Playing a FRETLESS electric guitar sounds so WEIRD!

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  • Опубликовано: 26 авг 2024
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Комментарии • 3,6 тыс.

  • @MarySpender
    @MarySpender  4 года назад +131

    🎸My BEGINNER Guitar Course! maryspendermasterclass.teachable.com/
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    • @morphanik1
      @morphanik1 4 года назад +1

      Fretlees guitar aka sarod has been used in india for 200 years you need to put oil on fongers and have elongated flat nails for proper intonation

    • @morphanik1
      @morphanik1 4 года назад

      This sounds very bad when played

    • @d-mack7053
      @d-mack7053 4 года назад

      Where do I sign up? I'll take one.

    • @d-mack7053
      @d-mack7053 4 года назад +1

      Steve Vai has guitars with staggered frets. I'd like hear him on this.

    • @tintajinggaband5409
      @tintajinggaband5409 4 года назад

      Hope to playing to someday

  • @alxsuw
    @alxsuw 4 года назад +3930

    If anyone’s wondering, the tab is
    “1”

    • @yangming2themusicguy561
      @yangming2themusicguy561 4 года назад +127

      You mean 1 1 1 1 1 1/1 1h1

    • @iz2333
      @iz2333 4 года назад +175

      Actually it's
      ---1---1.5---1.75---1.122208762944---1---

    • @ArchonLicht
      @ArchonLicht 4 года назад +63

      Where is 0? She did play some open strings.

    • @alrizo1115
      @alrizo1115 4 года назад +8

      I think there's still a fret guide at the top side of the neck?

    • @Mrscwaboyd
      @Mrscwaboyd 4 года назад

      LOOOOOOOOL

  • @Duskets
    @Duskets 4 года назад +4590

    “That sounds so pretty! What are the tabs?”
    “Uhhh...”

  • @ROCKSTAGT
    @ROCKSTAGT 4 года назад +1538

    Ah, finally a guitar that I can blame for my poor guitar skills.

    • @morpheusk1395
      @morpheusk1395 4 года назад +7

      hahaha

    • @keramidasnicolas2079
      @keramidasnicolas2079 4 года назад +4

      @@morpheusk1395 How true !

    • @nagamikira
      @nagamikira 4 года назад

      😂😂😂 never thought of it !

    • @Mark0Brazil
      @Mark0Brazil 3 года назад +3

      Hahaha
      But talking seriously, like bowed string instruments (violin, viola, cello, double bass) or slide guitar: For melody, it can be a liberating tool.
      But, in relation to harmony ... hmmm 😝 It doesn't take much time or intelligence to see the practicality and the reason for the invention and development along the centuries of the tempered tuning and its 12 notes of equal intervals.
      When we talk about Chords, it is extremely difficult to play them even the basic ones (double notes or triads) tuned, on non equal tempered instruments. The sound of the chords even when tuned is poor, and from the tetrades it is virtually impossible to make fast and tuned chord progressions, much less along with others instruments.
      Although unaccompanied by other instruments, it can deceive less sensitive ears.

    • @prnjl_grg3835
      @prnjl_grg3835 3 года назад

      Nice one😆

  • @franzliszt8090
    @franzliszt8090 4 года назад +918

    Violinists: first time, huh?

    • @AGKyran
      @AGKyran 4 года назад +21

      (I'm late) As a guitarist, I would totally love to try a fretless guitar, but it's extremly hard to find some in France, and to try one is not possible in nearly all shops in France. Paris too.
      Maybe it could be possible with some (can't remember the name in english, the people who make instruments. Luthiers ? Lutherie ?).
      Anyway, the challenge of no frets interest me a lot.
      I would even like to rent a violin. I don't know how to play it but I want to try. If only I could play two instruments at the same time and sing... it would be heaven for me.
      Sadly, custom guitars are extremly expensive.
      Ha... I never thought that it could cost that much. 800$ starting price for a fretless guitar delivered.
      Can't even try it.... it makes me crazy !
      P.S : Practice !

    • @ManuSankaran2410
      @ManuSankaran2410 3 года назад +7

      hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

    • @talkidrew
      @talkidrew 3 года назад +11

      Double bassist: try this

    • @agustinquindimil6594
      @agustinquindimil6594 3 года назад

      Practice practice

    • @husnainali-gn8bo
      @husnainali-gn8bo 3 года назад +5

      Lol liszt

  • @clf400
    @clf400 4 года назад +2719

    As Stewart Copeland says - “the great thing about fretless is that you can play a note and then renegotiate.”

    • @bizntchie
      @bizntchie 4 года назад +35

      I didn't know he plays guitar.

    • @jimquicksilver442
      @jimquicksilver442 4 года назад +63

      @@bizntchie search stewart copeland at the sacred grove. he plays anything and everything

    • @yiitAy
      @yiitAy 4 года назад +8

      also you can listen fretless guitar master erkan oğur ruclips.net/video/d9IQx7wGZ8M/видео.html

    • @pabslondon
      @pabslondon 4 года назад +13

      @@bizntchie He sings and plays guitar in a band with Mark King from Level 42 and Adrian Belew from King Crimson

    • @theshyguy1580
      @theshyguy1580 4 года назад +16

      @@jimquicksilver442 He also composed Spyro. Some of that guitar is there.

  • @sibco96
    @sibco96 4 года назад +4256

    Cool, a guitar that will make my playing sound even worse.

    •  4 года назад +38

      Yes it`s pretty stupid not to even put on markers. But just for solos I guess it can be cool on some songs.

    • @greekpapi
      @greekpapi 4 года назад +53

      @ It has the usual dots and marks where the frets are supposed to be on the side of the fret board so I thnk we're good.

