Quote:
Originally Posted by polyphonic
cool points... that's funny, but true.
It's a whole different monster. It would almost be like picking up the cello or something..less the bow. My friend who used to be in "Break The Barrier" has a nice one that I tried to play once and it was pretty hard...
Good luck to ya
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it's not that far out. i've been playing a fretless 5 string for about 6 years now. a cello is tuned completely differently than a bass guitar C,G,D,A as opposed to E,A,D,G. the intervals are totally different.
GB pretty much covers it in the first reply to this thread, the main difference is tone and smooth slides.
the biggest challenge would be playing along with other people. you need to be PRECISE with your fingering to be in tune with another fretted instrument. especially if you're playing more riff based stuff. if you're just kind of sitting back in the pocket and fattening up the bass drum then you're laughing. personally i found it best to use for freak out vamps in a 3 piece drum / bass / synth combo. no one was ever 'in tune' so it never really mattered, just effing go.
there's also one technique that i learned from an old guitar magazine that can only be done on fretless instruments. harmonic slides. it's not that complicated, just sound your natural harmonic by resting your finger above the string at the correct location. once it's sounding, gently start the slide and move it in whatever direction you want to alter the pitch of the harmonic. the trick is to not press the string too firmly otherwise you'll just sound the regular note. frets would obviously get in the way hehe.
you would also likely want to invest in flatwound strings if you're going to get a fretless. you're looking at about $100-120 for a 5 pack of d'addario chromes.