Bass Guitar Secrets

Learn How To Play Bass Guitar For Beginners

2010-10-31T00:21:00.000-07:00

How to Play the Bass Guitar : How to Play Bar Chords on Bass Guitar

I hope that this video will teach you how to play chords on a bass guitar

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Learn to Play Bass Guitar

2010-10-30T16:17:00.000-07:00

Learn to Play Bass Guitar - Fret board and Rhythm

Author: Jean Gordon

For new guitar players, the guitar will seem awkward to them at first. However, with an instruction book, a learners DVD, and a few basic exercises, the new guitar player will begin to feel comfortable within a short period of time. You will need to use both of your hands to play the guitar, one to work the notes on the fret board and one to pick the strings. Would you want some information on how to play the guitar? Would you be surprised to know that learning electric guitar lessons is very similar to learning acoustic guitar lessons? Are the lessons you need to learn to play bass guitar the same as the lessons for the acoustic guitar? Then look no further than this article to get the answers you need.

Set up for success.

An instructional DVD, a lesson book, a tuner, and podium are some of the items that you will need. Watching the instructions on the DVD, you can focus all of your attention on playing the guitar. The scales and chords that have to be learned will be found in the lesson book. Tuners are used to keep the guitar tuned up, and podiums are used to free up both hands to play the guitar. After all of the equipment has been purchased, you will be ready to begin your first lesson.

Following directions.

Using your resources will teach you how to hold the guitar correctly while showing you how your fingers will work the fret board. The guitar will begin to feel more comfortable as the teaching tools guide you through rudimentary steps of strumming and picking the guitar. The instructional material, especially the DVD, will help you tune your guitar until you can tune it on your own by ear. Furthermore the lessons will teach you how to read notes which will lead into playing scales and chords, the building blocks of melodies. The final item is a podium that will help keep the sheet music at eye level while you practice the scales and chords.

Build up your strength.

You will be practicing the fret board with your left hand if you are normally right handed. This is where you will create different notes. These exercises are the most difficult and you will need to practice playing notes on the fret board to build up strength in your fingers and hand. After you have had some practice with notes, the lessons will progress to scales and chords that will have to be memorized. The right hand will be used for strumming and picking the guitar. The correct way to hold the pick is between your thumb and forefinger, and this is used to strum and pick the strings. Both techniques will have to be practiced until you are comfortable enough using both of your hands.

Once you have practiced enough to master the basic skills, you can then consider trying to play some of your favorite songs from sheet music. After you are finished learning acoustic guitar, you can apply the knowledge you have gained to learning electric guitar. Although, the if you want to learn to play bass guitar, you'll have to learn a different method and use different sets of instruction.

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Beginner Bass Guitar Lesson

2010-04-10T02:40:00.001-07:00

Learn Guitar BASS Lesson Inspired By Victor Wooten

2010-04-05T02:59:00.000-07:00

The Best Way to Start Beginners Bass Guitar Lessons

2010-03-27T08:55:00.000-07:00

Practice is the key to perfecting your guitar playing skills and beginners bass guitar lessons in the initial stages will help you overcome the fear that you might have while playing your favorite tune. It will also help you become strong in the fundamentals of strumming the guitar and if learnt correctly will help you understand the advanced lessons in quite an easy way.

Most guitar players in the initial days of playing have a few flaws or weak points and the beginners bass guitar lessons will help you overcome these flaws and convert your weakness into strength. You will need to start taking the lessons slowly and do not rush up the entire process as it will only result in not getting the fundamentals right. You might have to practice the initial sessions in a repeated manner in order to get it right.

The beginners are advised to use the four string guitar while learning the various techniques and gradually move to a five string or a six string guitar. You will need to learn to strum the strings right in order to make the correct sound that is pleasing to the ears and if done in a wrong manner it could lead to a jarring sound. You can try all the advanced tricks of playing the guitar only after you learn the basics. There could be a bit of struggle in the initial days of learning and this is quite common and with practice you will overcome your nervousness and play with confidence.

In order to lessen errors slap bass for beginners is preferred. If you bounce your slapping thumb in a wrong manner it could lead to a choked sound. In order to correctly read the notes bass tabs are used. Bass scales for beginners are the best tools to learn playing the guitar.

The beginners bass guitar lessons usually start with a small scale and as your practice it again and again you will gain expertise and you can gradually graduate to a large scale. There are a number of guitar lessons that are easy to practice and learn. As these lessons are available online you can fix the practice time based on your daily schedule. Playing the guitar is a very easy process if you get the basics right and to help you in this endeavor you have the beginners bass guitar lessons.

Beginners bass lessons, if you want to start and play the bass guitar, that is the place for you.

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Why Play Bass Guitar and Not Something Else?

2010-03-21T13:46:00.000-07:00

What should inspire a beginner bass guitar player to pick up the bass guitar instead of another instrument? Have you ever wondered about that? Have you ever asked yourself that question? There are a variety of instruments that you can select to play instead of the bass guitar, which range from the very rare to the unusually common.

However, choosing an instrument and becoming dedicated to that instrument is a totally different story in itself. This will not be an easy road to travel by no means, but it will be a road that you will enjoy if you select the right instrument. Most individuals will need some type of inspiration in order for them to become a beginner bass player.

The bass player does not ever take center stage on stage, but they are responsible for the majority of the excitement being presented to the audience. If the bass player was not on stage, then the audience definitely would miss them being there, and that is the type of player a beginner bass player is. They are a vital component to whatever band they are in.

The bass player is the one person in the band that sets the rhythm and movement of the music. They make everything happen on stage. The lead guitarist would lack depth of sound without a bass guitarist being their to back them up, no matter how gifted they are. In fact, the lead guitarist could continue to play the same notes over and over again, while the bass guitarist changes the notes they are playing and the melody instantly becomes something new.

Do not decide to become a beginner bass guitar player because you feel that you can take over or even dominate the stage. You do not want to become a bass player simply to play long bass lines all night long in some smoky bar or night club. You do not want to play it because you want to people to remember your name, although that would be really nice.

Choose to become a beginner bass player because you have a passion and a love for creating beautiful music. Play it because you want to learn how to play it correctly and feel as if you are floating on air when you playing on stage. Play it because when you finally learn how to play that song you have been trying to play, you can not get that silly grin off your face and you feel all satisfied inside of yourself.

Become a beginner bass guitar simply because you have pride in the music that your fingers can make by flowing across the strings of your bass. Play the bass because you know you are able to put a smile on someone else's face and make them happy with the music that you are creating. Most of all, play the bass because you enjoy the satisfaction in which it brings to you.

If you want to be a bass guitar player or you already are... There is a lot of thing you need to know and to learn. This is why Or Keinan build Beginner-Bass-Guitar.com, that you will have a place to learn it all, and most important beginners bass guitar lessons.
Visit the website today are you will get a FREE mini-course. Claim yours now!

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LEARN TO PLAY A BASS GUITAR

2010-03-17T11:27:00.000-07:00

Used Bass Guitar , to buy or not to buy?

2010-03-14T00:39:00.000-08:00

Looking for a deal on a new or used bass guitar for sale? If you are searching online for a bargain on a new, used or even a vintage bass guitar from Fender Bass Guitars to ibanez bass guitar then you need to find a website that offers great savings as well as a great selection of bass guitars for sale. If you are on a tight budget but still want to pick up a deal on a quality bass then you should consider buying a used bass guitar.

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Buying a used bass is often the best first step for those musicians looking to pick up a good inexpensive bass or even for those who are looking to upgrade and don’t want to buy new. Buying a used bass will save you money and most people who buy their instruments keep them in very good condition. They might have played them a few times or the instrument was maybe even handed down to them. There are tons of deals on all brands of bass guitars you just need to know where to look. There is a website that gathers a large selection of all new, used and vintage basses for you to choose from. You will be able to compare and see the difference between buying a new bass and buying a used bass guitar.

How to Make Bass Guitar Kits

2010-03-10T06:50:00.000-08:00

Assembling a bass body kit is a matter of making sure that all parts and accessories are included to complete the project. Individual parts can be purchased to assemble a bass kit through online guitar supply websites such as Stew-Mac and Warmoth. By allowing the consumer to pick his finish, the bass kit can be a great way to get a customized instrument for little money.

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Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Bass body
Neck
Pickups
Bridge
Strings
Accessories

Step 1
Purchase bass bodies. These are also called body blanks. They are routed for pickups and a neck, and can be purchased at guitar parts stores such as All Parts, Warmoth and Stewart MacDonald. For bass guitar kits, the bodies are usually unfinished to allow the consumer to pick the color and finish.
Step 2

Buy the pickups for each body configuration. As you group each kit, you want the correct pickups to be available for each body. Popular types are soap-bar style and single-coil, popularized by Fender. Some other types include Darkstar pickups and Music Man style humbuckers. Include all wiring and pots for tone and volume control.

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Step 3

Find the right neck, along with hardware to attach it to the body. Most necks have standard-size neck heels, so you can just use the neck that accommodates the number of strings the body is made for. In other words, a body's neck heel will be cut for a four-, five- or six-string neck, so choose the neck that matches the body in the kit.
Step 4

Choose the right bridge. Assuming you make mostly four-string bass guitar kits, there are many types of bridges that you can include in your kits. From simple standard Fender-style bridges to more complicated, higher-mass bridges from Gotoh and Schaller, there are also choices of color from black to chrome and every type in between. Make sure to include the correct screws and that the raw body can accommodate the style of bridge you have chosen.
Step 5

Include all other accessories such as strap buttons or strap locks, which will prevent the strap from coming loose during practice or at a live show. Include the truss rod cover, which covers up the truss rod accessibility route, a new set of strings and the knobs for the volume, tone and EQ pots.
Step 6

Place all of the components together as a kit for sale or for a friend who is interested in building a bass. Make absolutely to include everything needed to put together the bass and play it the same day without having to go to the music store for any missing components.

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Read This Before You Buy A Bass Guitar Pack

2010-03-07T03:09:00.000-08:00

It's normal to be nervous about buying a bass guitar pack online since it is such a large item. The truth is, buying a bass guitar online is one of the best ways to purchase a bass guitar. This article will help you through the process and show you what to look out for so that you can have a great online shopping experience and get the right bass guitar pack for you.

The Bass Guitar

One of the big things to remember is that the bass guitar itself is the most important part of the purchase. Many bass packages will list the model number of the bass guitar. It's also likely that the bass is sold separately. You can now search for the individual product page and read reviews from people who have just purchased the bass alone. This will give you specific opinions and comments about the bass alone that can help you compare the different bass guitars that come in each package. This step can really help when trying to decide between one or more bass guitar packs.

Don't Let the Extras Get You

Remember that all of the extras that come with a bass guitar package are just that. Extras. You don't want to base your entire purchase on them alone. The main reason for buying a package that includes all of the need accessories is that you can start playing right off of the bat without having to make a buch of extra purchases when you are just starting out. You'll want to buy new accessories and gear as your skills progress. It is very likely that down the road you'll be wanting to buy a new amplifier at the very least. Gig bags, instructional DVD's, books, etc. are great when starting out, just don't put too much emphasis on them when making your purchase.

Buying from an Online Store

Three big reasons for buying a bass package online are the convenience of shopping from home, a wider selection and great prices. Besides the obvious convenience of being able to shop and order from the comfort of home, most online stores offer a far greater selection than your local music store ever could. Online retailers also have frequent sales and usually better prices as well. You may also be able to find online coupon codes that can reduce the price of your bass pack even further. In addition to the lower prices, most online music stores offer free shipping on larger purchases as well as shipping times that can be as fast as the very next day. How can you beat that?

Return Policy

Concerned that your new bass guitar may arrived damaged or broken? No sweat! The big name online stores have great guarantees and hassle free return policies. People wouldn't buy from them if they did not. Simply give them a call and they'll give you instructions for sending the item back.

Keep these simple things in mind when ordering a bass guitar pack online and you will have a much smoother experience and end up with a bass that is exactly what you are looking for.

Yamaha bass guitar - Yamaha RBXA2 Bass

2010-03-02T07:29:00.000-08:00

acoustic bass guitar

2010-02-25T02:48:00.000-08:00

Describing a large acoustic guitar with a bass scale as an "Acoustic Bass" is confusing, because an upright bass fiddle can also be called an Acoustic Bass. "Acoustic Bass Guitar" is a more accurate term for the hybrid beast you describe. But I still don't like it completely, because it lends an air of legitimacy to a hybrid form which is really quite useless. Useless? Well, it's useless outside of playing one in your living room accompanying friends -- and even THEN it's useless if your friends are playing big dreadnaughts with heavy strings and thick picks and if someone else is playing a banjo. It really cannot hold its own when pitted against all those "real" instruments. If you're playing outdoors, on stage or recording, you will then need to install a pickup in it or it won't be heard at all. Then, its kinda dumb to call it an "acoustic bass guitar" isn't it? If unvarnished truth is your goal, it should righfully be called a "hollow-body electric bass guitar." (I can already read the mail: "but acoustic guitars with pickups are STILL acoustic guitars!!" Okay, okay have it your way...)
The other reason that Acoustic Bass Guitar is an inappropriate term is because, for my money anyway, it refers to an instrument OTHER than the only REAL acoustic bass guitar (one that you DON'T need to amplify, one that you can play out on the street or on stage and be heard just fine, like an upright bass fiddle): the Mexican Guitarron. The Guitarron is not a hybrid at all but a full fledged instrument form which developed in an unbroken line of descent from the sixteenth-century Spanish Bajo de Uña.