    • @ramenmusix1198
      @ramenmusix1198 4 года назад +51

      @ this guitar is far from stupid check out guthrie govan playing it you'd be surprised it can do more than solos its like playing a slide guitar without the slide

    • @knifeyonline
      @knifeyonline 4 года назад +3

      @@greekpapi who the hell looks at the side of the neck lol, not me

    • @greekpapi
      @greekpapi 4 года назад +13

      @@knifeyonline Well, that depends on how much alcohol you have consumed....lol

  • @Earfmover
    @Earfmover 4 года назад +1402

    The tabs are just going to look like binary code

    • @umey3445
      @umey3445 4 года назад +18

      C-Bass 707 underrated comment

    • @gowthamkrishna1568
      @gowthamkrishna1568 4 года назад +6

      Umey highly underrated

    • @bruno444
      @bruno444 4 года назад +10

      Just like any Slayer songs lmao

    • @smorrow
      @smorrow 4 года назад +8

      I prefer standard notation, so tab pretty much looks like machine code to me anyway.

    • @friedchicken5227
      @friedchicken5227 4 года назад +1

      I can read binary...

  • @ToaRanen7
    @ToaRanen7 4 года назад +62

    Let me express how much I appreciate she showed the playing first without making us sit through five minutes of exposition.

  • @PSFinn
    @PSFinn 4 года назад +1300

    Guitar: I'm scared I'm not unique and people won't play me. What can I do?
    Mary: Don't fret

    • @arthurmarz9043
      @arthurmarz9043 4 года назад +6

      omg ps finn!! I love your music man

    • @rivertrevy5029
      @rivertrevy5029 4 года назад +4

      dude freaking P.S. Finn watched Mary?! My 2 fav artists in one place!!

    • @vaibhavkapoor2197
      @vaibhavkapoor2197 4 года назад

      Mother Mary: Let it be.

    • @FKJBSDK
      @FKJBSDK 4 года назад +1

      P.S. Finn fret not 😁

    • @luckyfluf0
      @luckyfluf0 4 года назад +1

      Ah... I see what you did there! XD

  • @navnav8719
    @navnav8719 4 года назад +2437

    Next episode: Playing violin with frets

    • @azerreza4770
      @azerreza4770 4 года назад +41

      The instruments of the "viole" family were fretted. ;-)

    • @alexstewart839
      @alexstewart839 4 года назад +47

      That's just a 4 string mandolin.

    • @sp0inkzter
      @sp0inkzter 4 года назад +67

      that’s some sacreligous shit right there

    • @farmerlister3863
      @farmerlister3863 4 года назад +10

      @@azerreza4770 I thought it was a "viol" and it was just semi-fretted, no ?

    • @azerreza4770
      @azerreza4770 4 года назад +10

      @@farmerlister3863 "Viole de gambe" is the full name.

  • @abbynvegas
    @abbynvegas 4 года назад +372

    I can imagine a beginner buying this, then instantly regretting it

    • @JamesMcCarthy17
      @JamesMcCarthy17 4 года назад +51

      Ah yes a beginner buying a £2,000 guitar

    • @mrcvry
      @mrcvry 4 года назад +24

      Happens with cameras or pc’s all the time.

    • @mladyavery9138
      @mladyavery9138 4 года назад +52

      Instantly refretting*

    • @njp2k914
      @njp2k914 4 года назад +8

      I learned bass on a fretless cigar box bass which had awful action. I remember my dad who has been playing upright and electric bass for around 30 years saying ‘if you can play that then you will be able to play any bass you’re handed’ he was half right. Still a bas**** though!!

    • @elthomas_
      @elthomas_ 4 года назад +1

      @@mrcvry But anybody can appreciate the benefit from an expensive pc

  • @sidharthajain7001
    @sidharthajain7001 4 года назад +228

    RUclips tutorial: Place the capo on 5th fret
    Me: *Intense confusion*

  • @TerryOCarroll
    @TerryOCarroll 4 года назад +704

    The sound reminded me somewhat of an Indian sitar for some reason, although I understand that a sitar is fretted.

    • @GDIEternal
      @GDIEternal 4 года назад +54

      Search for "sarod." It's also an Indian stringed instrument, but it's fretless. It sounds similar to the sitar in some ways, but has a unique voice of its own.
      ruclips.net/video/X8UV1DjV8e8/видео.html

    • @joshstarkey8883
      @joshstarkey8883 4 года назад +28

      I think it's a combination of the slight buzziness and the way sitar players bend like crazy

    • @joshstarkey8883
      @joshstarkey8883 4 года назад +6

      @@GDIEternal While we're at it, might as well mention the Oud, even though it's not Indian

    • @pabslondon
      @pabslondon 4 года назад +4

      @@joshstarkey8883 Well the Oud has a Persian origin as do most 'Indian' stringed instruments

    • @Malum09
      @Malum09 4 года назад +4

      Fun Fact: Lou Reed played a fretless guitar tuned all to EEEEEE in the first Velvet Underground album, so that’s why, if you listen to certain songs, they have a Sitar like element to them.

  • @josemendezfr
    @josemendezfr 4 года назад +373

    For a guitar player having a fretless guitar is basically a sliding addiction.

  • @kolbykauffman4180
    @kolbykauffman4180 4 года назад +42

    As a sitar player, I am dying to play this. I want one. Now.

  • @ferox965
    @ferox965 3 года назад +30

    As a bassist, I tried fretless for the first time this year. Definitely a whole other world.

    • @ProgRockDan1
      @ProgRockDan1 2 года назад +1

      I am bassist also I have a fretless bass and I love it. I also play violin and it is a different world. Now trying fretless guitar for the first time.

