Im interested on my next purchase to maybe get a fretless, are they a lot harder to play? By being fretless dose it give you endless play position or is it critical to place your fingers in the exact place? Thank you all in advance for your advice, oh and I'm very new at bass.
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Fretless Bass
- Thread starter Magicrat
- Start date
Fretless gives you endless play position and as my ex wife said, it is critical to place the fingers in the exact place.
It can be more challenging to play. But it's not necessarily harder.
If you're playing your fretted bass correctly, with your fingers right up against the fret, that's pretty much where you need to stop the note on a fretless bass.
You'll also need to listen more closely and pay attention to how you touch the strings - because all the things a fret helps do now have to be done by you alone.
If you're just starting out, I think you'd probably be better off sticking to fretted basses at first. At least until you get your basic bass skills (i.e. fingering, scales and patterns, chord structure and basic music theory, neck positions, song structure, rhythmic patterns, etc.) under your belt. But that's me saying that.
Others have made a good case for starting on a fretless neck if you really want to play one that badly, no pun intended. And there are very good reasons why you might. I personally think it's asking a beginner for a lot up front when they already have their hands full. But if you feel you're up for it, that'll be for you to say.
Something to tuck in the back of your mind - those of us who do play fretless (I started on upright and only later went over to electric bass) will tell you the number of calls you get to play one aren't that frequent. And most of us who do usually average only 10% (or less) of our playing time using one.
There's no final answers or advice that'll fit everyone when it comes to fretless bass. About the best I can say is it's more work (not harder - just more work) to do it right. And even those of us who play one will tell you there are days when a fretless just won't want to cooperate with you. So it's an ongoing challenge. It's true that the longer you've been playing one (and the more often) those times when "it just doesn't sound right" will become less and less frequent. But I've yet to meet an experienced fretless player that doesn't experience an off day every so often. No matter how long they've been playing. So don't let it get you down when it happens to you. Because it will.
So that's what I've got to say. If you decide it's what you want - go for it. There's no penalty if you change your mind - or decide that it's something you'd be better off putting off for the time being.
Good luck with whichever way you choose. And keep on playing.
If you're playing your fretted bass correctly, with your fingers right up against the fret, that's pretty much where you need to stop the note on a fretless bass.
You'll also need to listen more closely and pay attention to how you touch the strings - because all the things a fret helps do now have to be done by you alone.
If you're just starting out, I think you'd probably be better off sticking to fretted basses at first. At least until you get your basic bass skills (i.e. fingering, scales and patterns, chord structure and basic music theory, neck positions, song structure, rhythmic patterns, etc.) under your belt. But that's me saying that.
Others have made a good case for starting on a fretless neck if you really want to play one that badly, no pun intended. And there are very good reasons why you might. I personally think it's asking a beginner for a lot up front when they already have their hands full. But if you feel you're up for it, that'll be for you to say.
Something to tuck in the back of your mind - those of us who do play fretless (I started on upright and only later went over to electric bass) will tell you the number of calls you get to play one aren't that frequent. And most of us who do usually average only 10% (or less) of our playing time using one.
There's no final answers or advice that'll fit everyone when it comes to fretless bass. About the best I can say is it's more work (not harder - just more work) to do it right. And even those of us who play one will tell you there are days when a fretless just won't want to cooperate with you. So it's an ongoing challenge. It's true that the longer you've been playing one (and the more often) those times when "it just doesn't sound right" will become less and less frequent. But I've yet to meet an experienced fretless player that doesn't experience an off day every so often. No matter how long they've been playing. So don't let it get you down when it happens to you. Because it will.
So that's what I've got to say. If you decide it's what you want - go for it. There's no penalty if you change your mind - or decide that it's something you'd be better off putting off for the time being.
Good luck with whichever way you choose. And keep on playing.
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Being that you are very new at bass, I emphatically advise against it.
Learning a new instrument is hard enough as it is starting out, and you don't want to get discouraged!
Trust me, I took up the bass after being blown away by Jaco's stuff (oh no, not Jaco again!!!
) I hated it. Later, after I had been playing bass for a couple of years, I picked up a fretless (which, TBH, I barely touch...)
Note that there are a number of techniques whereby you can coax some extremely convincing fretless sounds out of a regular fretted bass.
Wow some great replies thank you Flaked Beans, 40hz and deacon blues, I'm going to take your advice and keep practicing with what I have for the time being.40hz that was a great deal of info you gave me sir really really very helpful, thank you again you guys.
People are going to talk about lined vs unlined fingerboards. Full disclosure: I play lined fretless, but I prefer the look of unlined. You can absolutely start off on fretless, but I would highly recommend you pick up a cheap, lined, fretless, for two reasons: 1. the lines can help you find the correct positions (bear in mind they are guides, not absolutes, and your ears must guide you to correct intonation), and 2. if you decide fretless isn't really for you you're not out a lot of money on bass you don't enjoy playing.
Fretless is an absolute blast. With good technique you can sound like you're playing a fretted bass, or you can slip and slide and mwah to your heart's content.
