this in mind.......millions of quite small children play violin. No frets. Get a fretless and play it alot. It's the only way to get better at it. I find it so much more expressive. Been primarily a fretless player for going on almost 12 years now.
 
#24
Personally, I find it a lot harder to play a fretless properly, I'd find it a lot harder again if I didn't have lines because of position shifting and fretting involved above the 12th. Even with them playing against another fretless can still a tricky business, as you can hear :)

 
#25
One point that Gary Willis made in a video was to be able to make quick left hand adjustments.For example,lots of times you'll hit notes that are just a hair off pitch...your ears immediately pick it up,and you roll or pivot your finger a hair to the left or right to get that perfect intonation.
Because I don't play a fretted bass,one thing I tried to do was to be able to make my fretless('78PBASS,bridge pickup added) sound like a regular fretted bass,particulary if I'm playing commercial dance music.
When I listen to inexperienced fretless players,lots of times it's not the intonation that sticks out.It's the lack a distict sound.Floppy and sloppy are the only words I can think of to describe it.If you put in a lot of time just playing it,you'll eventualy get a good sound.
 
#26
One more quick point..put some time in practicing without an amp.I think it's an effective way to develop your own personal sound.It's also my personal belief that fretless basses sound better when you pick closer to the bridge side as opposed to the neck.It can depend on whether you're going for a funky sound or a fat upright bass sound.
 
#27
One important thing, and a mistake I made, was trying to skip steps in the learning process. As soon as I had a fretless bass I tried to play the same things as on my fretted. Bad thing to do.

Steve Bailey's video is good because, he first emphasize on pure hear and adjusting to get the correct tone. That's the first inevitable step.

It's really important too I think to take meticular care of your left hand position. Having the Thumb above the neck is a way worse habit than on a fretted.
 
#28
Good advice from Gary, and also good stuff to play without an amp. Bathrooms are nice and resonant. I also recommend turning the lights out for some practice. Then practice intervals (using open strings as anchors) double stops (octaves, fifths, fourths, thirds/tenths, sixths, sevenths, then ninths. SLOWLY.

There is no "perfect" intonation in the fretless world, but being able to control the intonation is key. How quickly can we make the micro-adjustments? How do we approach vibrato? (extremely difficult to teach)

All this and much more lead us eventually to sightreading on fretless... something that all the other strings (violin, etc..) take for granted (and watch a conductor)... yet is something that i have heard done well by only a handful of folks in 35 years.
That requires a System, in addition to good reading skills...

I am also not so sure about just
"put in a lot of time just playing it,you'll eventualy get a good sound."
Click to expand...

A good sound is not an accident or a "by product", and most "good sounds" come from seeking that very thing.. no matter what instrument.
Of course this is all just my opinion.. and what has worked for me (and a few others ;-) sb
 
#29
thibo62 said:
Steve Bailey's video is good because, he first emphasize on pure hear and adjusting to get the correct tone. That's the first inevitable step.
Click to expand...

Very true... but who is Steve Bailey and what could he possibly know?? :D

It's really important too I think to take a meticular of your left hand position. Having the Thumb above the neck is a way worse habit than on a fretted.
Click to expand...
Thats also very true/// being meticulous about your LH. merci!
 
#30
My bit of non music oriented advice is this. Don't get so bogged down in all the stuff to worry about regarding fretless that you don't just play. I started breaking out fretless on some blues things that were very easy and gradually worked it into other things as I got better.
 
#33
Billnc said:
Yep, when Fretless starts out as a back up bass and you NEED a back up you do learn quickly! That's probably how I worked out the alternate fingerings needed for FL.
Click to expand...

The health benefits were there, I drank far less on those gigs :)

It is the deep end really just taking the fretless, you've got to learn to live with it in a live environment.
 
#36
I saw a video of myself playing a bluegrass set on electric upright where I was DI'd and the monitors only provided vocals. I could hear myself somewhat through the house speakers, but I was surprised at just how bad my intonation was. The lesson I learnt there was how important it is to be able to hear yourself well. How else can you correct your intonation?

I also find double-stops to be difficult on fretless, especially moving up or down. Even octaves are tough because you have to micro-adjust the relative position of your fingers at each step. I guess I'll get better at this as I practice, but meanwhile this is another technique I use happily on fretted but avoid on fretless.
 
#37
I started on an EUB and later got an unlined fender - which is currently my main gigging bass.

When I started out, I found very helpful to play simple lines and scales while looking at a tuner. It will show you exactly where you're having difficulty, and help you begin to hear how the subtle things you do with your left hand affect pitch.

Checking intervals with the open strings will help too.

I'm not a fan of lines personally...I think they can fool you into thinking you're right when you're really not. The tuner doesn't lie, and eventually your ears won't either.
 

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