Fretless Bass... For Beginners

[@harshadkale3046]

9:26 thank me later

[@0ptimus]

No lines here. Thanks for the time stamp 🐐

[@userrelkjwrweefdggfdgsagsadgw]

MY FIRST TIP

[@w0y4k15]

I once asked a fretless bass player in HS band how he remembers where to put his fingers. He looked at me like I was stupid and said, "Dude, you play trombone. It's the same thing." Touche...

[@spookybaba]

That Bruce Fowler solo on Elsewhere is my favourite. I'd love to be able to play a Trombone because of him.

[@Nikosi9]

Another trick is to practice your fretless in the dark. You'll only have your ears and muscle memory to depend on... like a singer :-)

[@joseambriz7163]

Can't tell if you are being sarcastic or really giving us honest advice

[@LittleGenevieve]

@@joseambriz7163 it doesnt really work

[@arisumego]

As a singer does that mean I’d excel with fretless instruments? I hate frets on guitars

[@yaboi-km2qn]

this is not good advice.

[@Googahgee]

Muscle memory is important, once you’ve gotten a feel for the spacing and where to play, you can practice without looking at the fretboard. It’s pretty important if you want to be competent at the instrument.

[@johnhewett9483]

Wow!! I am so impressed. You have eliminated all your usual fret buzz issues. This is much more your instrument

[@ebassguitar]

Thanks John, for your kind feedback.

[@wernerhaider2338]

I actually learned the most about fl bass playing by a cello player. Especially when it comes to playing chords. And I like Steve DiGiorgio's chops on Individual Thought Patterns by Death from around 1993.

[@ebassguitar]

That makes sense - many of the internation and hand shape concepts will transfer!

[@eaglebauer944]

Steve DiGiorgio is a beast on the fretless.

[@KirkDickinson]

Nice lesson. I jumped right in the deep end with an unlined Michael Kelly Dragonfly fretless 5. (unlined) I did alright with it, but it is a struggle at first. I didn't have the high stress of playing in a pit or getting paid to play. I followed it up with a Gary Willis GWB35 and haven't ever looked back. I decided a long time ago that I am a 5 string player and am pretty much sticking with that. I agree that lined is much easier. And if your technique is sloppy and you fret dead center between frets, learning fretless is going to be a steep road. I know an old timer that has gigged 1000's of gigs with fretted and he plays right between the frets with gorilla grip. He can't play my fretless in tune lined or not, and probably won't ever be able to. Here is a fun exercise that I do to help with my intonation on a fretless. It could be a good exercise for fretted also. I have Finale Notepad. I put scales and things in there, then play along with it. Here is a ZIP file that has my exercise in DMajor against a D drone. In the Zip file is a PDF of the notation, MP3 at I think 90BPM, a midi file, a finale file and a Garageband file. www.dropbox.com/s/r8j7c6v70esg8nt/D-Drone.zip You can work on the D-Major against a D-Drone, then work a D-Minor against a D Drone, or any of the other modes. You can also do on any pair of strings. Work the speed up against a metronome. This will also help teach you scales linearly on two strings.

[@ebassguitar]

Some nice basses you mention! The done idea is a great way of practising this stuff too... great for intonation. Also good for internalising the sound of the modes for instance. Gives context and a lot of players struggle with that when just running up and down scales...

[@josephdrach2276]

KirkDickinson,Using a D drone or an A or an E or a G on an open string is an old trick to get the intonation right.Your use of a drone is a good idea since you don't have to stop and hit an open string to get a reference note to check your intonation.When your playing with a band or soloing in public, it's helpful to hit an open string to check your intonation.Personally I use open strings and harmonics to get the intonation right.I also use classical technique on the Fretless,just as people do on an upright and some do it on fretted as well.Its not hard to learn.

[@Nugmania1]

Love that bass, price wise not for the faint of heart lol. Recently picked up a FrakenPbass with a Seymour Duncan and solid 1 piece ash body, weighing in at only 11 pounds, and no fret lines. First order of business, phosphorescent fret lines( Glow in the dark).

[@jubuthehutt]

I have only dots on the side my bass neck, what I like about it is that is forces me to actually listen to the notes I play.

[@ebassguitar]

Listening is always the most important thing in Music!

