fretless bass
what it is
A fretless guitar is a guitar without frets. It operates in the same manner as most other stringed instruments and traditional guitars, but does not have any frets to act as the lower end point (node) of the vibrating string. On a fretless guitar, the vibrating string length runs from the bridge, where the strings are attached, all the way up to the point where the fingertip presses the string down on the fingerboard.
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✦ who's making it, level by level
level 3 · one step out
cult favorites and indie darlings
level 4 · further
art pop, hyperpop, and the underground
level 5 · all the way
deep experimental
✦ make fretless bass a playlist
turn these 14 artists into something you can press play on.
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questions
What is fretless bass?
A fretless guitar is a guitar without frets. It operates in the same manner as most other stringed instruments and traditional guitars, but does not have any frets to act as the lower end point (node) of the vibrating string. On a fretless guitar, the vibrating string length runs from the bridge, where the strings are attached, all the way up to the point where the fingertip presses the string down on the fingerboard.
What are good fretless bass albums to start with?
Try Dreaming the Strife for Love by Bedsore, So Low....solo by Steve Bailey, Pearls Before Swine by Tribe After Tribe, and Le Band by Alain Caron.
Who are some women making fretless bass?
musicisforgirls.com/genres/fretless-bass/girls lists women, non-binary artists, and bands with women making fretless bass, from mainstream to underground.
genre notes from last.fm listeners · artists and albums from last.fm, updated 2026-10-20