Bass Guitar Beginner Lessons
Bass guitar has served as the bedrock of contemporary music since the 1950s. Though of fundamental importance to so many styles, it is one of the easiest instruments to learn to play. The Internet abounds with free resources to help you get started.
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Learn the Parts
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Identify the basics of your bass guitar: strings, tuners, bridge, volume and tone controls. Knowing a little about how it works will help you learn to play.
Tuning Up
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Basses usually stay in tune better than rhythm guitars, but low pitch is harder to hear, so it is important to invest in a tuner or to learn another method to stay in tune.
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Understanding Notes
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You do not have to read music to play bass, but you do need to understand where notes are. Think of them as a common language, so you can communicate with other musicians. Knowing where notes are on each string, and how the strings relate to each other allows you to learn songs quickly and play with other people.
Scales and Patterns
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One trait that makes bass guitar easy is that it is a pattern-based instrument. A scale will have the same pattern even if you change keys. So, as you advance from learning notes to playing scales, fingering will stay the same when you change keys from G to A, for instance. You simply move your hand up two frets and play the same pattern.
Practice, Practice, Practice
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Play by yourself, with friends or even along with your favorite CDs. Your fingers will be sore for a little while, but you will build calluses that will relieve the pain. The secret really is practice. Some people need more than others. Keep at it and one day you will be surprised how it suddenly clicks and your performances are valued.
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References
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