I remember the exact moment in Weather Report's A Remark You Made that got me hooked on the sound of a fretless bass guitar. Jaco does a sliding swoop up to a higher note. Here's the exact moment:
1. A Remark You Made - Weather Report
Player: Jaco Pastorius
I couldn't believe a bass guitar could make that beautiful noise. Here are nine more great fretless bass lines. Some of them feature the bass as the solo voice and others showcase the more supportive role that the bass usually takes.
2. New York Minute - Don Henley
Player: Pino Palladino.
Here's a video teaching some of the choice lines in the song.
3. Sledgehammer - Peter Gabriel
Player: Tony Levin using a plectrum and octave pedal.
4. Hejira - Joni Mitchell
Player: Jaco Pastorius. I had to include another Jaco bass line. This is one of my favourite musical moments of all time.
5. Hurt In Your Heart - John Martyn
Player: John Giblin. One of the most talented fretless players ever (also check out his playing on Family Snapshot by Peter Gabriel).
6. Matha - Jimmy Haslip, Steve Croes, Randy Brecker
Player: Jimmy Haslip
7. Masques - Brand X
Player: Percy Jones
8. Heat - David Bowie
Player: Gail Anne Dorsey
9. Luck Of The Draw - Bonnie Raitt
Player: Hutch Hutchinson (on a Washburn AB40 fretless acoustic bass).
10. Avalon - Bryan Ferry
Player: Alan Spenner
What's your favourite fretless bass line? Leave a comment below...
Related Lessons
Three Exercises For Fretless Bass Guitar: Play In Tune!
I want to learn how to play solo
Lots of things to learn for this! Try these:
1.https://onlinebasscourses.com/bass-line-creation/bass-solo-improvisation/
2. https://onlinebasscourses.com/learn-basslines/bass-solo-plus-chords/
3. https://onlinebasscourses.com/bass-line-creation/11-ideas-to-improvise-incredible-bass-solos/
There are lots more lessons on this site as well that will help you so have a search around.
Haja – Where have I gone https://open.spotify.com/track/5mMdf0t3ddhKcPwd1sVOhD?si=2591545ee51a4950
Kasia Dubaniowska plays fretless, amazing player
Very nice!