Teach Yourself to Play Bass Guitar
If you love the rich sound of a bass guitar and dream of being the beat that keeps a band going, wait no longer, and teach yourself how to play the instrument! The bass guitar, like any new instrument, does require a bit of practice in order to master. However, with plenty of research and practice, you'll have accomplished this new instrument and be playing covers of your favorite songs in no time.
Contents
Steps
- Familiarize yourself with the anatomy of the bass. Identify the most important parts of the bass.
- Learn how to Tune-a-Bass-Guitar. Use a reference tone from a tuning device or a tuning fork to tune the bass. The bass is tuned (from above) E A D G where E is the lowest pitch and G is the highest pitch. Learning how to tune the bass is very similar to learning how to Tune a Guitar.Remember the order with this mnemonic:
Everyone Admires Dignified Guitarists. - Familiarize yourself with the amplifier. Plug one end of the audio cable into your amplifier and the other end into the bass. Turn the amplifier on. When done playing turn it off. First learn the difference between volume and gain on the amplifier. Adjust pots on the bass until you have a nice sound. The basics of setting up the bass amplifier are similar to that of a guitar amplifier (see Connect-an-Electric-Guitar-to-a-Combo-Amp.
- Learn proper posture, how to hold the bass while standing and sitting. Adjust the strap so that playing feels comfortable. Place your right hand above the strings. You may rest the lower arm on the bass. Find a position along the strings where the sound is full between the fretboard and the other end.
- Learn how to pluck the bass. Use the index and middle fingers of your right hand to pluck the strings. Try to isolate the plucking to your fingers, thereby minimizing wrist and arm movement. Learn how to alternate between index and middle fingers. Practice switching between strings in a I-M-I-M pattern where I is index finger and M is middle finger. You may use your thumb as support on the back side of the bass.Alternatively, you may wish to learn to play the bass with a pick. If this is the case, buy a heavy gauge guitar pick. Hold the pick between your index finger (between the first and second knuckles) and your thumb. Then pluck the string by moving the pick downward across it and then upward across it. Practice this down-up plucking motion. If you are unsure as to which technique is best for you, try both.
- Learn how to mute strings with each of your hands. When learning how to play bass, ideally a string should never vibrate with another.
- Get into position. Place your both hands on the bass and try to become as comfortable with your left hand as possible in the direction of the tuning pins of the bass. With your left hand place your index finger on the first fret and your other fingers on adjacent frets.
- Learn the notes of the first four fingers of the most upper string including the loose string note: (E) F F# G G#. Continue for each string A (A# B C C#), D (D# E F F#) and G (G# A A# B).
- Learn how to press the strings with your left hand hard enough so that when you pluck with your other hand the pitch will shift accurately. Avoid the sound of loose left hand fingers.
- Learn how to play in time. Use a metronome. First, try playing notes using the open E string on each beat of the metronome. These are called quarter notes. Start slowly and gradually speed up the tempo (or speed at which the metronome clicks) as you become comfortable playing in time. Then, start slowly again and attempt to play on each click of the metronome (or beat), as well as once halfway between each beat. These are called eighth notes. Finally, start slowly again, and attempt to play one note on each beat, halfway between each beat, and halfway between each of these. That is to say your first note should line up with a click of the metronome, and you should play three more notes before you hear the next click. These are called sixteenth notes. Be sure to keep each note even with all the others at each step.
- Learn how to read and play bass tablature. Look for beginners tablature on the internet.
- Learn music theory and Develop Musical Intelligence.
- Learn how to play the E major scale. This is all of the notes in the key of E and is the easiest scale on the bass. Play the E string open, then the E string on the second fret, the E string on the fourth fret, the open A string (or the E string on the fifth fret, as they are the same note), the A string on the second fret, the A string on the fourth fret, the D string on the first fret, and finally the D string on the second fret. Then try going back down the scale and up again until you are comfortable with it. Then, you can learn other scales by playing higher. For instance, the F major scale is the same pattern, you just play each note one fret down the neck (E string first fret, E string third fret, E string fifth fret, A string first fret, etc.). The F# major scale will be two frets down, the G major scale will be three frets down, and so forth.
- Learn the role of the bass player in a band. The bassist is often thought of as the liaison between the drummer and the rest of the band. This is due to the fact that the bassist is heavily involved in setting the beat of a song, as well as often forming the root of the chords the rest of the band are playing. Thus, you should work very closely with the drummer and work together to keep the tempo.
- Learn the most common techniques such as hammer-on. The hammer-on is a common technique where a note is played without plucking the string. To do this, try playing the E string on the third fret. While you still hear the note, switch to the fifth fret. You can apply this basic technique to playing any two notes in sequence on the same string.
- Learn vibrato playing. Vibrato is a common technique in music used to add texture. To use vibrato, slightly bend the string back and forth with the fretting finger while you still hear the note. Do so faster and faster until you can barely make out the specific times when the tone shifts up or down. With practice, you should be able to add vibrato to sustained notes.
- Teach yourself a song that you like. Aim for playing it in time, with the right intonation. You can see if the song has bass tab available, in which case you should start slow from the tab before playing with a recording of the song. It will be more difficult to learn a song without tab or sheet music, but it can still be done. Find out what chord progression the song has, and try just playing the roots of the chords in rhythm. Then, try using a common bass "walk" along with those chords to add to it. This may not be the exact part you hear on the track, but it will still sound good.
- Learn more songs, scales and techniques. Some good songs for fans of classic rock basslines include: "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" by The Rolling Stones, "You Really Got Me" by The Kinks, "Crossroads" by Cream, "My Generation" by The Who, and "Eight Days a Week" by The Beatles.
Tips
- Try to learn how to play one of your favorite basslines by ear!
- Look at professional bass players. Where on the strings do they play, what fingerings do they use and what posture do they have? How do they mute and how do they pick?
- Many videos on youtube can teach you how to play a specific bassline.
- One way to learn tabulature is to learn how to Write-Guitar-Tablature.
- Learn new music. One way is to learn how to Read-Music and how to read tabulature.
Warnings
- Learning a new instrument often requires the development of new muscles. Do not overdo it.
- Should you get stuck look for a teacher. Teaching yourself how to play is a good start, however, the benefits of learning an instrument from someone who knows how to play it should never be underestimated.
- Take frequent rests.
Things You'll Need
- Bass guitar
- Amplifier (see Buy-Your-First-Bass-Amp)
- Audio cable with a 6.5mm (1/4 inch) mono jack
- Tuning device or tuning fork
- Recommended: Metronome
