Fretless - how much harder to play?

BMU

So I'm still with the Warwick GAS. (Anyone who's read my bass forum posts should spot the common theme by now. ?)

But this has (sort of) nothing to do with Warwick:
Lately I'm leaning towards fretless, really want to incorporate that sound into some of my compositions. (Goes really well with metal, no really I promise.)

So the question is: how much harder is playing a fretless. I only play bass when I'm recording bass tracks so I really don't want to spend 100s of hours mastering a new playing technique.

And of course I know the answer is the same as everything else: not that hard to *do*, very hard to do really *well*. And of course I'll play some fretless basses when this becomes a serious purchase decision. But I'd still like to hear whatever thoughts my esteemed fellow GFSA'ers have on the subject. I would imagine it's harder than switching from 6 to 7 string guitar, more fundamentally different whereas the former is just one more string.

AlanRatcliffe

It is fairly difficult to play properly, and the good fretless players tend to play it exclusively. However, there are things you can do to lessen the stress like getting a lined fretless (or converting a fretted) and keeping the playing simpler than you would on a fretted. Far easier than fretless guitar or violin, as the intonation is not as precise on the long scale length.

BMU

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: Far easier than fretless guitar or violin, as the intonation is not as precise on the long scale length.

Yes I'm sort of counting on that effect. Also that mistakes aren't nearly as noticeable at low frequencies. (Actually I already rely on that effect when I track normal bass parts ? )

"the good fretless players tend to play it exclusively. "
Hmmm I've noticed that, now you mention it. There's a warning in there somewhere, heh.

Renesongs

My first bass was a fretless ( still the one I love the most) IMO fretless is real easy to play well in a live situation because I play it by ear and intonate into my notes a lot which seems to add a great amount of expression to the overall sound especially in jazz and blues. Unfortunately recording for me is more of a clinical process and I got irritated with not being able to hit the exact note every time so I rather reluctantly bought a fretted bass for recording (and teaching). The father of the fretless bass Jaco Pastorius always practised on a fretted bass to keep his ear and intonation precise as possible although I have never heard him play a fretted bass live or in recording sessions.

DonovanB

If' you're in doubt, stick to a fretted. If you are after a jazzy sound you can still obtain that with a fretted bass, but one cannot really do hard rock with a fretless.

Wizard

It's pretty easy to play ... unless you want to stay in tune.
Pulled out my violin a few weeks ago and got a nasty reminder about how fretless requires exact finger placement

BMU

Yeah but violin is different story altogether. Very short scale length, high pitch so small mistakes are immediately obvious.

Renesongs wrote: ...because I play it by ear and intonate into my notes a lot which seems to add a great amount of expression to the overall sound...

Yeah it's that expression that makes fretless sound so amazing.

Donovan Banks wrote: If you're in doubt, stick to a fretted.

Now where would be the fun in being sensible ?

If you are after a jazzy sound you can still obtain that with a fretted bass

True. My Fender Jazz does (obviously) a great job of that.

...but one cannot really do hard rock with a fretless.

Not conventionally I agree. But check out Obscura. Progressive death metal by some high quality musicians, obviously not everyone's cuppa tea.
www.myspace.com/realmofobscura

The bassist (Jeroen Thesseling) plays a Warwick Thumb 6-string fretless. Sounds amazing. But yes, he is the exception, and I certainly can't play like him even on a fretted, and you're probably right. Still love that sound though.

bENDER

Fretless is Über Cool!

Check out this crazy bass: Ibanez Ashula is the world's first fret/fretless hybrid bass guitar!!!

BUWHAHAHHAHA!