  • @RichLunaMusic
    @RichLunaMusic 4 года назад +458

    Sounds like a sitar.
    The mirror fingerboard is amazeballs.
    I bet Power Chords are a struggle.

    • @danialzaman1438
      @danialzaman1438 4 года назад +22

      It also sounds and looks a bit like a sarod

    • @yeezet4592
      @yeezet4592 4 года назад +3

      @@danialzaman1438 that's what I thought

    • @eliash2827
      @eliash2827 4 года назад +1

      I usually oppose the term fingerboard instead of fretboard. But it seems more appropriate here

    • @EmoPineapple
      @EmoPineapple 4 года назад +13

      Denis James actually a lot of people around the world know about the sitar

    • @Jessopiun
      @Jessopiun 4 года назад

      @Denis James ik it from zach n cody lmao

  • @taijutsuninja2
    @taijutsuninja2 4 года назад +3956

    Imagine having frets on your instrument
    This comment was made by violin, cello, and bass gang

    • @key_after_key
      @key_after_key 4 года назад +184

      IrwenFox Aye, Violas exist

    • @Funnywargamesman
      @Funnywargamesman 4 года назад +267

      @@key_after_key violinists wish they didn't.

    • @taijutsuninja2
      @taijutsuninja2 4 года назад +211

      @@key_after_key you mean firewood?

    • @key_after_key
      @key_after_key 4 года назад +16

      IrwenFox It’s only firewood if you burn it, same with any wood instrument

    • @WikterRor2807
      @WikterRor2807 4 года назад +9

      @@key_after_key violas with frets?

  • @lucasgasparino6141
    @lucasgasparino6141 3 года назад +14

    The sound it makes reminds me of what Gilmour does in High hopes, right at the end. It's sounds so alien and beautiful.

  • @corradomorgana
    @corradomorgana 3 года назад +7

    I made my own...ripped the frets out of a cheap strat copy and shoved in flatwound jazz strings. Sounds amazing.

  • @vinalee1994
    @vinalee1994 4 года назад +1885

    This guitar is not fretless. It just got one long metal fret.

    • @MICKEYISLOWD
      @MICKEYISLOWD 4 года назад +25

      Haha...I like the sound but I bet I would suck at playing it. Gutherie did a great job though as always.

    • @Diax1324
      @Diax1324 4 года назад +2

      How is that true? Violins are constructed practically the same way.

    • @EJ-74
      @EJ-74 4 года назад +3

      WRONG POINT OUT THIS LONG METAL FRET ???

    • @SBDavin
      @SBDavin 4 года назад +3

      Your fingers are the frets.

    • @Diax1324
      @Diax1324 4 года назад +1

      @@SBDavin ..How is that not true on a violin or cello?

  • @unattributed1641
    @unattributed1641 4 года назад +278

    Going to a fretless proves how good your muscle memory is, and how well you can remember chord shapes, etc. Definitely a different world that makes you appreciate string and trombone players...

    • @BrunoNeureiter
      @BrunoNeureiter 4 года назад +11

      I don't think frets help you to memorise chord shapes but then again, I'm a pianist

    • @unattributed1641
      @unattributed1641 4 года назад +17

      @@BrunoNeureiter I was thinking more of the relative spacing between the fingers in the chord shapes... For a similar idea on piano think if the bottom register keys were wide, and they got progressively narrower going up to the top register. While your chord shapes wouldn't change, the spacing / fingering of the chord shapes would... It's not them same in a literal sense, but I think the effect would be similar...

    • @cactustactics
      @cactustactics 4 года назад +8

      @@BrunoNeureiter frets give you a wide space your fingers can be in where it's "good enough" (depending on your guitar's setup) and the strings will just fret in the correct place. On a fretless you don't have that, your fingers have to form the *exact* shape so they're all pressing down at the precise points the strings need to be fretted at. And either you can remember those shapes and spacings, or you can't!

    • @Udontkno7
      @Udontkno7 4 года назад

      It's not that hard, you just get it?? I don't know

    • @crimfan
      @crimfan 4 года назад +4

      @@BrunoNeureiter Keys basically function the same way as frets and in many ways are even more benign because they're the same all over the keyboard, whereas fret spacing changes. If you play chords on a continuum keyboard you need to know the shapes yourself. On a fretless string instrument you have to put your fingers in the right spot and cope with the fact that the notes get closer together the further up the neck you are.

  • @empyrean7381
    @empyrean7381 4 года назад +595

    This is so weird looking, like seeing a person without eyebrows..

    • @holysmokes4493
      @holysmokes4493 4 года назад +8

      Why do we even have eyebrows?

    • @zs9618
      @zs9618 4 года назад +30

      holysmokes44 to protect our eyes from sweat getting in them pretty much

    • @wolfmannn2008
      @wolfmannn2008 4 года назад +5

      holysmokes44 so we can brow the eyes

    • @ScientistSOL600
      @ScientistSOL600 4 года назад +7

      mick karn, the fretless bass player, looked fantastic without eyebrows

    • @MrBrungers
      @MrBrungers 4 года назад

      Hahahahaha 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 awesome comment

  • @luminax_gce
    @luminax_gce 4 года назад +100

    kinda sounds like a half-electric-sitar....

    • @brewswillis9783
      @brewswillis9783 4 года назад +4

      Slide sitar.

    • @Lechatnoir3
      @Lechatnoir3 4 года назад +5

      exactly! a fraction of the size. I wonder what Indian compositions would sound like on it

    • @voornaam3191
      @voornaam3191 3 года назад

      When I play my fretless bass, sliding to a note sounds familiar. It reminded me of the sitar. You are right. Sitar is so special.

