Improve Your Tuning & Intonation On Fretless Bass

[@pizzicatoprod]

Once comfortable with exercise, try it with the lights out! Seriously. I started playing the bass in school, as a kid. Upright bass. I stood on a stool so I could reach the fretboard. For intonation practice my teacher told me to turn off the lights in the room and force myself to ~listen~ to what I was playing, not ~watch~ what I was playing. I thought he was crazy, but it worked for me. My key for playing fretless is listening/ear and muscle memory.

[@richbrownbass]

That's a great idea!

[@svenjansen2134]

Or just close your eyes.

[@danm8004]

​@@svenjansen2134or gouge them out.

[@AA-my1dw]

@@svenjansen2134 No peeking!

[@Tonka-s4b]

I just got my 4 string fretless yesterday and I can't wait to start my journey. Thank You so much Mr. Brown. I'm happy to be here. You are blessing. 🙏

[@cruzois52]

Thanks!

[@mipabass]

👍 Even you could not resist to add a sprinkle of vibrato on the last note of the sequence 😀

[@richbrownbass]

I know, right? But it sounds so goooood! lol!

[@EvertAlbers]

Vibratos in G's do not count, according to the small print.

[@petershaughnessy9699]

Thank you for the inviting and erudite lessons. I’m always inspired to pick up my bass.

[@richbrownbass]

Thank you so much for the very high praise, Peter. That means a lot.

[@GERALDOuncleG]

My fretless bass is coming after tomorrow, i play fretted bass for 2 years just for fun, I loved your simple tips, and others as well from experiencies shared by other fellow bassists on this video's comments.

[@clotwich]

thank you simple and helpful advice

[@dondouglas]

Hi, I love your videos. I think when you say "playing the bass in tune" it sums everything up. I played a Gibson Wes (with fingers) until I switched to bass. I don't even know the names of the open strings but I trust my ear, so I thought I'd go straight to a Fretless Jazz Bass Relic. It seems risky but I've been playing for a year now and the experience couldn't have been better, I could improvise with the Wes, I can find the right note and it wasn't too difficult for me. I think you have to get rid of prejudices and a priori and just go with the flow. Your videos are calm and educational, that's it!!!

[@thomasfioriglio]

Oh I like this!! I’m always looking for new exercises to help with my fretless playing. This is simple and very helpful. I love the idea of playing along with a piano. Maybe there is a backing track like that here on KZbin. Thanks for sharing.

[@WCruttenden]

I love playing fretless and this exercise is really helpful. I'm off to check out Cenk Erdogan too.

[@charleskleesattel6477]

After years of dealing with fretless bass I've discovered that while exercises like this are valuable, in reality, the biggest skill we need is to learn what 'in tune' sounds like, and to be able to match our pitch to some other musical sound. Rarely outside of personal practice will we need to play with no other pitches around us. So.... it is in our best interest to have backing tracks for some other kind of music to match our pitch to. Something as simple as a piano playing a major scale or a chord progress in iReal Pro, or a looper pedal. IMHO progress is faster when you learn to play with other sounds and match pitch.

[@garethonbass]

Such a good lesson - thank you so much Rich. I've found this exercise to be so helpful with intonation - it's like a laser focus for the ears. I kept working it with arpeggios in the same fashion, and then also in reverse, starting at B past the G harmonic on the G string and then going low. And it also works great on upright. A righteous exercise.

[@OffiongEniang]

That bass sounds so good❤

[@jeffayoe7468]

Thank you!

[@philippedudule6727]

Thank you, you're so right !...

[@-Bean]

Awesome video; I totally kove fretless bass. I have an acoustic and electric 4-string useing B-E-A-D arrangement... this is a brilliant excersice 😎

[@nickpicc]

Cenk is awesome, been following him for awhile. Thanks for the lesson

[@trav1th3rabb1]

Just purchased a fretless 6 string and there’s not many videos on those, but this is a great exercise I can still do. Very nice.

[@NicleT]

What a great exercise! Thank you Sir.

[@witherwillowsounds3935]

AWWWWWYEAH!!! More fretless stuff, please! There's a lot of fretless vids, but not a lot of great ones.

[@markfoster_mkfbass]

Yes, I agree.

