|
6 members (Gary E. Andrews, bennash, texritter, theodorekidd, Everett Adams, 1 invisible),
18,294
guests, and
5,177
robots. |
|
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Welcome to the Just Plain Folks forums! You are currently viewing our forums as a Guest which gives you limited access to most of our discussions and to other features.
By joining our free community you will have access to post and respond to topics, communicate privately with our users (PM), respond to polls, upload content, and access many other features. Registration is fast, simple, and absolutely free; so please join our community today!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
REZN
by Gary E. Andrews - 07/20/26 12:01 AM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 8,574
JPF Mentor
|
OP
JPF Mentor
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 8,574 |
When I first got a fretless bass, I recorded myself playing scales on my fretted bass, and then played along with my fretless. Anyone try that? Any other tricks, anecdotes, problems? ------------------ Mike Dunbar Music
You've got to know your limitations. I don't know what your limitations are. I found out what mine were when I was twelve. I found out that there weren't too many limitations, if I did it my way. -Johnny Cash It's only music. -niteshift Mike Dunbar Music
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 8,102
Top 25 Poster
|
|
Top 25 Poster
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 8,102 |
That's a good technique!
At a store, I played a fretless, and loved the way the slides would sound and feel! (No bumps!) I found I was doing more than I would have though, (too much for a song, and would have to think about not overplaying). It just felt so liberating, that a lead guitar style of bass playing seemed natural to try, like McCartney's playing style. Think of that! Him playing even more lead style! Too much.
My friend has a fretless, and he said the same thing, about the sliding, and sometimes wanting to play more runs than usual. It's just fun at first I guess. I would then recommend to anyone first getting one to play it for two months before doing any recording or playing on stage, for both getting use to the no frets, and for not playing it like Hendrix!
John Daubert
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 8,574
JPF Mentor
|
|
OP
JPF Mentor
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 8,574 |
I have a fretless, and I play upright bass. I find that I'm so worried about pitch that I don't do enough sliding. Last session I played on the fretless, the producer had me punch in several slides. I only rarely slide on the upright. Mike ------------------ Mike Dunbar Music
You've got to know your limitations. I don't know what your limitations are. I found out what mine were when I was twelve. I found out that there weren't too many limitations, if I did it my way. -Johnny Cash It's only music. -niteshift Mike Dunbar Music
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 8,102
Top 25 Poster
|
|
Top 25 Poster
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 8,102 |
Which do you enjoy playing more, the fretless or with frets? And so you like playing an upright better than the other?
Although, I guess it all depends on what song we're talking about huh?
John Daubert
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 8,574
JPF Mentor
|
|
OP
JPF Mentor
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 8,574 |
I love frets. I wish the upright had frets. Glissando is for trombones. Tremolo is for guitars. I play the fretless when I must. I love the upright, but it's harder to play (I'm not talking frets here, just harder on both hands.) Slapping sounds better with frets. I had a metal strip put in at the bridge end of my fretless' fretboard so I could slap it right. Mike Fretboy Dunbar ------------------ Mike Dunbar Music
You've got to know your limitations. I don't know what your limitations are. I found out what mine were when I was twelve. I found out that there weren't too many limitations, if I did it my way. -Johnny Cash It's only music. -niteshift Mike Dunbar Music
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 845
Serious Contributor
|
|
Serious Contributor
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 845 |
Never played a fretles bass but I've played some fiddle and slide guitar. I find that I was "tuning on the fly" by ear which is OK, I think, with those instruments. (as long as I was flat to pitch and not sharp to pitch!)
Is the same true on fretless bass?
Rob
I used to be indecisive, now I'm not sure... My Songs
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 8,574
JPF Mentor
|
|
OP
JPF Mentor
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 8,574 |
Better flat than sharp...always. Flat can sound a little "off", but sharp can sound maddening. The lumberjack's key? C# or Bb ------------------ Mike Dunbar Music
You've got to know your limitations. I don't know what your limitations are. I found out what mine were when I was twelve. I found out that there weren't too many limitations, if I did it my way. -Johnny Cash It's only music. -niteshift Mike Dunbar Music
|
|
|
|
We would like to keep the membership in Just Plain Folks FREE! Your donation helps support the many programs we offer including Road Trips and the Music Awards.
|
|
|
Forums118
Topics128,819
Posts1,184,898
Members21,479
| |
Most Online236,505
Jul 1st, 2026
|
|
|
"Parents are notorious for telling you not to do something, but not telling you WHAT to do instead. So here are my thoughts. Don't bite the hand that feeds you, give it a manicure. Don't burn your bridges, go out and build more! And of course, Don't run with Scissors, use them to cut out your press clippings!" -Brian Austin Whitney
|
|
|
|