So then, why don't you go out and find yourself a Mexican Guitarron and forget about this silly hybrid which is really a non-acoustic acoustic guitar with a bass scale? Well, trying to play a Mexican guitarron is something like trying to play a small bathtub. Physically you have to look like a WWF wrestler to hold the huge thing all night long, and if you're lucky, have a belly big enough to rest it on and hands as big as baseball mitts to play those telephone-cable strings that are usually about half an inch off the fingerboard.

You should have deduced by now that the reason the guitarron works so well IS because it's really big. Period. So I think the concept of a guitar-sized "acoustic bass guitar" is really kind of a hustle.

But, if a Fender Electric Bass is going to look silly in your earthy-crunchy folky string band or a washtub bass in your authentic bluegrass group looks too geeky, I can't think of any solution better than one of those so-called "Acoustic Bass Guitars" I've just disparaged. With the right pickup in it, it sounds pretty good on stage. In fact, it sounds almost (but not quite) as good and is easier to play and to carry than an upright string bass...and costs a fraction of the price of a good one.

Since an "acoustic bass guitar" is not acoustic (you've got to plug it in to hear it), and really not a guitar, and it doesn't really work very effectively as a bass, maybe we should call it a Fred. Or, okay, a "flat-top bass" if you prefer.

So, you want to build one of these Hollow-Body Electric Bass Guitars: then build a jumbo guitar with 5" deep sides, make the top and back a full 1/8 thick, and the sides as thick as you can bend them without breaking them. Dome all the back braces about twice as much as you would ordinarily. On the top, you can leave the x only a bit beefier than the ordinary ones. Increase the upper transversal by 50% in cross section, and make your bridge patch half again as thick and half again as large. This is for a four string. For a five or six string, you're on your own.

Get a 34-inch scale "bass guitar" fingerboard (Martin sells them already slotted and radiused, don't kill yourself trying to make one). So things don't collide disastrously on your actual project, do a full-sized layout drawing on a large piece of paper, like I describe in my book. In order to have the bridge land about where it does on an ordinary guitar (about at the widest part of the face) the fret that first touches the body will end up an oddball, like the seventeenth or eighteenth (depending on the length of your soundbox). But that doesn't matter.

The first complaint from bass players is that it's going to be neck-heavy. Well, that's no surprise: this thing has a large solid neck is on one side, and a hollow, thin-walled box is on the other. The only way you can get it to balance properly is to get the strap to attach about at the midpoint of the entire length of the instrument. But there is no soundbox there to attach it to. Too bad! Sorrrry.... (The Guitarron balances perfectly because it has a tiny short neck--enough for seven or eight frets-- and a huge soundbox).

SO the only recourse for comfortable playing is to use a strap that attaches at the butt on one end, and behind the nut at the neck end. That's still not good enough, because most good players hate to put their strap there, and it shoves the soundbox over to the right, and you have to be readjusting the instrument constantly. But hey, we're talking hybrid here!

So, that's why when you see death metal and thrash bands displaying their "sensitive" sides on MTV Unplugged (unplugged? HA!), the guy with the nose rings playing the Fred is sitting down! Oh, and his Fred usually has a pretty tight waist, so it won't slide off his knee.

Black Sabbath - Iron Man Bass Tab

2010-02-23T11:32:00.000-08:00

||-----------------------------------
||--------------4-3-4-3-4-3----------
||-1--4---4-6-6-------------4-4-6-6--
||-----------------------------------


||-----------------------------------
||-----------------------------------
||--1--1--4--1--0--------------------
||-----------------6-6-6--1/5-5-5-6--

[C1]              [C2]
||----------------|-----------------------
||----------------|-----------------6-7-8-
||--6--------4----|-1-1-1-4-6-6-7-8-------
||----------------|-----------------------

||--5-3-----------------|--------------------------------
||------5-3-------------|--------------------------------
||----------6-3-1-1-3-3-|-1-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-1-3-3-4-3----
||----------------------|--------------------------------


||----------------|---|-----------------------------------
||----------------|---|-3-4-3-4-3-------------------------
||-6-----4----3---|-2-|-----------4-----------------------
||----------------|---|-----------------------------------

Epiphone Viola VS Bass

2010-02-21T00:58:00.000-08:00

The Epiphone Viola VS Bass is a type of four string electric bass guitar manufactured by Epiphone brand musical instruments. The brand is a subsidiary of the Gibson musical instrument company of Nashville, Tennessee. Originally manufactured in Korea, the instrument has been made in China since 2003.

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About the Name

"VS" refers to "vintage sunburst," the name of the red and orange paint colors of the instrument's flame-laminated finish. "Viola" refers to the instrument's shape--which, although significantly larger, is reminiscent of the bowed string instrument of the same name. The "viola" reference is not indicative of the instrument's sound, which differs greatly from that of a viola.

Structural Features

An Epiphone Viola VS Bass guitar's hollow body design is constructed primarily of hardwood maple. The instrument's 30 1/2-inch "short scale" neck is also constructed of maple, the fret board of which is constructed of rosewood with plastic dot inlays and chrome frets. The instrument's hollow body makes it extremely lightweight in comparison to other electric bass guitars.

Electronic Features and Sound

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History

The Epiphone Viola VS Bass was created as a facsimile tribute to the Hofner 500-1 electric bass guitar manufactured in Germany during the 1950s. That instrument was made famous by several musicians, but most notably by Beatles bassist Paul McCartney. The Epiphone Viola VS Bass was created to offer a cost-effective visually and acoustically similar instrument made famous by McCartney. Hofner also creates a replica of the instrument played by McCartney, the Hofner contemporary.

Availability

The Viola VS Bass is one of Epiphone's most popular and widely sold instruments. It is available at most music stores and numerous online music retailers such as Musician's Friend and Guitar Center. As of 2009, the guitar usually retails for $329.99.

Alternatives

Musician's Friend manufactures an even cheaper alternative "viola" style bass under its musical instrument brand name Rouge. The Rouge VB-100 retails for $199.99 as of 2009.

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Bass Guitar for Beginners – Easy Punk Rock Songs Read more at Suite101: Bass Guitar for Beginners – Easy Punk Rock Songs: Rock Out With The Ramones,

2010-02-18T07:18:00.000-08:00

Playing the bass in a punk rock band isn't necessarily about flowing scales and immaculate technique but rather about pounding down a hard driving rhythm that anchors and rallies the rest of the band and the audience around the band.

Punk is a highly energetic genre with a lot to say – and for that reason it is important to practice speed, rhythm, and timing before setting out to be a proficient punk bassist. Following are a few choice selections that should be easy to practice, with fairly easy to hear basslines being present in the recording as well as accurate and easy tablature.

Punk Rock Riot, Old School Flair With a New School Edge

A discussion of punk can't really be had without mentioning some of the artists from the genres formative years in popular music – one of the most prominent bands being The Clash. One of their most recognizable tunes, “Should I Stay Or Should I Go?”, has not only been feature in recent music rhythm games such as the Rock Band and Guitar Hero series – having enthralled legions of fans in decades previous with a simple message of rebellion and standing tall against the status quo.

“Should I Stay Or Should I Go” is a fairly easy song to learn on the bass guitar, with very little variation

One of their biggest hits and earliest pieces, “Blitzkrieg Bop”, is both amazingly fun to play but is also very approachable for bassists learning the strings.

One of the standout bands in recent years with regard to the punk genre is The Offspring, having hit it big with the album Smash in 1994 and having been very commercially successful afterwards. While many fans of the band, and the punk genre as a whole, feel that The Offspring recorded their best material up until Ixnay on the Hombre – their influence continues to be known in an increasingly commercialized genre.

One of the best songs by The Offspring is also the easiest to play - “Gotta Get Away” is a gem from the Smash album that is relatively easy to play and sounds fantastic.

In True Punk Fashion

Punk is a genre that is currently struggling with it's image – a great deal of the cultural rebellion espoused by punk rockers up into the 1990's has shifted towards a harsher, more brutal sound found in forms of extreme metal and hardcore.

This is not to say that the punk movement is dead; thousands of indie bands exist across the globe that are pumping out amazing punk anthems that capture the spirit of counterculture and resistance in the same fashion as those artists who came before.

By learning a few classic punk songs, and perhaps becoming a bassist in a punk band yourself, you will be contributing to a larger narrative and a subculture steeped in youthful energy and rejection of the ordinary.

About Vintage Bass Guitars

2010-02-15T01:12:00.000-08:00

The era of the modern electric bass guitar began in 1951 when a former radio repairman named Leo Fender gave the world the Fender Precision. The first Precisions had 20 frets on a full-scale 34-inch maple neck that was bolted to the guitar’s ash body—the frets, presumably, were the "precision" points that differentiated Fender’s bass from traditional fretless uprights. Chromed covers hid the bridge and the instrument’s single pickup from view, while two knobs on the bass’s body allowed the player to adjust volume and tone.

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Fender did not reach far for the instrument’s design. That same year he had released the Telecaster, a six-string solid-body guitar, and the Precision was essentially a four-stringed version of that. Like a Telecaster, the sides of the Precision bass were squared off so that the body was a uniformly thick slab. As for its headstock, it, too, echoed the look of the Telecaster. Both of these details changed in 1954, when Fender released the Stratocaster, with its contour body (the Strat’s cutaway made it comfortable for players to hold the guitar against their bodies for extended periods of time) and more sculptural headstock. The Precision copied both of these features, note for note...

Naturally, Fender had imitators, first a company called Kay, whose short-necked K-162 from 1952 faded away almost as soon as it appeared. In 1953, Gibson followed with the EB-1, a radically scaled-down version of an upright bass, complete with a fake F-hole. That model was dropped in 1958, but in 1955, German instrument maker Höfner made a go of the traditional look when it introduced its famous 500/1 bass, known variously as the "violin bass" for its shape and the "Beatle bass" for its most famous player, Paul McCartney.

Two other basses from the 1950s are of interest to vintage bass collectors. Danelectro introduced its six-string UB2 in 1956, prompting Gibson and Fender to issue their own low-octave six-strings in 1959 and 1961 respectively. Rickenbacker’s 4000 came along in 1957. It was the first electric bass built with through-neck construction, and it featured fancier electronics than its competitors—its Rick-O-Sound feature allowed a player to simulate stereo by directing the output of each of the guitar’s pickups into a separate amplifier.

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In 1960, Fender followed up on the Precision with the Jazz Bass, which aped the look of the Fender Jazzmaster guitar released in 1958. After a false start with the EB-1, Gibson finally got into the bass game in 1961 with the EB-3, a short-scale-neck bass with "horns" on its body and a deep, muddy sound that caught the attention of players such as Jack Bruce of Cream. Not to be outdone when it came to horns, Danelectro launched the Long Horn in 1961. Although they were made of cheap materials like Masonite instead of fancy hardwoods, players liked Danelectro basses for their distinctive look and punchy sound.

Gibson followed up on the EB-3 in 1963 with a bass version of its fabulous Firebird called the Thunderbird—John Entwistle of The Who played a Thunderbird bass almost exclusively from 1972 until 1976. As the 1960s continued, other traditional electric guitar companies began to offer their customers electric basses, too. In particular, the hollow-body Guild Starfire was the bass of choice for the Grateful Dead’s Phil Lesh and the Jefferson Airplane’s Jack Casady, both of whom eventually turned to an engineer named Ron Wickersham to have their instruments customized with low-impedance pickups developed by Rick Turner.

The connection between bass players like Lesh and Casady and technicians like Wickersham and Turner led to a renaissance in bass guitars that would arguably prove to have an even greater impact than Leo Fender’s Precision. It was the dawn of Alembic.

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For instrument collectors, especially those who are fans of the bass guitar, Alembic holds a hallowed place. Its instruments deliver natural tones that are rich, sophisticated, and nuanced, not just deep and boomy, although they can also do plenty of that. And the physical appearance of an Alembic bass is as stunning as its sound. For example, Alembic’s first bass, number 72-01 created for Casady, had a pointy bottom so that a musician would never be tempted to rest their precious instrument on anything but a cradling stand.

As legendary as their hardware and physical appearance were the details that graced each instrument, especially ones created for a who’s who of rock and jazz elite. Casady’s bass married multiple types of exotic woods with painstakingly precise inlay. Greg Lake of prog-rockers Emerson Lake and Palmer had an eight-string Alembic bass with signs of the zodiac in mother-of-pearl crawling up the fingerboard. Stanley Clarke played an Alembic tenor bass. The list goes on and on.

In recent years, collectible basses include five- and six-stringed instruments, as well as the otherworldly graphite axes made by Ned Steinberger. His instruments frequently have no headstock at all, while Steinberger bodies resemble small, rectangular notebook PCs. They look weird, but players from Sting to Geddy Lee of Rush to Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones have become fans of their sonic properties.