[@kamerkayali]

love fretless from Turkey.

[@PastorFunK]

Bout to get a fretless soon! I started on a Yamaha fretless P-Bass when I was 15! This is making me wanna go back to my roots!! Great lesson!!

[@justinfedenyszen7049]

As always, excellent content Rich. Thank you so much! Justin

[@kevmac1230]

Thanks, you're right about there not being a lot of fretless bass lessons.

[@edwinjacobellis4852]

This really is a great exercise

[@alfredsmith6381]

Just starting on fretless and eub after some 30 years, but not playing as much as I should because I didn't know what to use as a point of reference. This answers that. Thank you!

[@mjusick42]

Thanks for the video! A good exercise for me as a fretless beginner. And also thank you very much for recommending Cenk Erdogan, he is really a great musician!

[@firefighterps2]

What a gift to find this lesson, and Mr Rich Brown. I'm fretless only, and a working trombonist. Thought it would be easy to switch from the horn to the bass. Yeah right! Thank you sir.

[@billyjeffersoniv4344]

Brother, that is such great advice

[@mingram008]

Just found you on the tubes. Enjoying your lessons, your making the connection to the brain. There is a LOT of excellent instruction out there but you have to find that way to connect to get the most of it. Will be following. Thank you!

[@richbrownbass]

Thank you so much!

[@russellf4114]

I am trying to be fluent on the fretless. I have a 6-string fretless and fretted (it's easier for me because my pinky finger is short) I needed this sooooooo much!!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ This is badass!!! Thank you and Cenk Erdogan!!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@richbrownbass]

Thank you so much, brother Russell. I always appreciate you tuning in and sharing your thoughts. 🙏🏾❤️

[@svenjansen2134]

Cenk is an amazing player and teacher.

[@McThumpenstein]

Great info, great video! I love your content as you're one of the few six-string players making instructional videos, and I'm going to implement this on my six-string fretless immediately. Please keep up the great work!

[@RomainMadar]

Hey! I have started to play fretless 5 month ago, and your video is super useful! Just subscribed😎! Cheers from France 🍻

[@johnharreld4875]

Thanks so much for this, Rich! I'm an intermediate guitarist and a beginner on several other fretted instruments (including electric bass), but my first violin arrives today. It'll be another adventure and so much for relying on frets. As you adapted this exercise from guitar to bass, I'm going to adapt it from bass to violin! We'll see how that goes.

[@DavideAfzal]

Love this exercise Rich(as well all the other lessons you share with us), thank you so much!! Can you give us more advices about fretless bass? 🙏🏼🙌🏼🔥

[@studioundo]

Hi Rich ; Thank you for your kind words buddy you made my day . When I heard the ideas about my music and when it comes from a qualified pro musician like you It is super motivating. Hope to meet in person and play as soon as possible

[@richbrownbass]

Thank you for being such an inspiration, my brother. I hope we do get the chance to play soon. All the best to you and yours, Cenk. In the meantime, I'm still learning how to properly play the carpma. 😊

[@honkytonkdragon]

I've got a fretless violin bass coming in a few weeks, I'm sure this exercise will get a lot of use, thanks!

[@ashenpall]

Just ordered my first fretless and I have a feeling this exercise is going to be very helpful.

[@IvanovBR]

great lesson!

[@normanw.5725]

I love your sense of humor. You really made me laugh and i thank you for that! Much needed...

[@richbrownbass]

My pleasure, Norman. Thank you very much for watching.

[@M2Mil7er]

There's loads of drones available on KZbin. Sitar drones are fun for Fretless. I use an EHX Freeze pedal to sample any note / chord on my fretless that I want to drone, which helps too. Thanks Mr Brown!

[@richbrownbass]

Thank you, MrMiller! That's a pro tip.

[@geofflb6537]

Another vote for the Freeze pedal, making sure with a tuner that the drone note is in tune. I also picked up a tip, to use the 5th of the scale as the drone, ie G in the key of C. Seems to work for me.

[@philipmcadam5339]

Oh great! Thanks Rich, now I need to go out and get a fretless bass. Peace and love.