Lessons are always a great idea.
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People are going to talk about lined vs unlined fingerboards. Full disclosure: I play lined fretless, but I prefer the look of unlined. You can absolutely start off on fretless, but I would highly recommend you pick up a cheap, lined, fretless, for two reasons: 1. the lines can help you find the correction positions (bear in mind they are guides, not absolutes, and your ears must guide you to correct intonation), and 2. if you decide fretless isn't really for you you're not out a lot of money on bass you don't enjoy playing.
Fretless is an absolute blast. With good technique you can sound like you're playing a fretted bass, or you can slip and slide and mwah to your heart's content.
Lessons are always a great idea.
+1 on all of the above. Especially the part about not dismissing lined fingerboards lightly. They can be very beneficial, even if they might cost you some bragging rights in those tiny little social circles where an unlined neck is paraded around as if it's a badge of honor.
Listen to whatever advice you're offered. But make you own decisions. And whenever in doubt, don't be afraid to use whatever works best for you.
I really enjoy fretless, but I don't have one currently. If you want to try it I'd recommend getting a cheap one second hand to see how you like it first. Depending on where you're located this can be difficult.
Sounds like waiting a bit before taking the fretless plunge might be wise (but not necessary).
However, when you do take on fretless, I do suggest making the time to get used to it -- that is, you've got to play it a lot at the start. You can't make it something you diddle with for a few minutes every once in a while because it'll never "take".
However, when you do take on fretless, I do suggest making the time to get used to it -- that is, you've got to play it a lot at the start. You can't make it something you diddle with for a few minutes every once in a while because it'll never "take".
Jaco only needed four strings.
My fretless bass has 5 strings.
My piano has 230 strings.
This thread deserves some pics!
My fretless bass has 5 strings.
My piano has 230 strings.
This thread deserves some pics!
Within a few weeks of starting out I had pulled the frets and have remained almost exclusively fretless ever since. These days I do play fretted bass also, probably about 20%.
IMO/E there is no reason on this earth for a 'beginner' or 'novice' to shy away from fretless. Making out like it is impossibly difficult or intimidating only makes things worse. Approach it with confidence and it is no more difficult than any other instrument. In fact I might even go so far as to say that it is good for beginners as you really do have to learn good left-hand discipline which will always be of benefit whatever the future holds.
IMO/E there is no reason on this earth for a 'beginner' or 'novice' to shy away from fretless. Making out like it is impossibly difficult or intimidating only makes things worse. Approach it with confidence and it is no more difficult than any other instrument. In fact I might even go so far as to say that it is good for beginners as you really do have to learn good left-hand discipline which will always be of benefit whatever the future holds.
There is one component to playing fretless you have to be aware of regardless of whether you have a lined or unlined fingerboard. You have to have a very good ear.
It isn't any harder physically. If you have been playing fretted for a while, you fingers already know where they should go.
It is a different sound and can be fun to play.
As to those who advise against it, I wonder if they have considered the fact that bass players from the 16th to the 20th century had no fretted basses to learn on.
The common technique for beginners is tape on the fingerboard, but with side dots or a lined board, it doesn't matter. Personally, I see lined fingerboards as training wheels.
They are great for some applications and don't work at all for others. It is just another tool in your kit.
One thing I can't do is sing and play fretless at the same time. I saw a video of Jack Bruce playing a fretless Warwick and singing lead on Crossroads. I am not Jack Bruce.
It isn't any harder physically. If you have been playing fretted for a while, you fingers already know where they should go.
It is a different sound and can be fun to play.
As to those who advise against it, I wonder if they have considered the fact that bass players from the 16th to the 20th century had no fretted basses to learn on.
The common technique for beginners is tape on the fingerboard, but with side dots or a lined board, it doesn't matter. Personally, I see lined fingerboards as training wheels.
They are great for some applications and don't work at all for others. It is just another tool in your kit.
One thing I can't do is sing and play fretless at the same time. I saw a video of Jack Bruce playing a fretless Warwick and singing lead on Crossroads. I am not Jack Bruce.
Gravedigger, I'm sure I have seen that video too sir, thank you for your info, I am getting such a lot of good advice from all of you guys.
This is what I would recommend to get started on - inexpensive, widely available and surprisingly well-made.
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This right here, though there are other options. My number one bass currently is a modded Squier VM Jazz (with a Warmoth lined fretless neck among many other mods). A common, and important, thing to remember about these is, if possible, play before you buy because their quality can vary. I believe Sweetwater has a good return policy so if you can't play one before you buy it they're a good online option with, in my experience, excellent customer service.
My sixth grader is learning violin. You can learn to play fretless bass.
If you get an unlined bass, you can put tape or dots on the fingerboard to help you place your fingers. Personally, I'm fine with (proper) side dots because I can't really see much of the fingerboard in playing position, even if I look.
Otto
If you get an unlined bass, you can put tape or dots on the fingerboard to help you place your fingers. Personally, I'm fine with (proper) side dots because I can't really see much of the fingerboard in playing position, even if I look.
Otto
