Learning how to play bass is a great way to add music and rhythm to your life. Although starting to learn a new instrument can seem daunting, learning the basics is easy and useful.
Pick a Bass
Select the number of strings. Since the bass is an electronic instrument, its body can come in all shapes and colors to produce great sounds. Nonetheless, it is important to choose the number of strings according to your abilities. As a beginner, it is best to start with a 4-string bass.
- The original bass was a 4-string instrument and was used to play basic music. Almost all bass music used is played on a 4-string bass, which is easier to hold since its neck is narrower than a 5- or 6-string bass.
- The strings on a 4-string bass are EADG strings, but if you want, you can tune the strings into a BEAD pattern like a 5-string bass.
- 5- or 6-string basses are great because they can play a wider range of sounds. However, this also requires more control to reduce the buzz on each string, and more ability to play each note.
The size of the bass is also the distance from the nut to the bridge, which is the length of the strings. The longer the size, the longer the strings and the lower the sound they play. The shorter size may be more convenient for beginners to practice, but it will lose the deepness of the sound that the bass should have.
- Most basses are size 34, but you can also choose from short (size 30 or less), medium (size 30-33), or extra long (size 35 or above) basses.
- Unless you have very large or very small hands, a size 34 bass will sound best.
- If you decide to buy a 5- or 6-string bass, increasing the size will give you a better sound. If you want to increase the number of strings, you’ll need at least a 35-yard bass.
Choose a bass with or without frets. String frets are small areas on the keyboard separated by small metal pieces. String frets mark the different notes a string can play and are found on all guitars. However, if you are buying a bass guitar, you can also go for one without frets.
- A fretless bass does not have small metal pieces but instead has a long, smooth keyboard.
- A fretless bass is more difficult to play because you can’t see where each note is. You can only listen and play with your ears.
- For beginners, it’s best to choose a bass with frets that guide where to place your hands when playing notes. After a while, you can choose a fretless bass to increase the challenge and get a different sound.
Choose materials. Bass basses are made from a variety of materials, including hard and soft woods, as well as some synthetic or man-made materials. Each material makes the bass sound a little different when played.
- Bass made from hardwoods, such as hard maple, walnut, ebony, or mahogany, have a more impactful sound.
- Guitars made from softwoods, such as alder, basswood, and swamp ash, have a softer and warmer sound.
- The most popular synthetic material is graphite, although synthetic resins are also popular. Unlike natural wood, guitars made of man-made materials all sound similar, and not everyone is different.
- Many basses are made from several mixed materials, such as the body being one material and the keyboard being another. This bass is also a good choice, so you don’t have to look for a single-material bass.
Find a loudspeaker. To play the bass, you need an amplifier so that you can hear yourself playing. Amplifiers are composed of three parts: power amplifier, preamplifier, and speaker box. The easiest way is to buy a combo speaker. Although this plays a quieter sound than buying it separately, it is still very convenient for beginners to use.
Decide whether to play with your fingers or with a pick. Playing with your fingers can produce a “traditional” bass sound, and many specialized fingering techniques can be used; playing with a pick can produce a brighter, more alternative sound (so many rock/metal players use picks), and can Use more guitar-like techniques. Many people recommend learning to play both styles so that you become a more well-rounded player.
Play Bass
Hold the bass correctly. To play your best music, it’s important to maintain the correct posture. You should use a strap to hold the bass in place. This way you can focus on playing the music you want to hear.
- You can stand up or sit down, but make sure your posture is correct. And, whether you’re standing or sitting, make sure the straps secure the bass.
- The bass should be placed between your hips and collarbone. Most people like to play it between their belly buttons, but that’s just a personal style.
- The bass should be held at a 30-degree angle to provide a comfortable angle for your wrists.
Tune your bass. The standard 4-string bass tone is E-A-D-G, where E is the bottom string and G is the top string. You can learn to tune by ear, which is often inaccurate, or plug your bass into an electronic tuner, which is more accurate. To tune a string up or down, just twist the headstock, which is also called a tuner.
Practice picking strings. The bass is not like a guitar, it only requires picking and not strumming. To achieve good sound, it is important to continue practicing picking the strings. The bass can also be plucked like a guitar, it’s just a matter of musical performance.
- Nails must be cut short. If your fingernail touches the strings, it changes the sound.
- Use two fingers to pluck the strings for added efficiency. Alternate between your thumb and middle finger. It doesn’t matter which string you start on, as long as you keep the speed and rhythm.
