Learning to Play Bass Guitar - 4 Guitar Playing Tips

Playing the guitar is one popular pastime nowadays. For some people, it is also a way of expressing themselves and elevates the hobby into an art form or sometimes, science.

Playing the guitar, however, is no joke. It requires a lot of patience and practice. For some people, they would rather study playing the bass guitar than the regular guitar. Here are some tips on learning to play the bass guitar.

1. Feel the beat

Playing the bass guitar differs primarily from playing a regular guitar because it entails an emphasis on the beat of the music. One can compare the bass guitar into a drum or percussion set that is made into a guitar. Beats are very important in playing bass guitar because this type of guitar gives depth and timing to any song.

If one grasps the notes of a regular guitar through his ears, a bass player grabs the notes of a bass guitar through his chest. The bass guitar pounds on the heart and gives it feelings through the depth of the music.

2. Learn the notes (single chords) on a regular guitar

The main thing about bass guitars is that they are tuned like ordinary guitars. The difference is that most regular bass guitars only have four strings which are far thicker than ordinary ones. This kind of strings allows the bass guitar to go very deep in terms of tone.

Take a regular guitar (which is tuned from the thickest to the lowest string- E - A - D - G - B - E) and exclude the two thinnest strings at the bottom and what is left is basically a bass guitar with thinner strings.

Bass playing is usually note-oriented and not chord-oriented. This means that single notes are hit more often in bass playing and this scheme is the essential element of bass playing. One should be familiar with the tunings and the notes in a regular guitar to be able to decently play the bass guitar.

3. Finger placing is important

Hitting the bass guitar fret board with the left-hand fingers is very important since it is a major factor that will determine the wholeness of each note. Try to place the fingers such that they are close to the fret on the right. The right hand should also be practiced so as to give bass guitar playing a holistic approach.

4. Strengthen your grip

Another important thing to develop in bass playing is the strength of both hand's fingers. The bass guitar is a sturdy and solid musical instrument, strength is needed to play it.

In playing the bass guitar, one should always take one lesson at a time. Bass playing requires repetition and there's no sense in hurrying the learning process. One should feel the notes through his soul and through his heart and become one with the bass guitar.

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Playing Bass Guitar Made Easy With Bass Guitar Tabs

You need a manual to operate a new appliance. You need to read the rules before you play a new board game. Learning to play the bass guitar is no different. You'll have a manual like no other - the tablature.

Guitar TablatureLearning to play the bass guitar is made easy with guitar tablature. Anybody who has a guitar and is willing to spend some time learning the rudiments can get along fine. If you are new to guitar lessons, do not be confused about tabs and tablature. They mean the exact, same thing in guitar lingo.

Bass guitar tabs or other guitar tablature provide visual interpretation of the guitar's fret board so formal training is not necessary to understand guitar tabs. Bass guitar tabs are also easy to read and interpret; hence, application is faster and easier. Bass guitar tabs are musical notations that look like a written music document. Instead of the usual dots spread on a 5 line stave to show a specific note, the frets are numbered on a six line stave. The line represents a guitar's string. Therefore, the six lines are the six strings of the guitar. Bass guitar tabs are also read from left to right.

If you have a four-stringed bass guitar, the bass guitar tabs will show four horizontal lines representing the four strings. The topmost string is the G string, followed by the D string, the A string, and lastly, the E string. If you see two numbers (one above the other) on one string, it indicates that the string is to be played simultaneously.

Wake up those fingers

If you are reading bass guitar tabs, you will notice that you won't be determining the position of the fret board where you have to play the note. The bass guitar notes can be played in various left hand positions and on diverse strings. Bass guitar tabs are also easy to understand because the notations are clear. Instead of learning how to study the pitch, you are learning where to place your fingers.

Playing the bass guitar is taxing. It requires speed, and with all the slapping and sliding, the fingers should be exercised regularly to perform well. In addition, your fingers should be able to take the impossible chords and switch chords with ease and agility. Practicing the hand is basic in bass guitar playing. You have to achieve speed without losing accuracy with each pluck. You also have to get used to the sensation of holding the guitar without using your left hand. As you go along, you will discover that you won't be depending on your left hand to prop the guitar. Master this, and play all bass guitar tabs with ease.

Apart from the bass guitar tabs and acquiring fingering speed, bass guitarists have to learn the tapping, slapping, and popping techniques. These techniques support the song context, making the notes more appealing and distinctive.

