Hi all: Quick and basic,on a fretless electric bass with only side dots,do you play notes on the dot or between the dots? I tried a Rogue fretless and the whole notes seemed to be between the dots which seemed strange.??? Out of tune??? Thanks
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Fretless marks
- Thread starter 2strings2frets
- Start date
You play where it sounds in tune, regardless of where the marks are.
Fretless dots are best "on the fret line" positions, but some manufacturers leave them in the normal fretted bass "between the frets" positions. You just have to learn each bass individually and adjust if the dots are weird.
That assumes the dots are in the correct location. Some aren't.
When your eyes and ears don't agree, go with your ears.
These dots were put in place by Luthier Bruce Johnson.
Who builds Ampeg scroll basses all day.
If anyone knows exactly where they should be,it would be him.
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Test the dots with your tuner. That is the only way you can be sure... if you do not have perfect pitch and most of us do not.
On my fretless no line I had to put nail polish dots at the correct spot, as the side dots were at the same spot as a fretted neck, i.e. in between, and not at the sweet spot.
Let your tuner tell you what is correct for your neck.
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They should be where the player wants them.
I’ve seen it done both ways and agree the dots should indicate where the missing fret would be. Others prefer the “ in between” style.
The dots are where the Northern extent of your finger pad (the bridge is to the North, for some reason, in this example) should be, not where the center of your finger is. You want the part of the string that's free to vibrate to start at the dot.
You can compare to the open string. You definitely don't need perfect pitch to hear that an octave is a quarter-tone flat.
- Oct 18, 2012
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Why would it seem strange to play between the dots? On a fretted bass, you should normally right behind the fret which, would be in front of the dot.
Remember, fret markers are a guide. Where you actually place your finger determines the note. At different positions on the neck, you may be closer or further from the dot. It takes practice to memorize finger placement.
I found with very little practice my need to search for the target note became less and less required. Muscular memory is pretty amazing actually. On my Rogue E and A dead on the "dot" . D and G, slightly south towards the bridge, not enough to intonate , although that would line em up, I'm pretty sure. My best advise play your Rogue often and it will all come together. 
