What are fretless guitars and how to play them?

If we talk about fretless guitars, then only in the context of the fact that they are not much different from the usual versions. Rather, it is a nice modification that lacks the frets. Modern manufacturers took into account the demand for this type of musical instrument and began to produce non-standard models.

From the name it is easy to guess what a fretless guitar is. Outwardly, it is very similar to a standard tool and works on the same principle.

If you look closely, you will notice that the length of the vibrating string is equal to the length from the tailpiece to the point where your finger presses the string against the neck. In the usual case, this indicator is taken into account up to the fret threshold.

In the West, this type of guitar is rarely used. This is because it has a low acoustic volume. But bass guitars of this kind are in demand among modern musicians. Most often they can be seen in the hands of those who are fond of the following areas of music:

• fusion;
• metal;
• death metal;
• rhythm and blues.

The resulting sound is reminiscent of "muah", so does the double bass if the pizzicato technique is used. It becomes possible to use the following techniques when playing the instrument:

• glissando;
• uneven temperament;
• microtonic intervals;
• vibrato.

Depending on the song being played, the musician can change the instrument during the performance. Fretless bass is most often heard in jazz.

Returning to the origins, let's say that for the first time such an instrument was made in 1961.Bill Wyman was the first to remove the frets from the guitar. On an industrial scale, they began to produce tools of this type only in 1966.

If it has an epoxy coating on it, then it not only prolongs the life of the neck, but also gives a bright, unusual sound.

Manufacturers draw reference lines that indicate the frets. But this is not the case on all instruments, there are options with marks along the edge of the neck. These guitars are often made with four strings, but can be found commercially with five, six, and even seven strings. Other non-standard options are made to order.

Another feature of a fretless instrument is that the musician is not tied to a musical scale. The neck of such instruments is made of solid wood. Most often it is ebony.

The bass guitar is used for playing in the bass range. In this case, fingers are rarely used, more often a pick can be seen in a musician's hands. Such an instrument without frets, when placed next to the drum kit, allows you to create a rhythm section.

The acoustic version is always quieter. An electric guitar of the same kind is larger, has a massive neck. The classic version is 4 strings. Tune it in by quarters. Connection of an amplifier is allowed. In pop music, such a guitar has almost completely replaced the double bass.

You can play the fretless guitar both sitting and standing. Sound production is available in three ways:

• pinching with your fingers;
• slap;
• use of a mediator.

Each of the above methods will have a different playing tone. Less commonly used techniques are fighting and tambourine.

This is the most common type of sound production. It is also considered universal, since it can be used regardless of the style of music.

Sounds have a soft timbre. In this version, low frequencies prevail. Precisely because the musician has to put in more effort, the pluck of this kind of guitar is carried out with support on the string next door.

Rock musicians use this technique more often than others. It is lighter.

In terms of sound, the music is distinguished by medium and high frequencies, which are pronounced. The volume of the extracted sounds is uniform, so there is often no need for additional correction of the existing range.

This is a hard-to-digest method of sound production. The musician beats the strings on the fret thresholds. Strikes and plucking are combined with each other while playing the instrument.