How to Play Bass Fiddle

Bass fiddle is often used in bluegrass, classical and jazz.

Bass fiddle is an instrument often used in bluegrass music. It's also used in other genres such as classical and jazz. In other genres the bass fiddle is usually referred to as a double bass or upright bass. You can play this member of the string family with a little study and consistent practice.

Things You'll Need

• Bass

Instructions

1. Stand next to the upright bass, with the bass on the side of your non-dominant hand.

2. Hold the neck of the bass with your non-dominant hand.

3. Use your dominant hand to pluck the strings. Pluck each one to get an idea of the feel and sound.

4. Try holding down one of the strings by pressing it to the neck of the bass with your non-dominant hand. Pluck the same string with your dominant hand. You should hear a clear tone. If it "buzzes," you may not be holding the string down firmly enough.

5. Learn the bass's notes. When facing the instrument, the first string on the left is E (also the lowest note on the instrument), the next string is A, the next is D and the string on the far right is G (also the highest string). You change these notes by fretting the instrument (see the diagram in the resources section).

6. Try bass fiddle style, which generally consists of 4/4 time (four beats per measure) and alternates between the one-note and the five-note of a chord. The one-note is the root of the chord--for instance, the one of the G chord would be G. The five-note is five tones above G, which would be D in this case. Remember that the notes of the musical alphabet consist of A,B,C,D,E,F, and G in repeating fashion.

7. Check chord books (at your local music store) and chord websites for songs' chord schemes. (Also see resource section.)

References

• Projects and Hobbies: How to Play Bluegrass Bass Fiddle

Resources

• Bass fingering chart
• Chords for songs