Get those bass guitar tabs

The Internet has made it possible for almost everyone to get guitar tabs. They can choose the songs they want to play, or even entire albums of their favorite rock bands. Bass guitar tabs can be downloaded anytime. E-books and CDs on all guitar tabs and playing styles are also available for a minimal fee. Joining guitar forums can also boost your knowledge about bass guitars - tabs and all. Indeed, master the manual and you'll master the instrument.

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Take Bass Guitar Lessons to Learn Bass Guitar Playing Tips

You normally hear guitarists say that what they do is to make their guitars sing. How about the bassists? Well, what they should do is to make their bass guitars dance.

You see, the bass, together with the drums, is the one giving rhythm to the band's sound. What's more important is that it also keeps what it provides. It is safe to say that without the depth of the bass' resonance, the overall sound of the band will be wispy and flimsy.

While it may be dismissed as just providing this thick drone to complement the sounds of the guitar, the bass need not be limited to this. Remember about "dancing"? The bassist's job is to lay out a solid sonic foundation but at the same time be creative with the chords and their progression so as to liven up the songs.

To make this possible, you need to accustom yourself with the different bass playing techniques, which you could get an introduction to--and later on study--if you enroll in bass guitar lessons.

Others would say that it is best to discover the art of bass playing on your own (with the help sometimes of instructional videos, books, magazines, advice from fellow musicians, etc.), but attending a class is actually more reliable since it involves the help of a professional teacher and the time to study and practice in this learning method is more focused. Also, there is a system to follow so students will find it easier to progress from one lesson to another.

As far as techniques go, here are some tips in playing the bass that both the rookie and the advanced player can benefit from.

Be beat-oriented

As earlier mentioned, the bass guitar and drums go together. As such, a great bass player should know how to make, keep, and follow a steady beat--in a crafty way, no less. Since the bass guitar is tasked for time-keeping, it is important for the bassist to be keen about both unaccented and accented beats so that the flow of the song is well-calculated. They say to make music takes heart. Well, to make bass music, it takes heart, primarily the way it beats.

Master your guitar notes and chords

Bass guitar lessons may require you to revisit your guitar notes and chords. Bass guitars are usually tuned the way regular guitars are. The only difference is that the guitar has more strings than the bass. But then playing both is basically the same. So it will help if you are well-read when it comes to your notes and chords. Bass playing, though, is more concerned about the notes. As such, you should know the notes--and the tunings as well--of ordinary guitars to be able to deftly play the bass.

Place your fingers where they are due

Have you seen how Red Hot Chili Pepper's Flea rocks the bass? How frenzied his fingers on the fretboard! It will be easier for you to be more experimental with the way you play if you have complete control of your fingers as you do so. In particular, the fingers of your left hand should be accurate in hitting the bass guitar fretboard since this is what will determine the clarity of each note. But, of course, the right-hand fingers should not be left out since they are important when it comes to playing the bass using a holistic approach.

Work on your grip

The bass guitar is a sturdy musical equipment. You need strength to be able to play it. Thus, you should develop not just the dexterity of your fingers but also their power. When you play, you should be able to accurately press down the strings for the notes to come out as thick and whole. There are many exercise offered in bass guitar lessons that could help you develop finger strength and flexibility.

Cindee Daniel, who has a degree in Journalism, has been a casual yet big fan of music since he first listened to The Beatles when he was 10. He then came to discover other bands, most specifically from the punk, grunge, and post-grunge movements, and has since been interested in the scene. His exposure to music saw him writing music reviews for various websites and founding his own band, with him composing songs and performing drumming duties.

You may want to visit Bass Guitar Lessons for more information or you may call us directly at 619-231-8505.

Playing Bass Guitar For Beginners

To learn bass guitar means you want to be part of the driving force of a band.

Playing bass guitar can be easy to learn but can be harder to master, it all depends on where you want to go with it. The bass guitar is fairly easy to get started on and most people can pick up the basics and start playing right away but to learn bass guitar can also be very advanced because it is the kind of instrument that starts off easy and can go to almost endless possibilities.

The first question you ask yourself, "Is playing bass guitar what I want to play?" That is the most important thing because as everyone knows when you want to get started in something it is going to be a small investment. With today's economy nobody wants to waste money on something they are not sure they should do. I did not start out to learn bass guitar, I started on acoustic guitar and played that for quite a few years, then began playing with a few friends and then it got a little serious and we formed a small three piece acoustic band. As the band grew, we then needed a bass guitar player so I put down the acoustic and started playing bass guitar. The point is that I had put out the cash to get set up in two different things, now that is ok if that is your plan to play two different instruments.

