How does your technique change from fretted to fretless?

[chris_b]

I bought a fretless bass a few years ago and played it like I normally play bass. I thought I sounded terrible. Somehow I was missing the point and not even close to getting it right. The guy I sold the bass to sounded fantastic, cos he didn't play it like a fretted bass.

So, yes, I think your technique has to change to take advantage of a different/new instrument.

That's as technical as I get on this subject!

 

[bassrique]

A long time ago in preparation for fretless, I played fretted with tios right behind the notes, every time. Then move up a bit for fretless.

Many play fretted with fretting fingers anywhere behind the fret.

Some difficult left hand shapes won't work on fretless, but that's ok.

Also, the way the fretting finger is positioned can add mwah. The catalyst tip of the finger is hard and has less, while the flashy part has more especially if you put your fingers almost parallel to the strings and use the really really fleshy part with no calluses whatsoever. I used to play a lot of slap I'm friendless so I had very high action so it wouldn't sound like fretless, but I still wanted that fretless mwah sound and that's how I got it.

And lifting up a bit provides a different mwahishs sound.

 

[FretlessPirate]

Indeed. The lower the better, but not so low that there is too much buzz. Also use rounds for more mwaaahaha.

Man I am HALF-Hammered right now; Mwaaaaah? Pino and, Fanklin'll both tell you they get that wicked sound without pedals......with their "Special basses"......I play through my dinosaur M/B 400+ on my Alembic 4-string Jazz bass.........MWAAAAH? It's in your technique....NO WAY are any of them so special that YOU kids cannot emmulate that sound. Not sure how to record stuff,, (I'm OLD), but wanna hear Boogie 400+ , Epifani 6 X 10, Lotsa MWAAAAAAH, talk to me Johnnie, this old pirate is REAL..........in ln Caribe'......It is NOT magic!

 

[Stedkey]

I

I'm dreaming of a fretless at some point in the future, and I was wondering what kind of changes to expect in the way I play.

I posted a thread in the Bass forum recently asking about the playing in a certain video (Are fretlesses 'clackety'?), and several people replied that the player in that particular video was plucking too hard too close to the neck. One TBer replied that he personally plucks very hard, but way down close to the bridge.

What do you find changes in the way you play a fretless as opposed to a fretted bass?

Thanks!

I play about 50/50 fretted vs fretless. Goes without saying that I have to listen much more carefully with fretless. For me the main technique difference is on the left hand for vibrato. With frets I move my finger across the neck pushing against the fret. On fretless, vibrato works better moving up and down parallel to the string.

 

[Stedkey]

I

I play about 50/50 fretted vs fretless. Goes without saying that I have to listen much more carefully with fretless. For me the main technique difference is on the left hand for vibrato. With frets I move my finger across the neck pushing against the fret. On fretless, vibrato works better moving up and down parallel to the string.

..also, keeping in pitch on a fretless with two strings in 3rds, 5ths or octaves is doable if I pay attention. Add a third string to the cord and pitch gets really hard to control.