I've always wondered if having no frets makes it harder to play. I'm a beginner and I do a lot of songs with sliding, and I just wanted to know if there's a difference in difficulty.
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Is it harder to play a fretless?
- Thread starter TheBiancaZed
- Start date
Well I'm no fretless guru, but I have messed with them and the thing is, being that there are no frets, its tough to see exactly where notes are. With fretted basses you want a G, you fret on THIS spot, its a G but now no fret to look at. Seems like you need to be able to hear the note now. Can you hear a note and know what it is? I can't but I know guys who hear notes like words. Any fool can memorize the notes when there is a grid too look at or feel. Thats about the sum of my knowledge
Yes. It's harder. Bad fretless playing hurts.
Still worth trying. Good freless playing is beautiful.
Still worth trying. Good freless playing is beautiful.
Your intonation needs to be very accurate, and you have to be conscious of whether you want your notes to slide into intonation or start in the right place. It is a little harder, but once you get a little practice it's only slightly tougher than fretted playing.
It's harder to ride a bicycle than stand still until you learn how. Once you learn it's still harder, but you can do it.
A lot of people don't have the patience or ability (or both) to learn to play in tune. It's not for everyone. Some don't like the journey and some don't like the result when they get there.
Sure, it's harder. Harder for some than others. Best way to know if it's for you is to try - but give it a serious try and don't get discouraged if you're not Jaco (or Manring, or Egan...) on Day One.
Chef
In Memoriam
Is it harder?
Of course!
It's fun though.
Get a fretless Squier Jazz and learn how to do that
Of course!
It's fun though.
Get a fretless Squier Jazz and learn how to do that
In a word, yes. Intonation is up to your fingers (and ears), not frets, so you have to learn to play more accurately. I took up fretless after many years of playing fretted, and had to unlearn a few bad habits. Basically, fretless is a fundamentally different animal to fretted bass with its own tonality and its own set of specialised techniques for bringing out the best in the instrument. Broadly speaking, if you play fretless then fretted is a cinch, but not necessarily the other way round!
A good choice, but used fretless MIM Fenders can be found for about the same price as the Squier is new. They're great basses and they don't have slightly raised fret lines like the Squier.Is it harder?
Of course!
It's fun though.
Get a fretless Squier Jazz and learn how to do that
It's only "harder" in the sense that it requires patience and dedication to the craft. It is a craft; it can be incredibly expressive when done well, but can also be a complete disaster when not done well.
Some will argue that "frets get in the way, so fretted is harder". I say whatever. Both are tools that require a little different way of thinking and applying. Neither is harder than the other in a physical sense. Both require some thought and practice to do well, but I'd say that playing fretless develops your expression and control, your ears (for intonation and intervals), and even your knowledge of the fingerboard.
Some will argue that "frets get in the way, so fretted is harder". I say whatever. Both are tools that require a little different way of thinking and applying. Neither is harder than the other in a physical sense. Both require some thought and practice to do well, but I'd say that playing fretless develops your expression and control, your ears (for intonation and intervals), and even your knowledge of the fingerboard.
hasbeen
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I agree. Man....it is incredibly "expressive". I switched from guitar to bass 40 years ago because I heard Jaco with Joni Mitchell. I went from electric guitar to fretless. Fretless is still my main instrument. With all my years of experience with it, I can still play notes that "hurt".
Yep. And same as with slide guitar, the bad playing seems to hurt the listener far more than the player.
I've never owned a fretless, but have noodled around on some and thought I didn't sound awful. But then I never asked any listeners what they thought.
To you fretlessers: how big a challenge is it to recognize when your intonation is off? Probably varies from person to person?
hasbeen
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Yep. And same as with slide guitar, the bad playing seems to hurt the listener far more than the player.
I've never owned a fretless, but have noodled around on some and thought I didn't sound awful. But then I never asked any listeners what they thought.
To you fretlessers: how big a challenge is it to recognize when your intonation is off? Probably varies from person to person?
I think it is quite easy to hear. If you can hear well enough to tune your instrument, the inherent skill set is there.
About 20 years ago I bought a very cheap bass and had the frets removed. My teacher at the time taught me some basics and I went from there. You will be surprised how much your playing improves with the help of practicing and playing fretless. It's a great course in ear training and technique. I do most of my practicing on a fretless which I find helps my over all playing. I highly recommend trying it! Plus, every time I play out with one of my fretless basses people seem to be fascinated with it.
hasbeen
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In the privacy of my office; not so much of a challenge.. When gigging, all of a sudden hearing yourself loud and clear becomes EVEN more important than when you play fretted. I recall a gig where I brought both a fretted and a fretless bass, fully anticipating to whip out the fretless for a couple songs. I could not hear myself all that well and never did bring out the fretless on that gig. Not worth the risk..
I love the mwhahh of fretless, but when you can't hear yourself and intonation is off, it's just terrible.
Regards
Mark
One of my earliest investments heading down this path was a set of wireless IEM. Haven't _needed_ them yet, but I am ready...
I got a cheap acoustic fretless and was almost convinced it was defective as it always seemed to be out of tune. Until I realised it was medium scale and then the penny dropped...