[@ferox965]

Ok...this confirmed something for me and put my mind at ease. Since my gigs are gone due to Covid, a friend lent me a custom Lado (Canadian company) to play around with while I'm woodshedding... my normal basses are a 1980 BC Rich Eagle and a 2007 Rickenbacker 4003. This custom Lado has no fret lines, but it does have dots on the fretboard. I found that I had to go to the end of the "fret" (I have synesthetic perfect pitch so I knew when I wasn't in pitch) I thought it was a neck issue...but here you are doing it. Cool. So now I can simply adjust and go from there. I'm having a blast playing on it...may be something to consider taking to the stage when Covid is over with...all the best from Canada and stay safe.

[@jdanielcramer]

🙀Lado! I’m in western Canada, I just got me hands on factory fretless 80’s Larrivee 😻

[@ferox965]

@@jdanielcramer wow! That's even rarer than what I have.

[@Officiallycanthrope]

Scott's Bass Lessons With Hair

[@dushk0]

Minus the vloginess

[@kidney236]

minus the glove

[@vinnysilveira4685]

and with a lot of talking

[@joseambriz7163]

Minus the twitching

[@hans-joachimbierwirth4727]

Yeah, equally worthless.

[@thewomble1509]

3 more fretless pioneers: Mick Karn,Percy Jones and Tony Franklin.

[@ferox965]

Steve DiGiorgio.

[@spookybaba]

I was disappointed that he didn't mention Karn, or Jones. They took fretless to another level from the usual Jaco clones.

[@chakuseki]

Michael Manring

[@andrewcroft9333]

I'm always amazed that when citing heros of fretless bass, nobody ever mentions the great Percy Jones (Brand X). And what about John Giblin??

[@spookybaba]

Percy has a seven part video on here, demonstrating his techniques, and a few Brand-Xish tunes with Goodsall, and Co. Just in case you were not aware 👍

[@userNULL]

@@spookybaba do you have a link to that?

[@MrMissingReel]

Why's everyone ignoring the great Mick Karn? His fretless Basslines were insane and absolutely unique....may he rest in Peace!

[@ebassguitar]

He’s a great fretless player

[@thelabtechnicians5657]

Really Pisses Me Off When They Never Mention "KING KARN" Mick Karn 😢😡😤 Been Playing Since 1973 Fretless Bass & Cello And Double Bass Before & He Was Picked All The Time Out Of All The Fretless Bass Players A Preferred Bass On The Prince Charles, Princes's Trust Concerts. RIP MICK KARN 🎸🎸🎸💝🙏

[@CarMoves]

Also Tony Levin with Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush -- listen to "Mother Stands for Comfort"

[@csharpminorseven]

Thanks James - strange world: last night and today I'd arrived at 4 out of your 5 tips, decided as a relative beginner that the unlined fretless I'd bought was a step too far for me, resolved to sell it, work on the fretted bass and one day go for the lined four string fretless bass when I was competent enough. So thanks for what for me was a very timely piece of affirmation and advice!

[@ebassguitar]

Strange world, indeed! Glad you get something out of it. Cheers!

[@ngresley1120]

Don't forget that Bill Wyman removed the frets on his bass in 1961!

[@ebassguitar]

I didn’t know that!

[@TheAllthegoodstuff]

Thanks, James. This is going to be one hell of a challenge. My first fretless doesn't have lines. Lesssgoooo challenge! All the best 🙏

[@ebassguitar]

Great to hear Gus! Let me know how it goes with the challenge!

[@TheAllthegoodstuff]

@@ebassguitar struggle city, brother. I bought an acoustic bass with frets to help my ear. Getting there slowly. I'm waiting for that 'pop' moment where it all clicks. Thanks again ✌️🙏❤️

[@ebassguitar]

@@TheAllthegoodstuff Brilliant, what kind of acoustic bass did you get? Best of luck with your palying man! Cheers!

[@raevyntree4523]

Thanks man!!! You made it sound so easy, so I decided to have my Dean Edge Q4 de-fretted. Can't wait to start my fretless journey!

[@napulen]

I'm a guitar player, I've never played a bass in my life. I want to learn to play fretless because I love the sound (my reference player would be Sean Malone). I am left handed, so when I had the options to choose between 4,5,6 strings I chose 6 just because I thought it was going to be difficult to get any instrument like that again. Now I think maybe I rushed. 1) I'm not interested in playing a regular bass. Does it make sense to go straight into fretless? 2) Couldn't I treat the 6-string as a 4-string if I ignore the outer strings at first? What other things change?

[@ebassguitar]

The 6 string fretless is a monster instrument to play! In my view you will be make life hard than it needs to be... In answer to your other points 1 - see how it feels. It might work... (but also compare against playing a regular fretted after a few weeks to see how it feels) 2 - you could do. It depends if your brain can figure it out... it would fry my dyslexic brain. Just bare in mind the physical size of the instrument can be intimidating!

[@sansocie]

Why not fretless guitar?

[@napulen]

@@sansocie Not the same timbre at all. Just as regular bass guitars differ from regular electric guitars.

[@sansocie]

@@napulen if you are tone and pitch chasing I understand. I was thinking more along the idea of fretless v. Fretted articulation and approach. Good luck Best wishes.

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

I can’t quit thinking of how I bought my first bass guitar in 1996 when I was 16 years of age and had been a guitar student for less than a year. If I were strictly a traditional-style bass player who didn’t slap, I would have tried combing the market for a fretless. It just always seemed more authentic than standard models with frets, though the common cry was that slapping on fretless fingerboards was a no-no. I did do plenty of noodling on fretless models w/ markers from ‘96 thru 2020 when a friend of mine eventually sold me his. Its fingerboard is bald, and I’m more or less content to occasionally suffer intonation slip-ups. It’s not too often heard in pop music. Possibly, the 2 most notorious examples (other than Jaco or Pino) include Bill Wyman on early Rolling Stones albums (his act of defretting the bass predates Jaco) and Sting on many of the Police’ tracks. Most people don’t think of either. I suspect that Darryl Jones who played with.Miles Davis before Sting recruited him to the Blue Turtles had his fretless model coated in epoxy so he could slap. That’s also how I suspect Les Claypool and (the late) Dee Murray of Elton John notoriety did the same thing in the early 80s.

[@WellStudied]

1980 took my Gibson Grabber everyone looked down their noses at and yanked the frets... because I hate that single wound buzz. So i took some Super Glue & sawdust and filled the grooves, I had a huge 2 story Kustom Bassman amp with two 15s! I lived in the basement flat & the lady upstairs said I broke all her heirloom dishes! I had no idea who Jacko was... unless he was in Kiss (easiest Rock songs to learn). Anyway, about 5 yrs a later the guy at the local Music store gave me a $1K for it! He went nuts over my de-fretting job. I couldn't believe it. I almost shat myself. I bought that guitar for $300. Now it's worth $1300 with the frets. Then looking for a 12 string I found a hideous one in a mom & pop music shop that nobody wanted, with really strange strings... & the old guy said he couldn't sell it... a Giannini Craviola 12 String. i think I paid $200.

[@ebassguitar]

Great share Brett! All the best!

[@spookybaba]

I've recently happened upon a KZbinr who claimed that one places one's finger directly on the fret line. His explanation was that he's set up his intonation to work that way. I'm no scientist, but I don't reckon that's possible to play in correct pitch. I'm glad to see that you DO know what you're talking about. Fret lines all the way for the beginners. Though after 30 years, I'm still going with the lines despite good muscle memory. Thanks! Your presentation was great, by the way.

[@ebassguitar]

Glad you like the presentation! Great share! Cheers!

[@soraya581221]

I believe that I was the first fretless player. Ripped out the frets on both my pre 62 Fender P and 1962 Fender Jazz. Played with a number of bands in the NYC area, both jazz and rock gigs. Took lessons from Keiter Betts, both of us from Port Chester, NY. Today I am nearing 77 and still play both fretless and standard el basses as well as guitar. Its only jazz and fusion for me nowadays. Its Richard Bono I look up to today. BTW i played on a Ampeg standup electric before going fretless on my Fenders. Now I play Ibanez GW model and a vintage Ibanez jazz guitar. Have lived in Sweden since 1974.

[@ebassguitar]

Thanks for sharing that! Cheers!

[@stelly8839]

You're the best thanks

[@ChrisHopkinsBass]

I picked up a Yamaha Fretless (lined) on eBay for £86 this weekend and I'm loving it. These tips are definitely going to help me big time!