  • @matthewthetaxcollector5419
    @matthewthetaxcollector5419 4 года назад +435

    It’s sounds like it’d be good for psychedelic

    • @Roberto-er5ow
      @Roberto-er5ow 4 года назад +5

      Damn right

    • @imeowmeowkat
      @imeowmeowkat 4 года назад +4

      Its very good for Jazz Fusion
      The guitarist of Thank You Scientist plays on3

    • @Squirrelconga
      @Squirrelconga 4 года назад +1

      Nah....tastes terrible!!!

  • @trueknowledgeispower
    @trueknowledgeispower 4 года назад +405

    I bet this thing leaves fingerprints like crazy

    • @JETJOOBOY
      @JETJOOBOY 4 года назад

      Gloves

    • @Youngstrawhatjit
      @Youngstrawhatjit 4 года назад +3

      Windsor & Epstein Babysitting Services you can see the fingerprints at 2:05

  • @coffeeisgood102
    @coffeeisgood102 3 года назад +6

    One of the reasons I prefer my violin over my guitar is that the guitar is limited in what can be done whereas on my violin I can produce any sound I want or need. This guitar seems very interesting. I’d like to try it.

  • @ThalassicMeasure
    @ThalassicMeasure Год назад +5

    The legendary Shawn Lane, who played Vigier guitars, was the first player I ever saw play the Surfreter back in the 1990s. Being one of the greatest ever, he absolutely mastered it with amazing, blistering lines.

  • @michaelluke2264
    @michaelluke2264 4 года назад +268

    I could hear Dave Gilmour playing one of those

    • @raffaeledivora9517
      @raffaeledivora9517 4 года назад +11

      I bet he would own it

    • @lightningdash877
      @lightningdash877 4 года назад +12

      I was just thinking about that, the second she started playing it my brain went to marooned by pink Floyd

    • @johnnycalvino7490
      @johnnycalvino7490 4 года назад

      I would love to hear him playing the sitar.

    • @darrenerickson1288
      @darrenerickson1288 4 года назад

      Johnny Calvino Found the one person in the world who wants to hear anybody playing a sitar!!! (Only kidding - I like sitar and think Gilmour doing it would be awesome.)

    • @puffin34
      @puffin34 4 года назад +1

      Pretty sure he played an acoustic fretless on the intro for Hey You

  • @k8sune
    @k8sune 4 года назад +142

    The sound of a fretless almost reminds me of the semi-tonal pitch-bending sound of a sitar.

    • @uberbeast113
      @uberbeast113 4 года назад +8

      More like the sarod. The reflective fingerboard looks sarod-like too.

    • @TheSidBatra
      @TheSidBatra 4 года назад +3

      I hear the sitar too!!!

    • @MichaelRabbitBass3
      @MichaelRabbitBass3 4 года назад +3

      Just what I was thinking!

  • @hubbsllc
    @hubbsllc 3 года назад +6

    Doing pretty well for someone who just sat down with a fretless guitar for the first time. And Vigier seems to have sorted out the fingerboard material better than anyone.

  • @Throne1607
    @Throne1607 4 года назад +19

    Just noticed the “Never Meant” riff from American Football in the beginning, very nice

    • @pollomagico271
      @pollomagico271 4 года назад +4

      I was just looking for a comment where someone noticed it! Thanks!

    • @brandadse.1741
      @brandadse.1741 4 года назад

      Pollo Magico same lol

    • @anuvette
      @anuvette 4 года назад

      It sounds off

  • @Hyraethian
    @Hyraethian 4 года назад +116

    I'm currently in the middle of an experimental process of turning a cheap acoustic guitar into a fretless guitar via the means of epoxy and sandpaper.
    Removed frets, done.
    Epoxy added, done
    Sanding, Awaiting full cure.
    The guitar was purchased for this purpose. If all goes belly up, it won't be without some experience gained.

    • @hunterwilk
      @hunterwilk 4 года назад +2

      I did this to the first bass I owned; Put some round wounds on it. Still have it actually and now I'm using tape wounds. It was and still is a cheap shitty guitar but I love it.

    • @Hyraethian
      @Hyraethian 4 года назад +3

      @@hunterwilkI sound atrocious but it's too fun not play.

    • @be7th
      @be7th 4 года назад

      How's it looking like now?

    • @Hyraethian
      @Hyraethian 4 года назад +6

      @@be7th The finish is still pretty scuffed, it's no show piece but it plays just dandy(for the most part). I'm still noticing spots where it buzzes from the uneven surface so sanding is a semi regular thing.
      I would strongly recommend anyone who does this have some way of making a perfectly level surface. I pretty much finger painted quick curing epoxy onto a masked neck and then sanded. There is a better way to do this and I recommend whatever that is. That being said, no regrets it's loads of fun to play with even without the skill to properly use it.

    • @xjunkxyrdxdog89
      @xjunkxyrdxdog89 4 года назад

      @@Hyraethian a radius sanding block should help level things out. If it's really off, you could try treating it as if you were leveling frets... using a straight edge as a rocker looking for high spots.
      If you enjoyed working on this one, try scalloping frets next. It's a fairly easy, very rewarding project.

  • @something8886
    @something8886 4 года назад +911

    “Im gonna sound off tune”
    Violinists: cant relate
    Edit: okay this is the most likes i have ever gotten, thanks guys ❤️❤️

  • @StephenChapman
    @StephenChapman 4 года назад +8

    Mad props for mentioning Bumblefoot! His abilities are otherworldly. Check out the solo in his song Brooklyn Steakhouse. How on earth do you play a fretless that accurately, that fast!? Absolute insanity!

