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Fretless Banjo Players

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A group for fretless players to exchange information and ideas.

309 Members, Created 1/28/2011 -

Administrators: Marc Nerenberg (owner)

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From weetmans on 11/1/2011 4:07:23 AM

Hi,

I've just picked up two lovely fretless banjos from Andy Perkins' Banjo Works down in Kent. One is a Bart Reiter Standard Fretless, and the other a James Hartel Boucher reproduction circa 2003. Both are wonderful, and I am currently sporting a wall to wall grin!

4 Comments
	Strumelia says: 11/1/2011 7:46:03 AM I don't blame you- those are two wonderful banjos! I almost bought a Hartel Boucher about 8 yrs ago....I should have! Enjoy your two beauties!
	weetmans says: 11/2/2011 1:58:41 AM All I have to do now is learn my way round the fingerboard! My previous fretless was an old WTB Sterling, which had "faux fretting". There are no guiding markers on either of the two new banjos, so some of the notes are a little "random". I'm getting there though!
	Strumelia says: 11/2/2011 8:11:49 AM It's always a real 'eye opener' (pun intended) to randomly close your eyes while playing the banjo, either fretted or fretless. I often find I get too visually fixated on the fretboard and try to look around the room or out the window frequently while playing. I think the eliminating faux-frets is a good step towards becoming less chord-dependent on a fretless. The fretless really is not so much about playing chords. Think in terms of MOVING from one note to another, by slides, pulloffs, dropthumbs, whatever. And take full advantage of your open strings and wonderful open drones. :)
	weetmans says: 11/2/2011 10:32:54 AM Thanks for the advice, Strumelia. I'm getting there - the reference points aren't that hard to find, and I play slide guitar for blues quite a lot, which helps. I do tend to be quite chordal (I also play Gypsy Jazz), but this is a trait which I will have to lose.The fretless banjo is a whole new ballpark for me, and I'm loving it. I find the Boucher much easier to play than the Reiter, at the moment, which surprised me - I thought it would be the other way round
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