Learning to play bass is a great way to add some music and rhythm to your life. Although mastering a new instrument may seem overwhelming, learning the basics can be easy and rewarding.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Pick a Bass
Step 1. Choose the number of strings
Since the basses are electric, the body of the guitar can be almost any shape or color and still produce an excellent sound. However, the important thing is to choose a guitar with the correct number of strings for your skill level. As a beginner, you better start with a classic 4-string bass.
- The original bass is made with 4 strings and is considered the most basic. Almost all bass music can be played on a 4-string guitar, and because the neck is narrower than a 5- or 6-string guitar, it is easier to work with your hands.
- Usually a 4-string guitar is strung with the full set, E-A-D-G. However, it can also be strung like a 5-string guitar with a lower string (which converts the sequence to B-E-A-D).
- 5- and 6-string guitars are great as they provide a greater variety of notes available to play. However, they also require more control to reduce hum from the other strings and the ability to hit all notes.
Step 2. Choose a scale
The scale of a bass refers to the distance from the nut to the bridge, essentially the length of the guitar strings. A longer scale will present a longer string length and produce a deeper sound. A shorter scale may be easier for a beginner to maneuver, but it will lack the depth of sound that a long scale bass features.
- Most basses feature a 34-inch scale, but you can also get short scale basses (30 inches or less), medium scale (30 to 33 inches), and extra long scale (35 inches or more).
- Unless your hands are too small or too large, you should use a 34-inch scale to get the best sound.
- If you decide to buy a 5- or 6-string bass, you should scale it up for a better sound. You should always look for a minimum scale of 35 inches if you increase the number of strings.
Step 3. Decide between fretted or fretless
The frets are the metal dividers on the fretboard. Frets mark where different notes can be played on a string (by pressing a string against them) and are found on all guitars. However, if you plan to buy a bass, you have the option of looking for a fretless one.
- A fretless guitar does not feature the metal dividers, but instead has a long, smooth fingerboard.
- Fretless guitars are more difficult to play because they do not have a visual marker where certain notes are located. Instead, you'll have to play the bass by ear.
- For beginners, it is best to choose a fretted guitar to provide some guidelines for note and finger placement. Over time, you may choose to switch to a fretless guitar for a greater challenge and a slightly different sound.
Step 4. Choose a material
Basses are made from many different materials, including different types of hard and soft woods, and composite or synthetic materials. Although each material gives the bass a slightly different look and sound (as long as the instrument is solid and well built), this will not be an important factor in choosing the instrument. Either way, some characteristics of different materials are mentioned here.
- Hardwoods (such as maple, walnut, ebony, and palo santo) provide a percussive sound to the bass.
- Softwoods (including alder, basswood, and bog ash) help provide a softer, warmer sound to the bass.
- The most popular synthetic material for making basses is graphite, although luthite is another commonly used material. These are very consistent in mass production, as the material does not change from guitar to guitar as it does with natural woods.
- Many basses are made from a mix of materials, especially if they have a body of one material and a fingerboard of another. This is also a good option, so don't feel the need to search for a single material bass.
Step 5. Get an amp
To play bass, you need an amp to connect it so that you can hear yourself play. An amplifier has three main components: the power amplifier, the preamp, and the speaker cabinet. The easiest way to achieve all three is by purchasing a combo amp. Although these may lack the louder-sounding power of larger amps, they are very easy for beginners to use. The biggest advantage of having separate pieces of equipment is that you can choose each one according to your personal taste. You should start with a small combo amp. If you have the need to upgrade later in your bassist career, you will know precisely what to look for in a high-end amp.
Step 6. Determine if you are going to touch with your fingers or a fingernail
Playing with your fingers will create the “traditional” bass sound and achieve many unique digital techniques, while creating a more intense and aggressive sound using a pick (which many rock and metal musicians use), allowing techniques more similar to those of a guitar. Many people recommend learning to play both methods to become a more versatile bass player overall.
Method 2 of 3: Play the Bass
Step 1. Hold the bass correctly
To create the best music possible, it is important that you keep the bass in the proper position. You should always use a strap to hold the bass so your hands can focus on creating the sounds you want to hear when you play.
- You can sit or stand, but make sure you have good posture in either position. Also, make sure the strap keeps the hem at the same level, regardless of whether you are sitting or standing.
- You should keep the hem somewhere between your hips and your collarbone. Most people tend to play bass near their belly button, but it's all about personal preference.
- The guitar should be held at an angle of approximately 30 degrees to avoid the need to bend your wrists too uncomfortably.
Step 2. Tune the bass
The standard tuning on a 4-string bass is E-A-D-G, where E is the low string and G is the high string. You can learn to tune your guitar by ear (which is often an inaccurate method) or connect your bass to an electric tuner (which will be more accurate). To make a string go up or down in pitch, you must turn heads which are also known as tuning machines.
Step 3. Practice plucking
Bass (unlike other guitars) is only plucked rather than strummed. However, it is important that you maintain good picking practices to create the best-sounding music. Bass can also be played like a guitar, which is a matter of musical preference.
- Always keep your nails short. Your nails can change the sound of the guitar if you press them against the strings.
- Tap with two fingers to increase efficiency. Alternate stippling between your index and middle fingers. It doesn't matter which finger you start with, as long as you keep the speed and pace between them constant.
