Delberthot Posted January 1, 2017 Share Posted January 1, 2017 (edited) I decided at the end of last year to get back into playing a fretless so I have one on the way that will be with me on Wednesday. [size=4]I want to learn to play it properly rather than approach it like a fretted bass. I'm thinking more Tony Franklin and Jaz Lochrie kind of playing.[/size] I'm familiar with Paul Rodgers stuff which is chock full of fretless bass but I'd like to listen to as much as I can so I can pick up bits that might come in useful. I'm really not into the Jaco style of fretless which Youtube is full of although I acknowledge that there may be bits of it I can use, I just can't listen to it for more than a couple of seconds. So I'd appreciate if anyone who's into what I'm looking for can steer me in the direction of more rock oriented bass playing and if there are any useful Youtube instructional videos as I've been searching all night and can't really find what I am looking for. Tony Franklin's videos demonstrate the various techniques but he doesn't explain how to do them. Edited January 1, 2017 by Delberthot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpondonBassed Posted January 1, 2017 Share Posted January 1, 2017 Jack Bruce! Sadly he died last year but he's your man. Watch out for jazz tendencies heeheehee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrevorR Posted January 1, 2017 Share Posted January 1, 2017 Saw the late Randy Coven playing with the Norwegian prog band Ark about 10 or so years ago. Rocked out on fretless all night - sounded amazing. Worth checking out... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted January 1, 2017 Author Share Posted January 1, 2017 (edited) I once heard his Warwick Thumb fretless tone described as the Jack Bruce fart Edited January 1, 2017 by Delberthot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrevorR Posted January 1, 2017 Share Posted January 1, 2017 Oh yeah, and Colin Edwin from Porcupine Tree too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpondonBassed Posted January 1, 2017 Share Posted January 1, 2017 [quote name='Delberthot' timestamp='1483314863' post='3206195'] I once heard his Warwick Thumb fretless tone described as the Jack Bruce fart [/quote] So don't light any matches or play near any lit candles... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rexel Matador Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 Steve Digiorgio plays fretless bass in a whole bunch of metal bands - he might be worth checking out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyJohnson Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 I'd listen to some EARLY Japan stuff; they were a lot more rocky/punky/funky at the start, although their material smoothed out with each album. Mick Karn's lines are fluid and still quite amazing to my ears; the way he weaved his playing into, it has to be said, some fairly formulaic tracks, makes the Adolescent Sex, Obscure Alternatives and Quiet Life albums inherently listenable 30 years after they were originally released. I'd also recommend the Polytown album Karn did with David Torn and Terry Bozzio. While it's difficult to find a CD of it, it is up on Spotify. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lojo Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 [quote name='Delberthot' timestamp='1483314240' post='3206187'] although I acknowledge that there may be bits of it I can use, I just can't listen to it for more than a couple of seconds [/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabag Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 (edited) Hows about this ? the FIRM's first album Paul Rodgers / Jimmy Page with the excellent Tony Franklin on slippy bass duties [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRKbKPJoYww[/media] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TF9UncBtGQc&list=PLDDAYQXk_M64_wACKM2jGFcDIyVOaY4xi&index=7[/media] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApS7wncd5ac&list=PLDDAYQXk_M64_wACKM2jGFcDIyVOaY4xi[/media] Edited January 2, 2017 by fleabag Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 (edited) Jeff Ament from Pearl Jam is your guy surely? Unplugged version, remember when this was new the Seattle grundge rock scene was hailed as a fairly talent-less load of noise. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0csYYDUVnR8[/media] A bit funkier? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SK4pQaoqMQ Edited January 2, 2017 by stingrayPete1977 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 Or do you want it live, twice as fast and with Matt Cameron from Sound Garden on drums? Sheesh Kebab!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F59PX-K8PwE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted January 2, 2017 Author Share Posted January 2, 2017 Fantastic. Thanks for all of the suggestions. That gives me a lot to get going with Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jus Lukin Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 (edited) - Edited February 24, 2022 by Jus Lukin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk_lefty Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 Pearl Jam, Ten. That album persuaded me to get a fretless as my main bass years ago when I was in a heavy rock band. The playing is tasteful and excellent, Alive is a good fretless tune. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 Worth going back a bit further as well and checking out some of these guys. 'Freebo', his work with Bonnie Raitt. Colin Moulding with XTC, among others. Rick Danco with The Band. Plenty from Les Claypool. Tony Levin. John Giblin. Steve Bailey does a whole lot of Fretless tuition videos. https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=steve+bailey+fretless+bass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 Cynic are well worth checking out with Sean Malone on bass, if heavy vocals aren't your thing their most recent album Kindly Bent To Free Us would be a good one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 [quote name='Jus Lukin' timestamp='1483355084' post='3206401'] I don't know all the details, but i think there's plenty of fretless on Bad Company records, too. [/quote]The first album and Straight Shooter both feature a lot of fretless, it could be that the albums were played on fretless in their entirety, Boz was very subtle in his approach to fretless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WalMan Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 Blue Murder / John Sykes with Tony Franklin was a lot of fretless as I recall Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmccombe7 Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 Some already mentioned but here's my thoughts :- Jack Bruce Tony Franklin Stan Sheldon (Peter Frampton) Sting (with Police) John Deacon (occasionally with Queen) Mo Foster (maybe not so much Rock tho) J.P. Jones (Zep) Boz Burrell John Taylor (occasional Duran tracks) Maybe not quite the genre you're looking for but some are worth a listen. Think Tony Franklin is probably most famous true rock fretless IMO. I have 3 fretless basses but i do find they lack the attack in rock music however it makes for a pleasant change when playing same songs every week LOL Good luck but please give it some serious thought before going down this route. Could you maybe borrow a mates fretless to trial for a few weeks. If not buy a very cheap fretless first and try it out before making a permanent change. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudewheresmybass Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 Someone already mentioned Steve di Giorgio. Check out his work on the album 'fragile art of existence' by control denied. Some wonderful playing there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maude Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 Didn't Billy Gould play fretless on a few Faith No More tracks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 (edited) Jeff Ament - Pearl Jam The intro to evenflow has a dirty great harmonic slide at the start. I'm sure it's a Wal he uses/used. Ah...missed that someone had already said that... Edited January 2, 2017 by AndyTravis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 [quote name='AndyTravis' timestamp='1483369143' post='3206571'] Jeff Ament - Pearl Jam The intro to evenflow has a dirty great harmonic slide at the start. I'm sure it's a Wal he uses/used. Ah...missed that someone had already said that... [/quote] I found the unplugged version of Jeremy, that 8 string bass sounds amazing, fantastic stuff! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 [quote name='uk_lefty' timestamp='1483355236' post='3206404'] Pearl Jam, Ten. That album persuaded me to get a fretless as my main bass years ago when I was in a heavy rock band. The playing is tasteful and excellent, Alive is a good fretless tune. [/quote] This. Check out the Police 'Live' album and John Giblin's awesome playing on Fish's debut solo album 'Vigil in a wilderness of mirrors' too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.