Fretless Guitar Videos

Last Updated on Thursday, 12 May 2011 18:45 Thursday, 12 May 2011 16:30

One of the unique textures used in Sama Duo is the fretless guitar, allowing for sarod-like phrasing (and some oud-like articulations as well, of course). Because it's electric, it can bring those aspects into a nice rock context and can easily meld into blues territory as well.

I get asked this a lot, so for the record: it's tuned C G C G C F, low to high - derived from the standard sarod tuning. As some may know, I spent a good deal of time immersed in the sarod, and it was a staple of early Duo gigs. i don't play sarod much these days, sadly, as it sets off my tinnitus much more than the loudest electric playing ever does -- I believe the lack of low frequencies plus the abundance of overtones and ring from the sympathetics contribute to the tinnitus issue.

But I love the fretless! -- here are some of its moments: