Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Tablature available on my website

I’m by no means an expert on fretless bass as I’ve only been playing a few years fretless. This video is for beginners or any bass player wondering about fretless and the slight differences in dot layout between a fretlined fretless bass and a plainboard fretless. Yes, the dots along the side of the neck are in a DIFFERENT place on a fretlined fretless compared to a plain fretboard fretless. On a plainboard, you play centered exactly over the dot to get a true note. If you play over the dot on a fretlined fretless, you will be totally out of tune … If you’re considering getting a fretless, I recommend it, the transition from fretted to fretless isn’t as hard as you might think IMO, they’re a lot of fun and easier on the fingers if you use flatwounds.
Thanks for watching and to see more bass learning videos check out my youtube channel and please subscribe.

Main riff of “Kuru”

Tablature available here

Here my composition called “Partage”

You can download the tablature and the playback here

Here are some bass lines from a few Big Sir songs. If you are unfamiliar with Big Sir, you may recognize the bass player as Juan Alderete from The Mars Volta. If that still doesn’t ring a bell, I urge you to check out both groups and buy all their music.

I’ve selected four great bass lines that display Juan’s great facility on the fretless bass (I hope I’m doing him justice!). His lines are lyrical and very groovy. You can dance to and sing these bass lines easily. They support the tune, the vocals, and are quite catchy. That is melodicism my friends.

If you are just starting on the fretless, these lines are simple enough for you grasp and to help you develop some of your own ideas, while being melodic. I’ve always felt that the fretless has to be somewhat melodic in order to showcase its distinct tone, otherwise, you might as well use a fretted.

Seeing as these are all fretless bass lines, the hardest part is going to be the intonation. You may want to practice these on fretted first to get the fingerings and proper tuning in your head. This way you won’t develop any bad habits if you attempt the fretless right away. That being said, if you feel confident or if you are already experienced on the fretless, then by all means, go for it.

The aim of “BassLab” is helping the bassplayer in the creative process of a bass line.

“BassLab” features a complete exercise played with real instruments (not MIDI or VST). The first part shows an example of bass line, then you will have only the other instruments for creating your own riff.

You can download the track without the main bass line on:

http://www.guidoponzini.eu/basslab/lab1nobasscompressed.mp3
Hope this will be usefull. I plan to create more BassLab episodes.

Please, vote and comment.

Thank you
Guido Ponzini
http://www.youtube.com/ghigo85
http://www.guidoponzini.eu

……….

BassLab Ep.1 – “Surfin with Log Drums”
Written by Guido Ponzini

Guido Ponzini:
. fretless bass (main line)
. 8strings bass (melody and rhythmic fills)
. log drums

This is a little insight view of my piece “Raindrop”, that you can watch here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEClHl_yGmo

1. The complete exercise: execution of the entire exercise inspired by “Raindrop”

2. The first part: this is based on A(E) and G(D), played with artificial harmonics.

3. The second part: it is a melody based on the same two bichord of the first part, adding a F-E passage on the first (A-E) and a chromatic passage between E and D on the second one (G-D).

4. The third part: playing with left hand a root in G, I put some rhythmical ghost notes with the right hand (same thing of the first lesson that you can find on my profile: http://www.youtube.com/ghigo85 ). Then I use harmonics between the fifth and seventh frets on G and D strings, sliding them

5. The fourth part: it’s a very simple melody based on the same bichords built on fifth: A(E), G(D), F(C), D(A) – A(E), G(D), D(A) ::||

6. Harmonics: a brief summary about harmonics: artificial harmonics, natural harmonics and how to slide them.

Hope you will enjoy this little insight view/lesson.

Please, rate, comment, post suggestions

Thank you for your support, more pieces and lessons coming soon

Guido

This lesson is a little insight view on the main riff of the piece “Impro on fretless bass”, that you can find on my profile: Improvisation on fretless bass on Youtube

This bass line is in G major scale.

New lessons about fretless playing, starting from creating bass riffs to adding flavours to your lines and your playing, will coming soon.