Another graphite bass maker, and perhaps the heir apparent to Alembic in terms of pushing technology, is Modulus, whose graphite basses are favorites of Phil Lesh, Mike Gordon of Phish, Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam, and Oteil Burbridge, to name but a very few.

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Michael Jackson - Billie Jean

2010-02-13T01:53:00.000-08:00

     Riff 1
   
    G--------------------|
    D---4---2-4-2--------|
    A-----4-------4-2-4--|
    E--------------------|

    Riff 2
   
    G---4---2-4----------|--4---2-4----------|
    D-----4-------4-2-4--|----4-------4-2-4--|
    A--------------------|-------------------|
    E--------------------|-------------------|
   
    Riff 3
   
    G--------------------------------------|
    D-0-------0-------0-------0------------|
    A-----------------------------44444444-|
    E-----2-------2-------2----------------|

How to Read Music for Bass Guitar

2010-02-11T01:41:00.000-08:00

http://www.ehow.com/video_4394050_read-music-bass-guitar-part.html

Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit Bass Tab

2010-02-06T01:43:00.000-08:00

Riff1

G|--------------------------
D|--------------------------
A|------1-1-0------4-4-0---
E|-1-11-------4-44----------

Riff2
G|------------------------------------
D|------------------------------------
A|--------1-1-1-0----------4-4-4-3----
E|1-1-1-1---------4-4-4-0-------------

Riff3
G|--------------------------
D|--------------------------
A|--------------------------
E|1-1-00-2--1-1-00-44-------

Top 4 Beginner Bass Guitars

2010-02-04T06:22:00.000-08:00

Buying a bass guitar for a novice can be tricky... there are a ton of cheap beginner basses out there, but many of them feature cheap hardware, and shoddy workmanship. The trick is to find a bass guitar that is both easy to learn on, yet also easy on the pocketbook. The following basses, all of which hover in the several hundred dollar range, are some of the best valued bass guitars on the market.

1. Yamaha RBX374

Yamaha have earned a reputation for being a company able to produce quality instruments with low price tags. The RBX374, with it's fully alder body, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, and P-style pickup, is no exception. Although not the cheapest bass on this list, this model offers quite good value for the price

2. Squier Standard Jazz

This is Fender's low priced version of the classic Fender Jazz bass. The pickups and electronics are inferior, and there are lots of other reasons why this Squier model isn't of the same caliber as the original, yet for the price tag, this instrument will still provide that Fender Jazz sound, without busting your budget.

3. Epiphone Les Paul Special Bass

If you're a bassist who loves the look of the classic Gibson Les Paul guitars, this Epiphone model bass guitar may appeal to you. The Epiphone Les Paul bass features a solid mahogany body with maple neck, and two humbucking pickups. The bass is fairly heavy, and should be able to withstand a good amount of abuse.

4. Ibanez GSR200

This low-cost Ibanez bass guitar has an individual look and feel. The body is made from Athagis wood, the neck from maple, and the fingerboard from rosewood. The GSR200 features a rather thin neck, which many people might find easier to learn on. As is usually the case with low cost instruments, the electronics aren't top notch, but for the money, the GSR200 is a good bet.

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Jazz Bass Vs. Precision Bass

2010-02-02T06:59:00.000-08:00

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Looking to buy a J-bass or a P-bass?
In order for a bass player to acknowledge the type of bass’s available, he must know Fender basses. There are two main types of Fender basses, Precision basses and Jazz basses. The Precision bass, also known as the P-Bass, consists of a larger neck and are generally deeper and have more of a boom to them. The Precision bass was the first bass invented that was mass produced. It is used by many musicians worldwide for many genres, including rock and metal. The next type of Fender bass is the J-Bass, also known as the Jazz bass. The standard Jazz bass has a smaller neck than a P-Bass, and generally have more treble to them, or highness in pitch. These are generally more popular than the J-Bass, considering the J-Bass was made after the P-Bass, and is more of a “modification” to the P-Bass. Both of the basses are excellent and the musician must chose according to his or her preference. If he or she enjoys playing fast high bass lines then the J-Bass is the one for him or her. If he or she enjoys slow deep bass groves then the P-Bass is the one for him or her. Both are wonderful and have some jaw dropping features which can be appreciated by any bass player.
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How to Play Bass Guitar for Newbies

2010-02-01T02:13:00.000-08:00

If you've just picked up your first bass guitar and are looking for some help learning basic playing techniques, patterns and theories, then look no further. The lessons in this guide will give you the information you need to start playing bass like a pro.

While they may not always be as flashy as a guitar player or as telegenic as a lead singer, a talented bass player is a crucial ingredient to any good band. Whether it's providing the low-end notes that help fill out the band's sound or the rhythmic pulse that propels the music forward, the bass is often the glue that holds the music together. If you're thinking about learning how to play the bass guitar (which you probably are if you're reading this page), then you should be excited to know that good bass players are always in high demand. And while mastering the bass guitar may take you years of practice and playing, the lessons in this guide should give you a solid foundation from which to build your knowledge of bass guitar technique and theory.

Get to Know Your Bass
- If you're just starting to learn how to play the bass guitar and you've been given one as a present or are borrowing one from a friend, then you're probably looking at it and wondering what all the different parts are for and how the darn thing even works. If you know how to play guitar, then you probably already have a basic idea of how a bass guitar works. But if you don't, here is a little information to help you get to know your bass:
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Strings
- The bass guitar is a string instrument (much like a Violin, a Ukulele, a Banjo or a regular Guitar) in that it uses the vibrations of its strings to produce sound. A standard bass guitar has four strings, each of which is tuned to a different note value. In standard tuning, the strings on a bass guitar are tuned as follows: E (Thickest string and closest to your chest when playing) - A (Slightly thinner than an E and the second closest string to your body) - D (Thinner still and the third string away from your body) - G (Thinnest string and the one closest to the ground). For the purposes of future exercises, we will also refer to these strings as 4 (E), 3 (A), 2 (D) and 1 (G).
Frets
- While the strings divide the guitar from left to right (as in the diagram), frets are small metal strips that divide the guitar into sections from top to bottom. If you look at your guitar from above, you can begin to see that the strings and frets together form a kind of grid that covers the entire neck of the guitar. Placing your finger on a string in between two of the frets is what enables you to play a note. The higher up you get on the frets, the higher the notes sound. In general, each fret is a half-step higher than the previous fret.
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Amplification
- Unless you're playing an Upright Bass or an Acoustic Bass Guitar, you're going to need some sort of amplification in order to hear the sounds that are coming out of your instrument. In the same way that an Electric Guitar uses a Pickup to capture the vibrations of the strings and an amp to convert them into sound, a bass guitar also needs an amplifier so that the player can hear what they're playing. If you already have a bass amp, then you're ready to go. If not, you need to go out and get one. Although it is possible to play a bass guitar through a normal guitar amp, the sound quality will be greatly reduced and you will risk damaging your amp. Amplifiers that are made specifically for bass guitars usually have larger, heavy-duty loudspeakers to compensate for the low-frequency sound waves that a bass guitar produces.
Other Features of the Bass Guitar
- Body: The large base of the guitar (usually the most bulky part) that is attached to the neck.
- Neck: The long, skinny part of the guitar that holds the frets and strings and where the fingers are placed in order to play individual notes.
- Headstock: The top-most part of the bass on which the four tuning pegs are located.
- Nut: The small piece of material that is found where the headstock meets the neck. There are usually four small grooves carved out in order to guide the strings up to the tuning pegs.
- Tuning Pegs: Hold the strings in place and allow the player to adjust the pitch of the string.
- Pick-ups: Metal strips that capture the vibrations of the strings and help convert them into electrical signals that are then amplified. Located on the body.
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- Lesson 1: Basic Techniques
  
  Now that we've learned the basic parts of the bass guitar, we are ready to start learning some of the basic techniques that you will need to know in order to start playing. Again, if you know how to play guitar, then some of this you will already know. For everyone else, here we go:
- Holding Your Bass
  
  While this may seem like an easy thing to learn, the fact is that many people develop bad positioning habits that can make it harder for them to play (as well as causing long term back and shoulder problems). Here are some tips for how to hold your bass guitar:]
  Whether you're standing up or sitting down, always use a guitar strap. This will allow your back and shoulders to carry the weight of the guitar so that your hands are free to move up and down the fretboard.
  Adjust your strap so that the bass falls at a comfortable level across your chest. In general, your bass should be at about the same level as your belly button.
  Always pay attention to your posture. Keep your back as straight as possible and try not to slouch or bend over when playing.
  If you are right-handed, then the headstock should be to the left (opposite for left-handers). Take a look at the strings on the guitar. If you are holding it correctly, the thickest string (E) should be closest to your chest, while the thinnest (G) string should be closest to your feet.
  Take your fretting hand (left for right-handers and right for left-handers) and grip the neck of your bass gently. Your thumb should be resting behind the neck of the guitar, supporting your hand while your other fingers float above the strings, ready for action.
- Fretting
  
  The term "Fretting" refers to the action that your fingers make as they hold down different strings on the fretboard in order to play notes. With your thumb behind the neck and your fingers poised above the fretboard, you are ready to start fretting different notes on the neck. While we won't get into the specific notes that you are playing just yet, this is a good time for you to experiment with how it feels to hold down each of the strings. Here are some tips for fretting:]
  Make sure that the fingernails on your fretting hand are trim. Long fingernails can get in the way of you holding down each string completely.
  When trying to play a note, make sure that you press down on the string in between frets rather than on them directly. This will produce the true sound of the note.
  Instead of holding down the string with the tip of your finger, try using the larger finger pad right below. This will make it easier for you to hold the string down firmly.
  Holding down the large bass strings may be difficult (or even painful) at first, and may even start to give you blisters. Don't worry. This is completely natural. After a while, your fingers will become stronger and develop calluses (thicker skin), making the fretting process much easier.
  Practice fretting strings with each of your fingers. While it may be tempting to do everything with your index finger, the rest of your fingers need strengthening as well.
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- Plucking
  
  The term "Plucking" is often used to describe the action of the fingers on your other hand as they "Pluck" each string in order to create a sound. While some bassist may use a Pick to play the strings, the most common form of bass playing is done with the fingers directly. While there are certainly much more advanced plucking techniques to be learned in the future, here is a basic description of how to start plucking the bass strings:
  
  Hold you plucking hand limply over the strings with your palm towards the instrument.
  Place your thumb on the side of the Pickup that is closest to the neck. Your thumb will work as an anchor while your other fingers pluck the strings.
  Take your index finger and let it roll over the top of the E string, pulling it slightly towards you as you let go of the string. Repeat this a few times until your plucking motion is smooth and the note rings out true.
  Repeat this exercise using your middle finger to pluck the A string. While you can use any of your fingers (except your thumb) to pluck the strings, you will primarily be using your index and middle fingers for this purpose.
  Try alternating between using your index finger to pluck the E string and your middle finger to pluck the A string. Don't try to go too fast. Just try to make it sound as clean as possible.
- Lesson 2: Playing Notes
  
  Now that we understand some of the basic techniques involved in bass playing, we can begin to start playing and learning the various notes that can be played on the bass guitar. We will start with a brief exercise to let you get the feel of playing individual notes, and then we will move on to learning how to identify which notes you are actually playing (and how to find them).
- Playing Notes
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  Start by plucking the 4th string (the one closest to your chest) without using your fretting hand at all. This will produce an E note. Playing a string without fretting any of the notes is called playing it "Open".
  Next, move down the strings and play each individual one "Open." This will produce the notes A, D, G respectively. Notice how each one sounds a little bit higher than the one before.
  Now, go back to the 4th string and place the index finger of your fretting hand on the first fret (the initial space between the nut and the first fret). Hold down the note with the pad of your finger. While holding your index finger down firmly on the first fret, use the index finger on your plucking hand to pluck the 4th string. If done correctly, the sound produced should be slightly higher (by a half-step) than plucking the 4th string alone.
  Next, move your finger up another half-step to the second fret (the space between the first and second frets) and pluck the 4th string again. This should produce a slightly higher pitched sound than the one before.
  Repeat this exercise with each of the strings. Start by playing the string open, then with your finger on the first fret, and then again with your finger on the second fret. If the notes start to sound muffled, off-key, or just plain bad, take a look at your fretting finger to make sure that you are holding down the note firmly and your finger is placed directly in the center of the fret. Do this until you are comfortable making individual notes.
- Note Positions on the Bass Guitar
  
  Each of the individual notes that you have just played have a specific note value attached to them (i.e. the "Open" E string has a note value of E). Also, each time you moved your finger up or down a fret, the note value changed as well. Note values are what musicians use to let themselves know where on the neck they need to play in order to produce a certain note. Without getting too deeply into musical theory, we will use the diagram below (and a description of the basic musical alphabet) to help you learn to identify where every note falls on your bass guitar.
  
  The Musical Alphabet: In Western music, there are 12 different notes that can be played. They are:
  
  A | A# | B | C | C# | D | D# | E | F | F# | G | G#
  
  Each note is a half-step higher than the one proceeding it and a half-step lower than the one following it. In terms of the bass guitar, a half-step is equal to one fret, meaning that every time you move your finger up one fret - the note value increases by a half step (i.e. If you start on an A and move up one fret, then you have moved a half-step higher to an A#). For a visual representation of how this plays out along the fretboard of the bass, see the diagram below.
  
