Banjo Hangout Logo
Banjo Hangout Logo

Premier Sponsors

426
Banjo Lovers Online


Jan 18, 2025 - 9:12:53 PM
likes this
4 posts since 10/26/2024

As a beginner I've got a long way to go before I outgrow my fretted Gold Tone AC-5. However, I love the rich, earthy sound of fretless nylagut / nylon stringed banjos. This has led to me getting bit by the maybe-one-more-banjo-won't-hurt bug.

Before I start down that slippery slope, a few questions for those of you with that magical substance called "experience."
- When is too soon to try fretless? What skills would you say are required first?
- Did owning a fretless improve your skills in ways a fretted didn't? If so, how?
- What question should I be asking but in my ignorance don't know to ask?

Jan 19, 2025 - 5:48:31 AM
like this
Players Union Member

maxmax

Sweden

1628 posts since 8/1/2005

I don’t think you need to justify a fretless as some sort of training aid. A low tuned nylon strung fretless is probably not going to be your main instrument, but you’ll probably have a lot of fun playing around with it throughout your banjo journey. If you can afford one, get one! :)

Jan 19, 2025 - 7:05:08 AM
likes this

4985 posts since 10/13/2005

Great questions and especially that last one,! banjered

Jan 19, 2025 - 7:59:31 AM
likes this

279 posts since 12/27/2019

I had similar concerns before I recently acquired a fretless.

As it turned out, I'm super happy I made the leap. For one thing, my fretless playing came together much more quickly than I would have expected. Not that I'm expert or anything. But decent fun banjo-y sounds seem to be happening without a lot of anguish.

The two main benefits:

1) Access to an expanded repertoire of banjo sound and character. Fretless is different and it's fun to switch it up.

2) Ear training -- getting to the "right" sound involves these constant tiny microadjustments in fingering. Although it becomes semi-automatic, it's more immersive and involving -- and potentially more expressive -- than simply noting on a fretted instrument.

Overall I'd say go for it. Even if it turns out you don't like fretless, no harm done by exploring!

Jan 19, 2025 - 8:08:53 AM
likes this
Players Union Member

jduke

USA

1212 posts since 1/15/2009

I bought my first fretless, a locally made mountain banjo, when I was still just a beginner learning from those early books, the ones with the square flat plastic records. My fear was would I be able to overcome the muscle memory developed playing my fretted banjos. At the time, almost every thing I played was in open G, so I tuned my new fretless to double D. As my experience grew, I was able to change banjos and tunings without much problem.

Now days, I still mostly play my fretted banjos, but I do enjoy engaging the unique characteristics of fretless. Some tunes beg for those sounds.

Go for it. I don't feel it will hurt your learning, but enhance it.

Jan 19, 2025 - 8:11:19 AM
like this

142 posts since 7/31/2012

I'm one of those unusual people who started on fretless banjo and later transitioned back to fretted (although I did have some prior experience with upright bass and fretless bass guitar).

My perspective is that fretless banjo is not inherently more difficult. It *becomes* difficult when you try to play it exactly like a fretted banjo. You have to learn to work with the instrument's inherent tendencies, not against them. That's the real challenge; the actual technique is not anywhere as bad as people make it out to be.

Some segments of the OT repertoire are not really fretless-friendly (I'm thinking of more chordal stuff, country blues and the like). You also don't have the convenience of a full-length (meaning, C/G tuning) banjo you can capo up to D/A. If you aren't involved in the OT festival/jam scene, then this is not an issue. But if you play a variety of music, a fretless banjo will never be your go-to, do-it-all weapon of choice.

If you're okay with that, then go right ahead. No amount of playing fretted banjo will make fretless feel familiar/comfortable the first time you pick it up.

Jan 19, 2025 - 10:36:25 AM

2497 posts since 5/19/2018

Fretless is it’s own thing. I almost look at Fretless banjos as a completely different, but very closely related instrument to a fretted banjo.

No time is too early to start learning it.

Will it help your playing overall? Absolutely!

It will expand your repertory. It will enhance the way you approach both instruments. It will improve your versatility.

As Ethan mentioned above, sometimes does not work well with all regional styles, but when you get with a solid Piedmont or Round Peak Fiddler, nothing beats the sound. If you sing, it’s great for solo work.

It’s also really fun.

Go for it. Just make your life simple and when you get one, get one that’s well set up and good quality. Makes the transition much easier.

Enjoy the journey!

Jan 19, 2025 - 11:36:28 AM

1395 posts since 10/23/2003

Fretless is another sound and a technique of its own. It wont help you necessarily to play fretted banjo, but it will have a joy and a musical approach of its own if you want to explore it. Banjos did not have frets generally until the 1880s or 1890s.

I do not think it aids you to play fretted banjo because it is quite different and there are things that you just cannot do in fretless playing that you can do with frets, but also vice versa.

People do act as it is so strange. Lots of people play fretless violins, cellos, violas, and basses on a very high level.

Jan 19, 2025 - 11:58:08 AM
likes this
Players Union Member

Mark D

USA

33 posts since 7/8/2006

Having never seen or played a fretless banjo the light weight Gold Tone AC-1FL Fretless Banjo with flush frets looks to be the best deal.
I've recently seen and heard some interesting looking fretless models on-line by Stone, Pisgah, Ode, and a used Ramsey, but the cost is a lot more than the Gold Tone.
I know that having the flush position lines on the fingerboard would make a big difference for me.
I've installed Nylgut strings on a fretted minstrel style banjo with a 12" pot and I like the sound.

Jan 19, 2025 - 1:22:40 PM
likes this

681 posts since 2/8/2003

I started on fretted, and then got into fretless (steel string), which I mostly play now. It is a different technique, and I play fretless so much that when I try to play fretted, it’s tough for me. Point being if you go down the rabbit hole, make sure you keep up with both.

Jan 19, 2025 - 2:31:38 PM
likes this

1395 posts since 10/23/2003

quote: The rabbit hole was entered,  LOL you moved into it the first day you picked up a banjo and felt the twang of the strings in your ears and on your fingers,  You were signed up "for the duration."
Originally posted by JollyRogers

I started on fretted, and then got into fretless (steel string), which I mostly play now. It is a different technique, and I play fretless so much that when I try to play fretted, it’s tough for me. Point being if you go down the rabbit hole, make sure you keep up with both.


Jan 20, 2025 - 6:50:35 AM
likes this
Players Union Member

tonygo

USA

195 posts since 12/29/2022
Online Now

If you can find an old Harmony Banjo or some such low end instrument you could pull the first 7 frets off of it and see how you like playing fretless before you go and spend bigger money. Maybe put nylon strings on it and mess with the head tension and I bet you will have some fun.

Feb 15, 2025 - 1:38:42 PM
likes this

3 posts since 2/14/2025

Slides sound so good on a fretless! But the main benefit, I think, is you tend to listen more closely when playing a fretless to make sure your intonation is good. Helps develop the ear. I have an E. Lowell Jacobs "mountain" fretless with nylon strings that's a lot of fun. Old Jimmy Sutton.

Feb 15, 2025 - 3:01:33 PM
likes this

28473 posts since 6/25/2005

I have a couple of fretless banjos—one is a Whyte Laydie copy with steel strings; the other an 1881 Geo. Dobson with a thin wood rim and real gut strings. They sound very different—as they would if they had frets. The different tones come from structure and setup, not lack of frets. So if you like the slurred imprecision of the fretless sound, get a fretless. Playing it will probably improve your ear, but not your right hand.
@nordmed711

Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Privacy Consent
Copyright 2025 Banjo Hangout. All Rights Reserved.





Hangout Network Help

View All Topics  |  View Categories

0.15625