Originally Posted by OLDYELLR

Slide (a name like that and you don't play steel or dobro?) here's the scoop: A fiddle (or a violin to the highbrow snobs) has no frets (metal bars on the neck to determine the exact length of string being played. The player holds down the strings in the correct place on the neck from experience to get the right note. Guitars and most electric basses have frets to give the correct note, requiring less skill and experience. Similarly, SIS shifters supposedly put you in the correct gear without having an educated hand and perceptive feel.