How to Learn Bass Guitar
The bass guitar, a member of the string family, provides low tones that serve as the rhythmic background for many types of music. Learning the bass guitar is a matter of time, concentration and effort. Once you invest some work into learning the bass, you'll be able to play for your own enjoyment and maybe even for the entertainment of others as well.
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Instructions
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Pick up the bass with your non-dominant hand, holding the neck of the instrument and your dominant hand resting over the body of the guitar.
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Support the neck with your non-dominant hand, but do not press down any of the strings yet.
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Pluck the first string with your dominant hand. The first string is the one that is closest to your body and farthest from the ground. The E string is the thickest one and has the lowest pitch.
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Hold the low E string down in the first fret with your non-dominant hand ("fretting hand") as you pluck the string with your dominant hand ("picking hand"). This note is F.
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Pluck the other three strings without fretting them. The second string is A, the third D and the fourth G.
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Practice fretting the strings at various locations to become familiar with the notes. The notes progress by half steps as you move up the neck. The half steps in the musical alphabet are A, A sharp (the same as B flat), B, C, C sharp (or D flat), D, D sharp (or E flat), E, F, F sharp (or G flat), G, G sharp (or A flat).
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Practice alternating between notes within a chord to accompany a song. For instance, a common chord pattern is E--A--B--E. Pluck the first string on the first and third beats. Move to the second string for the next two beats. Then fret the second fret of the second string as you pluck it for the next two beats.
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Refer to chord patterns (see Resources section) as you progress. Practice these patterns and progressions until you become comfortable with them and can play in time with music.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Bass Guitar image by JMS from Fotolia.com
