How hard is it to play a fretless instrument?

[Rockstar216]

Just curious. Never really tried to pick one up but know many musicians who do play fretless instruments. Only instruments I've played or (attempted) to had frets or hammers or mallets so I didn't have to worry about on the spot pitch correction, I just play the note.

 

[Adieu]

Re: How hard is it to play a fretless instrument?

Bass (lined) - quite easy
Upright bass - maybe a bit trickier
Viola, violin etc - harder
...
Defretted guitar - god mode challenge, unless playing very specific things (some leads)...general stuff with multiple fingers fretting multiple strings (chords) and hammers/pulls except high up on high strings nigh impossible

PS otoh, pulling smthn like frets 17-24 and leaving lines/markers could actually be useful and fun... Horizontal minisliding/horizontal vibrato instead of bends/whammy bar, hmm, kinda awesome prolly. Though scallops almost afford similar possibilities (by altering pressure) without radical mods or loss of functionality

 

[LReese]

Re: How hard is it to play a fretless instrument?

As far as pitch correction - try playing slide guitar. Its definitely not the same thing, but should give you the idea for the pitch correction aspect.

 

[Rockstar216]

Re: How hard is it to play a fretless instrument?

As far as pitch correction - try playing slide guitar. Its definitely not the same thing, but should give you the idea for the pitch correction aspect.

I've never played slide in a open tuning just standard but yea I get the idea. Theirs a lil room for error on slide guitar but not much.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: How hard is it to play a fretless instrument?

It all depends on your ear.

I played fretless bass quite a bit some years ago and it takes some work.

I also play slide guitar and lap steel these days and again it takes some work but if you've got a good ear it's do-able.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: How hard is it to play a fretless instrument?

+1

Position markers are a visual aid. Unlined fretless bass is easy ... once you have attuned your ears.

In standard guitar tuning, fingering triads with accurate intonation is tricky. Open tuning helps. The analogy with slide guitar is a good one. One chord will be a single finger, held across all of the strings. The chord one fourth higher will require a couple of fingers positioned above the barre finger - not unlike the technique used to play numerous Rolling Stones songs.

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: How hard is it to play a fretless instrument?

I've found it easy when I tried it on bass - no problem getting the right notes. Can't imagine guitar being too difficult.

 

[kilphody]

Re: How hard is it to play a fretless instrument?

I always play bass fretless. Like anything, if you do it enough it becomes second nature. I just got a BC Rich Mockingbird 4 string (fretted) that seems buzzy. But I really haven't set it up yet. It feels a little strange bending up instead of down.
PC

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: How hard is it to play a fretless instrument?

I bet it would be wicked fun.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: How hard is it to play a fretless instrument?

Sho' 'nuff!

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: How hard is it to play a fretless instrument?

A lot of the fretless guitars have sustainers and metal fretboards because they don't sustain well. Since they don't have frets there's no use trying to play chords or intonating the bridge.

 

[blueman335]

Re: How hard is it to play a fretless instrument?

Like anything, if you do it enough it becomes second nature.

That's it, you have to make the commitment and work on your ear. Some guys can nail it, others sound a bit off.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: How hard is it to play a fretless instrument?

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: How hard is it to play a fretless instrument?

It's not hard at all, unless you are trying to make chords and such. Then again, I learned music on fretless bass (and trombone), and played it exclusively for two decades before ever owning a fretted bass. I guess this just means that, like most things, if you do it, you can do it...

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: How hard is it to play a fretless instrument?

if you do it, you can do it...

and if you can't do it, it's nothing to fret about ...

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Re: How hard is it to play a fretless instrument?

^^ I see what you did there .

Here's Guthrie on a Vigier Surfretter.


Pat Metheny playing an archtop fretless nylon stringer.

 

[Kosh Naranek]

Re: How hard is it to play a fretless instrument?

I found fretless bass not too terribly difficult. As mentioned, you need to listen for intonation. Double stops can be a little tricky.

 

[TheLivingDead]

Re: How hard is it to play a fretless instrument?

Not hard at all honestly.

 

[jimijames]

Re: How hard is it to play a fretless instrument?

^^ I see what you did there .

Here's Guthrie on a Vigier Surfretter.

Pat Metheny playing an archtop fretless nylon stringer.

After watching these videos, it feels like you're saying: "if you're already one of the best professional guitarists alive today the transition will be easy"

 

[NecroPolo]

Re: How hard is it to play a fretless instrument?

Wow.

Never tried a real fretless sixstring guitar just played a couple of notes on a defretted neck at a luthier for fun some time ago. It was terrible. I mean I was. It felt like a cat with claws out on ice: no effect. Insecure. I lost my confidence in 10 seconds or so and put it down. Open minded folks like Guthrie make amazing things with it. I keep to be on the audience side here.