  As you can see, as you move higher up on the fretboard, the note values increase by a half-step for each fret. This makes it easy to find any note you want to on the fretboard. All you need to do is to figure out which note you are on - and you can then move up or down the neck until you reach the note you're looking for.
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- Practice Lessons
  
  Before you move on to the next lesson, take some time to practice playing each of the notes on the fretboard.
  Start by playing and identifying the notes on each individual string. Play each note in succession, moving up the neck until you've reached the body of the bass. Say each note aloud as you play it (# is called a sharp - so A# would be called A Sharp).
  Next, try playing all of the ascending notes in order by moving up to the next string each time you reach the 5th fret.
  Once you've completed each of these lessons, try doing them backwards in descending order.
  
  Lesson 3: Playing Scales
  
  Now that we have a clear understanding of where each of the notes on the fretboard is located, we can begin to put them together into patterns known as "Scales". A scale is basically a specific group of musical notes that work together to produce a distinct sound or feeling. Scales are used to help organize musical ideas and to give musicians a framework for composition and improvisation. Besides helping to strengthen your fingers and improve your dexterity, learning scales can also help improve your understanding (and feeling) for the intervals between different notes and the relationships between them. In this lesson we will go over a few of the most basic scales for the bass guitar:
  
  The Chromatic Scale
  
  The chromatic scale is probably the most basic scale in Western music and includes all twelve of the musical notes. The chromatic scale moves up in half steps (much like the exercises in the previous lesson) from the designated root note to its corresponding note one octave higher. While you can use any note as the root note (i.e. A Chromatic, B Chromatic, C# Chromatic), we will use E in the following exercise:
  Start by playing the 4th string "Open". This is an E and will be the root note for this scale.
  Next, use your index finger to hold down the first fret on the 4th string and play the note. This is an F note.
  Move up a half-step and play the F# note with your ring finger.
  Move up another half-step and play the G note.
  Move up another half-step and play the G# note.
  Follow the diagram (right) and play the rest of the notes in the E Chromatic Scale. Take note of the fact that you are ending on the same note (E) that you started on, albeit one octave higher.
  
  Alright, you've just played your first scale. Congratulations! And while this may not be the most musical sounding scale, it does form the basic from which many other scales are constructed. If you're feeling brave, go ahead and try to play this scale using different notes as your root.
  
  The Major Scale
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  The Major Scale is one of the most important scales in music and should be instantly recognizable to anyone with even a passing familiarity with music (Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti, Do - anyone?). The major scale has a bright, upbeat quality to it and helps form the basis of songs that are built around major chords. While the Chromatic Scale uses only half-steps in its construction, the Major Scale uses a combination of whole and half-steps. Note: A whole step equals two half-steps - or two frets.
  
  Here is how to play the Major Scale using E as your root note:
  Play the 4th string "Open"
  Play the 4th string, 2nd fret
  Play the 4th string, 4th fret
  Play the 3rd string "Open"
  Play the 3rd string, 2nd fret
  Play the 3rd string, 4th fret
  Play the 2nd string, 1st fret
  Play the 2nd string, 2nd fret
  
  Notice that the note that you finish up on is also an E, meaning that you have completed the E Major Scale. Again, if you're feeling bold, try using the formula above to figure out the major scale using different root notes. This may be difficult at first, but if you understand the pattern then it gets much easier.
  
  The Minor Pentatonic Scale
  
  The Minor Pentatonic Scale is one that is commonly used in Blues and Rock & Roll. Just as minor chords have a darker, sadder musical quality to them, the minor scale also gives off a moody, solemn vibe. As opposed to the Chromatic Scale (which has 12 notes) and the Major Scale (which has 7 notes), the Minor Pentatonic Scale only has 5 notes (Penta = 5). Here is how to construct the minor scale (again using E as the root note):
  Play the 4th string "Open"
  Play the 4th string, 3rd fret
  Play the 3rd string "Open"
  Play the 3rd string, 2nd fret
  Play the 2nd string "Open"
  Play the 2nd string, 2nd fret
  
  You may begin to hear hints of a blues progression as you play this scale. This is because the minor pentatonic scale is the most commonly used scale in blues. Once again, if you're feeling adventurous, try playing the minor pentatonic scale using different root notes.
  
  Practice Lessons
  
  Once you have mastered playing each scale from top to bottom, try playing it backwards by starting on the last note of the scale and playing in reverse order back to the first note.
  Practice each of these scales for at least 15 minutes or until you are confident enough to move on to the next one.
  
  Lesson 4: Playing Patterns
  
  The next step in learning how to play the bass guitar is to start to understand chord patterns and how a bassist uses them to compliment and emphasize the music that is being played by the other musicians.
  One of the main responsibilities of a bass player is to provide a solid harmonic foundation for the chords that are being played by the rest of the band. If you aren't already familiar, the musical concept of harmony means that there are multiple notes being played at the same time. When listening to harmony, your ears tend to focus on the lowest sounding pitch that is being played (which is usually the bass note). That is why it is incredibly important for you, as a bass player, to understand how chord patterns work and how playing the correct notes at the right time can dramatically improve the overall sound of the entire band.
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  Understanding Chords
  
  Unlike guitar or piano players, bass players rarely play whole chords themselves. This is because multiple bass notes played together can produce a muddy, convoluted sound (due to their low frequency). But just because bass players don't play chords, doesn't mean they don't need to understand how they work and how the notes that they play can augment the chords that are being played.
  The way that a bass player contributes to the chords that are being played is by helping to outline or frame the chords with respect to the root note. For instance, if a guitarist is playing a C Major Chord (which uses the notes C, E and G), then the bassist can help emphasize the sound of the C chord by playing the C note. Because the C chord also contains the notes E and G, the bassist can also play either of those notes as well (although they will change the overall flavor of the chord slightly).
  
  Understanding Root Notes
  
  The Root Note (as its name implies) is the foundational note upon which each chord is built. As in the example above, while the C Major Chord is made by playing the C, E and G notes, the Root note is the C. Root notes are relatively easy to determine. In general, the root note of any chord shares the same name as the chord itself (i.e. The root note of G Major is G, the root note of A Minor is A).
  While bass players can play many different notes in order to help frame a chord, there are many instances in which a bass player will need only to play the root note of each chord in order to appropriately fill out the sound. While identifying the root note of a chord may not be difficult, it just as important to be able to find that note on the fretboard (see previous lessons).
  
  Simple Bass Patterns
  
  Now that we understand a little bit about the role of the bass in framing chord patterns, we can begin to start looking at a few of the most common types of patterns that bassists often use.
  
  Octave Patterns: Even if you've decided that it's best for you to concentrate on playing the root note of each chord, you don't need to just sit on the same note the whole time. This is where octave notes can come in handy. In simplified terms, an Octave is the space of 12 notes in between two notes of equal value. For instance, if you are playing the root note F, simply move up 12 half steps until you've reached the F that is one octave higher than the one you started on. While the two notes may sound identical, the difference in frequency between the two notes can help create an interesting dynamic when you move back and forth between the two (instead of just playing the root note).
  
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  Root & Fifth Patterns: Another note that is often used (along with the root and octave notes) in order to create a simple bass pattern is the Fifth Note. We call it the fifth because it is the fifth note in the scale. The reason the fifth note usually sounds good when placed in a pattern with the root and octave notes is that the fifth note is one of the notes that forms the chord which is being played. Try experimenting with adding the fifth note to the root and octave notes in order to create a simple pattern that can be played over the chord.
  
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  Root, Fifth & Sixth Patterns: Once you've gotten comfortable with finding and playing the root, fifth and octave notes of a particular chord, you can add another note to your repertoire: The Sixth Note. While it may not be a part of the chord that is being played, the sixth note can help add some melodic flavor to your basslines and give some variety to your playing. To start out with, try inserting the sixth note after the fifth in your pattern. This will give your bass pattern a lighter, more upbeat quality.
  
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  Practice Lessons
  
  Start by practicing finding the root, fifth, sixth and octave notes for all of the various chords that you might be playing. Try to recognize the patterns that emerge so that you can automatically identify them without using this guide.
  Practice each of the bass patterns discussed above by moving back and forth between each of the notes in the pattern. Experiment with playing them in different orders as well.
  Listen to music with a prominent bass line and try to listen exclusively to the notes that the bass player is using to form the bass pattern.
  
  Lesson 5: Understanding Rhythm
  
  Other than providing the melodic foundation for the band, a bassist's other main function is to help establish and support the rhythm of the music. Together, the bassist and the drummer form the "Rhythm Section" of the band, meaning that they are responsible for creating the rhythmic foundation that the music is built upon.
  The importance of rhythm in music cannot be overstated. Rhythm is what lets you know when to tap your feet, nod your head, or clap along with the music. Rhythm is what makes you want to dance, tells you how to dance, and helps you feel the music (rather than just hear it). And while you may have heard that rhythm is something that certain people are born with and other people aren't, this is far from the truth. With a little practice and a good feel for music, anyone can learn how to develop good rhythm and use it to improve their playing. Here are some things that you can do, as a bass player, to help understand and develop your sense of rhythm:
  
  Listen to Music
  
  While this may seem like a no-brainer (because you probably already do it every day anyways), listening to music is still one of the easiest and most enjoyable ways to help develop your sense of rhythm. But instead of just passively listening to a song (like most of us do), try to concentrate specifically on the rhythm of the music and how the bass is being used to establish it.
  
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  Try to listen to music that has a strong and steady rhythmic pulse. Genre's such as Rock, Funk and Soul usually have a solid rhythmic basis to them, so they are always a good place to start. At first, avoid music with complex rhythms (i.e. Bebop Jazz, Salsa, or Polyrhythmic African Drumming), as they will be harder for you to figure out.
  Whether it's tapping your feet, clapping your hands, or just bobbing your head, try to follow the beat and the rhythm of the music with some sort of physical movement. The more practice that your body has at following rhythm, the better equipped it will be to carry that over into your bass playing.
  Once you feel that you've gotten the rhythm of a specific song down, try turning the song off and see if you can continue to tap out or clap the rhythm at the same tempo. After 30 seconds or so, turn the song back on to see how far you strayed from the original rhythm.
  
  Use a Metronome
  
  One of the most important tools that any musician can use to help develop their sense of rhythm is a Metronome. A metronome is a small electronic device that emits a steady audible pulse (usually a clicking sound) at a specific tempo or speed. Musicians will then use the accurate tempo of the metronome to keep time while they practice playing scales, songs, or anything else that might require a steady tempo. Here are a few tips for finding and making the most of your metronome:
  
  Buy a Metronome: Google Product Search | zZounds | eBay | Amazon | Guitar Center | PriceGrabber
  If you don't feel like going out and buying an electronic metronome, there are a number of free online metronomes that you can use instead: MetronomeOnline | WebMetronome | SeventhString | Gieson.com
  Start practicing with your metronome by putting your bass down and just clapping along with the beats. If you can still hear the clicking sound of the metronome as you clap along with it, then you are out of rhythm. Since the sound of your clap should drown out the click of the metronome (when you are on the beat), practice this exercise until you can't hear the click of the metronome at all.
  Count along with the beats of the metronome: One-Two-Three-Four-One-Two-Three-Four. While not all rhythms will have four beats in them, this is the most basic Time Signature in music and a good place for beginners to start.
  Start practicing with your metronome set to a relatively slow speed (60 Beats Per Minute) and increase the tempo gradually as you become more confident.
  
  Play With Other People
  
  While this may not be the best idea when you're just starting out, playing music with other people (especially drummers) is one of the best ways to develop your sense of rhythm. Because musical collaboration requires you to pay attention to the rhythm of your fellow players (instead of just yourself), it can help you become more aware of the ways in which musicians must work together to create a solid rhythm.
  
  When playing with a group of musicians, pay closest attention to what the drummer is doing when figuring out the rhythm. Since he/she is the other half of the rhythm section, the interaction between you and the drummer is crucial.
  If you've never played with other musicians before, it can often be a tough transition to make. Try to be patient with other people and realize that you will need to learn how to play with them rather than the other way around.
  If you aren't confident enough to play with other people yet, your metronome can act as a surrogate drummer.
  
  Lesson 6: Practicing
  
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  As you've probably come to expect, learning how to play an instrument involves a large amount of practice and personal commitment, and the bass guitar is no different. Knowing how and what to play is only half the story. You also have to spend the time it takes (and it does take a lot) to learn all of the possible notes, scales and patterns as well understand the role of the bass and how it fits in with the other instruments in a band. While certainly one of the least enjoyable parts of learning how to play the bass guitar, practice is still the most important. Here are some tips and suggestions for making your practice sessions more productive and useful:
  
  Set out a few minutes each day (15 - 30 minutes) to practice in an environment that allows you to fully concentrate on your playing. Don't have the television on and don't have music playing in the background (unless you are trying to learn a song).
  Stretch out your fingers, hands and arms before playing. When you first start learning the bass, your fingers and wrists may begin to hurt (because they aren't used to the strain of having to hold down strings). This is normal. The more you play, the stronger your fingers and wrists will be.
  When practicing, start out with the easiest exercises first and then move gradually into more difficult patterns. If you start out with the toughest pieces first, you may get frustrated and not want to continue practicing.
  Make sure to pay attention to your posture when practicing and try not to slouch over your bass. Because of the weight and size of the bass, many bass players develop back problems after years of practice because of the bad posture habits that they developed when they were starting out.
  Make sure that you have a strong grasp of the concepts in each lesson before moving on to the next one. While you may be tempted to blow through the simpler lessons in order to get to the more interesting and difficult ones, knowing the simpler concepts is usually necessary for learning the more complex ones.
  