- Playing close to the neck of the instrument produces a smooth and warm tone. If you play too close to the bottom of the instrument, the strings will make a more impactful sound. When practicing, play in a small area without making large up and down movements.
- Use your fingertips to pluck the strings. Don’t pull on the strings or it won’t sound good. If you want to increase the volume, turn up your speakers without strumming the strings.
Silence the strings that don’t need to be played. To play a clear sound and avoid muffling the strings. It is necessary to hold down other strings with other fingers when playing.
- Place your thumb near the E string. Whether you are playing the string or not, your thumb will be there to muffle the sound.
- If you skip strings to play different notes, try using multiple fingers to muffle the sound.
- If you’re playing a higher string, you can take your thumb off the E string to muffle the other strings.
- Don’t push the strings hard, but you can press your fingers on the strings to prevent resonance and sound.
Learn how to play the “roots” notes. This is the main tone that the chord is based on. A chord is simply playing multiple strings at once, and the root note is the name of the chord’s tone. You can start from the root note and work your way up to the chord.
Learn how to play the octave. All music is composed of 12 notes, and these 12 notes can be high or low. The treble or bass of a note is called an octave.
- To play an octave higher, tune-up two strings and two frets up.
- To play an octave lower, tune down two strings and two frets down.
- You can play lower octaves with your thumb and higher octaves with your ring finger. Use your other fingers to muffle the strings.
Learn to play the root note and fifth fret together. Once you learn the root note, the same goes for learning fifths. A fifth is a note five notes away from the root. The two can be played together, you can play it with a guitar or a piano. Fortunately, finding your fifth is fairly simple.
- To play a higher fifth, raise the other string two frets.
- To play a fifth lower, keep the fret the same and tune down one string.
Keep the rhythm while playing. The most important thing for a bass player is to keep the rhythm of the music. The bass can add sound to any music, but its most important job is to keep the rhythm. After you learn to pick the strings and hit the notes, take some time to learn to keep the rhythm.
- Listen to the bass performances of your favorite music and see how they keep the beat.
- Buy a metronome to help practice. The metronome can make sounds according to a certain rhythm, which can help you find the rhythm. You can adjust the metronome speed to be faster or slower.
The best advice for learning a new instrument is to practice it often. Taking a few minutes each week to practice the basics will help you beat the odds. Practicing for at least 10-20 minutes every day will not only help make your hands more comfortable when playing the bass but will also make your music clearer and better sounding.
Continue Studying
If you don’t understand music yet, tablature can teach you how to play the notes of a song. Because many people don’t know how to read music, tablature has become increasingly popular.
- If you decide to play with your fingers instead of a pick, you can focus on learning fingering.
Tablature may sound boring, but it is important to become a good musician. Learning tablature will help you practice your fingers, increase your speed and flexibility, and benefit your solos and improvisations.
Practice while playing solo. A solo is a collection of music played by oneself on some unique, varied, or even improvised pieces. Playing solo is hard, but very rewarding.
Start writing your own songs. When you feel bored playing other people’s songs, it’s time to create your own. Spending a lot of time making your own music and practicing it, there is nothing better in the world.
When you feel you have mastered the basic techniques, you can start learning some advanced techniques. These techniques include strumming (with your fingers or a pick, which is harder with your fingers), tapping, vibrato (harder with your fingers than a pick), and slap/pick.
If you feel you need to get two or more basses, go for it! At least it shows that you really enjoy what you’re doing. You may get tired of constantly tuning, so having two or three basses on hand can save you some time.
Tips
- Listen to music you like and play alone. This is a good way to practice and give you an idea of how the song plays.
- Be sure to get the technique correct. Develop good technology habits from the beginning so there won’t be confusion later.
- Interacting with other musicians will help you improve your abilities.
- Find a good teacher. Remember, a good player is not necessarily a good teacher. A good teacher will challenge your abilities and help you understand and master the instrument.
- It is very important to hold the fingers of your left hand against the bass fretboard, as this is the main factor that determines each note. Try placing the fingers of your right hand in the same way. The right hand should also be trained so that it can play the bass comprehensively. Learn to play bass by fully expressing yourself and taking your skills from hobby level to artistic level. Practice, patience, and hobby will get you the results you want.
- You may feel frustrated at some point. But this is no reason to back down!
- Make sure you are holding the instrument correctly. If your posture is incorrect, you may injure your knees/hands. Also, if your posture is wrong, you must correct it.
- You may get blisters on your fingertips. Just like many sports, with continued practice, these blisters will disappear.