3 Fretless Bass Guitar Exercises: Play In Tune!

[@thomasfioriglio]

Thanks so much Dan! This is a really great exercise and I learned my ear is a lot better than I thought. I just got a Fender Tony Franklin Fretless that has an unlined board and I am loving it! It's been years since I played fretless. It took just a couple of days to get comfortable once again with it. And I prefer the unlined board to a lined one. I found with the lined board, I was always looking at the fretboard to see where my fingers were. I feel a greater sense of freedom with the unlined board and actually more confident, because I am also relying more on my ears. These drones are exactly what I was looking for to help me practice this more. And I love that Lakland! Man, they make great basses. I've owned several, including a 44-02, similar to yours. My previous lined fretless was the 44-64. Thanks for your help!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

My pleasure! That Tony Franklin bass is amazing. I’d love one, one day.

[@KRAZEEIZATION]

I converted a cheap P base back in 1992 to fretless and I still have it. There’s something really cool about them. Just listen to Pino Palladio in the 80s, John Giblin and Jaco Pastorious. Mind blowing stuff.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Amazing players...

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

It was my temptation to convert my jazz bass to fretless, but because I wanted wider range and no markers on the fingerboard, I instead chose to purchase something completely different.

[@joeshahda4242]

Thanks!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thank you!

[@jacquibrookes8257]

Thanks for the drones. Great idea. Happy Pedulla buzz player😀

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Excellent, Jacqui! That’s a great bass too...

[@dreamemulator498]

That is some great stuff for my practice routine. Just got a fretless and I am looking forward to play more on it. Thank you!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Excellent. Keep up the practice!

[@sansanychmurashko]

Thank you so much for your videos, I think you’re the only one who showed us how to do it on a Fretless bass without lines unlike others.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks! It’s only because this is the only fretless I have

[@andyhbassman]

Bloody great lesson again Dan!😎🎸

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks, Andy!

[@Abbynorml1979]

Ahead of where I'm at, I definitely need more practice ear experience, I just love the sound. 20 years ago I would have figured it out in days/weeks/months and had a thrill.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

It's definitely it's own vibe. I love it too.

[@reubenkinsey2947]

DAN ☮️👍 thanks again, I'm never going to be JACO but I'm getting a lot better at the FRETLESS and Jeeeeez!!! It's just DAMN fun!! Very addictive, and your pointer's for this veteran bassist is very beautiful and cool again thank you ❤️🎸☮️👍

[@OnlineBassCourses]

My pleasure! None of us are going to be Jaco. Let’s just try and be the best WE can. 🙏👍👊

[@sansanychmurashko]

I love Jaco he was very talented player but I never liked his style of playing guess I didn’t like his tone. Mick Karn is better in my opinion.

[@bowds7]

Thanks for your reply

[@garyryan8144]

Great lesson 👍🏿

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks!

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

The fretless bass I have begun purchasing doesn’t have markers on it either. I’m going to trust my ear to adjust accordingly with the fingerboard and allow myself to learn intonation. You may already have made this known someplace, Dan. What make and model is yours?

[@OnlineBassCourses]

It just takes time to get used to it. I couldn’t do it at first but just did session today and it felt comfortable. This is a Lakland that Pino Palladino owned before me. It’s lovely!

[@klx400sr69]

@@OnlineBassCourses wow! how’d you get that??

[@OnlineBassCourses]

@@klx400sr69 it was for sale in the Bass Gallery in Camden and I bought it!

[@kenmorley2339]

I have one with no lines . For weeks I could not get anything to sound right . Once I started using the fingering suggested by Ray Brown things started to look up . My respect for the string section has increased 100x .

[@kingkongkungkwang]

I've been playing lined fretless basses for a while, and I just made my first unlined fretless purchase today. Let's see how many hair follicles turn loose once I start practicing.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Expect some chaos for a while! You’ll get it no problem though.

[@jacquibrookes8257]

I prefer unlined...but I did play violin, which helped I guess. Good luck.

[@bowds7]

Are you using round wound or flat wound strings? What is better for a nice glowing sound on a frett less bass? Thanks

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Rotosound round wounds. The same Pino had when he owned this bass. It's all subjective I guess, but I like the sound of these rounds.

[@1mespud]

Great tutorial!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks very much!

[@kevmac1230]

Hey Dan, that tune sounds beautiful.I just put my fretless away for the night, after practicing the drones.My ear is getting better but I want to play things like you demonstrated.Getting there slowly.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Well done - keep it up!

[@bowds7]

Are they a thick or heavy gaged strings or light or thin gage?

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Feels medium to me. 45-105

[@ericdufour2479]

can you put normal string on freeless?

[@OnlineBassCourses]

If by normal you mean stainless steel then, yes, you can.

[@daveydoodle1916]

What kind of bass is that does anyone know?

[@OnlineBassCourses]

I do! It's a Lakland fretless. Once owned by the great Pino Palladino. I think this one is from the 80s.

[@tommyfriedrich1473]

I need a freetless Bass!!! XD

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Get one! They're awesome.

[@eliwolf8987]

Just got my first one! Its a beast to get the hang but with all this extra time home I figured I'd practice haha

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Eli Wolf Good call! Spend a lot of time with it and you’ll definitely get there. Stay safe.

[@kevmac1230]

@@eliwolf8987 I've played bass for decades (I'm a geezer) and I just finally got into fretless about 7 months ago and I wish I had the courage to do so years ago.It is a beautiful instrument.Dan's the guy to get yo on track.Stay with it and good luck.

[@bandicoot5412]

They open up that whole new world.

[@papaours1968]

hello dan which strings and gauge have you on your fretless?

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Hi Frank. I bought this bass off Pino Palladino. They’re the same ones he used. They’re Rotosound rounds but I’m not sure the gauge. Feels like 45-105. Hope that helps!

[@lred1383]

@@OnlineBassCourses I thought roundwounds shouldn't be used on fretless. Don't they damage the fretboard? Or is that a myth?

[@OnlineBassCourses]

@@lred1383 That's what I heard too but if it worked for Pino! My board is not damaged.

[@andyhbassman]

I recently bought a Tony Franklin Fretless Precision bass - beautiful Lake Placid bue. It also surprised me that it came with round wound strings from the USA factory, ebony fingerboard. Ok for Tony and Fender - ok for me.

[@billgardner8297]

E 10th?

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Sorry, this was a long time ago! Can you elaborate?

[@joeshahda]

Thanks!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks - appreciate that!