The all-fretless show...

[BassUrges]

I still need a real band, but until then I have a good time with Swallow Hill Music classes. The last 7 Sundays we’ve been trying to pull together Zep IV for this afternoon’s show. Sadly there are 2 basses, but on the upside I can peek at her left hand when I lose my place.

A couple weeks in I pulled out the fretless I’d been ignoring while trying to keep up with JPJ and was all “WOW, no clank and the perfect tone for a couple of songs!” So I brought it to rehersal and asked everyone to tell me if I was out of tune. And I’ve brought it ever since.

I’m also bringing my DB to play arco on “Evermore.”

There’s no point to this post other than I’m nervous and planning on staring at my left hand a lot.

 

[kesslari]

Cool!

 

[JRA]

sounds like a fun opportunity for you --- i say rock it! good luck with your show!

 

[BassUrges]

Sound check went OK. Can’t hear DB at all—going to count on hugging it for intonation.

The teen band plays first so I can chill.

 

[bholder]

Most cool!

 

[Haroldo]

Kashmir (tho' not on IV) would be dandy tune for your DB. Good luck on the show!

 

[BassUrges]

Flubbed one transition and wound up simplifying/skipping some JPJ fills, but lots of fun! I have a ways to go yet as a player before I hit “weekend warrior” status.

 

[pablomago]

Off to a good start!

I once did sound for a band that had a fiddle, a fretless bass, a Dobro and percussion. Everything was relative pitch. They were right on the money, but they were all pros.

 

[BassUrges]

I doubt anyone mistakes me for a pro, but I was able to hear one passage in Black Dog where I drifted out, so hopefully that means I was on the rest of the time?

My son says my singing was hard to hear so maybe the sound guy had his own opinion of it.

 

[BassWaffle]

Ah man, i was hoping this was a thread about a show that only featured fretless instruments..

 

[hypercarrots]

Ah man, i was hoping this was a thread about a show that only featured fretless instruments..

Wouldn’t that be an orchestra or symphony?

 

[Old Blastard]

I'm always staring at my left hand. I have no idea what the darn thing is going to do. It's like a total stranger sometimes.

 

[dbase]

Just curious... what are the steps in switching to a fretless bass. assuming you already play bass.

 

[BassUrges]

Ah man, i was hoping this was a thread about a show that only featured fretless instruments..

One of the guitarists broke out a slide, does that count?

 

[smtp4me]

Just curious... what are the steps in switching to a fretless bass. assuming you already play bass.

The two primary differences (steps) are: 1) Intonation, and 2) Technique

1. If you already have a good ear, you will hear when the pitch is off (or on). If not, you will eventually develop to the point where you can hear it. The nice part is, you can quickly adjust by moving your finger slightly in either direction to compensate. And a lined fretless bass helps.
2. Although you can still use "guitar" vibrato where you bend the string back and forth, on fretless you typically use the same vibrato as a violinist/cellist etc. - where you rock your finger back and forth in the same direction as the string (instead of bending). Fretless allows for sliding up to, and down from a note, as well as sliding harmonics. Then you have "mwah", which is the unique fretless tone that many people instantly recognize - this can take a while to learn because there are several factors involved. There are several YouTube videos that demonstrate how to get mwah.

You do not have to use vibrato, slides or mwah - you can play fretless the same as fretted, but intonation is still critical. If your technique on fretted bass is such that you already play just behind the frets, then the adjustment is easier.

 

[BassUrges]

Just curious... what are the steps in switching to a fretless bass. assuming you already play bass.

I’m not an instructor, but what I did was basically begin at the beginning. I re-did the Hal Leonard books. I bought the Suzuki Method bass books and recordings and learned by ear. I did scales and arpeggios in different positions, with and without drones.

Also, my Jazz has lines and my DB has some well-placed grain in the neck.

 

[BassUrges]

Staring at left hand as promised!

This was Black Dog based on my use of a pick.

 

[dbase]

The two primary differences (steps) are: 1) Intonation, and 2) Technique

1. If you already have a good ear, you will hear when the pitch is off (or on). If not, you will eventually develop to the point where you can hear it. The nice part is, you can quickly adjust by moving your finger slightly in either direction to compensate. And a lined fretless bass helps.
2. Although you can still use "guitar" vibrato where you bend the string back and forth, on fretless you typically use the same vibrato as a violinist/cellist etc. - where you rock your finger back and forth in the same direction as the string (instead of bending). Fretless allows for sliding up to, and down from a note, as well as sliding harmonics. Then you have "mwah", which is the unique fretless tone that many people instantly recognize - this can take a while to learn because there are several factors involved. There are several YouTube videos that demonstrate how to get mwah.

You do not have to use vibrato, slides or mwah - you can play fretless the same as fretted, but intonation is still critical. If your technique on fretted bass is such that you already play just behind the frets, then the adjustment is easier.

Thanks for the info.. I'm sure their out there but locally I've never seen any Rock/Bar bands playing Fretless. Wondering if that's something I would like to try sometimes.

 

[Old Blastard]

I use it a lot in my america/blues band and in an American trio (no drums). It gives a different texture to the music that I love. On the other hand, I love my fretted basses as well, so I often take both and switch when the guitar player switches to banjo, which is always out of tune, even when it's in tune.

 

[Groove Doctor]

When practising Fretless at home, close your eyes or turn the lights off. It helps break the habit of staring at your left hand.