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Convince me why I should consider a fretless
- Thread starter Darkhorse1962
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LOL
Every time I go in a music store I see fretless basses. Atomic Music, Guitar Center, Chuck Levins, Bills Music, etc.
I'm not going to argue. People make excuses for things they don't want to do and they find a way to make the things they DO want to do happen.
People today give up every time something isn't easy.
I didn't imply anything in my post. You read what you wanted to read.
Fair enough.
That's funny. My wife has asked me while at a bar watching a local band, 'now, which one is the bass?'
I don't think I know any women (non-bassists) that care if a bass has little metal things stuck in the neck.
Everyone needs frustration and a never ending project in life.
I don't think the OP has a clear vision of why he is considering fretless. It's just something you need to pick up and try to see if it is something you really want to invest the time in learing properly.Every time I go in a music store I see fretless basses. Atomic Music, Guitar Center, Chuck Levins, Bills Music, etc.
I'm not going to argue. People make excuses for things they don't want to do and they find a way to make the things they DO want to do happen.
People today give up every time something isn't easy.
I didn't imply anything in my post. You read what you wanted to read.
If you need to be convinced to play fretless (or any instrument) then you really don't need to bother playing fretless. It's a sound and instrument you either like and want to play or not.
Well, now, there is that. Gotta have some kind of entertainment, I suppose.Who said everything is supposed to be easy?
Fretless basses have a different tone mostly. It's that "mwah" people refer to. You can get closer to an upright bass sound as well, though most hardcore upright players disparage it as "not the same".
Other than that, it can help you with ear training. You'll learn to recognize proper pitch and whatnot.
Microtonal scales are possible. Most people won't use these.
Frets need maintenance periodically as they wear down or the wood expands/contracts. Raw fretboards on fretless basses need oiled and cleaned, but usually won't wear too much if you aren't abusing them.
Techniques are slightly different on fretless. You can use vibrato and note slides and they sound a bit different. You get a really organic, responsive sort of vibrato by rocking your finger back and forth. You can also do some harmonics tricks where you hit a harmonic, "fret" right away, then you can slide your finger up/down the neck to get that harmonic in different pitches.
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Six pages later...if you need convincing you don't need a fretless bass. You either fall in love with the sound and have to have it or you don't.
I wanted one because of the unique sound. I got my first one in 1982 and gigged with it extensively in a country band, believe it or not. I have owned at least half a dozen over the years, still own a Pedulla Buzz but no call for it on gigs since I took up the DB.
I wanted one because of the unique sound. I got my first one in 1982 and gigged with it extensively in a country band, believe it or not. I have owned at least half a dozen over the years, still own a Pedulla Buzz but no call for it on gigs since I took up the DB.
I feel like it is the same answer to the question if you need a 5 strings or a 6 strings ... I think that it must be calling you.
I became interested in fretless because I love cello music ... so I wanted to get closer to the expressivity of a cello, also listening to Les Claypool, Alain Caron and Dominic Forest Lapointe over the year put fuel on the fire of playing it.
I jumped on 5 strings because I found it wierd that a bass, can't get lower when reading music.
I bought three 6 strings bass because the high register became obvious to me, the need to have it in tricky passage.
I became interested in fretless because I love cello music ... so I wanted to get closer to the expressivity of a cello, also listening to Les Claypool, Alain Caron and Dominic Forest Lapointe over the year put fuel on the fire of playing it.
I jumped on 5 strings because I found it wierd that a bass, can't get lower when reading music.
I bought three 6 strings bass because the high register became obvious to me, the need to have it in tricky passage.
Convince yourself first, then ask TB to help you justify your decision...
Good Luck!
Good Luck!
One thing that's rather fun on fretless, if you are playing a solo on a blues, for example, you can do hellacious "bends" like a strat with light gauge strings. You never actually do a bend as one would with a fretted guitar -you simply slide up and down the string. Combined with the right effect, it's a killer sound, and it's fun to give the lead player a run for his money.
You could try looking on YouTube to accurately answer your question.
A crazy I idea, but an idea worth considering.
A crazy I idea, but an idea worth considering.