  • @michaelprozonic
    @michaelprozonic 4 года назад +30

    fretless guitars would eliminate 90% of players
    is it cheaper because they don’t need to cut the fret wires in? or more expensive because of the novelty? This will be a very niche instrument

    • @sentiecide686
      @sentiecide686 4 года назад +16

      Michael Prozonic more expensive, because even though it requires less material to create, they are much less likely to be purchased because of how unorthodox they are. More of an instrument to have as a sort of novelty rather than a staple of someone's playstyle, which is a shame because I think this has so much potential and should definitely be popularized.

    • @casanovafunkenstein5090
      @casanovafunkenstein5090 2 года назад

      @@sentiecide686 currently that's the case however you should consider that most modern orchestral string instruments replaced instruments that were fretted, though the reasoning behind that could have been because intonation systems for keyboard instruments were less uniform; meaning that progressing from the viol to the modern violin meant that you could play with anyone else instead of potentially needing an entirely new instrument if you were playing alongside an ensemble that used a different way of subdividing the octave into 12.
      I think that fretless guitars would require alternative systems to become common enough to justify not having an instrument that can only play in 12tet before they became the definitive design and that's not happening anytime soon (though even mainstream music is starting to embrace a lot of detuned chords as a type of embellishment/production aesthetic, so it may be happening already in drips and drabs)

    • @DSTYYT
      @DSTYYT 2 года назад

      They're sold because they allow infinite more notes than you can play on a normal guitar, raised skill ceiling, higher point of entry

  • @BrooksMoses
    @BrooksMoses 4 года назад +300

    Nifty! Sounds like you could do lots of cool things with that. Your outro music is already sounding neat, even with just a few minutes of practice.

    • @thatguysson8241
      @thatguysson8241 4 года назад

      You can play microtones

    • @chetruane
      @chetruane 4 года назад +1

      As far as I'm aware there's a couple of Beatles songs on the white album I think played on a fretless guitar

    • @ParkaMonkey
      @ParkaMonkey 4 года назад

      TurkeysGames yes but I think 99% of that sound is a sitar

    • @ellieosteen
      @ellieosteen 4 года назад

      Brooks Moses when she’s sliding around on it, it sounds a lot like the intro to Gold And Green by Slaughter Beach, Dog.

  • @cjscala87
    @cjscala87 4 года назад +232

    Sounds like a lot of the guitars sustain is lost without the frets

    • @jafquist27
      @jafquist27 4 года назад +48

      Physics dictates that to be so. If the player had some type of solid fingertip covers, on the neck hand, which would not absorb the vibrations, more sustain could be achieved. I don't know if it would be practical though.

    • @RetroPlus
      @RetroPlus 4 года назад +16

      Yeah, that's why you need a slide of some kind

    • @bizmofunyuns9693
      @bizmofunyuns9693 4 года назад +1

      Sustainiac pickups could solve the problem

    • @enzohernandez8282
      @enzohernandez8282 4 года назад +3

      i think guthrie govan uses a fretless guitar with a metal fretboard

    • @casiopea1107
      @casiopea1107 4 года назад +2

      @@bizmofunyuns9693 changing pickups won't do anything, the problem is the lack of vibration sustain of the strings because of design.

  • @Grumpum
    @Grumpum Год назад +1

    I am enamored with your fearlessness at being able to show yourself crashing and burning. It's a beautiful way to show a novice that you dont have to always be perfect on your way to perfection. Bravo. Very enjoyable video.

  • @ErickRodriguez-oo6wb
    @ErickRodriguez-oo6wb 4 года назад +26

    A mix between a citara, John Frusciante and George Harrison.

  • @sandykemp7562
    @sandykemp7562 4 года назад +79

    You’d certainly need to hone your accuracy with one of these! Like a violinist.
    For someone who’s never played a fretless guitar before you did really well Mary! Thanks for a little insight into the weird and wonderful options we guitarists have when we get bored of the norm 👍🏼

  • @rhykko77
    @rhykko77 4 года назад +123

    So sorry to see this Mary ......if you have fallen on hard times and can't afford frets,
    maybe we can start a Go Fund Me for you or something !

  • @plausiblecoverstory
    @plausiblecoverstory 4 года назад +4

    Here's an idea for a quarantine UN-DIY project...Years ago someone gave me an old terrible acoustic guitar... So I pulled the frets out and I think it improved the guitar. Fun and weird experience.

  • @ionicbust4506
    @ionicbust4506 4 года назад +2

    that little laugh at 2:33 scared me to death because it felt like it was on the other side of my room

  • @Asillyhobo
    @Asillyhobo 4 года назад +35

    I just wanna imagine playing fretless, with a slide, a whammy, a volume pedal, and either finger pick or use an eBow or sustainer pickup

  • @PTguitars
    @PTguitars 4 года назад +27

    Your intonation on the fretless is impressive, Mary.

  • @benugdsen75
    @benugdsen75 Год назад +2

    I’ve played the violin for 18 years.. It’s not much of a difference in playing style. But if you’re not used to it, it can trip you up a bit. Great video as usual! ✌🏾

  • @sharifalhumaid8537
    @sharifalhumaid8537 4 года назад +4

    This guitar suits playing solos (chords are not easy for us standard guitar players). It naturally facilitate playing middle eastern music that incorporate smaller tone spacing.

    • @sharifalhumaid8537
      @sharifalhumaid8537 4 года назад

      @Pie Fish Hi. Two common ones are the oud (fretless stringed instrument) and qanun. If you would like to listen to Oud music please search RUclips for Naseer Shamma.

  • @DanielRodriguez-eh1qd
    @DanielRodriguez-eh1qd 4 года назад +219

    Imagine never having to worry about dead frets or refretting.

