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Fretless bass!!??
- Thread starter lumito
- Start date
The texture of the sound is completely different. You have alot more control on the attack, sustain and delay of the notes you play given that the pressure you apply to the string on the fingerboard is creating the node of the vibrating string.
It was easier than I thought! I first picked up bass in 1981, and tried fretless a year or so ago. Now I'm playing an unlined fretless full time and loving it.
Well, I must admit, my fretless bass has cheat lines as I wanted the fretless version of my American Deluxe J. I was a bit too late on that so I have one of the 2nd bunch that were reintroduced in '06, it has different pickups, electronics and tuners and is 5-bolt. This one only comes with lines and dots, the older series might have had lines too though. But I don't mind the lines and dots, it is helpful for me. I thought playing fretless would be more difficult. In fact, it was good training for my ear, now after one year I am capable to hear even slight out of tune notes.
At first, I was discouraged because I had a hard time playing in tune. Just fraction off and you are out of tune, but after a few months of playing it, I have become much better at it. I can play it well for the most part, and not make it sound like a fretless (had to raise the action up a bit first though) and then spring a well place mwahh when I want to. I also noticed that each bass is slightly different on the sweet spots for finger placements. Mine is pretty much on the line, but others have been a little before or after. Just takes practice.
Four days after getting my first, I played it the entire night on a gig with no problems. Learn to use your ears; I prefer unlined basses because those with lines tempt me to "listen with my eyes" rather than my ears. I don't have one now but I'm sure that'll change.
So I ask you guys: how is it to play one of these?
Fun and different. I personally consider it somewhat easy, but I've been a playing fretless for 95% of the time for the last couple of years.
The problem with fretless is that it's perceived to be impossible or very difficult and lots of guys get discouraged too easily, or might have the fear that they might be a little more likely to hit a sour note live. It can happen, but you can also hit a sour note with a fretted bass.
They're fun to play and, yes, unforgiving. While the capability to play semi-tones on a fretless can add character, if you don't have a good ear for intonation, forget it. Upright is even more fun!
Highly recommended. If I didn't love the fretted slap sound so much, I'd use fretless exclusively.
I can't hold a pitch for the life of me, but that still doesn't prevent me from enjoying playing a fretless. I only need to buy one now. Unlined, of course.
Coming from upright bass, fretless makes a lot of sense. Coming only from a fretted instrument, a fretless can seem awkward. Like anything, time and practice make it all better.
Fretted basses give you the luxury of being somewhat less than accurate with your finger placement. As long as you are near the correct fret, you get the right note. A fretless will not afford you that same luxury. You will have to use your ears and positions much more than you may be used to in order to ensure you are on pitch. Techniques like a good vibrato and sliding around a bit not only help to make your notes sound in tune but they also add a character to your playing that you can't do so easily on a fretted bass.
Not to mentioned the beloved 'mwah'...
So there's trade-offs in both directions. While you may find it harder to hit your notes accurately, you'll be able to create more liquid and languid bass lines easier.
I think all bass players should play fretless at least a little.
Fretted basses give you the luxury of being somewhat less than accurate with your finger placement. As long as you are near the correct fret, you get the right note. A fretless will not afford you that same luxury. You will have to use your ears and positions much more than you may be used to in order to ensure you are on pitch. Techniques like a good vibrato and sliding around a bit not only help to make your notes sound in tune but they also add a character to your playing that you can't do so easily on a fretted bass.
Not to mentioned the beloved 'mwah'...
So there's trade-offs in both directions. While you may find it harder to hit your notes accurately, you'll be able to create more liquid and languid bass lines easier.
I think all bass players should play fretless at least a little.
Fretless is great, and works extremely well for jazzier or softer songs, but it can have some boom is mess with the controls. It's also alot easier to blend in with the mix with a fretless. My main bass is a fretless MIM Fender Jazz, and I love it. When I first started playing bass, I obviously didn't know many songs, so I would use my Jazz bass, turn my volume down a little, and just fit into the mix, while still looking good and like I knew what I was doing! Very easy to do on a fretless!
Mine is simply fun to play. Somehow I can focus on music and nothing else. Very liberating, but as usual, your mileage may vary absurdly.
Make sure you get a fretless that's a real fretless, and not one that the frets have been removed.
Check the side of the neck for the position marker dots. The dots on the fretless are where the frets are supposed to be, so position your fingers to play "on the dots."
If you get a bass that has been "defretted," your dots are in the middle of the fret, rather than where the fret should be.
And don't get a lined fretboard....that's cheating.
Z
Check the side of the neck for the position marker dots. The dots on the fretless are where the frets are supposed to be, so position your fingers to play "on the dots."
If you get a bass that has been "defretted," your dots are in the middle of the fret, rather than where the fret should be.
And don't get a lined fretboard....that's cheating.
Z
I play lined boards but I only look at what I'm doing a small % of the time even on fast complicated runs
also most high end basses with lined board have a very thin line that is hard to see unless you are huddled over the neck
so under stage lights, standing up etc it a mute point
it all gets down to your discipline, be mindful of your intonation and ear training
if you want a "real" fretless... dont look at the board....
also most high end basses with lined board have a very thin line that is hard to see unless you are huddled over the neck
so under stage lights, standing up etc it a mute point
it all gets down to your discipline, be mindful of your intonation and ear training
if you want a "real" fretless... dont look at the board....
I had a fretless bass before, I loved playin' it, but I wanted to change out the pickups and all and I didn't feel like having another project bass, so I sold it. I've been jonesin' for another one though and if I have enough over from the stimulus check I may pick one up from rondo and do a pretty neck swap.
Definitely recommend pickin' one up to play, a beautiful sound to truly get lost to.
Definitely recommend pickin' one up to play, a beautiful sound to truly get lost to.
I've always wanted to play an fretless bass, but have never had a oppurtunity..
So I ask you guys: how is it to play one of these?
Its brilliant! Its insanely fun to play and the sound is cosmic!
But, yeah, its very unforgiving when you miss the notes, the bright side of that is that you really learn how to intonate when you play.
Ahh yes, forgot something, buy a fretless bass without lines and dots, thats the whole point of a fretless, more or less.