  Conclusion
  
  While there is no possible way that we can cover every aspect of playing the bass guitar in a single article, I hope that we have given you a solid foundation of knowledge that you can use to begin learning how to play. Whether you are a musical novice who wants to start learning music on a fun instrument, or a seasoned guitar player who wants to expand their knowledge and versatility, the bass guitar is a wonderful instrument that can provide you with hours of enjoyment. So grab your bass, stretch out those fingers, and prepare to get down with the "Low" end!
  
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« Reading Sheet Music

2010-01-30T08:37:00.000-08:00

Many beginning guitarists find reading sheet music very intimidating. Learning a brand new language composed of a lot of symbols that are new and alien is often daunting. For for anyone wanting to be a serious guitarist, reading sheet music is a must, taking your guitar playing well beyond anything that Tab can teach you.

Guitar tablature is like a crutch, only teaching you how to play songs and compositions by rote. It is certainly true that Guitar Tab will teach you how to play a piece of music somewhere amongst the Tab process you miss some of the real things that music, and being a musician is all about.

Many beginner guitar lessons and learning materials focus almost entirely on guitar tab. While you can make good progress learning in this way, as a musician you miss out on so much.

According to Will Kalif, learning a piece of music with traditional sheet music means not just learning the notes but learning another language. This exercising of your mind makes you more flexible, more capable, and more creative. With time and practice you come to recognize keys, chords, progressions and whole host of things you won’t ever see with Tab.

learn to bass guitar

2010-01-29T07:05:00.000-08:00

How to Play Bass Guitar for Newbies

Categories: How Tos | Music

If you've just picked up your first bass guitar and are looking for some help learning basic playing techniques, patterns and theories, then look no further. The lessons in this guide will give you the information you need to start playing bass like a pro.
- While they may not always be as flashy as a guitar player or as telegenic as a lead singer, a talented bass player is a crucial ingredient to any good band. Whether it's providing the low-end notes that help fill out the band's sound or the rhythmic pulse that propels the music forward, the bass is often the glue that holds the music together. If you're thinking about learning how to play the bass guitar (which you probably are if you're reading this page), then you should be excited to know that good bass players are always in high demand. And while mastering the bass guitar may take you years of practice and playing, the lessons in this guide should give you a solid foundation from which to build your knowledge of bass guitar technique and theory.

