bubinga5 Posted May 12, 2023 Share Posted May 12, 2023 If i see another ( how to play fretless video) ive never understood why bass players have to do endless vibrato on a fretless. It has a certain sound but for gods sake stop . George Duke with Chris Mcbride. 7 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted May 12, 2023 Share Posted May 12, 2023 I've watched this video a hundred times. Love that bass playing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverfoxnik Posted May 13, 2023 Share Posted May 13, 2023 I don't know about Chris McBride @bubinga5, but Man, that Drummer!! 👏👏👏 I don't play music like that, nor can I play bass like that, but I do like George Duke and his music... It's always had a good, positive vibe about it. And isn't it great that audiences enjoy and respect great musicianship and that there's the space for musicians to be able to express themselves so freely ? But, going back to your original point, I agree with you about the use of vibrato by some fretless bass players - used too much and it tends to overshadow everything else good in the bass part... For want of a better analogy, a bit like overseasoning a simple meal with really good ingredients.. But I think in some genres of music, it's actually expected to be there as part of the sound - like slap bass in certain types of funk music - and this is one of those genres. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassTool Posted May 13, 2023 Share Posted May 13, 2023 I would say (certainly with a covers band) it totally depends on which song the fretless bass is part of. Some songs would demand it, some not. On certain songs from the Paul Young 'No Parlez' and beyond stuff, Pino Palladino played fretless straight with little to no vibrato. Jack Bruce with Cream too. If it enhances what's going on with the bassline, fair enough. Can't say it's ever bugged me watching someone playing fretless with vibrato though.. Mwaaah 😊 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassTool Posted May 13, 2023 Share Posted May 13, 2023 Oh aye, and that drummer is certainly a bit tasty 😲 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spencer.b Posted May 13, 2023 Share Posted May 13, 2023 Interesting point, he's an upright player first so I guess it's more similar to that approach, btw it's Christian , never seen him called Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellzero Posted May 13, 2023 Share Posted May 13, 2023 This is how I play fretless too, but there's a lot of classical vibrato in here, and tons of mwah, so that typical growly fretless sound. Excellent stuff for sure, but what else would you expect from George Duke and Christian McBride, but what a fantastic drummer indeed! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nilorius Posted May 13, 2023 Share Posted May 13, 2023 15 hours ago, bubinga5 said: If i see another ( how to play fretless video) ive never understood why bass players have to do endless vibrato on a fretless. It has a certain sound but for gods sake stop . George Duke with Chris Mcbride. What's Your point on - playing fretless another way ? He plays it well, like others would - lower notes without vibrato, solo and higher with lot's of it. That is the way I play my fretless and i think others do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted May 14, 2023 Share Posted May 14, 2023 23 hours ago, Hellzero said: there's a lot of classical vibrato in here, and tons of mwah, so that typical growly fretless sound. Excellent stuff for sure, but what else would you expect from George Duke and Christian McBride, but what a fantastic drummer indeed! Totally agree. 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted May 14, 2023 Share Posted May 14, 2023 Good video... Great tone and Christian held it together with a good simple riff (without overplaying). Anybody know where the drummer lives? I'm going to kidnap him!!! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peteb Posted May 14, 2023 Share Posted May 14, 2023 On 13/05/2023 at 13:32, spencer.b said: btw it's Christian , never seen him called Chris Yea, but you don't know him as well as the OP... 🙂 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted May 14, 2023 Share Posted May 14, 2023 Nice to hear that neck pickup and judicious EQ being used, thus negating that nasal tone often associated with fretless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted May 16, 2023 Share Posted May 16, 2023 That's one of those vids that just make me hide my fretless basses and pretend I only play P basses due to my (more apparent now) talent deficit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EMG456 Posted May 16, 2023 Share Posted May 16, 2023 Great stuff but what're you on about @bubinga5? Literally the first note he plays is the archetypical fretless "slide up and apply vibrato" I'm sure that like loads of us of a certain age, he was influenced even if only subconsciously by Jaco - just listen to the harmonic chords he throws in towards the middle - but he uses it well. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jakester Posted May 16, 2023 Share Posted May 16, 2023 Drummer is Ronald Bruner Jr - https://drummerworld.com/drummers/Ronald_Bruner_Jr.html Who happens to be Thundercat's brother and who plays with big Stan Clarke (as we're using contractions!) and Kamasi Washington too. Monster player, from a family of monster players! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHornBass Posted May 16, 2023 Share Posted May 16, 2023 7 hours ago, ead said: That's one of those vids that just make me hide my fretless basses and pretend I only play P basses due to my (more apparent now) talent deficit I know that feeling! Annnnd back in the case it goes... 😅 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabag Posted May 16, 2023 Share Posted May 16, 2023 Great musos allround, but that drummist was magniff. During his ' piece ' it looked he may have had an extra arm, i swear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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