What are inspiring lines to learn on a fretless ball

[oli@bass]

Hiya, I'm new to this fretless game, and would like to get a couple of ideas on where to start looking for inspiration. Lines originally played on a fretless StingRay would be even more inspiring than others, I guess. (but please don't just mention Pino Palladino in general, I'd really appreciate direct pointers to songs)

Today I listened to some Baghiti Khumalo grooving around Graceland (Paul Simon), and Colin Edwin's transcending lines during the full fourty minutes Moonloop (Porcupine Tree) improvisation. Very different, very cool. To my ears, it sounds as if Baghiti is slapping on a fretless , and Colin is using the natural third for large parts .

But aside from those recordings, I've no idea whether I do have some good fretless recordings... I've never before been venturing into that direction...


Also, if you experienced players have any other (fretless bass & playing related) wisdom to offer, I'd appreciate to read about it.

Thanks!

 

[RocketRalf]

Liquid Tension Experiment with Tony Levin perhaps? Out of the top of my head I can remember the tracks 914 and When the Water Breaks featuring outstanding work on fretless. Simple riffs but breathtaking. I'm sure there must be better and more ilustrative performances of Tony Levin on a fretless bass, given his long and successful career, but I don't really know them.

 

[MingusBASS]

Paul Young- Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)

Sade- Smooth Operator

Those are good starters...

 

[Tom F]

bust out the octave pedal and try Sledgehammer by Peter Gabriel - my favorite Tony Levin fretless line

 

[nicjimbass]

I always loved the line from Sunset Grille by Don Henley. I think Pino played on that track, and he at one point used a fretless 'Ray, but not sure if he did on that track.

 

[mynan]

Eagles - New York Minute...love it! Probably not done on a 'Ray, but I think it's pretty cool.

 

[robobass13]

evenflow by pearl jam

 

[KennethB]

Eagles - New York Minute...love it! Probably not done on a 'Ray, but I think it's pretty cool.

Don't you mean Don Henley?

Pino Palladino played on New York Minute. I remember reading about it in Bassplayer and I think he used a Stingray for that track.


Oli: Used To Be A Cha-cha on Jaco's first album. Great track for a beginning fretless player.

 

[Aussie Mark]

A good exercise for fretless intonation is to play songs that you would normally play on a fretted bass. Playing material you are already familar with is the best way to hear how well you are coping with the switch to fretless.

 

[PzoLover]

country cousin

Hey Oli, if you get a chance, one that's always teased me is a number by kd lang "trail of broken hearts" my CDs are still lost in storage due to my recent move, but I'm thinking the CD is "Absolute Torch and Twang" it's one of her early ones and the fretless work is very tasty and musically effective and instructional if not terribly complex
hope this offers you a good suggestion ... good luck eh?

ATB,
/PL

 

[theoldmiami]

Any song that Pino Palladino plays on Tears for Fears Sowing the Seeds of Love album!!

 

[mynan]

Don't you mean Don Henley?

Pino Palladino played on New York Minute. I remember reading about it in Bassplayer and I think he used a Stingray for that track.


Oli: Used To Be A Cha-cha on Jaco's first album. Great track for a beginning fretless player.

You're right, but my favorite version is on the Eagle's live DVD from "When Hell Freezes Over".

 

[MrMusashi]

also check out pino on elton johns nikita song.. awesome pop fretless!

MrM

 

[bassplayer22]

Although not an EB, anything Jaco P. Definately one of the best, if not the best, when it comes to fretless.

Tim

 

[syciprider]

Try to learn sliding harmonics (I don't think that's the proper term for it though)

 

[oli@bass]

Thanks everybody so far... keep it coming, I might get to a CD shop over the weekend to find me some of those tunes...

Although not an EB, anything Jaco P. Definately one of the best, if not the best, when it comes to fretless.

Thanks Tim, but I know the general consensus about Jaco and Pino... and playing along with Jaco is simply not my league. That said, I hope that one day I'll be able to play "Come On Come Over" and "Portrait Of Tracy".

Try to learn sliding harmonics (I don't think that's the proper term for it though)

Funny! That's what I tried pretty soon after holding the fretless in my hands! Have seen Steve Bailey do it in a video and thought it was sooooo cool...

 

[the unrepentant]

The chorus in if you have to ask by the chilis... pretty funky.

 

[bassplayer22]

Thanks Tim, but I know the general consensus about Jaco and Pino... and playing along with Jaco is simply not my league. That said, I hope that one day I'll be able to play "Come On Come Over" and "Portrait Of Tracy".

A really good thing to do is learn where all of the harmonic chords are placed up and down the neck. Jaco was the king at that, and it can add a huge dynamic to any song. Studying Jaco will make you a better bass player, no doubt about it. Continuum is another one that can be pulled off with a little practice.

A great harmonics site

Jaco transcribed

Tim

 

[cky4ever]

Jaco isnt that hard earwise to figure out... Its his fast right hand that gets me... I can try and keep up with come on come over... and the chicken but i end up just hitting the main notes and not be able to do most of the fills in which is pretty much the entire songs...

Correct me if im wrong but i believe some of les claypools lines on saling the seas of cheese were recorded with a fretless... those are good lines to follow... not all that hard

 

[bassplayer22]

Correct me if im wrong but i believe some of les claypools lines on saling the seas of cheese were recorded with a fretless... those are good lines to follow... not all that hard

Yep, but he typically uses his fretless 6 or the "Rainbow Bass", which is one of the prettiest basses I have ever seen.

Tim