fretless songs to learn ?

[Raven nevermore]

I've been working on the theme to "Northern Exposure" and Grover Washington's " Just the two of us" which is actually played on fretted, but sounds beautiful on fretless of course !! What other songs do y'all recommend ?

 

[Matthew_84]

I love playing The Beatles' "Come Together" on the fretless, for all the slides and bends.

I also have this book, which has a bunch of transcriptions in it, plus some good exercises. I've just wrapped up the first set of exercises and am about to work on the first song, "King of Pain" by the Police. If you're interested in the book and want a song list let me know.

 

[FrednBass]

Birdland, Weather Report

 

[Raven nevermore]

Matthew, excellent suggestion !! So funny, so many years playing bass and not until I picked up the fretless did I rediscover some already great bass lines. Fred , I'LL check that song out ! More suggestions please !!

 

[StereoPlayer]

I play every song I do with a Fretless!

 

[Raven nevermore]

Stereo, I am trying to do that too. My band has been accepting. I just need to score a five string fretless and I will be all set !!

 

[Kirk Bryant]

Start learning EVERYTHING on "Jaco" Jaco Pastorius' self titled album. I worked on it seriously for 10 yrs. I would say that at one time I could play about 50% of that album. I would guess most good players that aspired to play the frettless have done the same as well.
The win is that these lessons will serve you well for life. I really wish I could remember all the chops I learned by doing this. haha the reality is you will probably never get to use all the information you learn but it will be an incredible education.
And it will make you a better musician.
Good luck on your journey and never forget the way to get to Madison Square Gardens is......practice, practice, practice. LOL

peace Kirk

 

[StereoPlayer]

Stereo, I am trying to do that too. My band has been accepting. I just need to score a five string fretless and I will be all set !!

I use a number of 4 bangers. I don't give the band mates the option of Fretless or fretted. I choose Fretless!

 

[Raven nevermore]

Thank you guys for all the advice and encouragment !! And Yes Stereo, as long as I hold the bottom down, I shouldn't recieve too much flack from my guys either !!
My guitarist plays in a lot of different tunings so I need to at least have the 5 string to cover all the tunings without switching guitars every song or so lol !!

 

[EdJim]

New York Minute by Don Henley.

 

[Clef_de_fa]

Jaco, Alain Caron, Some Primus like Tommy The Cat/Southbound Pachyderm/Wynona's Big Brown Beaver/DMV, Bunny Brunel and CAB, Micheal Manring, also some Béla Fleck And The Flektone's song

 

[The Owl]

And try some old Brand X with Percy Jones for fun, like "Ghost of the Mayfield Lodge" or "Disco Suicide"

 

[kesslari]

Don Henley's "Sunset Grill".
Almost anything from Paul Simon's "Graceland" - especially "Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes".

 

[dalahorse]

I've always liked "Everytime You Go Away" from Paul Young. That being said, I don't have a fretless bass and don't claim to be able to play the song. Just sayin'!

 

[BassWindu711]

Mama im coming home. By the great Bob Daisley.

 

[bassistjoe93]

"In My Time of Dying" by Led Zeppelin. Good fretless work by JPJ.

 

[Makatak]

Slowcar To China From the album " Dance ", by Gary Numan [ Mick Karn ] , in fact there is a hole lot of Fretless magic on that album . Also good is his next album " I asassin " which Pino Palladino does his thing , pre Paul Young too ! Those two albums should sort your Fretless chops ..

 

[The Owl]

I've always liked "Everytime You Go Away" from Paul Young. That being said, I don't have a fretless bass and don't claim to be able to play the song. Just sayin'!

And don't forget his version of "I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down", killer fretless on that one.

 

[topo morto]

Almost anything from Paul Simon's "Graceland" - especially "Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes".

 

[lowfreq33]

Brother John by Victor Wooten is fun, and not too hard to pick up.