Get to Know Your Bass
- If you're just starting to learn how to play the bass guitar and you've been given one as a present or are borrowing one from a friend, then you're probably looking at it and wondering what all the different parts are for and how the darn thing even works. If you know how to play guitar, then you probably already have a basic idea of how a bass guitar works. But if you don't, here is a little information to help you get to know your bass:
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Strings
- The bass guitar is a string instrument (much like a Violin, a Ukulele, a Banjo or a regular Guitar) in that it uses the vibrations of its strings to produce sound. A standard bass guitar has four strings, each of which is tuned to a different note value. In standard tuning, the strings on a bass guitar are tuned as follows: E (Thickest string and closest to your chest when playing) - A (Slightly thinner than an E and the second closest string to your body) - D (Thinner still and the third string away from your body) - G (Thinnest string and the one closest to the ground). For the purposes of future exercises, we will also refer to these strings as 4 (E), 3 (A), 2 (D) and 1 (G).
Frets
- While the strings divide the guitar from left to right (as in the diagram), frets are small metal strips that divide the guitar into sections from top to bottom. If you look at your guitar from above, you can begin to see that the strings and frets together form a kind of grid that covers the entire neck of the guitar. Placing your finger on a string in between two of the frets is what enables you to play a note. The higher up you get on the frets, the higher the notes sound. In general, each fret is a half-step higher than the previous fret.
Amplification
- Unless you're playing an Upright Bass or an Acoustic Bass Guitar, you're going to need some sort of amplification in order to hear the sounds that are coming out of your instrument. In the same way that an Electric Guitar uses a Pickup to capture the vibrations of the strings and an amp to convert them into sound, a bass guitar also needs an amplifier so that the player can hear what they're playing. If you already have a bass amp, then you're ready to go. If not, you need to go out and get one. Although it is possible to play a bass guitar through a normal guitar amp, the sound quality will be greatly reduced and you will risk damaging your amp. Amplifiers that are made specifically for bass guitars usually have larger, heavy-duty loudspeakers to compensate for the low-frequency sound waves that a bass guitar produces.
Other Features of the Bass Guitar
- Body: The large base of the guitar (usually the most bulky part) that is attached to the neck.
- Neck: The long, skinny part of the guitar that holds the frets and strings and where the fingers are placed in order to play individual notes.
- Headstock: The top-most part of the bass on which the four tuning pegs are located.
- Nut: The small piece of material that is found where the headstock meets the neck. There are usually four small grooves carved out in order to guide the strings up to the tuning pegs.
- Tuning Pegs: Hold the strings in place and allow the player to adjust the pitch of the string.
- Pick-ups: Metal strips that capture the vibrations of the strings and help convert them into electrical signals that are then amplified. Located on the body.
Lesson 1: Basic Techniques
- Now that we've learned the basic parts of the bass guitar, we are ready to start learning some of the basic techniques that you will need to know in order to start playing. Again, if you know how to play guitar, then some of this you will already know. For everyone else, here we go:
Holding Your Bass
- While this may seem like an easy thing to learn, the fact is that many people develop bad positioning habits that can make it harder for them to play (as well as causing long term back and shoulder problems). Here are some tips for how to hold your bass guitar:]
  1. Whether you're standing up or sitting down, always use a guitar strap. This will allow your back and shoulders to carry the weight of the guitar so that your hands are free to move up and down the fretboard.
  2. Adjust your strap so that the bass falls at a comfortable level across your chest. In general, your bass should be at about the same level as your belly button.
  3. Always pay attention to your posture. Keep your back as straight as possible and try not to slouch or bend over when playing.
  4. If you are right-handed, then the headstock should be to the left (opposite for left-handers). Take a look at the strings on the guitar. If you are holding it correctly, the thickest string (E) should be closest to your chest, while the thinnest (G) string should be closest to your feet.
  5. Take your fretting hand (left for right-handers and right for left-handers) and grip the neck of your bass gently. Your thumb should be resting behind the neck of the guitar, supporting your hand while your other fingers float above the strings, ready for action.
Fretting
- The term "Fretting" refers to the action that your fingers make as they hold down different strings on the fretboard in order to play notes. With your thumb behind the neck and your fingers poised above the fretboard, you are ready to start fretting different notes on the neck. While we won't get into the specific notes that you are playing just yet, this is a good time for you to experiment with how it feels to hold down each of the strings. Here are some tips for fretting:]
  1. Make sure that the fingernails on your fretting hand are trim. Long fingernails can get in the way of you holding down each string completely.
  2. When trying to play a note, make sure that you press down on the string in between frets rather than on them directly. This will produce the true sound of the note.
  3. Instead of holding down the string with the tip of your finger, try using the larger finger pad right below. This will make it easier for you to hold the string down firmly.
  4. Holding down the large bass strings may be difficult (or even painful) at first, and may even start to give you blisters. Don't worry. This is completely natural. After a while, your fingers will become stronger and develop calluses (thicker skin), making the fretting process much easier.
  5. Practice fretting strings with each of your fingers. While it may be tempting to do everything with your index finger, the rest of your fingers need strengthening as well.
Plucking
- The term "Plucking" is often used to describe the action of the fingers on your other hand as they "Pluck" each string in order to create a sound. While some bassist may use a Pick to play the strings, the most common form of bass playing is done with the fingers directly. While there are certainly much more advanced plucking techniques to be learned in the future, here is a basic description of how to start plucking the bass strings:
- 1. Hold you plucking hand limply over the strings with your palm towards the instrument.
  2. Place your thumb on the side of the Pickup that is closest to the neck. Your thumb will work as an anchor while your other fingers pluck the strings.
  3. Take your index finger and let it roll over the top of the E string, pulling it slightly towards you as you let go of the string. Repeat this a few times until your plucking motion is smooth and the note rings out true.
  4. Repeat this exercise using your middle finger to pluck the A string. While you can use any of your fingers (except your thumb) to pluck the strings, you will primarily be using your index and middle fingers for this purpose.
  5. Try alternating between using your index finger to pluck the E string and your middle finger to pluck the A string. Don't try to go too fast. Just try to make it sound as clean as possible.
Lesson 2: Playing Notes
- Now that we understand some of the basic techniques involved in bass playing, we can begin to start playing and learning the various notes that can be played on the bass guitar. We will start with a brief exercise to let you get the feel of playing individual notes, and then we will move on to learning how to identify which notes you are actually playing (and how to find them).
Playing Notes
- 1. Start by plucking the 4th string (the one closest to your chest) without using your fretting hand at all. This will produce an E note. Playing a string without fretting any of the notes is called playing it "Open".
  2. Next, move down the strings and play each individual one "Open." This will produce the notes A, D, G respectively. Notice how each one sounds a little bit higher than the one before.
  3. Now, go back to the 4th string and place the index finger of your fretting hand on the first fret (the initial space between the nut and the first fret). Hold down the note with the pad of your finger. While holding your index finger down firmly on the first fret, use the index finger on your plucking hand to pluck the 4th string. If done correctly, the sound produced should be slightly higher (by a half-step) than plucking the 4th string alone.
  4. Next, move your finger up another half-step to the second fret (the space between the first and second frets) and pluck the 4th string again. This should produce a slightly higher pitched sound than the one before.
  5. Repeat this exercise with each of the strings. Start by playing the string open, then with your finger on the first fret, and then again with your finger on the second fret. If the notes start to sound muffled, off-key, or just plain bad, take a look at your fretting finger to make sure that you are holding down the note firmly and your finger is placed directly in the center of the fret. Do this until you are comfortable making individual notes.
Note Positions on the Bass Guitar
- Each of the individual notes that you have just played have a specific note value attached to them (i.e. the "Open" E string has a note value of E). Also, each time you moved your finger up or down a fret, the note value changed as well. Note values are what musicians use to let themselves know where on the neck they need to play in order to produce a certain note. Without getting too deeply into musical theory, we will use the diagram below (and a description of the basic musical alphabet) to help you learn to identify where every note falls on your bass guitar.
- - The Musical Alphabet: In Western music, there are 12 different notes that can be played. They are:
- - A | A# | B | C | C# | D | D# | E | F | F# | G | G#
- Each note is a half-step higher than the one proceeding it and a half-step lower than the one following it. In terms of the bass guitar, a half-step is equal to one fret, meaning that every time you move your finger up one fret - the note value increases by a half step (i.e. If you start on an A and move up one fret, then you have moved a half-step higher to an A#). For a visual representation of how this plays out along the fretboard of the bass, see the diagram below.
- As you can see, as you move higher up on the fretboard, the note values increase by a half-step for each fret. This makes it easy to find any note you want to on the fretboard. All you need to do is to figure out which note you are on - and you can then move up or down the neck until you reach the note you're looking for.
Practice Lessons
- Before you move on to the next lesson, take some time to practice playing each of the notes on the fretboard.
  1. Start by playing and identifying the notes on each individual string. Play each note in succession, moving up the neck until you've reached the body of the bass. Say each note aloud as you play it (# is called a sharp - so A# would be called A Sharp).
  2. Next, try playing all of the ascending notes in order by moving up to the next string each time you reach the 5th fret.
  3. Once you've completed each of these lessons, try doing them backwards in descending order.
Lesson 3: Playing Scales
- Now that we have a clear understanding of where each of the notes on the fretboard is located, we can begin to put them together into patterns known as "Scales". A scale is basically a specific group of musical notes that work together to produce a distinct sound or feeling. Scales are used to help organize musical ideas and to give musicians a framework for composition and improvisation. Besides helping to strengthen your fingers and improve your dexterity, learning scales can also help improve your understanding (and feeling) for the intervals between different notes and the relationships between them. In this lesson we will go over a few of the most basic scales for the bass guitar:
The Chromatic Scale
- The chromatic scale is probably the most basic scale in Western music and includes all twelve of the musical notes. The chromatic scale moves up in half steps (much like the exercises in the previous lesson) from the designated root note to its corresponding note one octave higher. While you can use any note as the root note (i.e. A Chromatic, B Chromatic, C# Chromatic), we will use E in the following exercise:
  1. Start by playing the 4th string "Open". This is an E and will be the root note for this scale.
  2. Next, use your index finger to hold down the first fret on the 4th string and play the note. This is an F note.
  3. Move up a half-step and play the F# note with your ring finger.
  4. Move up another half-step and play the G note.
  5. Move up another half-step and play the G# note.
  6. Follow the diagram (right) and play the rest of the notes in the E Chromatic Scale. Take note of the fact that you are ending on the same note (E) that you started on, albeit one octave higher.
- Alright, you've just played your first scale. Congratulations! And while this may not be the most musical sounding scale, it does form the basic from which many other scales are constructed. If you're feeling brave, go ahead and try to play this scale using different notes as your root.
The Major Scale
- The Major Scale is one of the most important scales in music and should be instantly recognizable to anyone with even a passing familiarity with music (Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti, Do - anyone?). The major scale has a bright, upbeat quality to it and helps form the basis of songs that are built around major chords. While the Chromatic Scale uses only half-steps in its construction, the Major Scale uses a combination of whole and half-steps. Note: A whole step equals two half-steps - or two frets.
- Here is how to play the Major Scale using E as your root note:
  1. Play the 4th string "Open"
  2. Play the 4th string, 2nd fret
  3. Play the 4th string, 4th fret
  4. Play the 3rd string "Open"
  5. Play the 3rd string, 2nd fret
  6. Play the 3rd string, 4th fret
  7. Play the 2nd string, 1st fret
  8. Play the 2nd string, 2nd fret
- Notice that the note that you finish up on is also an E, meaning that you have completed the E Major Scale. Again, if you're feeling bold, try using the formula above to figure out the major scale using different root notes. This may be difficult at first, but if you understand the pattern then it gets much easier.
The Minor Pentatonic Scale
- The Minor Pentatonic Scale is one that is commonly used in Blues and Rock & Roll. Just as minor chords have a darker, sadder musical quality to them, the minor scale also gives off a moody, solemn vibe. As opposed to the Chromatic Scale (which has 12 notes) and the Major Scale (which has 7 notes), the Minor Pentatonic Scale only has 5 notes (Penta = 5). Here is how to construct the minor scale (again using E as the root note):
  1. Play the 4th string "Open"
  2. Play the 4th string, 3rd fret
  3. Play the 3rd string "Open"
  4. Play the 3rd string, 2nd fret
  5. Play the 2nd string "Open"
  6. Play the 2nd string, 2nd fret
- You may begin to hear hints of a blues progression as you play this scale. This is because the minor pentatonic scale is the most commonly used scale in blues. Once again, if you're feeling adventurous, try playing the minor pentatonic scale using different root notes.
Practice Lessons
1. Once you have mastered playing each scale from top to bottom, try playing it backwards by starting on the last note of the scale and playing in reverse order back to the first note.
2. Practice each of these scales for at least 15 minutes or until you are confident enough to move on to the next one.
Lesson 4: Playing Patterns
- The next step in learning how to play the bass guitar is to start to understand chord patterns and how a bassist uses them to compliment and emphasize the music that is being played by the other musicians.
- One of the main responsibilities of a bass player is to provide a solid harmonic foundation for the chords that are being played by the rest of the band. If you aren't already familiar, the musical concept of harmony means that there are multiple notes being played at the same time. When listening to harmony, your ears tend to focus on the lowest sounding pitch that is being played (which is usually the bass note). That is why it is incredibly important for you, as a bass player, to understand how chord patterns work and how playing the correct notes at the right time can dramatically improve the overall sound of the entire band.
Understanding Chords
- Unlike guitar or piano players, bass players rarely play whole chords themselves. This is because multiple bass notes played together can produce a muddy, convoluted sound (due to their low frequency). But just because bass players don't play chords, doesn't mean they don't need to understand how they work and how the notes that they play can augment the chords that are being played.
- The way that a bass player contributes to the chords that are being played is by helping to outline or frame the chords with respect to the root note. For instance, if a guitarist is playing a C Major Chord (which uses the notes C, E and G), then the bassist can help emphasize the sound of the C chord by playing the C note. Because the C chord also contains the notes E and G, the bassist can also play either of those notes as well (although they will change the overall flavor of the chord slightly).
Understanding Root Notes
- The Root Note (as its name implies) is the foundational note upon which each chord is built. As in the example above, while the C Major Chord is made by playing the C, E and G notes, the Root note is the C. Root notes are relatively easy to determine. In general, the root note of any chord shares the same name as the chord itself (i.e. The root note of G Major is G, the root note of A Minor is A).
- While bass players can play many different notes in order to help frame a chord, there are many instances in which a bass player will need only to play the root note of each chord in order to appropriately fill out the sound. While identifying the root note of a chord may not be difficult, it just as important to be able to find that note on the fretboard (see previous lessons).
Simple Bass Patterns
- Now that we understand a little bit about the role of the bass in framing chord patterns, we can begin to start looking at a few of the most common types of patterns that bassists often use.
- - Octave Patterns: Even if you've decided that it's best for you to concentrate on playing the root note of each chord, you don't need to just sit on the same note the whole time. This is where octave notes can come in handy. In simplified terms, an Octave is the space of 12 notes in between two notes of equal value. For instance, if you are playing the root note F, simply move up 12 half steps until you've reached the F that is one octave higher than the one you started on. While the two notes may sound identical, the difference in frequency between the two notes can help create an interesting dynamic when you move back and forth between the two (instead of just playing the root note).
- - Root & Fifth Patterns: Another note that is often used (along with the root and octave notes) in order to create a simple bass pattern is the Fifth Note. We call it the fifth because it is the fifth note in the scale. The reason the fifth note usually sounds good when placed in a pattern with the root and octave notes is that the fifth note is one of the notes that forms the chord which is being played. Try experimenting with adding the fifth note to the root and octave notes in order to create a simple pattern that can be played over the chord.
- - Root, Fifth & Sixth Patterns: Once you've gotten comfortable with finding and playing the root, fifth and octave notes of a particular chord, you can add another note to your repertoire: The Sixth Note. While it may not be a part of the chord that is being played, the sixth note can help add some melodic flavor to your basslines and give some variety to your playing. To start out with, try inserting the sixth note after the fifth in your pattern. This will give your bass pattern a lighter, more upbeat quality.
Practice Lessons
1. Start by practicing finding the root, fifth, sixth and octave notes for all of the various chords that you might be playing. Try to recognize the patterns that emerge so that you can automatically identify them without using this guide.
2. Practice each of the bass patterns discussed above by moving back and forth between each of the notes in the pattern. Experiment with playing them in different orders as well.
3. Listen to music with a prominent bass line and try to listen exclusively to the notes that the bass player is using to form the bass pattern.
- Victor Wooten - Amazing Grace
Lesson 5: Understanding Rhythm
- Other than providing the melodic foundation for the band, a bassist's other main function is to help establish and support the rhythm of the music. Together, the bassist and the drummer form the "Rhythm Section" of the band, meaning that they are responsible for creating the rhythmic foundation that the music is built upon.
- The importance of rhythm in music cannot be overstated. Rhythm is what lets you know when to tap your feet, nod your head, or clap along with the music. Rhythm is what makes you want to dance, tells you how to dance, and helps you feel the music (rather than just hear it). And while you may have heard that rhythm is something that certain people are born with and other people aren't, this is far from the truth. With a little practice and a good feel for music, anyone can learn how to develop good rhythm and use it to improve their playing. Here are some things that you can do, as a bass player, to help understand and develop your sense of rhythm:
Listen to Music
- While this may seem like a no-brainer (because you probably already do it every day anyways), listening to music is still one of the easiest and most enjoyable ways to help develop your sense of rhythm. But instead of just passively listening to a song (like most of us do), try to concentrate specifically on the rhythm of the music and how the bass is being used to establish it.
1. Try to listen to music that has a strong and steady rhythmic pulse. Genre's such as Rock, Funk and Soul usually have a solid rhythmic basis to them, so they are always a good place to start. At first, avoid music with complex rhythms (i.e. Bebop Jazz, Salsa, or Polyrhythmic African Drumming), as they will be harder for you to figure out.
2. Whether it's tapping your feet, clapping your hands, or just bobbing your head, try to follow the beat and the rhythm of the music with some sort of physical movement. The more practice that your body has at following rhythm, the better equipped it will be to carry that over into your bass playing.
3. Once you feel that you've gotten the rhythm of a specific song down, try turning the song off and see if you can continue to tap out or clap the rhythm at the same tempo. After 30 seconds or so, turn the song back on to see how far you strayed from the original rhythm.
Use a Metronome
- One of the most important tools that any musician can use to help develop their sense of rhythm is a Metronome. A metronome is a small electronic device that emits a steady audible pulse (usually a clicking sound) at a specific tempo or speed. Musicians will then use the accurate tempo of the metronome to keep time while they practice playing scales, songs, or anything else that might require a steady tempo. Here are a few tips for finding and making the most of your metronome:
1. Buy a Metronome: Google Product Search | zZounds | eBay | Amazon | Guitar Center | PriceGrabber
2. If you don't feel like going out and buying an electronic metronome, there are a number of free online metronomes that you can use instead: MetronomeOnline | WebMetronome | SeventhString | Gieson.com
3. Start practicing with your metronome by putting your bass down and just clapping along with the beats. If you can still hear the clicking sound of the metronome as you clap along with it, then you are out of rhythm. Since the sound of your clap should drown out the click of the metronome (when you are on the beat), practice this exercise until you can't hear the click of the metronome at all.
4. Count along with the beats of the metronome: One-Two-Three-Four-One-Two-Three-Four. While not all rhythms will have four beats in them, this is the most basic Time Signature in music and a good place for beginners to start.
5. Start practicing with your metronome set to a relatively slow speed (60 Beats Per Minute) and increase the tempo gradually as you become more confident.
Play With Other People
- While this may not be the best idea when you're just starting out, playing music with other people (especially drummers) is one of the best ways to develop your sense of rhythm. Because musical collaboration requires you to pay attention to the rhythm of your fellow players (instead of just yourself), it can help you become more aware of the ways in which musicians must work together to create a solid rhythm.
1. When playing with a group of musicians, pay closest attention to what the drummer is doing when figuring out the rhythm. Since he/she is the other half of the rhythm section, the interaction between you and the drummer is crucial.
2. If you've never played with other musicians before, it can often be a tough transition to make. Try to be patient with other people and realize that you will need to learn how to play with them rather than the other way around.
3. If you aren't confident enough to play with other people yet, your metronome can act as a surrogate drummer.
Lesson 6: Practicing
- As you've probably come to expect, learning how to play an instrument involves a large amount of practice and personal commitment, and the bass guitar is no different. Knowing how and what to play is only half the story. You also have to spend the time it takes (and it does take a lot) to learn all of the possible notes, scales and patterns as well understand the role of the bass and how it fits in with the other instruments in a band. While certainly one of the least enjoyable parts of learning how to play the bass guitar, practice is still the most important. Here are some tips and suggestions for making your practice sessions more productive and useful:
1. Set out a few minutes each day (15 - 30 minutes) to practice in an environment that allows you to fully concentrate on your playing. Don't have the television on and don't have music playing in the background (unless you are trying to learn a song).
2. Stretch out your fingers, hands and arms before playing. When you first start learning the bass, your fingers and wrists may begin to hurt (because they aren't used to the strain of having to hold down strings). This is normal. The more you play, the stronger your fingers and wrists will be.
3. When practicing, start out with the easiest exercises first and then move gradually into more difficult patterns. If you start out with the toughest pieces first, you may get frustrated and not want to continue practicing.
4. Make sure to pay attention to your posture when practicing and try not to slouch over your bass. Because of the weight and size of the bass, many bass players develop back problems after years of practice because of the bad posture habits that they developed when they were starting out.
5. Make sure that you have a strong grasp of the concepts in each lesson before moving on to the next one. While you may be tempted to blow through the simpler lessons in order to get to the more interesting and difficult ones, knowing the simpler concepts is usually necessary for learning the more complex ones.
Conclusion
- While there is no possible way that we can cover every aspect of playing the bass guitar in a single article, I hope that we have given you a solid foundation of knowledge that you can use to begin learning how to play. Whether you are a musical novice who wants to start learning music on a fun instrument, or a seasoned guitar player who wants to expand their knowledge and versatility, the bass guitar is a wonderful instrument that can provide you with hours of enjoyment. So grab your bass, stretch out those fingers, and prepare to get down with the "Low" end!

custom bass guitars

2010-01-28T07:23:00.000-08:00

I was recently set straight regarding the Internet when complaining about the astonishing ignorance and the masses of stupid vermin found on guitar forums. I was told by the fourth most dedicated Z player that "You put it out there on the Internet. There is no moron filter available for e-mail. It is what it is. Get over it."

But its just astonishing to me! They all live on guitar forums and masturbate around a circle with their equals. This is why I call them Circle Jerks. Its just not a good scene. Its nothing more than a disgusting public toilet. In fact that is exactly what a guitar forum is. A public toilet. There you have losers from everywhere congregating for group support and growing their stupidity under the cowardliness of anonymity. They don't have to prove any ability or accomplishment, not even their identity.

Take this for example: "I really like his guitars. too bad you gotta kiss his ass for him to even consider making you one."

