Fretless is much harder to learn to play correctly and requires more attention to detail when performing. If you are not up for the extra work, fretted certainly is easier while producing the same notes. Fretless players are probably less than 10% of the bass population.
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Fretted Vs Fretless
- Thread starter Diablo666Bass
- Start date
Fretless is a lot more fun to play -- more expressive in my opinion. Upright bass is even better
For most rock stuff I've found that fretted sounds better due to a tighter attack. Also, playing in loud bars with crappy sound where you can't hear yourself well is DEADLY for fretless. Nothing worse than being out of tune but not being able to hear well enough to correct it.
I think that if I was good enough, perhaps I could do everything on a fretless (except the upright stuff). That'd proabably be ideal, save for the slapping problem.
For most rock stuff I've found that fretted sounds better due to a tighter attack. Also, playing in loud bars with crappy sound where you can't hear yourself well is DEADLY for fretless. Nothing worse than being out of tune but not being able to hear well enough to correct it. I think that if I was good enough, perhaps I could do everything on a fretless (except the upright stuff). That'd proabably be ideal, save for the slapping problem.
I play both, but seem to play fretted mostly so that's how I voted, but it's certainly worked the other way in the past...
im curious about fretless and my next bass is going to be fretless
for awhile it was going to be either a 6string or a fretless 4
but the different sound is hard to resist
for awhile it was going to be either a 6string or a fretless 4
but the different sound is hard to resist
I love my fretted Geddy Lee, but when other musicians see that unlined fingerboard, they bow down in respect. (Of course you'd better play in tune! 
) Can't beat that.
Scott
) Can't beat that.Scott
I voted fretted because it's easier for me to play without looking at the fretboard when I'm performing. I know the frets keep me in line.
But the fretless tone is so much better. Infact, when I play fretless with my rig, it sounds like a completely different rig. The fretless tone sounds more like natural bass.
But I like fretted better while gigging.....
But the fretless tone is so much better. Infact, when I play fretless with my rig, it sounds like a completely different rig. The fretless tone sounds more like natural bass.
But I like fretted better while gigging.....
I would have picked both if I could, but I voted for fretted because my fretless bass still hasn't come in yet. I love playing both!
I would have voted for both too. But since that wasn't a choice I voted for fretted because that is what I play on gigs 95% of the time. But nothing sounds like my fretless Zon Sonus Special. That's the one bass I'll never sell!
I sometimes wonder if the fretless bass is a dying breed. I don't seem to hear it on recordings as much as I did even ten years ago. There are still the specialists out there like Gary Willis, Alain Caron, and Mark Egan (to name a few). But this isn't music that the general public often hears. I would like to hear more fretless in popular music reminiscent of the stuff Pino Paladino did in the 80's and 90's.
I sometimes wonder if the fretless bass is a dying breed. I don't seem to hear it on recordings as much as I did even ten years ago. There are still the specialists out there like Gary Willis, Alain Caron, and Mark Egan (to name a few). But this isn't music that the general public often hears. I would like to hear more fretless in popular music reminiscent of the stuff Pino Paladino did in the 80's and 90's.
There are certainly techniques that favor each instrument, and what style you are going for should be a big part of choosing one or the other.
In my experience though, I actually think that fretless instruments are easier to play. Once you tackle the issue of being responsible for your own intonation - i.e. really listening to yourself and adjusting each note as you are playing it, there's a certain amount of "forgiveness" in playing a fretless. I play fretted instruments occasionally and the thing that drives me nuts is that I have to have my finger set perfectly behind the fret each time or the sound of the note changes, or worse, I get fret noise. If my finger is a little off on a fretless I can simply adjust with gliss or slight amounts of vibrato- you can't do that on a fretted bass. People who play fretted bass really well amaze me. I'm a much better frettless player, despite the challenge of intonation. Getting each note to sound perfectly on fretted instruments with no fret noise takes a lot of practice and loads of technique.
I guess my point is that it may be easier to play a fretted bass poorly, but if you really want to have a great technique and sound, I think fretted instruments can be quite a challenge.
In my experience though, I actually think that fretless instruments are easier to play. Once you tackle the issue of being responsible for your own intonation - i.e. really listening to yourself and adjusting each note as you are playing it, there's a certain amount of "forgiveness" in playing a fretless. I play fretted instruments occasionally and the thing that drives me nuts is that I have to have my finger set perfectly behind the fret each time or the sound of the note changes, or worse, I get fret noise. If my finger is a little off on a fretless I can simply adjust with gliss or slight amounts of vibrato- you can't do that on a fretted bass. People who play fretted bass really well amaze me. I'm a much better frettless player, despite the challenge of intonation. Getting each note to sound perfectly on fretted instruments with no fret noise takes a lot of practice and loads of technique.
I guess my point is that it may be easier to play a fretted bass poorly, but if you really want to have a great technique and sound, I think fretted instruments can be quite a challenge.
I play both and have been for years (quite a few). Although they are different, they are not different animals. They are the same species, although different breeds. I'd say fretted was "better" for most applications. Although fretless has its place, a fretted can do anything a fretless can minus some mostly subtle differences. You have the fretless slide and vibrato that can't be duplicated on a fretted, and some people like the control of the string they get with a fretless. That's all cool. Unless you are playing ballads or have plenty of breaks where you can take advantage of these things, the advantages of the fretless will be mostly lost in the sound. So for me, after playing both in studio and on stage since I was a kid, I prefer fretted. But in reality, there is no one that is "better". What matters is what you prefer, what is best for you. To each his own, you cannot ask anybody else what is better for you. That is something that you need to decide on your own.
I find that switching between both kinds of basses keeps things fresh.
Like playing a 5 string for a while and then going back to a 4... I have more fun that way.
Like playing a 5 string for a while and then going back to a 4... I have more fun that way.
I have a fretless, two fretteds and a cheap URB. THey all have their place. For me, the fretted is just more my sound (But I am more a funk/rock/rnb player).
I play both, and find the fretless challenging when the band is loud. I mostly use it in the studio, but occasionally I play an entire gig on fretless to keep me honest. When you are locked in on a fretless, it can be more expressive. That said, I play fretted mostly due to the type of material I'm currently performing. As stated earlier, two different instruments.