[@charleskleesattel6477]

Thanks for a fine video. I would mention that the last exercise, playing to the recorded piano scale, is by far the more valuable lesson. While playing scales and melodic fragments in tune is a good practice, the reality of fretless playing is matching pitches. Rarely will we be playing in a fretless bass guitar in an ensemble of other pitch adjustable instruments. Keyboards and guitars will make up the most of it, and while horns, vocalists and strings are adjustable, they too are listening to the non-adjustable instruments. You might consider a video on using the drones in tuners, or looping pedals, or how to make your own backing tracks with apps like iReal Pro or Band-in-a-Box. Many people might have access to a DAW or even a music writing program that has playback. If so they could create their own scale and chord sequences as play alongs. Matching pitches is where its at. Thanks again, I enjoy your videos and your approach to teaching.

[@scienceofobliteration2671]

you know, rich, there's a ****-ton of blokes out there pouring some wisdom to suck up, but out of all of them, I'd rather prefer to watch you. just because your videos focus on content, not flashy editing, video settings and the likes. pls, even if you plan on "improving that", don't do it, keep your videos exactly like this! much love man! :)

[@richbrownbass]

Much love, and thank you so much for your very kind words. 🙏🏾❤️

[@jazzbrew68]

Wonderful stuff Rich. I love this.

[@richbrownbass]

Thank you, my brother. Nice to hear from you!

[@abrajmek_zalilov]

Oh, I see, Cenk Erdogan. Yes, man! It is he, who inspired me to buy instrument for make fretless guitar from it and begin learning how to play fretless guitar couple of months ago. But I've not heard exercise from Cenk...

[@richbrownbass]

He is such a master. I love his playing.

[@Synequanon]

Amazing Rich ! Thank you a ton, this is so useful and fun. And never lose your sense of humour. :)

[@martinheath5947]

Nice lesson and really good tips. A drone works well for me a couple of octaves higher than the root :)

[@yankalesegal5800]

Amazing!! What bass is it youre playing? Is it Saffran?

[@armchairzen]

I caught the vibrato, BTW. p.s.: great drill

[@doyi984]

Similar to exercises on Chinese violin where we don't have that extra violin's E string and have to glide all the way up for the highs. I play until I'm a sixth/7th away from the open string and come back down.

[@Megatronpt]

I've been thinking on moving to fretless.. mostly because of the sounding... main problem is the right bass. I play a 6 string Multiscale.. so ideally I should jump into a 6 string fretless... but the options are limited... and I don't play well enough to buy premium / custom basses. I've been trying to play some fretless songs on my MS.. but with roundwound strings.. my fingers are dying. :) Thought of defretting the 6.. or buying a cheaper 6 and defret it. :) Any hints on what you would do ?

[@jamalan7417]

what bass is that, sounds amaze !

[@markfoster_mkfbass]

Thanks Cenk and Rich! I lubs dis shit😂 For real. More fretless stuff, please!😉👊🏽 ETA Other intonation stuff: a variety of exercises using open strings as a reference tone; octaves across 2 strings or 3 strings; chromatic scales ascending and descending one string from open string (lowest) to highest available note...and so on... And, yes, drones are awesome to play with, too😉👍🏾🤗 ETA # 2 Brownstone t-shirts?

[@bassomatic6055]

As someone who tends to flail a bit on the double bass, I can stress the idea of using open strings to check your tuning as you do this exercise. Obviously octaves, but 5ths and even 3rds can work. It's good ear training too.

[@kenshorley]

"All you have to do is play the bass in tune. End of lesson!" 🤣 2:36

[@BrianLatimersPage]

2:55 "For many of you this is going to be the open E. As it is for me...for once." Don't give up that 6-string, Rich. Ever. 😀 I just started learning "Give Blood" by Pete Townsend. Pino Palladino on fretless bass. Such a great sounding instrument.

[@richbrownbass]

I miss you, man! Lots of love to you and the family.

[@BrianLatimersPage]

@@richbrownbass Thanks! And to you as well.

[@mattatsu]

Great video and lesson! I just subscribed to your channel and looking forward to learning more. Quick question: I’m assuming that fretless is a custom? It’s really beautiful. I’d love something like that.