No you don't have to kiss my ass. All you need to do is prove to me that you can actually play the guitar and prove to me that you are not a moron. Just give me evidence for these two simple requirements and I will make you the best guitar in the world. Its as easy and simple as it gets.

Or how about this circle jerk?

I just don't know what kind of person would want to be part of that particular club. :dunno

The ones part of this club are all those who have proven that they can play the guitar and have a certain amount of intelligence. They now own and play the best electric guitars in the world.

Speaking about actual players and not forum circle jerks, you should see these vids from Eli Friedmann. Incidentally this is someone who sent me links to his recordings in his first correspondence to me. That act alone made him qualify for a Z.

NOTE: I had to recently remove links I had posted here before because Eli lost his YouTube account. He now started a new account and has uploaded most of his Zachary guitar demonstration videos to his new account. Just click here for Eli's new YouTube page Eliguitar1 and you will be thoroughly impressed, even if you despise this nasty website.

A short while ago I bought back a Z2-T 240503 because it was not being used. Six years later it was like brand new. This is a horrible tragedy. That is something consistent with a guitar purchased by a forums poster who cannot actually play the guitar or some ebay slime, who changes guitars more often than his shorts but not a true Zachary owner. Fortunately, Zach Fenner came forward to take her home and give her everything he's got to give.

Watch these videos to see Fenner in action and click on the other vids in the same series. You will agree he passed the Zachary qualifying requirements.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju2eA21dnWM guitar solo around the middle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gn7qcB5b0LI guitar solo around the middle

An hour before shipping this Z2-T to Fenner a few days ago. I made this video in one take. When I came out of my stupor, I realized that it was over 13 minutes long, so I had to post it in two segments. I am trying to justify being worthy of a Zachary guitar owner myself. I have a higher power to answer to. I was the one picked to be the creator of Zachary guitars and I don't take this gift for granted.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80ewZ2yxTWA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUnckf0Kmas

I just don't know what kind of person would want to be part of that particular club. :dunno

You stupid piece of shit,... we are the ones who make up this club. Why? Because we can! ... and you can't.
So get back to your guitar forum you shameful jerk, you worthless anonymous piece of crap. That is where you belong.

Well, that's all to report for now. Next time I will not hold back with my opinions

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication Bass Tab

2010-01-27T02:50:00.000-08:00

G|---------9--9--7h9-----------7--7-------------9--9--7h9------------10--10--7~---|
D|---7--7------------10--------------10~-7--7-------------10----------------------|
A|-----------------------8--8----------------------------------8--8---------------|   x2
E|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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G|---------9--9--7h9-----------7--7-------------9--9--7h9------------10--10--7~---|
D|---7--7------------10--------------10~-7--7-------------10----------------------|
A|-----------------------8--8----------------------------------8--8---------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

   
G|----------------------------|
D|----------------------------|
A|---3--3--------------5--5---|
E|---------3--3--1--1---------|

G|---------9--9--7h9-----------7--7-------------9--9--7h9------------10--10--7~---|
D|---7--7------------10--------------10~-7--7-------------10----------------------|
A|-----------------------8--8----------------------------------8--8---------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

 
G|---------9--9--7h9-----------7--7-------------9--9--7h9------------10--10--7~---|
D|---7--7------------10--------------10~-7--7-------------10----------------------|
A|-----------------------8--8----------------------------------8--8---------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

  
G|----------------------------|
D|----------------------------|
A|---3--3--------------5--5---|
E|---------3--3--1--1---------|

G|------------------------------------------------------|
D|---7--7-7-7--7-7--7-7--9-10-----------------10-9------|
A|-----------------------------8--8-8-8--8-8-------10---|
E|------------------------------------------------------|

G|---------------------------------------7/9-7-5-4---|
D|----7--7-7-7--7-7--7-7--9-10-----------------------|
A|------------------------------8--8-8-8-------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------|


G|------------------------------------------------------|
D|---7--7-7-7--7-7--7-7--9-10-----------------10-9------|
A|-----------------------------8--8-8-8--8-8-------10---|   x2
E|------------------------------------------------------|

  
G|------------------------------------------------------|
D|---7--7-7-7--7-7--7-7--9-10---------------------------|
A|-----------------------------8--8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-----|   x2
E|------------------------------------------------------|

   
G|---------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------|
A|---3-3-------5-5-------3-3--------5~---|
E|--------3-3-------5-5-------3-1-3------|

G|---------9--9--7h9-----------7--7-------------9--9--7h9------------10--10--7~---|
D|---7--7------------10--------------10~-7--7-------------10----------------------|
A|-----------------------8--8----------------------------------8--8---------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

 
G|---------9--9--7h9-----------7--7-------------9--9--7h9------------10--10--7~---|
D|---7--7------------10--------------10~-7--7-------------10----------------------|
A|-----------------------8--8----------------------------------8--8---------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

G|----------------------------|
D|----------------------------|
A|---3--3--------------5--5---|
E|---------3--3--1--1---------|

G|---------9--9--7h9-----------7--7-------------9--9--7h9------------10--10--7~---|
D|---7--7------------10--------------10~-7--7-------------10----------------------|
A|-----------------------8--8----------------------------------8--8---------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

   
G|---------9--9--7h9-----------7--7-------------9--9--7h9------------10--10--7~---|
D|---7--7------------10--------------10~-7--7-------------10----------------------|
A|-----------------------8--8----------------------------------8--8---------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

    And Alderon's not
G|----------------------------|
D|----------------------------|
A|---3--3--------------5--5---|
E|---------3--3--1--1---------|

G|------------------------------------------------------|
D|---7--7-7-7--7-7--7-7--9-10-----------------10-9------|
A|-----------------------------8--8-8-8--8-8-------10---|
E|------------------------------------------------------|

G|------------------------------------------------------|
D|---7--7-7-7--7-7--7-7--9-10------------10-10-9--------|
A|-----------------------------8--8-8-8----------10-8---|
E|------------------------------------------------------|

   
G|------------------------------------------------------|
D|---7--7-7-7--7-7--7-7--9-10-----------------10-9------|
A|-----------------------------8--8-8-8--8-8-------10---|
E|------------------------------------------------------|

    Everybody's been there
G|---------------------------------------------------------
D|---7--7-7-7--7-7--7-7--9-10------------10h12-10-9----
A|-----------------------------8--8-8-8-------------10----
E|----------------------------------------------------------

  
G|------------------------------------------------------|
D|---7--7-7-7--7-7--7-7--9-10-----------------10-9------|
A|-----------------------------8--8-8-8--8-8-------10---|
E|------------------------------------------------------|

  
G|------------------------------------/10-10-10-10-10---|
D|---7--7-7-7--7-7--7-7--9-10---------------------------|
A|-----------------------------8--8-8-------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------------|

  
G|-------------------------------------------7---7-7---|
D|-----------------------------------------------------|
A|---3-3-------5-5-------3-3--------5--5-5-5---5-------|
E|--------3-3-------5-5-------3-1-3--------------------|

    Dream of Cali.
G|---------------------------------------------------|
D|----------------------------3-1-3------------------|
A|---3-3-------5-5-------3-3--------3-1-3-------5~---|
E|--------3-3-------5-5-------------------3-1-3------|

    SOLO
G|---------12----11--------------------|
D|-------------------------------------|
A|---9h10------9-----5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5---|   x2
E|-------------------------------------|

G|--------------7-----------------|
D|-------9----7--------7----------|
A|-----9----5--------7--------7---|
E|---7-------------5------0-7-----|

G|---------12----11--------------------|
D|-------------------------------------|
A|---9h10------9-----5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5---|   x2
E|-------------------------------------|

G|--------------7-----------------|
D|-------9----7--------7----------|
A|-----9----5--------7--------7---|   x3
E|---7-------------5------0-7-----|

G|---------9--9--7h9-----------7--7-------------9--9--7h9------------10--10--7~---|
D|---7--7------------10--------------10~-7--7-------------10----------------------|
A|-----------------------8--8----------------------------------8--8---------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

   
G|---------9--9--7h9-----------7--7-------------9--9--7h9------------10--10--7~---|
D|---7--7------------10--------------10~-7--7-------------10----------------------|
A|-----------------------8--8----------------------------------8--8---------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

  
G|----------------------------|
D|----------------------------|
A|---3--3--------------5--5---|
E|---------3--3--1--1---------|

G|------------------------------------------------------|
D|---7--7-7-7--7-7--7-7--9-10-----------------10-9------|
A|-----------------------------8--8-8-8--8-8-------10---|
E|------------------------------------------------------|

G|------------------------------------------------------|
D|---7--7-7-7--7-7--7-7--9-10------------10-10-9--------|
A|-----------------------------8--8-8-8----------10-8---|
E|------------------------------------------------------|

  
G|------------------------------------------------------|
D|---7--7-7-7--7-7--7-7--9-10-----------------10-9------|
A|-----------------------------8--8-8-8--8-8-------10---|
E|------------------------------------------------------|

    Sicker than the
G|---------------------------------------------------------
D|---7--7-7-7--7-7--7-7--9-10------------10h12-10-9----
A|-----------------------------8--8-8-8-------------10----
E|----------------------------------------------------------


G|------------------------------------------------------|
D|---7--7-7-7--7-7--7-7--9-10-----------------10-9------|
A|-----------------------------8--8-8-8--8-8-------10---|
E|------------------------------------------------------|

 
G|------------------------------------/10-10-10-10-10---|
D|---7--7-7-7--7-7--7-7--9-10---------------------------|
A|-----------------------------8--8-8-------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------------|


G|-------------------------------------------7---7-7---|
D|-----------------------------------------------------|
A|---3-3-------5-5-------3-3--------5--5-5-5---5-------|
E|--------3-3-------5-5-------3-1-3--------------------|
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G|---------------------------------------------------|
D|----------------------------3-1-3------------------|
A|---3-3-------5-5-------3-3--------3-1-3-------5~---|
E|--------3-3-------5-5-------------------3-1-3------|

Reading Bass Sheet Music, Bass Guitar Tab/Tablature and Bass Symbols

2010-01-26T01:45:00.000-08:00

A detailed tutorial and lessons to help you learn how to read bass tabs and to let you enjoy 1000s of online bass tabs. These lessons include unique interactive systems that makes learning faster than any other method.
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Ready to learn to read bass guitar sheet music and bass tab FAST? This course features unique interactive features which will help you read notes quicker, recognize chords, find notes on your bass and help you understand sheet music and bass guitar tablature.

What is Bass Tab?

Bass tab is the most popular way of transcribing bass music on the internet. If you know how to read bass tab and know how to use it you can play thousands of online bass tabs. With our interactive bass tab reader you will learn how to read and play from bass tab faster than any other method.
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All lessons include bass sheet music and bass tabs. But you will not be able to just read the exercises. The exercises include many sound files as well, so you can hear the sheet music and play along with the sheet music!

This course also give you access to the Jam System which will let you play along with exercises, change drum tempo and rhythm and much more!

If you want to learn to:

- read notes
- read sheet music
- read bass symbols
- read bass guitar tab
- learn sheet music symbols
- get better at reading sheet music and playing
- play along with sheet music
- play immediately from bass tabs
- play and practice with different drum beats and tempos
- have more fun with your bass
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... then this is the course for you

Bass Guitar Strings

2010-01-25T08:50:00.000-08:00

Acoustic Bass Guitar Strings

Complete sets are listed in the sections below. Individual acoustic bass guitar strings can be found in the Single Strings section.


	C.F. Martin


	D'Addario


	DR Strings


	Elixir


	Ernie Ball


	Fender


	RotoSound


	S I T Strings


	Get more explanation about bass guitar strings

Basic Slapping for Bass Guitar

2010-01-24T06:05:00.000-08:00

Steps

1

Keep your hand perpendicular to the strings and your thumb at a 50-60 degree angle with the string you're slapping. You will need to have your arm at a particular angle. Think of a traditional scarecrow with rigid upper arms. This may ache after a long period of playing, but you'll get used to it.
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2
Remember, it's all in the wrist. For a basic slap exercise, you can slap and pop an octave - an octave is 2 frets up and 2 strings up. Play an octave with your first and third fingers on your left hand.
3

First, to position your right hand. You need your thumb parallel to the string, (let's use the E string first).
4

Now, using a hitch hiker or flopping fish action, bring your thumb down slowly and hit the string, when you hit the string try and hit the bottom half of it, the bottom of your thumb should end up on the next string.
5

Keep practicing that action until you get good hits, the ideal sound is a solid thump.
6
Now, try adding some popping to the technique. Popping is where you pull up on the string.
7

With either your middle or index finger, (which ever is most comfortable) put your finger underneath the string let's use the G string, pull up your finger until the string eventually snaps back down on the fretboard.
8
Now let's try putting both of those into one technique:
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    S   P   S   P   S   P   S   P

G|------9-------9-------9-------9-|

D|--------------------------------|

A|--7-------7-------7-------7-----|

E|--------------------------------|



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Variation

    S   P   S   P   S   P   S   P

G|------5-------6-------7-------8-|

D|--------------------------------|

A|--3-------4-------5-------6-----|

E|--------------------------------|

Bass Guitar Basics Bass Guitar for Beginners

2010-01-23T01:59:00.000-08:00

Are you looking for free online bass guitar lessons? Want to play bass guitar but don't know where or how to start? This page is just for you! These are the very first steps to playing bass guitar.