    • @aidenhall8593
      @aidenhall8593 4 года назад +38

      This post was made by orchestra gang

    • @michaelthemediocre4809
      @michaelthemediocre4809 4 года назад +30

      Imagine having to tune every note you play for the rest of time.

    • @michaelthemediocre4809
      @michaelthemediocre4809 4 года назад +7

      Dead frets suck, though

    • @Greenriver842
      @Greenriver842 4 года назад +1

      @@michaelthemediocre4809 Hahaha that's right

    • @theshapeexists
      @theshapeexists 4 года назад +1

      It's all good til you need to refinish and level the whole fingerboard. My 5 string bass needs it and it's not cheap.

  • @PaidAMaluCachu
    @PaidAMaluCachu 4 года назад +81

    I play fretless bass so I thought applying that to guitar would be fine. Picked up one of these in the shop to have a go and I was awful! The wider fret spacing of a bass are definitely more forgiving.

    • @budaroddy
      @budaroddy 4 года назад

      Yes for guitar you need another technique

    • @timmooney7528
      @timmooney7528 4 года назад +1

      @@budaroddy I imagine playing chords requires a good ear and a bit of precision to make them sound right

    • @robertmccully2792
      @robertmccully2792 4 года назад

      Not to mention the space between 4 strings verses 6.

  • @Footender
    @Footender 4 года назад +5

    I like the frets as a safety net analogy and that your surrounded yourself with 2 dozen fully fretted guitars in case things go off the rails. Small steps! Great demo!

  • @vernacular2008
    @vernacular2008 3 года назад +1

    I like the way your Viola experience instantly switched your vibrato from vertical to horizontal. You probably didn't have to give it a thought at the time.

  • @crimfan
    @crimfan 4 года назад +284

    I play a lot of fretless bass--I prefer it to fretted bass---and it's a lot of fun. I can do three note chords on a fretless bass but that took a lot of work. The way to get good at it is to practice playing right behind the frets on a bass to get really solid muscle memory and then refine. Open strings really help, too.
    Anyway, Mary I think your music would sound great with a fretless guitar! The little jam at the end was great.

    • @The_sinner_Jim_Whitney
      @The_sinner_Jim_Whitney 4 года назад +1

      crimfan Almost exactly what I would've said if I hadn't read the comments first.

    • @pinkraven4402
      @pinkraven4402 4 года назад +2

      Does you bass have marked frets spots tho?

    • @mazyarkh282
      @mazyarkh282 4 года назад +1

      jaco approves your decision

    • @bwolohan18
      @bwolohan18 4 года назад +1

      I'm a bass player too off over 20 years since I was a kid but I've never played a fretless strangely enough. So I presume that you have to be constantly be conscious and aware that you're playing a fretless? I.e. if you play a low G in the exact spot that you normally would on a regular fretted, the note will be flat. Sounds like playing a different instrument altogether and would take a bit of getting used to.

    • @bwolohan18
      @bwolohan18 4 года назад +1

      I do love the sound of a fretless bass though. So many difference. Sliding without any staccato plus a totally different tone to the note.

  • @NotDingse
    @NotDingse 4 года назад +86

    Imagine how great it would sound with little metal bars placed as to intonate all the notes in an accurate manner. Someone should make that!

  • @Swampfox612
    @Swampfox612 Год назад +2

    As the owner of one of these wacky instruments- and having played guitar for over 40 years prior to getting a fretless, I can tell you that it playing it was no simple matter. I had to practically re-learn just how to hold the thing in such a way that I could accurately create chords without the help of the frets. Still learning. Setup is different too.

  • @Malum09
    @Malum09 4 года назад +2

    Some information I always like to share: Lou Reed used a fretless guitar when recording The Velvet Undergeound & Nico, the guitar used his experimental Ostrich tuning (which is tune the strings either EEeee’e’ or DDDDd’d’)

  • @InventorZahran
    @InventorZahran 4 года назад +197

    Don't fret, it's still playable...

  • @alanredversangel
    @alanredversangel 4 года назад +41

    You held the tuning very well fair play, I'd be all over the shop.

  • @GeneralOffies
    @GeneralOffies 4 года назад +2

    Now I need a full cover of Never Meant by American Footbal on this thing.

  • @benderrodriguez7303
    @benderrodriguez7303 3 года назад +3

    That guitar sounds perfectly in tune with the universe...

  • @philryan7254
    @philryan7254 4 года назад +76

    Hi it sounds very much like a sitar. But I definitely think you should buy one. Have fun.Cheers Phil from Newark

    • @ThinWhiteAxe
      @ThinWhiteAxe 4 года назад +3

      Especially if it were tuned to DADGAD. Oh my, that would be amazing.

    • @ldesmond6729
      @ldesmond6729 4 года назад +3

      Check out justin Johnson's fretless guitar, these things can be wicked for blues

  • @brettmarlar4154
    @brettmarlar4154 4 года назад +41

    The trick is to play where the frets should be, that would help getting chords in tune. We as guitarists are used to playing just behind the fret as opposed to playing on it. I liken it to playing with a slide, only here you have to press the string to the fingerboard. More companies should make fretless instruments.

    • @NicklePiefy
      @NicklePiefy 4 года назад +1

      easier said then done! I believe Mary would be well aware of the concept of needing to play where the frets are. The problem is; with chords, we usually aren't pressing the the strings in the exact same spot on each fret. But on a fretless, every single finger has to be in exactly the right spot, rolled in just the right way. Plus our fingers aren't uniformly shaped and rigid like a slide would be, so even if the finger is perfectly perpendicular to the fretboard, barre chords might still be out of tune. I believe there's isn't any good tricks to playing chords on fretless (so it should just be avoided, lol!), just requires a ton of practice.