[@geraldmarcolongo5474]

Thank you for the lesson I don’t have a fretless bass anymore but I will try it on all my bases I have noticed in the background on occasions that you have a six string bass I recently decided to go on a six string do you have any advice or any lessons planned for six string players

[@richbrownbass]

If there's enough call for it, I'll do more lessons on my 6. Usually, when I play it in videos I get a lot of complaints. 😒

[@rickdauer5179]

Hi Rich, on the 12th do u play between the double dots or the one closest to the bridge or closest to the nut?

[@richbrownbass]

Hi Rick. You should be playing between the double dots. You can check that against the 12th harmonic or the open string, or a keyboard to be doubly sure.

[@kneejo-tube]

I have a tendency to play the major third a little flat to get rid of that beating.

[@ermoikavalko8705]

Thanks! Could swear I spotted a vibrato or two 😬😁😂

[@bassadelica]

Gold. 🤛 we see you vibrato though!😂

[@richbrownbass]

Haha. I couldn't help myself.

[@JJ-222-0]

You played some vibrato.😀

[@richbrownbass]

Lol! Sometimes that little finger can't help its darn self.

[@JJ-222-0]

I hear you. Loving your videos. You’re a great teacher.

[@kevmac1230]

There's a lot of fretless exercises but most are for intonation.There has to be more to offer.

[@abrajmek_zalilov]

Hello, Rich! Is this method adoptable for fretless guitar? I have one classical with nylon strings. Thanx for your activity as provider of knowledge. Once again salut from Northern Honduras AKA Russia!

[@richbrownbass]

I adapted this lesson from a fretless guitar lesson. In that lesson Cenk plays 2 octaves of each 3-note sequence. You can totally do it!

[@abrajmek_zalilov]

@@richbrownbass I've already figured it out. Once again, thank you!

[@user-vv9pq5oi9l]

Just bought my first fretless. Can’t stop sliding and virbrato. Please help.

[@douglasmullen7596]

Always annoys me when open strings sound different than fretted (fretless) ones - I made an Ebony bridge saddle & Ebony nut - used Tapewound. Solved - even response over all strings.

[@thomassteckle]

Is that a hollow body?

[@travisreed5965]

What A Sound - Would Be Interested In Hear You Noodle Around On That Beauty For A Few Minutes - No Lesson, Just A Simply Jam Solo Style - Stay Rowdy Go Team Human, Cheers

[@richbrownbass]

I'll post a video soon. All for Team Human!

[@brianjezuit4085]

Safran semi acoustic bass

[@pierrelataillade7564]

I'm a little perplexed Rich...... My bass may not be classified as a "fretless" but it is...... this bass is the "fender jazz". the fretboard is marked but smooth. I think this bass came out in the 70s.... please tell me you are not refer to this bass....

[@zacharymorin5696]

Yes he is, that is a fretless bass. They’re just guidelines but they’re certainly not frets

[@justinfedenyszen7049]

The challenge is not playing vibrato. In the past when I played my performances back I was so shocked at how much I do it. Old habits die hard🤷‍♂️It should be used like cilantro and not salt😜

[@cloudmaan4035]

Vibrato intensifies.

[@ЮРИЙФИЛИППОВ-й6е]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@deafprof]

Dude station

[@alphajayy_9832]

Play bass on weekdays and call UFC fights on sundays

[@minemaj7]

🇹🇷🇹🇷

[@christophegragnic8681]

But what is THIS bass?

[@richbrownbass]

Beautiful, right? www.safranbasses.com/semi-acoustic

[@mirkosmi1800]

It would be better if you played more and talked less... A little talk and more playing

[@bAgRiMoIrEsS.4]

I've never had a problem staying in tune. You talk like a lot of people have that problem. Do they? Also, tons of fretless videos.

[@zacharymorin5696]

Yes, that’s the main, primary, issue with learning the fretless bass

[@bAgRiMoIrEsS.4]

@@zacharymorin5696 Thank you! Good video! Very helpful.

[@yankalesegal5800]

Amazing!! What bass is it youre playing? Is it Saffran?

[@yankalesegal5800]

Amazing!! What bass is it youre playing? Is it Saffran?

[@richbrownbass]

Yes! That's a Safran semi-acoustic. I love this bass!