A Fret cut the string when you press down with your finger providing a crisp tone and accurate pitch. You must take care on a freeless instrument to get the correct pitch. It might be helpful to have fret marks using a pencil so you can hit the notes correctly. Enjoy.
No you don't need frets. I play fretless all the time. You will probably want some lines indicating where to put your fingers though. Some people use a wood burner to make the lines.
The fretless will sound a little softer, and you can do some sliding up to notes that gives it a unique sound.
I just built a fretless 2-string... I used the heavy strings from a standard set, and it's quite easy to play. I used flush-mounted brass screws for position markers to contrast with the aluminum "fretboard".
The heavier strings are easy to hold down firmly; I imagine skinny unwound strings might be a little more difficult.
The note will be the same but it will sound less bright (is that the right word) because you don't have a fret for the string to rest on and your finger will dampen the string some, if you have really good calous's on your finger tips it may not be to bad. I play mine that way and am always thinking maybe I should try fretting.. So in a way yes it will sound different, but it will be the same chords.
Won't really sound different, some chords will be easy to do fretless, just slide our fingers to where the frets would be, rather than just above them, EXCEPT for chords where you "stack your fingers" on adjacent strings, behind the same fret.
Some simple examples for open chords: C, D, Dm, G, G7 would all be easy to adapt to fretless. But an A, B-flat, even an Am, where your fingers end up "stacking up" a little, they can be much harder on a fretless, because you'd have to get all (2 or 3) fingers that are on the same "fret" actually in line with each other.
No, but one adjustment you'll have to make is that your fingering position is now exactly where the fret wire would be, and not in between two of them like on a fretted guitar.
So if you make fret marks of some sort, just plan accordingly.
It's not that hard to get used to though, classical musicians have been doing it with the viol family for centuries.
no you don`t . all frets do is make it easier; finger just has to be between frets, Fretless is tougher fingers position has to be very close to exact or the note you want will be sharp or flat
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The fretless will sound a little softer, and you can do some sliding up to notes that gives it a unique sound.
The heavier strings are easy to hold down firmly; I imagine skinny unwound strings might be a little more difficult.
Some simple examples for open chords: C, D, Dm, G, G7 would all be easy to adapt to fretless. But an A, B-flat, even an Am, where your fingers end up "stacking up" a little, they can be much harder on a fretless, because you'd have to get all (2 or 3) fingers that are on the same "fret" actually in line with each other.
Have fun.
So if you make fret marks of some sort, just plan accordingly.
It's not that hard to get used to though, classical musicians have been doing it with the viol family for centuries.
Have fun man!