[@ebassguitar]

Spot on…

[@dornelli1]

a great master was Mike karn from the band japan...beautiful sounds

[@racefaceec90]

michael manring is an awesome fretless bassist

[@ebassguitar]

Totally!! What a great player

[@modelx89]

Lord have mercy man! Get on with it!!!!!!

[@paulhynes6566]

Bill Wyman took out the frets of his bass way before the genius Jako did. i believe someone had the idea even before Wyman too. Great lesson btw, thank you!

[@josephdrach2276]

Paul Hynes,Are you saying people did some of the same things Jaco did perhaps long before he began to play? If one of his fans reads your post, you'll never hear the end of it.Fretless basses have been around a long time.

[@RiveBassCovers]

@@josephdrach2276 I’m a Jaco fan and I know that some stuff he did in terms of his bass had already been done. But he was the one that truly opened the door to all the possible things that can be done on the fretless and on bass in general.

[@gjca99]

Does the recommendation to start with a 4 string still apply if you play a 5 string fretted?

[@thelabtechnicians5657]

MICK KING KARN FROM THE BAND JAPAN THE "MUCKWAH MASTER"

[@KoseKGames]

To be honest, I'd go for a fretless only cos Sting did it and it worked awesome for The Police music.

[@Martynn-wo4rn]

What songs? I can't remember . The most common bass i remember from my youth is JAPAN ( Mick Karn ) and the guy from Paul Young records ( Pino Palladino )

[@thewomble1509]

@@Martynn-wo4rn Sting played various fretless basses from '78/9 onward, he also used a custom made upright too.

[@TheDaaazer]

A lot of the Police material -- especially the first three albums - was done on a fretless Fender Precision. Sting was ripping it up back then!

[@ebassguitar]

I love sting... such an extraordinary musician!

[@catrage5311]

WAIT DID HE PLAY "THE CHICKEN"!? THAT'S AWESOME LOVE JACO

[@ebassguitar]

One of my favourite tune! Cheers!

[@thewestblackumbrella1960]

Who else here thinks i can start fretless bass as a beginner?(The definition of a beginner to me is a person who wants to learn a bass and wants to start from fretless bass🙂)

[@ebassguitar]

I think it’s absolutely possible to start as a fretless player. I think it’ll be more challenging. A violinist for example has to learn intonation right from the very beginning… so there’s no reason why a bassist shouldn’t!

[@ckhowes]

Thanks James! These are great tips. Too late for me on Tip #1 (doh!). I just purchased an Ibanez UB804 Standing Bass as my intro to the “slidey” side. Bit of a challenge, for sure, but a ton of fun. Plus, it just looks cool, even though I don’t have a clue. 🙄

[@ebassguitar]

Great share Chris! Cheers!

[@Geoffroxx]

Some sand paper and Semi gloss paint masking tape fixed mine, now it truly looks Fretless

[@jamiequinn5553]

If you're going to play or already play a 5-string, don't bother learning a 4 string fretless first. It's not any easier, it's just different.

[@ebassguitar]

Zelpha_ hey... I'm just sharing what worked for me and my experiences do this stuff in the trenches!

[@jamiequinn5553]

To me it's like telling someone to pick up a u-bass first because it's smaller and therefore easier, but in reality it takes different techniques to master. The same is true of a 5 string vs a 4. It might be easier to get your feet wet, but in the long run will leave you high and dry as you have to re-learn how to play on the 5.

[@ebassguitar]

Zelpha_ well my experience of being able to pick up a 34'' lined fretless v 35" heavy bald 5 fretless, is one that was very real for me playing in high pressure professional setting. That's my experience. Hands up I'm not a purest fretless player... I'm sure my take on it would be different if I was.

[@RandyLott]

I've been playing 6-string bass for over 10 years and 4-string for only 5 years more and I still think 4-string is easier. However, there's no reason to play an instrument as a building block before learning what you actually want to play.

[@w0y4k15]

@@RandyLott I know I'm late, but I agree that learning 4-string fretless as an attempt to move onto 5-string (fretted) doesn't make any lick of sense. If anything, you're better off getting the muscle memory down with frets to the point you can play without looking. Then try the fretless and use that bit of muscle memory to help you. It won't be perfect, but it'll help. Also, more strings doesn't make an instrument harder, wtf? It's the same principles and technique just with an extra string. You're literally implying guitar takes more skill than bass.

[@robertsensat6985]

Well I just ordered the Tony Franklin black fretless by Fender. No lines but it's a four.

[@omwilsonow]

I'm a guitarist that's been playing a fretless Gibson Ripper for years, still not as comfortable as I would like to be on the instrument. Also if I had a lined fretless it would probably throw me off a bit since I've been playing guitar with frets. Enjoyed your post.

[@ebassguitar]

Why would it throw you off?

[@omwilsonow]

@@ebassguitar Well for the simple fact that I'm playing right behind or in front of the frets on a fretted guitar. I'd have to adjust playing on the line.

[@MorganeMargone]

Hello, I a beginner in bass, and do you think begining bass with a fretless is a good idea?

[@danplaysbass6294]

I would say not unless you have played double bass. If you are a true beginner you will have enough to deal with, so start on fretted. That is my opinion, good luck!

[@princesspiplaysbass]

No. Not unless you have played violin, cello, viola or upright. I played fretted for three years before going fretless.

[@takeonemusic5537]

from tip-1; actually after my 1st yr of playing,my very first fretless was a westone thunder 1 ,no lines! that was my first taste of this wonderful animal of which i went on to specialise nd only played fretless for the next 15 yrs or so then gravitated to fretted bass due to cover band work but the last 4yrs ive fell in love with it again, and im gonna stay that way......lol very underrated instruments and often frowned upon by your band mates cos they get shit scared that you will hit a bum intonation

[@ebassguitar]

Thanks for sharing that! :-)

[@josephinecaruana3847]

Fretless is amazing 💜

[@guynorend9022]

for tip #3: Is it an idea to start to play fretless like a double bass, using 3 fingers only, or would that make it harder to get my intonation right ? Reason I ask is that, as I have small hands, I cannot spread the middle and ringfinger enough for one finger per fret (low positions). Does not matter on fretted bass, but fingers 2 and 3 land in the wrong spot on a fretless.

[@ebassguitar]

The bottom line is can you play it relatively consistently in tune using 4 over 3 technique? If so... ride with it!

[@thescatman5029]

Look up two Detroit cats: 1) Lamont Johnson, with the 70s group, Brainstorm. The song "This Must Be Heaven" is one of the first pop tunes with fretless; 2) Ralphe Armstrong, who beat Jaco out a gig with the Mahavishnu Orchestra. They are unsung fretless pioneers.

[@ebassguitar]

Great share man!

[@PhillipAlcock]

Well I like the chat, especially when it makes sense (yours does), not full of KZbin 'isms (come on you know how some of our friends from over the other side of the pond speak!) etc. This is also 'for beginners'. I've played fretless on and off for a number of years after buying a used Squier Jazz Bass advertised on Gumtree. Excellent instrument for the price, made much better to my ears/stye of music by putting nylon coated flatwounds on it. It takes patience to get it right. Don't expect to get it right straightaway and I've never tried practising by playing in the dark. You need to listen more to what you're playing - its great for improving your 'musical ear'. Once I'd got good enough I started taking it and my fretted bass along to practices and playing the appropriate easier songs on the fretless to gain experience and confidence. The band loved the different sound...

[@ebassguitar]

Thanks Philip - what’s your favourite KZbin-ism?

[@sigmann66]

Thanks for the pointers. BTW, what bass is that? It is absolutely beautiful.

[@robertcanedo7607]

Also, may I remove the frets on my bass, or buy a fretless? Thanks.

[@ebassguitar]

Unless you enjoy tinkering with basses I would recommend just buying a fret less…

[@dtmjax5612]

Familiar with Michael Been of The Call? Excellent fretless player.

[@rubypat4421]

Very informative thank you

[@ebassguitar]

You're very welcome!

[@TBSSPILOTviews]

Cheers brother….good points!

[@ebassguitar]

Thanks man! Cheers!

[@bhouse92101]

No mention of Tony Franklin? Really? He’s the reason I am looking into fretless bass vs. fretted.

[@thecappy]

I have his fender signature model. If you can find one try it out. It is on par with fender custom shop stuff.Do not get a lined fretless. Do get a 4 string. I've only played lined in stores and hate them. With lined you still rely on your eyes, with unlined you train your ears. This guy quite just as his ears started taking over that is what you want to happen.