    • @brettmarlar4154
      @brettmarlar4154 4 года назад

      @ the latter bit is the fault of the player. One would think that the cost would be lower as there is one less step in the process.

    •  4 года назад

      @@brettmarlar4154 routing, installing and even leveling frets is a fairly easy process. Like she says in the video, precision in intonation becomes an issue. Set up costs go up. I can intonate a guitar with a digital tuner and a capo on the 12th fret. Much harder with a fretless. I love the look though. And the sound is eery!

  • @rrr00bb1
    @rrr00bb1 4 года назад +2

    I got an Oud a few years ago, and got a few quartertone guitars, and stripped one bass of frets. The posture on guitar, and the super-long neck make it harder than it should be. On an oud, you stay below 5th or 7th "fret" almost the entire time. Chords are definitely almost impossible, though 2-note chords are actually better for thirds. My quartertone guitar is much more natural tuned all-fourths, as regular guitar tuning presumes bar chords, which you won't be doing on fretless or microtonal guitars.

  • @carlofrigerio3616
    @carlofrigerio3616 4 года назад +14

    Next episode: playing piano without frets

  • @henrycharalambous8311
    @henrycharalambous8311 4 года назад +155

    In the intro thought you were gonna go full on American Football 😂

  • @richardbell2882
    @richardbell2882 4 года назад +17

    There is a ton of emotion in the sound of that instrument

  • @ryanburr8419
    @ryanburr8419 3 года назад +2

    This is definitely a guitar for players who really want to push boundaries. God speed to them. I'm having enough trouble learning how to play a regular guitar so I'll sit this one out.

  • @tommax26
    @tommax26 4 года назад +1

    If you tune the strings to an "A" chord... a; c#; e, etc. you could place your first finger as a bar across the 6 strings, moving up fret by fret spaces, getting chromatic changes... like a steel guitar. Open would be an A chord; up three "frets" would be a C chord; and so forth.

  • @PilotFlo
    @PilotFlo 4 года назад +10

    fescinating how you instantly got back to a classical vibrato

  • @travisfoster8193
    @travisfoster8193 4 года назад +306

    They need to build a guitar in which the frets can retract in and out

    • @francovillarreal7266
      @francovillarreal7266 4 года назад +61

      I think that would be a mechanical nightmare to pull off

    • @bowgart5567
      @bowgart5567 4 года назад +50

      Maybe magnetic frets would be sick, you can remove them or move them however you like

    • @escaramujo
      @escaramujo 4 года назад +9

      They already exist. I'm not sure how easy are to find, though.

    • @andretahu1296
      @andretahu1296 4 года назад +16

      Maybe replaceable fret boards

    • @baatkarlo
      @baatkarlo 4 года назад +10

      Use a thin black marker instead. Mark the frets precisely. Done!

  • @MrSupersonic014
    @MrSupersonic014 Год назад

    Such a great introduction to a fretless guitar. You are very charismatic talking about that topic!

  • @slinkstingray6255
    @slinkstingray6255 3 года назад +1

    That SRV strat in the back 😍

  • @theshyguy1580
    @theshyguy1580 4 года назад +6

    The cool thing about fretless, is not only being able to do a violin type vibrato,
    but sliding chords is pretty fun too.

  • @nova_4168
    @nova_4168 4 года назад +259

    Being in tune isn’t the point of a fretless guitar, the point is to make some strange ass sounds

    • @yanxiqpoof7368
      @yanxiqpoof7368 4 года назад

      😄

    • @johnny_eth
      @johnny_eth 4 года назад +13

      Say that when you hear a violin out of tune.

    • @johnsmith-ch7fg
      @johnsmith-ch7fg 4 года назад +7

      It's potentially more in tune than fretted but yeah the main point is to expand the range

    • @cjeam9199
      @cjeam9199 4 года назад +2

      Tristan Erno Being in-tune is kinda based on the temperate system you’re using though.

    • @nova_4168
      @nova_4168 4 года назад +3

      Tristan Erno a slightly out of tune string can sound better than a perfectly tuned string, John frucantia (that’s not how it’s spelt) in snow (hey oh) has all of his strings slightly of tuned

  • @OneChartguitarlessons
    @OneChartguitarlessons 2 года назад

    I was so in love with the idea that I bought a 2nd Yamaha classical and de-fretted it. I love it, but it's so challenging! A learning project for my retirement, I expect. Thanks for the video, Mary!

  • @stock33647
    @stock33647 Год назад +1

    I hear more tones on the slides and the vibrato is very interesting. It's not exactly comparable but it's like going from playing a fretted bass to a fretless standup only a more difficult. Live and learn. Thanks so much for the experience.

  • @nibbs15
    @nibbs15 4 года назад +362

    I don’t see what everyone is fretting about
    I’ll see myself out

  • @progress92
    @progress92 4 года назад +39

    7:27 fretless guitar Tony Iommi edition :D ✝️✝️✝️✝️✝️✝️

  • @TheTobesOfHades
    @TheTobesOfHades 2 года назад

    Stood right in front of Tom and watched his play his fretless last time I saw Thank You Scientist. Talked to him about it after the show, super nice guy.

  • @patricknelson1471
    @patricknelson1471 Год назад

    a friend of mine plays some very strange ancient instruments that are fretless ,one is called lute the others i dont remember . he is obsessed with ancient music i dont even dare to get close to the instruments we talk about antiques and they sound pretty good.

  • @aaronshortmusic
    @aaronshortmusic 4 года назад +18

    I love that it will never need a refret!