The next thing you should think about is your musical talent and if you are ready to put in the time to learn bass guitar, because when I say it is easy to learn, it is, if you put in the time. Following are my suggestions for all you'll need to do to start playing the bass:

1. Place to practice, where you can play without distractions and practice every day.

2. Purchase a bass. If you want to play an acoustic bass, be sure that is what you want to play because acoustic basses are more expensive than electric basses. It all depends on your own taste and what kind of music and who you are going to play with. Start with a cheaper, but good quality bass.

3. Start playing the guitar, just to get the feel, it doesn't matter if you have never played before, you are just taking the first step to get the feel, because every bass guitar player has his or her own style and with playing bass guitar you will soon develop your own style.

4. Purchase an online lesson program, for the basics to learn bass guitar. Playing the bass with an online program is the best way to learn on your own without costing as much as private lessons, see get started with online bass guitar lessons. Try not to learn from a friend because it can lead you to a style that is not yours, work on creating your own style. That is why I recommend playing bass guitar from a lesson program. 5. Picks or fingers, If you want to learn with a pick, buy a bass pick because there is a difference between a bass pick and a guitar pick. If you are after that natural sound then use your fingers. The choice is totally up to you and the kind of sound you want to play. Again, this all fits in with your type of style to learn bass guitar.

6. Number of strings, 4, 5 or 6 but being a beginner I would recommend a classic four string bass. The four string is easier to learn from the obvious fact that it has only four strings.

7. The notes, Try to learn all the notes on the neck. This will be an ongoing learning lesson as you get more comfortable with the guitar, and always remember every time your playing bass guitar you will be improving your style. With a bass guitar lesson program you will be able to learn on your own, in your own time.

8. Learn the notes to play, there are two things in most bands, to help with the rhythm and to emphasize the root notes for the punch that the band needs to create the depth.

9. The scales. Your scales are the start of all your bass lines and patterns and you will use them to create new things all the time. When you are trying to learn bass guitar you should always keep experimenting with new things. 10. The musicians. You need to listen to the band as a whole, not just other bassists. Listen to the drummer who keeps the time and rhythm and play along with him. 11. The techniques. Play around with different things as you get better, chords, notes and other patterns when you get comfortable with the basics.

12. Learn the rhythm. Playing bass guitar requires you to have rhythm, so practice with your favorite song or bass player. Playing along with the song is one of the easiest ways to learn the rhythm.

13. Listen to the song. To learn bass guitar, listening to a song can be a great lesson in itself. When you listen, try to pick out all the different parts and instruments and it will help you pick up the rhythm and feel so you can play along.

14. Familiar songs. Start with playing along with songs that you know because it will help you with the timing and rhythm. This is a great way for a beginner to get started.

15. Play with people. Playing bass guitar with other people can also be one of the best learning techniques. Whether you're a beginner or not, playing with a group or just one person is a great way to work on your style and learn to play with other instruments.

16. The practice. Don't let it get to you if you do not progress like you wanted, it will come. Sometime you might have to stop and take a break for a little while just to reflect and digest it all. But make sure you come back because this is why you started in the first place. Playing bass guitar can be self taught and with practice you will be playing in no time. Always remember to start with the basics and take as long as you need.

The big question is, "Can I really teach myself?" and the answer is "Yes!" to learn bass guitar from online lessons with a little time and practice, you can teach yourself just about anything. You have to ask yourself, "What direction do I want to go?", "Do I want to just play by myself?", or "Do I want to play in a band or just jam with friends?"

Playing music is fun, but there is a price to pay and that is time and patience. You need to practice. The following guideline below is a good start for a beginner's practice session, but can be anything you want, just don't get burned out.

1. Warm up with anything (5 minutes) helps loosen up your fingers.

2. The scales (5 minutes) helps with memory ( brain to fingers).

3. Pattern exercises (10 minutes) helps with dexterity.

4. The song itself (10 minutes+) this is what everyone wants to get to.

5. Cool down (2 minutes) play anything (could be scales again).

Most everybody wants to play a song right away, but in order to do so, you need to get the first three steps down first, or at least have a start on them. If playing bass guitar is your goal, you will succeed and with online bass guitar lessons, you will learn all the techniques needed to reach your goal.

But always remember to learn bass guitar does not have to be complicated. For example, listen to the Beatles or any number of bass players that just play basic bass parts, but what they have is feel and the groove of the song. If you can play with the feel and get the groove and the timing you've reached your goal, for now, advanced stuff will come later. When you practice, play with a metronome (it is a small device that helps you keep time just as the drummer keeps time in a band).

This article was written by Tommy "fatfingers" Combs
Check out this site for a lot more info on playing bass guitar http://playbasseasy.com/
my blog http://playbasseasy.blogspot.com/