[@thewomble1509]

@@thecappy i agree. lines on a fretless really screw me up.i spend all my time trying to get bang on the line rather than using my ears.

[@robertcanedo7607]

I really have the itch to go fretless; BUT, I'm a NEWBY. Should that be a concern?

[@ebassguitar]

If you don’t like the sound… there’s no need to play it Robert! :-)

[@leblille4146]

Not sure I get why you should start with 4 strings (tip 2). I play mostly 5 string so it would add to the confusion.

[@ebassguitar]

These tips are what worked for me!

[@princesspiplaysbass]

I have played a fretless for 40 years. Never needed a lined neck. I consider that cheating. There are no shortcuts. Start fretted and once you are adept at that go fretless. The only way to play well is practice and experience. Period.

[@ebassguitar]

Thanks for sharing your insight!

[@N0die]

my intonation improved after obtaining an upright orchestral bass additionally, every time I see any video on fretless bass, Scott’s Bass video on his countraindicating condemnation of getting a fretless bass and his vid on don’t get a 5 string in muh recommendations, I cannot be the only one getting this shit

[@ebassguitar]

Thanks for sharing that man! Cheers mate!

[@DannyBoi2112]

Can you make a fretted bass into a fretless bass and it actually be decent?? I know Jaco did with his bass of doom but he is obviosly a master of his craft and knows what hes walking about.

[@ebassguitar]

Totally... I’ve played a bunch of basses that have been converted, it can work great.

[@mikaelsong]

Have you ever done a video using the fat body acoustic bass sitting on the floor behind you in this video? That looks like an amazing instrument that I'd love to hear.

[@ebassguitar]

mikaelsong it's actually a 6 string acoustic guitar... so not sure I'd get away with that on ebassguitar! Ha!

[@stein0niets]

practice vibrato and intonation separate not together. same goes for the slides you wont be able to "slide-tune" a fast line, you'll need muscle memory and reflexion(on hitting them the next time). its okay to be a little out of tune now and then and fixing after the fact.. tuning is relative not absolute. using the slide is good for starting to develop the ears (and as FX) but not good for a stable left hand basis to rely on. Where you have that last one in check too! Great playing and sound!

[@ebassguitar]

I appreciate it man! Great share!

[@jamesdonaghy6758]

The first Electric bass was Fret less, then fretted to fit in with the usual Lead. Fret less was the, cross-over.

[@DannyBoi2112]

Yes, the first bass built by Robert Tuttmark

[@jamesdenny4734]

I bought a Chinese fretless it had a few dents in body n a few discolorations on the neck. It was on sale for $109 couldn't pass it up. Bad thing... it has no fret lines 🥺😧

[@ebassguitar]

Sounds like a bargain!

[@shawnhuff6024]

What about the guy in the 60's that played a fender fretless jazz bass

[@jery3385]

You mean Jaco?

[@leblille4146]

First tip 9:25

[@TheGusMorrisShow]

I’d just like to say, respectfully disagree/slightly modify point 2. If you’re used to playing nothing but 5 strings, no need to start with a 4 first. But definitely this your first 5 string bass. All other points are good. Thanks, good video. I subscribed

[@ebassguitar]

I get your point Marcus. What I share is what’s worked for me. When I had that experience I had been playing 5 string exclusively for about 8 years. When I got put in a high pressure environment 4 string meant the physicality of the instrument was far less overbearing... again, my experience which may help some folks :-) thanks for subscribing!

[@TheGusMorrisShow]

eBassGuitar - Online Bass Guitar Lessons well that’s fair enough if it was a regular instrument for you anyway. I’ve been playing 5 string exclusively since my second bass. When I get onto a four I usually feel naked. Thanks for the reply

[@robintioke9017]

I was thinking the same thing

[@ebassguitar]

What do you mean Robin?

