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How to play fretless bass

#21
the simplest single tip I could give is that I can't use two different fingers to hit the same "fret" on two different strings.
If I need to switch from a G on the E string to a C on the A string, I lay my finger across both strings and fret the higher note with my finger instead of my finger tip. If I try to use two different fingers for the different strings, one is going to be in the wrong place, and out of tune. If you're reaching for a different fret position, I can fret the notes normally.

I'm still a fretless noob, so if an experienced teacher tells you differently, forget what I said. But that's the only major technique difference I've run into.
 
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#26
For me, the transition to lined fretless was not a big deal. I already tended to fret notes just behind the fret instead of on dots, so it's just a slight nudge away from the nut in finger placement to play in tune. It has been interesting to learn how notes sound different on fretless when pressed with the tip of the finger versus the flat fleshier part (more mwah). Also notes tend to mwah more on certain parts of the fingerboard, on my bass it is near the octave. Experimentation is key. Other neat thing to try is playing some notes in harmony with open strings. This really reveals if you are in tune or not with an un-moving reference. The higher up the fretboard you go, the more sensitive the finger placement. I think it has made me a better player on fretted, what I have learned already on fretless. Do it, it will be fun.
 
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#28
@Jay boogs — There are always lot's of opinions on fretless technique. There is more than one way to play fretless, but I can assure you that even if you never studied double bass simandl-style fingerings or some other member of the violin family, you can still learn to play in tune. Practice is key, and there are some good books. I recommend "Bass Player Presents the Fretless Bass," by Chris Jisi, "101 Bass Tips..." by Gary Willis, and Steve Bailey's "Fretless Bass."

As far as lined vs. unlined is concerned, I played only fretless for about 6 years, and found that on a dark stage, lines are useless. Side dots are nice, but anything actually on the finger board, dots or lines don't really matter. Also, lines can be deceptive. You can actually play more in tune than the lines allow, if you learn to play fluently with consistent fingering.
 
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#29
I am 52.
First played electric bass in HS - about 35 years ago.
I obtained my first double bass about 10 years ago and have played dozens of gigs on it.
Stumbled into a great fretless bass while traveling on the East Coast. (I live in SF.)
Coming from upright - tackling fretless left me fearless.
But I have found a lot more satisfaction playing fretless with my band than by myself.
When the band is chugging along it's easy to intonate notes correctly.
I've also found that it takes me 10, 15, sometimes 30 minutes to feel really warmed up enough to where it becomes a thoughtless process and is no different from fretted bass.
YMMV
 
#31
I learned on a Tony Franklin (unlined fretless). At first, I spent a lot of time playing while plugged into a tuner. This helped me figure out where the notes were relative to the side dots as well as the spaces in between. With some significant practice, it came together - my fingers started going into the correct position, the notes starting coming into tune and my earns started to be able to confirm that I was in tune (or sometimes when I was not). The synching up of these three things is really key. At first, it was only possible to do this by staring at the neck all the time. However, I eventually got to the point where I could look elsewhere (just glancing down once in a while or on a significant position shift), just like on a fretted bass. The breakthrough moment was when I was looking at the drummer and I heard that I was a little sharp - I looked down and sure enough my pinky was a little too far forward - that's when I knew I was starting to understand what I was doing (even the best fretless players sometimes end up a little out of tune). I also agree with some of the other advice around avoiding the slides and vibrato stuff until you can play well enough that you sound like you're playing a fretted bass. One of the weird side effects of learning fretless is that your fretting fingers end up right on the edge of the frets when you go back to fretted (at least mine do), which eliminated the fret-buzz I used to have prior to learning fretless.
 
#32
I agree with others here big-time. Ultimately, you want to be able to play with such good intonation that it doesn't scream "fretless". I currently don't play one, but I'll tell ya what got my fretless intonation into shape was playing one in a reggae band. None of the tunes called for anything "fretlessy"--no nifty slides, etc. It was straight up classic reggae a la Robbie or Family Man, so my pitch had to be dead-on solid. Was an ass-kicking for sure the first couple weeks of the first tour!
 
