How to Control Volume and Bass Guitar Tones

Most bass guitars have separate tone and volume controls, usually located on the lower front. These knobs control the volume of the magnetic picks and the tone. Use them to make a variety of sounds by increasing or decreasing the bass and treble.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Bass guitar

1. Turn all the knobs on your bass guitar clockwise to the wide open position. Play a few notes to hear the sound quality with the maximum volume and tone settings.

2. Change the volume of the tones by turning one of the volume knobs all the way counterclockwise. Listen as you play the same notes to see if that increases or decreases the bass.

3. Move the volume knob back to the wide open position. Turn the other volume knob all the way counterclockwise. Play the same notes you played in Step 2, this time noting the affect it has on the sound.

4. Experiment with the volume knobs to see how the bass and treble is affected when you turn them towards the on or off position. Always play the same notes so you can gauge the difference in sound.

5. Increase the treble sound by turning the tone knob in the clockwise direction. Change the setting and play a few notes to see if you like the sound with more or less treble.

6. Adjust the tone knob with just one of the volume knobs turned to the maximum setting and then repeat with the other volume knob to see the variety of sounds you can create.