[@3DThrills]

Tip #1 9:26

[@ebassguitar]

Thanks for the timestamp! :)

[@3DThrills]

I waited 9 minutes for Tip #1 and went and bought a Glarry anyway.@@ebassguitar

[@DrunkDuckXD]

So my first official electric bass is a 6 string fretless. I have a 4 string fretted acoustic I sometimes play. Its a Douglas I got from RondoMusic.com. I had it for about 8 months now. It has no lines, just dots on the side. I am VERY partial towards 6 strings, a 6 string fretless in my price range was actually really hard to find. At first I was very bad with my intonation and was considering getting temporary lines put on them, but I have gotten better with practice and think I will just keep practicing. Its a very beautiful great quality bass that I think sadly is discontinued now, so I dont want to alter it too much with lines.

[@aloysiusdevadanderabercrombie8]

It's not discontinued, mine is coming in a week! How do you like it?

[@DrunkDuckXD]

Alowishus Devadander Abercrombie Fantastic man! Whats the model of yours? Mine is a WOB 826 natural with chrome hardware. My first one they sent me needed a set up, and then the neck was warped, but they took it back no problem, I just had to cover shipping :/ But the new one was almost perfect out of the box, just needed new strings. I ordered some custom gauge D'addario Chromes off their website. I love this bass more everytime I play it. Feels and sounds like $500+ instrument.

[@aloysiusdevadanderabercrombie8]

Awesome! Mine is the same model with the white finish. It looks like a beauty! Can't wait for it to arrive.

[@DrunkDuckXD]

Alowishus Devadander Abercrombie Hope you like it!

[@projekt_firma_u_rasulu]

friend, watch your pinky lol

[@ebassguitar]

Thanks!

[@Kianquenseda]

Upright bass is the original fretless bass

[@ebassguitar]

Dennis Gaffney I agree! :-)

[@stuartmckeown5395]

No shit dennis

[@davowens3501]

A 6 minute instructional vid with 9 minutes of waffle

[@ebassguitar]

Dav Owens one of the things I firmly believe is people learn by stories which give context. It’s not for everyone, which is totally cool... but it’ll work for a lot of people. One of the things I also discovered early on is I can never please everyone. So I just believe in being kind and giving :-)

[@davowens3501]

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I get where you are coming from (particularly in never being able to please everyone), but was frustrated at having to wait so long before hearing some basic advice for beginners on fretless (I have played fretless for many years but am always keen to learn more). I found it strange that for a vid aimed at beginners you started by playing some BeBop Charlie Parker stuff and referenced Jaco's work (by Jaco's own admission it took him 9 years to learn how to play Donna Lee). When I eventually got to the tips, they were good solid advice and you are clearly a very accomplished player but I feel that novices may well have not got that far.

[@ebassguitar]

Dav Owens that’s totally cool. I have beginners who don’t even know what fretless sounds like, so hence the demonstration. As a teacher I don’t take anything for granted. I hate the word ‘obvious’ because what’s obvious to one student isn’t obvious to the next. You’re clearly more experienced so some of that contents of that lesson won’t be so relevant for your situation. Some people ask for me to share nuggets from my professional career and some people don’t. It’s a difficult balance I’m always trying to get right. Ebassguitar is constant developing and take on feedback from anyone who is trying to be constructively helpful :-)

[@DavidB-rx3km]

I agree, so much fluff here, scanned through to 3.30 and gave up.

[@MarkNOTW]

I'm a newbie, but whether the bass has frets or not, we still have to put our fingers at the right spot. So I dont get why anyone would want metal frets and deal with buzz and vibration.

[@AmatullahK]

I agree. I don't like frets at all. I started out in music on the violin with the teacher playing along notes on the piano. So I got to hear the proper tone of each note and put my finger on the right spot. Soon it was second nature playing scales properly. If I get a fretless bass, I thinking a tuner on the headstock should help with finger positioning. But if you've been hearing music notes for some time, you should be okay with a fretless.

[@dushk0]

Cause there's no buzz on fretless, right?

[@richardmogu3360]

I thought it was a beginners lesson. More demo then talk would be useful

[@ebassguitar]

Cool! It’s just how it came out all those years back :-)

[@franciscojaviermunozmorale4320]

@4:08 opppps

[@6884]

and here I am dreaming about a 5 string plain board fretless to start with :|

[@Small_black_cat]

He wasnt saying dont. It was just what helped him, if your currently playing a 5 string dont bother with a 4 string fretless, but if you play 4 string and want to start playing a 5 string I wouldnt recommend starting with a 5 string fretless.

