tunemakers - Posted - 04/14/2013:  06:33:36

I just got through assembling a Frankenstein fretless banjo. An old pot from a nameless tenor banjo with skin head, a failed experimental neck from a bluegrass banjo with the frets removed and planed a bit. Old used waverely tuners and like that.

It's my very first visit to the world of fretless and I've spent several joyful hours slip sliding away. I strung it up with nyguts and the first hour or so was a nightmare of strings stretching and slipping and fingers struggling to go to where they needed be but eventually it all came together and I was producing wonderful honking and sliding tones that I had never heard come out of a banjo.

So I've gone through much of my repertoire and I realized some songs lend themselves to this type of banjo much  better than others. I find that I have simplified several tunes and they sound great with far less notes.

So my questions are this: Do you have favorite tunes you play exclusively on the fretless? And what might they be?     Are there tunings that work better and perhaps tunings to stay away from?     Are there any special techniques you apply only to a fretless? Small curious minds want to know!

I'm having a ball with this. It's way more fun than I would have ever imagined. I'm still tweaking things like nut and bridge height and bridge type and placement. I suspect that will go on for awhile.

And yes I'm sure there's a ton of stuff in the archives but I find the search function for that to be far less than pleasant. So what can you tell about playing fretless?

hweinberg - Posted - 04/14/2013:  06:57:19

The Round Peak players mostly played fretless, so choose tunes you like from Tommy and Fred et al.  Brad Leftwich's book about their style is nice source of tunes and tab.  Personally, I like Sweet Sunny South best on fretless even though it sounds fine with frets and finger-style, too.  Have fun!  -- Howard

jduke - Posted - 04/14/2013:  07:38:48

I do enjoy the sound and playing of a fretless banjo and enjoy playing it myself, although it's still not my main player.

And, as you said you did, I tried most of the tunes I play on the fretless.  My two favorite tunes to play, because I feel they are my more successful adoptions to the style, are Mole in the Ground and Sweet Sunny South.  One is in Double C and the other in Sawmill tuning.

The tunes I tried in Open G just never quite seemed right, I suspect because they are not truly old time tunes.  Most of my old time repertory is I play in the above tunings and a few additional.  To me, they seem to adapt better to the fretless style than the Open G tunes.

Jeff

Edited by - jduke on 04/14/2013 07:50:10

Bart McNeil - Posted - 04/14/2013:  07:40:57

I can't help you much because I am relatively new to fretless also and am still experimenting and have been building my own minstrel banjos. It took me a while to become acclimated to the sound but now love fretless.

I too find the fretless, in general, to be a world apart from fretted and minstral banjos with gourd and homemade pots even further removed. Like you I am still tweaking mine.

Up to this point I play virtually everything I play on fretted banjos on fretless as well, but I understand your concerns. Glad to see your kind of enthusiasm.

janolov - Posted - 04/14/2013:  08:15:59

I have a mountain banjo since a little more than one month, and I try to play tunes I'm already familiar with. However, the fretless requires a little other approach with some simplifications compared to playing a fretted banjo. Study the Round Peak style, it is based on fretless banjo, and the Round Peak players could play a lot of different tunes and make it rock.

mrphysics55 - Posted - 04/14/2013:  09:29:26

melbay.com/Products/96660BCD/r...onSId=B12

pernicketylad - Posted - 04/14/2013:  10:50:50

Another shout out for the Brad Leftwich book.

Montanarick - Posted - 04/14/2013:  13:14:01

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quote

:Thanks, Just odered it......this fretless playing is very addictive! Rick

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Originally posted by pernicketylad

 

Another shout out for the Brad Leftwich book.

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tunemakers - Posted - 04/15/2013:  09:51:47

Thanks guys, I have Brad's book somewhere, I had forgotten all about it. I'll have to dig around and find it again. I find it a bit easier to do when I play along with my wife on guitar. I'm more accurate when I can hear where correct is....

maryzcox - Posted - 04/15/2013:  11:42:26

fretless versions of Chicken Crowin at Midnight. Needed Time, Pretty Polly in Girl With the Banjo tattoo--also some playing notes on fretless banjo in the tab book :)
Best wishes,
Mary Z Cox

Morning Song April 2013/ John C Campbell Folk School

staronjeff - Posted - 04/15/2013:  16:30:21

for me, it took a bit, but all my tunes are played on the fretless now, (well half fret)