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If you are here reading this blog, you have probably become interested enough in fretless bass guitar to either purchase one, or learn more about its potential. Without frets, every microtone within the range of the bass becomes a playable possibility. With this added possibility, there are new opportunities and also new challenges when it comes to performing.

In his course Fretless Bass Foundations, Tony Franklin pulls back the curtains on establishing good technique when learning to play the fretless bass.

Here are 5 free fretless bass guitar lessons from the course. For the full course, check out Tony Franklin’s Fretless Bass Foundations on TrueFire!

Fretless Vibrato Variations

Contrary to a comment I made later in the course – oops! – here are the most common vibrato techniques I use.

Fretless Bass Guitar Lesson – Playing on the Dots: 2


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This is one of my favorite exercises.

Fretless Bass Guitar Lesson – Landing Big Jumps


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Landing notes after a big jump can be tricky. I love playing this piece – another one of my favorites.

Fretless Bass Guitar Lesson – Basic Chords on Fretless


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Chords can be very effective and beautiful on the fretless.

Fretless Bass Guitar Lesson – Groovy Boogie


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This is all about keeping the groove and the touch steady and consistent.

Digging these free fretless bass guitar lessons? Check out Tony Franklin’s Fretless Bass Foundations.