[@arktomorphos]

I bought an unlined Bass, because I thought people should at least see that I play a Fretless 😜

[@ebassguitar]

Haha!!!

[@prabhusamuel469]

Thanks bro it was really helpful God Bless

[@ebassguitar]

You're very welcome! All the best!

[@jaribu2758]

If you learn proper technique and learn to 'play in position' the transition to fretless is easy. Unlearning is more difficult than learning. Get proper training from the beginning.

[@ebassguitar]

Glad you pointing that out! Cheers!

[@jaribu2758]

@@ebassguitar Fretless bass is probably the only fretless string instrument that folks will try to play without instruction. You can't start on fretted violin (for instance). Any violinist, cellist, et al. with any level of proficiency has had at least some training. There are fantastic self-taught bassists who sound great on fretted instruments who find that an undisciplined left hand (assuming they play right-handed) makes proper intonation virtually impossible. It must be very frustrating.

[@bustabass9025]

Disagree with the "add lines", and the, "start with a four string", tips. I am just now getting interested in a fretless, smooth-as-glass Ibby SRF 705. Been Ridin' Bareback on a 5'er for a few days now, and I haven't been thrown yet.👍

[@ebassguitar]

Thanks for pointing that out! Cheers!

[@VilisIII]

Prosím odkaz kde se dá tato kytara koupit. Děkuji.

[@farmerlister3863]

Vili, je to custom od Overwaters. Nechal si to postavit.

[@tony52497]

Check out Mick karn

[@stephenbennett4265]

Not to mention Mick karn, was criminal . He was simply the best !

[@dalemonmansixtyseven1505]

Can u play iconic electric basslines on a fretless bass like "Another One Bites The Dust"

[@ebassguitar]

dalemonman sixtyseven yes! It'll just sound a touch different... the only thing I've found that doesn't translate so well is slap

[@coolamatic152]

eBassGuitar - Online Bass Guitar Lessons watch this KZbin channel. leitnerjoe. He's an awesome fretless slap bassist

[@joshstarkey8883]

coolamatic Also Remco's Groove Lab

[@whysthat2877]

dalemonman sixtyseven. Yes lol sounds a little different tho. Its all about presiscion with a fretless you have to press right on the line

[@stephenbennett4265]

@@coolamatic152 Best frettless bass, slappper iv'e ever seen and is heard PRINCE, unmarked aswell boy could he play.

[@vetoedimpersonator4478]

What bass is this PLSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

[@ebassguitar]

It’s an overwater J bass... made in the UK :-)

[@saxmaster5098]

That’s a fretted bass

[@ebassguitar]

I can assure you it’s not… it’s a lined fret less!

[@saxmaster5098]

@@ebassguitar ok

[@YanDoroshenko]

So I failed on the first two tips, well fuck.

[@FrostyDeagz]

Maybe don't have your first tip 10 minutes into the video

[@ebassguitar]

Context is everything when trying to obtain a greater understanding man! :-)

[@vvan3711]

Ебас 😹😹

[@hoshisato2687]

Omg do you EVER stop talking?!?

[@ebassguitar]

No!

[@joachimvanzoelen4236]

You must be able to get better sounds out of that Overwater...

[@ebassguitar]

Joachim van Zoelen dude, sound and tone is a purely personal taste thing and one thing I learnt early on is this KZbin game is I can never please everyone... there are a bunch of variables on the recording side of things with how everything encodes too which can have a baring too. I'll always do my wherewver possible!

[@jabez36]

does no one on KZbin just shut up and show the lesson?

[@ebassguitar]

Not if they’ve got valuable information they feel it’s important to share with the world!

[@javbluebeard3464]

bla bla bla bla bla...

[@ebassguitar]

Context is everything when trying to obtain a greater understanding man! Cheers!

[@jarrodyoung9555]

Your bass has frets though

[@ebassguitar]

It’s a lined fretless Jarrod...

[@jarrodyoung9555]

@@ebassguitar oh yeah haha

[@cureee49]

Why am I sitting here listening to this ogre yap?

[@ebassguitar]

Ogre - I like that! Might have register orgrebassguitarlessons.com before it's too late :-)

[@mikebonora2238]

Your not alone, what a waste of time.

[@Max-el7zd]

@David Simmons The only ogre here is your manners.