- Play the strings closer to the neck for a warm, flat tone. If you play closer to the bridge at the bottom, the strings will make a more percussive sound. While practicing, you should keep your picking isolated in a small area without much up and down movement of the strings.
- Play the strings by running them over with your fingertips. You shouldn't actually pull the strings, as they won't make a very nice sound. If you want to increase the volume, you should turn up the amp and not tap harder.
Step 4. Mute the strings that you are not playing
To create a clear sound and avoid damping the notes you play, you need to mute the strings by resting a finger on them.
- Keep your thumb as close to the E string as possible so that when you're not playing it, your thumb can rest on it to mute it.
- If you have to skip strings to play multiple notes, try using multiple fingers to help mute them.
- You can choose to move your thumb off the E string to mute other strings if you are playing higher strings.
- Do not press hard on the strings, gently place your thumb or other finger on them to block the vibrations that cause the sound.
Step 5. Learn to play root notes
These make up the main note on which a chord is based. To play a chord, you must play multiple strings at the same time, and the root is the note by which the chord is named. Typically, you will start playing bass simply by focusing on the root notes of the chords.
Step 6. Learn to play octaves
All music is made up of 12 notes, which can be played in higher or lower versions. The highest or lowest version of a single note is known as an octave.
- To play an octave higher than the note you are currently playing, you must move two strings up and two frets up.
- To play an octave lower than the note you are currently playing, you must move two strings down and two frets down.
- You can play a lower octave with your index finger and the corresponding higher octave with your ring finger. Use your other fingers to help mute the strings that are not being played.
Step 7. Learn to play the root notes and fifths together
Once you have mastered the fundamentals, you must learn to play the fifths as well. A fifth is the note that is played five scale tones away from the fundamental. These are usually played together to accompany another musician on guitar or piano. Fortunately, it is quite simple to calculate the fifths.
- To play a fifth up, you must move two frets higher on the next string.
- To play a fifth lower, stay at the same fret and move to a lower string.
Step 8. Keep up the pace while you practice
The most important job of a good bass player is keeping the beat of the music. Bass definitely adds great sound to any piece of music, but the vital task is keeping a good rhythm. Once you've gotten better at plucking and hitting the correct notes, you should take time to practice to keep up.
- Listen to the bass performances on some of your favorite songs to hear the ways they keep the beat.
- Buy a metronome to help you practice. Metronomes are little tools that make a clicking noise at a certain speed, helping you match the beat. You can adjust your speed to practice at a faster or slower pace.
Step 9. Practice regularly
The best advice for anyone learning to play a new instrument is to practice regularly. Spending just a few minutes of work a week will hamper your path to excellence. Spending at least 10-20 minutes of practice a day will not only help your hands feel comfortable with the bass, but it will make the music sound clearer and better over time.
Method 3 of 3: Continue Your Learning
Step 1. Start with the tablature
Tablature is a visual guide that teaches you how to play song notes if you can't read sheet music. Since many people cannot read sheet music, tablature is becoming more and more popular.
You can focus on learning to touch the reeds with your fingers if you decide to do so instead of using a fingernail
Step 2. Start learning scales
As boring as they sound, scales are actually very important in developing serious musicians. The learning scales will help you practice strumming, improve your speed and dexterity, as well as help you improvise your solos.
Step 3. Try your luck with a solo
A solo is when a musician goes out on his own and plays a musical passage that is different, varied, and sometimes improvised. It can be difficult to play solos, but it is also quite rewarding.
Step 4. Start composing your own songs
If you get bored playing other people's songs, it's probably time to create your own music. Playing your own compositions requires a lot of time, practice and false starts, but keep in mind that it will be something unique in the world.
Step 5. Learn some advanced techniques when you feel ready
Some of these techniques include sweeping with a fingernail or fingers (which is more difficult), tapping, tremolo playing (which is also more difficult with the hands than with a fingernail), and bumping or snapping.
Step 6. Aim for two or more basses if you feel the need
If you get to this point, it means that you really like what you are doing. Tuning and out-of-tune your bass is likely to get boring all the time, so having 2 or 3 can save you some time.
Advice
- Check your techniques. Get used to the proper technique early on to save yourself tons of confusion down the road.
- Listen to the songs you like and play them. This is excellent practice because you already know how the song plays out!
- Find a good teacher. Remember that not always a great bass player becomes a good teacher. A good teacher tests your skills and helps you to work for knowledge and to understand the instrument.
- It is very important to hit the fretboard of the bass with the fingers of the left hand, as it is an important factor that will determine the integrity of each note. Try to position your fingers so that they are close to the fret on the right. You should also practice with your right hand to get a holistic approach to playing bass. Study how to play bass expressing yourself to turn a hobby into an art form. Practice, patience, and curiosity will help you get all the results you need.
- General interaction with other musicians can improve your playing ability.
- Keep the hem above the waist. If it stays too low, it will hurt your wrist.
Warnings
- Make sure you hold the instrument correctly. Otherwise, you may suffer some nasty injuries to your wrist or hand. Also, you will have to go back and fix the technique if you do it wrong.
- At some point you will feel frustrated. However, that is no reason to throw in the towel!
- You will get blisters on the tips of your fingers. Just like in contact sports, you need to keep tapping so they disappear over time.