    • @RetroPlus
      @RetroPlus 4 года назад

      That is until you give up on trying to play fretless of course

  • @MisterManDuck
    @MisterManDuck 4 года назад +120

    MICROTONE CREW REPRESENT.

    • @dailythenoob
      @dailythenoob 4 года назад +7

      Means she can play the whole Flying Microtonal Banana album

    • @SCWood
      @SCWood 4 года назад

      CHECKING IN

  • @ArielEduardoAlba
    @ArielEduardoAlba 4 года назад +3

    Tom is amazing, I got to see him play live a couple times. He's mind-blowing, to say the least.

  • @chrissiegle1065
    @chrissiegle1065 3 года назад

    My first fretless was a squire strat... rosewood fretboard...got it and removed the frets, filled the grooves with white filler so I could still see the fret marks lol... and that was my fav fretless for a long time...I might have to do that again... Great reaction. 😃

  • @DeDean16
    @DeDean16 4 года назад +28

    8:20 When the guitars you want are more expensive than your car...

    • @MajorWolf72
      @MajorWolf72 4 года назад +2

      What does that tell us about your car... LOL

  • @zeezee9670
    @zeezee9670 4 года назад +8

    30 years ago, with no musical education, knowledge or experience at all, I suddenly became fiascinated with the oud so I decided to "dabble". I didn't even know where to buy an oud so I bought a very cheap acoustic guitar. I noticed the peg heads and guessed their function so I decided to tune the strings. Thinking of how I saw oud & guitar players used left hand (with 4 fingers) I decided that the "next string" must always be the "5th finger" so I tuned the top string so it didn't sound weird then started downwards to tune next string 5 half notes up thus if the top was E then 2nd was A, 3rd was D, 4th was G, 5th was C & 6th was F (now I know that that's exactly how 1/4 of existing ouds are tuned). As I tried to play some of the Arabic melodies that I knew, I noticed that I could only approximate some of them as some notes lo in between two frets so I removed all the frets and started again playing my "guitar oud". I grew of course up and bought a real oud and learned to play it well. I learned to play electric bass a decade later, but always prefered fretless bass :D

  • @Bloodray19
    @Bloodray19 3 года назад

    I'm a guitar repairsman at a company who sells musical instruments, and we have a ton of broken guitars. The cheaper ones. Today in the morning I opened an old box and found an interesting electric guitar, which only had one issue. The fretboard was very poorly leveled at the factory, so I had to take out the frets to level the board. But after taking them out, I decided that i'll just plug the slots with a contrasting colored veneer, sand it level, coat it with laquer and make a fretless. It's not done yet, but I was super interested in how it would actually sounds, because I had no idea, just started doing it

  • @nicolascage5323
    @nicolascage5323 3 года назад

    Lol the thumbnail face is literally 👁👄👁
    Nice playing!

  • @dinein1970
    @dinein1970 4 года назад +63

    Sounds almost sitar-ish mixed with Jeff Beck's love of violin-like volume swells
    And a dash of slide guitar

    • @gdsurfer85
      @gdsurfer85 4 года назад

      Thank you for mentioning Jeff beck, I kept hearing sounds from blow by blow

    • @dman6575
      @dman6575 4 года назад

      I kinda dig that sound, has a certain pop to it

    • @rockngelement
      @rockngelement 4 года назад

      Not sitar, but sarod. ☺️

  • @olsenolsen5189
    @olsenolsen5189 4 года назад +32

    Would love to hear the solos in "Scar tissue - RHCP" played on this

    • @darlingsmk7991
      @darlingsmk7991 4 года назад +4

      Olsen Olsen thats my first thought

  • @rhythmjones
    @rhythmjones 3 года назад +2

    I liked the sound of the chords. Also you can slide chords and non-barred double-stops which you can't do on a traditional slide.

  • @valerieee1469
    @valerieee1469 4 года назад +9

    This sounds like something you could play The Last of Us music with

  • @RandomUser179
    @RandomUser179 4 года назад +48

    This makes Bumblefoot Ron Thaal even more impressive as he shreds like crazy on a fretless guitar.

    • @Nemanjap995
      @Nemanjap995 4 года назад +1

      Hey man, wanted to say thank you for bringing this artist and the music's he's associated with in my attention. I've been into metal and rock, but strayed for heavier alternative. This really freshens up my playlist, and opens my mind to check out some of the 'lighter' stuff.

    • @TRIPPgothic
      @TRIPPgothic 4 года назад

      @@xheadlessx he is defintly one of the most humble artist i have ever meet, known him for many years now

    • @surdegsbrod4935
      @surdegsbrod4935 4 года назад

      And Guthrie!

  • @mrs111198
    @mrs111198 4 года назад +29

    Just imagine David Gilmour playing Shine on you crazy diamond on that
    MIND = BLOWN

  • @fernandochueca4213
    @fernandochueca4213 4 года назад +28

    When you are a violinist and feel proud off not needing frets

  • @solino2002andrea
    @solino2002andrea 3 года назад +1

    That’s the wonderful Tina S’s guitar brand! I found you are absolutely an amazing guitar player, but when I hear her playing guitar I cannot avoid crying.
    And I think they made perfectly accurate instruments.
    As per when we talking about violinist there’s no one who plays in tune, but one who plays less out of tune than another ... except super pro musicians

  • @kaykepaz
    @kaykepaz 4 года назад +100

    this guitar sounds like george harrison

  • @darraghtate440
    @darraghtate440 4 года назад +9

    Considering their surge in popularity over the last decade, I'm surprised more companies aren't doing fretless guitars at the moment. I feel like there's a LOT of money to be made in producing €400-€1000 versions.

  • @chie1709
    @chie1709 Год назад

    5:05 shout out to that beautiful pink Fender Strat in the background. Wow