How to Teach Yourself to Play Bass Guitar

Bass guitar is a four-string instrument that plays notes in the lower (bass) register. The bass guitar is primarily a rhythm instrument, but players such as Jaco Pastorius brought it to the forefront and demonstrated that the bass could hold its own as a lead instrument as well. The idea that bass is easier to play than a guitar because it only has four strings is not entirely accurate. While it is easy to get started on the bass, learning to play it skillfully takes patience and dedication. Here's how you can teach yourself to play bass guitar.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bass Amplifier Bass guitar neck chart "Teach Yourself Bass Guitar" (Bob Hartz)

1. Start with the basics. Get familiar with your bass. Learn the open strings E, A, D, G (from thickest to thinnest) and how the notes go up as you fret. You can do this by obtaining a bass guitar neck chart from a music store or using one of the free charts available online (see Resources). Learn to tune your bass. An out-of-tune instrument is discouraging. You can use an online tuner to help you with this until your ear becomes more refined (see Resources).

2. Use the website Studybass.com (see Resources). The website is free and presents a well-organized, step-by-step method that will take you through the basics of bass playing to more advanced techniques. The site focuses on both playing and music theory and covers every aspect of how to play bass guitar. Follow the lesson plan on the left side of the page and master each step before proceeding. Augment your lessons with one of the many interactive bass lessons available on the site.

3. Find a good beginning bass book. You want a book that is aimed at self-instruction and allows you to work at your own pace. "Teach Yourself Bass Guitar" by Bob Hartz is an excellent choice. The book begins by teaching you about your instrument, where the notes are on the music staff in relation to your bass, and how your bass is made. The lessons introduce you to simple song playing immediately and tie the songs with basic theory and technique lessons. The book also features a CD so you can hear the techniques you learn. This will help ensure you're doing them correctly.

4. Balance your book and reading time with playing time. The only sure way to improve as a bass player is to play. Practice playing along with some of your favorite songs. This will help you get a feel for playing in time and it's also an effective way to train your ear. It won't sound good at first, but practice makes perfect, and you will improve with time.

References

• Learn Bass Guitar Now

Resources

• Study Bass
• "Teach Yourself Bass Guitar" by Bob Hartz (with CD)
• Online Bass Guitar Tuner