MacDaddy Posted October 10, 2018 Share Posted October 10, 2018 - play the notes on the fret line/markers - Don't be tempted to slide to every note (unless that's what's required) - Severe vibrato can help slightly out of tune pitching. that's pretty much all I know about playing a fretless. Anything else I need to know? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newfoundfreedom Posted October 10, 2018 Share Posted October 10, 2018 You're worrying too much. Just stop fretting! (I'm sorry. I'll get my coat) 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EliasMooseblaster Posted October 10, 2018 Share Posted October 10, 2018 There's no shame in using an open string to give your ear some reference and reassurance...if the key of the song permits, of course! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
songofthewind Posted October 10, 2018 Share Posted October 10, 2018 Practice practice practice. The ear for pitch will come with that. If I pick up my fretless I find it hard to put it down, fretted basses sound limited in comparison. At least, the way I play them they do. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted October 10, 2018 Share Posted October 10, 2018 28 minutes ago, songofthewind said: Practice practice practice. If I pick up my fretless I find it hard to put it down, fretted basses sound limited in comparison. This. Frets are just like that shïtty Autotune nonsense. 😉 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linus27 Posted October 10, 2018 Share Posted October 10, 2018 1 hour ago, songofthewind said: Practice practice practice. The ear for pitch will come with that. If I pick up my fretless I find it hard to put it down, fretted basses sound limited in comparison. At least, the way I play them they do. Yep, I feel the same, love the feeling of playing with no frets, it's like being set free. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgehouse Posted October 10, 2018 Share Posted October 10, 2018 I have to admit I was really nervous about fretless. Shouldn’t have been. It’s liberating and a fretted bass feels like a “my first bass” now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roman_sub Posted October 10, 2018 Share Posted October 10, 2018 7 hours ago, MacDaddy said: - Severe vibrato can help slightly out of tune pitching. I wouldn't advise that approach, as you'd just a wobble around without a centre pitch. That may work as occasional effect but don't over-rely on it! You need to train your ears to hear intervals and know what the note you are playing is supposed to sound like. There is no substitute for accurate pitching.... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgehouse Posted October 10, 2018 Share Posted October 10, 2018 I found a good clip on tuner and a quick check for intonation on each note really helped 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacDaddy Posted October 11, 2018 Author Share Posted October 11, 2018 17 hours ago, paul_5 said: This. Frets are just like that shïtty Autotune nonsense. 😉 only if they are like this 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
songofthewind Posted October 11, 2018 Share Posted October 11, 2018 Salvador Dali frets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HazBeen Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 I will give a tip: Even a bass with fretlines needs you to understand and adapt technique to hit the sweet spot. The line is 2mm, your finger is up to 2 cm wide so to be in tune means finding the correct spot for your finger to push the string against the fretboard. How meaty (the part of) your finger is, how you hold your fingers etc has an impact and you need to compensate accordingly. Use your ears for that. I find I am in tune when I have the edge of my pinkey on the fretline (boney) but that my index hits the spot when positioned with the fretline towards the middle of the finger (more meat). The great thing is that muscle memory does this adjusting for you so practise.... and it will come. 2nd tip: your bass setup needs to be right (unless you are Jaco) and for adjusting your bass’ intonation use a toothpick. It is as wide as your fretline, so if you create an artificial fret with the toothpick (slide it under the string) you can get intonation spot on. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBus Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 Practice on a fretted bass. 😮 If you are able to play a fretted bass with absolutely no fret buzz then you can easily translate that onto fretless. To avoid fret buzz completely you have to position your finger just behind the fret. Try it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DevonDel Posted October 24, 2018 Share Posted October 24, 2018 A fretless is a great exercise even if you don’t play it in a band situation live. They make you really listen to what you and your band members are playing. It’s too easy to fall into the trap of A A A A D D E E etc and not really listen to the pitch/tone/harmony. I don’t play a fretless live but have one in the quiver for those days.....you know...those days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passinwind Posted October 25, 2018 Share Posted October 25, 2018 My favorite exercise is playing octaves up and down the neck, all of it. Extra credit for going microtonal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted November 2, 2018 Share Posted November 2, 2018 Use proper vibrato technique, up and down the string: not sideways, like a string bend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabag Posted November 2, 2018 Share Posted November 2, 2018 What Haz said. Your finger is way wider than the fret line on a fretless. If you play on the line, you will have part of your finger on, behind and in front of the fret line. You need to position your finger so that edge of it sits next to the line your fretting, not past it, which is what happens when playing right on the line. You will be sharp, playing right on the line, and it sounds worse the further up the neck you play. It doesnt sound so bad down at the nut end 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacDaddy Posted November 6, 2018 Author Share Posted November 6, 2018 wowzers! Excellent advice. Cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
songofthewind Posted November 6, 2018 Share Posted November 6, 2018 A good way to sort this out is to play plugged into a very accurate tuner, preferably with a large display I find. Then try each note on each string up and down the fretboard, and see where to position the relevant digit to get the accurate pitch. This really helps me to train my ear. My fingertips differ slightly in softness and width, so each requires a slightly different approach, in my experience. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest subaudio Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 My 2p. Play fretless with your ears listen to yourself, listen to the band and all combinations therein. We should be doing that anyway but its crucial for fretless, also, good, consistent technique will really help. Tony Franklin has a great TrueFire course out for fretless, just the intro has a wealth of information, it does get a bit advanced technique wise after that but its a great resource and has cool play along tracks. Enjoy and have fun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_c2 Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 I bought a fretless recently (I had owned one before though) and I took to it like a duck to water - no real troubles. Part of that was I was already used to playing fretted, reading music, sometimes sightreading and/or following a conductor so only very occasional opportunities to look at my left hand. So I need to know, more/less, where it goes and what's under my fingers at any time. Its just the same really, except a bit more concentration. I think the "putting the fingers in the right place" previously was mainly from listening properly, rather than simply physically knowing, because unlike (eg) a double bass, there's not much physical clues you feel to know you're in 1st position, or 2nd position, etc etc. Its not like on a double bass where the body starts so high up that you can know from (what would be) fret 7 onwards! If your fretted technique is a little bit sloppy or your ear isn't that good then these areas would need tightening up - but it will benefit both fretted/fretless. I'm at the stage now where I can play "straight" and nobody would know its a fretless; or I can use the advantage to do little things like dig into a note to make it do the fretless unique warble (sorry couldn't think of a better term), or add a bit of vibrato here and there, or do little slides into and out of notes to make it really expressive (and DEFINITELY different/fretless!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 On 11/10/2018 at 10:32, MacDaddy said: only if they are like this It looks like a dog sneezed on it 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Blank Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 I use a Peterson StroboClip HD, it’s on all the time I’m playing, just practice, practice, practice. Play tunes with no ‘fretless content’ so to speak. As other people have said, after a while going back to fretted feels like a regressive move, fretted instruments begin to feel restrictive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_c2 Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 I'll go against the grain and say DON'T use a tuner. Learn what an interval should sound like, and learn how to recognise when its off, and in which direction. It will improve your "ear" which will help in so many other ways - you'll be able to recognise/transcribe stuff MUCH quicker, you'll demystify the harmonies of songs, you'll improvise better etc etc 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 On 10/10/2018 at 11:11, MacDaddy said: - Severe vibrato can help slightly out of tune pitching. Only thing worse than severe vibrato on a fretless is out of tune severe vibrato Or....... Only thing worse than out of tune fretless is out of tune fretless with severe vibrato 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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