#34
You will need to get to the point where you can play without looking at the neck in the long run so get unlined (you won't see the lines anyway, even if you are looking down, if you are using a good playing position and not hunching over the neck). To do that you need a good and reliable hand position to rely on to stay in tune and the most reliable fingering system is Simandl, which is what we use on upright. It is a really old system so it says a lot that it is still considered the standard for playing upright even though that much time has passed, although new additions have been added like pivoting etc. Anyway. get Simandl New Method for the Double Bass book 1 and start going through it, being very careful with your fingerings. After you get through a bit of that book then you can start applying your new found fingerings to more electric bass specific things like playing across the neck instead of vertically and using a four finger position further up the neck, but the foundation of using 1-2-4 like a double bass and what is taught in Simandl rather than 1-2-3-4 is a huge help staying in tune and FEELING that you are in tune rather than LOOKING to see if you are in tune. I play guitar too and double bass was my first and primary bass but combining the two made it easy to play fretless without needing to do anything that specific to stay in tune, and the guitar background was not anywhere as useful as the upright bass experience was because that fingering system is a time tested way to play in tune without looking at your fingers.

You could also find a teacher to explain some of this to you in person since that might help - seeing the hand position used in real life and copying it is a big help. If you want I could try to help out by skype if you want (unless you happen to be near central nj).
 
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#36
TL;DR - No need to be able to play with your eyes closed.. Unlined/Lined are both great. Make sure you have great left-hand technique already. Vibrato will come.

I've been playing fretless for... 18 years. I've had both lined and unlined instruments; I care more about what wood the fingerboard is made from than whether or not it has lines. Side dots are critical, but I've never seen a fretless bass without side dots. There is no reason you need to learn by "feel" and never look at the fingerboard... the dots will always be there. Everybody looks at the dots. For anybody to say you need to be able to play blindfolded is, to me, absolutely ridiculous. We play classical instruments by feel, but not electric bass. I mean, sure... you don't sit there and stare at the neck the whole time, but when you shift, or go to solo or something, you'll look at the neck, and that's perfectly fine.

I think many of the problems most people have with fretless are because, in my opinion, they play fretted instruments incorrectly. Or rather, perhaps not incorrectly but... carelessly? Or maybe they just never really focused on really solid left-hand technique. As big_fundamental mentions, you should be playing *just behind* the frets on a fretted instrument... as close as you can get to them, really. For new bass players it's not so important, but once somebody starts really practicing and focusing on quality of sound, playing close to the frets is critical to eliminate buzz, pitch inaccuracies, etc. So, then, moving to fretless isn't such a weird feeling if you're used to playing just about on the lines anyway.

Further, intonation shouldn't be too much of a concern nor something you should really need to practice. If you already have solid technique with your fretting hand, there's no real difference on fretless other than a few odd things here and there (double stops, etc.). You'll know really quickly if your fretting technique needs some work. For instance, if your finger spacing is already accurate on a fretted instrument, playing fifths, thirds, etc. on fretless is exactly the same and should be nearly perfectly in tune the first time you try it. If they're not, it might suggest that you just need to practice your fret-hand technique; it doesn't have anything to do with fretted vs. fretless, it's merely left hand technique.

The things you *will* have to practice are the little things like vibrato and stylistic things. My biggest tip for vibrato is... don't do that weird shaking thing some people do; you want to roll your fingers from side to side. It'll come. Don't worry about it on the first go.

Other than that... just do it! You'll enjoy it.
 
#37
I jumped into fretless, for the first time, last fall. I've been playing bass for decades, and had a massive injury 6 years ago, which left my motor skills impaired. Between those things, I still picked the basics up pretty quickly. I started with a lined fretless started from GC, then returned it for an unlined boutique one in two weeks. I'm super good at it, but I enjoy it. Don't be afraid; it is easier than you fear.
 
#38
I have a lined fretless. It's not too difficult to get in the ballpark with your pitch, but I will say that I have developed a bad habit of constantly watching my left hand while I play.

As others have said, the real trick is (assuming you're playing right-handed) to get the right side of your fretting fingers to fall right where the fret should be. Otherwise, your pitch is off.

I've been playing fretless for about five years off and on (mainly off) and I'm still not sure I would play in front of an audience unless I practiced the exact song over and over first.

It ain't for sissies!
 

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