FIRST You must tune your bass! Get help with our free online bass guitar tuner. Then come back and continue with the next lesson on this page.

BASS GUITAR NOTES

When just starting bass guitar--for beginners, it is important to memorize the names of the open strings. Here is a picture to help you.

The 4th string is the one on the left--the largest string on your bass, or the one that is closest to you when you hold your bass in playing position. Practice playing and naming the open strings until you can do so easily.

The bars going across the neck are called "frets". You also need to memorize the names of the notes on the 3rd, 5th, and 7th frets of the Third and Fourth Strings:

The fretted notes may be played for now with the first finger of your left hand. The fingers are numbered starting with the index finger as 1. Be sure to press FIRMLY just between the metal frets.Take your time and insist upon a good musical sound.

Practice playing AND naming the notes on the frets as marked until you can do so easily. This is VERY IMPORTANT later on and if you don't do it now, you will just have to come back to Bass Guitar Basics and do it later.

PRACTICE BASS GUITAR NOTES

When you are sure that you know these notes, you are ready to play them in some combinations:

1. G G G G / C C C C / D D D D / C C C C

2. A A A A / D D D D / E E E E / D D D D

3. D D D D / G G G G / A A A A / G G G G

4. E E E E / A A A A / B B B B / A A A A

Play these combinations SLOWLY and SMOOTHLY while naming each note.You might notice that these combinations sound a lot like "Louie Louie" or "Wild Thing" or about a million other songs. See if YOU can think of one. Heck--try singing along!

When you have become an expert at this and have amazed your family and friends, you are ready for some Beginning Bass Guitar Scales. You are doing GREAT so far!

How Often Do You Change Bass Strings?

2010-01-21T08:24:00.000-08:00

Why do you need to change bass strings? What makes your bass strings go dead?

Strings lose their brilliance because dirt, oil and sweat accumulate in the winding. As the string gets dirtier, it starts to sound dull and dead. Which may or may not be to your liking.

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You will find a new set of bass strings to have a very bright sound. They will have a lot of “zing” to them. Personally, I don’t like the sound of strings until I’ve broken them in for a few days. So give your new strings a few days and don’t change them just before a gig if you don’t know what to expect.

How often should you change your bass strings?

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There’s no solid answer to this question. It depends on the tone you like, how much you play and how much you can afford to spend on bass strings. Some people never change strings. James Jamerson never changed his strings and once said, “The funk is in the funk.” Other people who like a bright sound or play a lot may change strings once every week or two. For my average student I suggest they change or clean them every 3-4 months

Offspring-Americana

2010-01-20T08:53:00.000-08:00

g|---------------------|
d|---------------------|
a|---------------------|
d|5---7---7-5-2--0-2-2-|

g|--------0-2-0-|
d|2--0-2--------|
a|--------------|
d|--------------|

g|-------------------------------------------------|
d|22222222--------------------0000-22222222--------|
a|----------------000000003333-------------22222222|
d|--------55555555---------------------------------|

g|------------------------|
d|------------------------|
a|---55-77-23----55-77-77-|
d|55----------55----------|

last time

g|------------------------|
d|------------------------|
a|---66-88-34----66-88-88-|
d|66----------66----------|

Bass Guitar Players Who Changed The World

2010-01-18T08:15:00.000-08:00

Some people think that if you want to change the world you don't become a bass player, but go into something more challenging and stimulating like the Post Office. But does this myth portray how bass players really are? Let's step back from our habitual way of seeing bass guitar players as necessary but boring members of the group. Like accountants. Sure we acknowledge the fine contribution they make to their bands by supplying the bass lines and paying for the beer, but do they actually do anything really creative? This brief listing of some prominent men (and woman) of bass will allow you to see that this apparently self effacing member of a musical group could be the creative powerhouse.

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Let's start with the leather jacketed but overpoweringly feminine Suzi Quatro. A vocalist and bass player who had a bunch of hits in Australia and Europe in the early seventies, her popularity in the USA stemmed from her role as Leather Tuscadero in Happy Days.

John Entwistle pioneered the use of the electric bass guitar as an instrument for soloists. His aggressive approach to the bass guitar influenced many other bassists.

Flea of The Red Hot Chili Peppers impressed a lot of musicians with his popping and slapping technique which was originally invented by Larry Graham of Sly And The Family Stone. Flea's innovative use of effects pedals has also influenced many bass players.

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Jack Bruce wrote most of supergroup Cream's hit songs. Among his other achievements are fighting constantly with Cream's drummer, Ginger Baker and surviving a liver transplant.

Greg Lake is another artist of the early seventies who played with a number of innovators from the glam rock era. Lake is best known for his vocals, bass and guitar work with Emerson, Lake and Palmer.

Rob Bailey is a bassist who plays loud and aggressive. His bass playing is an important element in the music of AC/DC.

Benny Rietveld, a Dutch musician who went to college in Hawaii, is admired for his musical and individualistic style of playing. He worked with Barney Kessell, Sheila E, Huey Lewis and Miles Davis. He has also made an album featuring Carlos Santana. Talk about diverse.

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Paul McCartney played bass with The Beatles. Many bass players say he's quite good, but he changed the world with his romantic song lyrics.

Considered by some to be the king of bass players, Stanley Clarke employs a variation of the pop and slap technique to produce some truly innovative bass guitar music. His 1976 album, School Days, is acclaimed by many critics as one of the greatest bass albums ever.

A true bass lead guitar player, Billy Sheehan has won Guitar Player Magazine's "Best Rock Bass Player" readers' poll five times. Why a "bass lead guitar player"? Because Billy plays bass as if he were playing lead.

So if you are not familiar with bass guitar players I hope this article has whetted your appetite. Why not spend your next rainy Sunday watching some of their work on YouTube?

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Is the 5 String Bass Guitar the Evolution of the Electric Bass?

2010-01-17T09:31:00.000-08:00

The 5 string bass represents a fascinating branch of the electric bass guitar class. Can you guess the name of one of the original bass guitar makers that held off on adopting the 5 string to its main product line despite introducing the first ever electric 5 string instrument? Read on to find out more about the 5 string bass.

Origins of 5 String Basses

5 String basses didn't really start to appear until the late 70's when Alembic, Ken Smith and (by his own admission) Michael Tobias built one. The first veritable production 5 string was the Musicman Sting Ray 5 which debuted in 1986. Within a couple of years, 5 string basses were surfacing in more and more low-priced models by major manufacturers such as Ibanez, Peavey, Yamaha and Washburn. Strangely enough, because a certain bass manufacturer stayed away from offering 5 string versions of its bass guitars until the1990's, a cottage-industry of lookalikes started to appear. Custom bass guitar luthiers began to rise in popularity by meeting the need for a 5 string bass guitar with vintage styling. Companies like Sadowsky, Lull, Lakland and finally Allevo Coppolla filled this void.

Companies including Spector, Warwick, F Bass, MTD, Ken Smith, Zon, Fodera, Pedulla and ESP offered 5 strings with their own unique designs. One particularly unique design is the fanned fret system used on Dingwall basses that helps extend the scale length of the low B string substantially.

Producing the perfect 5 string electric bass required some particular considerations, with the uneven number of strings, the neck had to be assembled for increased stability. Figuring out the best string spacing, neck width, neck radius, electronics and scale length took many years and a lot of different attempts. Early five string bass concepts often had necks that were too broad, or that attempted to cram 5 bass strings into the same size neck as a four string bass; neither of which were ideal for most players. 35" scale basses became progressively common as a method to 'tighten up' or add definition to the low B string.

While adoption of the 5 string attained mainstream acceptance in the 90's with players like Tom Hamilton of Areosmith, Jason Newsted of Metallica, David Ellefson of Megadeth and Billy Gould of Faith No More et al., many other celebrated bassists chose to remain with the four string bass. Bassists such as Geddy Lee, Flea, Marcus Miller, Billy Sheehan and Victor Wooten proceed to do the bulk of their recorded or live performances entirely with four string basses.

A recent movement towards detuned 4 string basses with a 35 inch scale that share the equivalent low notes as a low B equipped 5 string happened in the early to mid 2000s. While the five string bass appears to be here to stay, it seems that it has yet to fully replace the 4 string bass in the fashion that the electric bass essentially supplanted the acoustic bass in the 1960s.

5 String Electric Bass Tunings

The more common tunings for the 5 string bass are either E-A-D-G-C (high C) or B-E-A-D-G (low B) with the latter tuning embodying the most prevalent. Low B tuned five strings are popular in Gospel, Hard Rock and Metal music genres while the high C tuned 5 string bass is more common in Jazz, Fusion or bass solo recordings.

The Perfect Low B

With the low B string, 5 string electric bass players have fought to find the right amount of punch and presence to give definition to the lower frequencies without it sounding like 'mud'. Finding the 'perfect low B' in terms of sound and feel is a perpetual quest for many players - often warranting the expense of arranging a custom-made bass guitar from a luthier.

I hope you enjoyed this taste of what the 5 string bass guitar is all about. As for my question at the top of this article - Did you guess that the company was Fender? That's right, Fender introduced the "Fender V" in 1964 in limited quantities. It seems that this particular instrument didn't feature a low B string, and John Paul Jones was known to have played one for a time in Led Zeppelin.

Getting Started Learning The Bass Guitar With These Basics

2010-01-16T04:47:00.000-08:00

The bass guitar looks like an electric guitar except it has a larger body, a longer neck, and fewer, thicker strings. There are usually four, sometimes five or six strings, tuned an octave lower. The body is usually is maple or rose wood.

The bass is used in many types of music including rock, blues, metal, pop, country, and jazz. It can solo in jazz, fusion, Latin, funk, and in some rock and heavy metal. It underlies the music's beat. And it is that beat that appeals to many guitarists, who decide to expand into playing bass and take bass guitar lessons.

The bass guitar, unlike other guitars, is not chord oriented and this actually makes learning to play the bass guitar more complex than learning how to play acoustic guitar. You might think that since there are fewer strings, it is easier to play, but that's not true!

Learning to play the bass guitar is a foundation that will make learning how to play other guitars like acoustic or electric easier.

If you want to play the bass guitar, here are some ideas to get you started.

First you need to get a guitar. Borrow one to start or buy a used one. Don't spend a lot of money until you get proficient and learn a little about what you want in your instrument. You can look at eBay, Craigslist, or Google "used bass guitars" to find a reasonable used one. You can always trade up later.

Expect that you will need to have a certain degree of hand strength to play bass guitar. More than with other guitar types, the bass guitar requires strong hands and fingers.

ou should learn how to tune your bass guitar. Tuning it isn't really different than tuning a standard guitar. It may be easier since you likely have fewer strings to tune. If you are a beginner, don't try to tune your guitar by ear. Get an electronic guitar tuner. You can get a battery operated one for around $20.

You need to be attuned to the beat of the music that you are playing. Some bass parts aren't necessarily complicated but the rhythm must be perfect. That means you really need to be able to focus intently when you practice. As old-school as this may sound, practice with a metronome. Don't worry - it doesn't have to be an old wood box! You should be able to find one online that you can download. Some online bass guitar lessons will provide you with a digital version.

Now, take some bass guitar lessons or find a good bass guitar instructional DVD or online program. Some of the better ones actually let you "jam along" with their guitar instructors. Or find a friend or two you can play with. Playing with others will push you forward and reveal what areas you need to work on.

Playing the bass guitar can be a rewarding hobby or even a profession. And last, remember to always relax and have some fun.

Rage Against The Machine - Killing In The Name

2010-01-14T12:23:00.000-08:00

*Dropped D Tuning*

Intro/Outro
G|--------------|
D|--------------|
A|-------6-6-6--|
D|-0-0-0--------|
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"Some of those that..."
G|-------------------------|
D|---------3h4-------------|
A|----3h5------5-----------|
D|-0--------------0-2h3-2--|

Variation during second time
G|--------------------------------10--|
D|-----------------------10-11-12-----|
A|----3h5--8h9--10-11-12--------------|
D|-0----------------------------------|
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"Killing in the name of"
G|----------4----------3---------2--------------|
D|----------------------------------------------|
A|----3h5-5------3h5-5-----3h5-5----------------|
D|-0----------0----------0---------0-2h3-2h3-2--|

"Now you do what they told ya"
G|---------|
D|---------|
A|-5-5--5--|
D|---------|

"Those who died..."
G|-----------------|
D|-----------------|
A|-5-5--5-5-----3--|
D|----------3-5----|
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"Fuck you..."
G|---------------|
D|---------------|  gradually increase volume
A|---------------|
D|-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-|

beginning Guitar Purchase

2010-01-13T08:16:00.000-08:00

Purchasing a beginning guitar is an exciting time in the life of a new guitarist. You head out to the store and view walls of bright instruments and just imagine yourself and how awesome you'll look as a rock star some day!

Now, it's fun to sit back and daydream for a little bit about those sorts of things, but you really need to focus on what's important in a new guitar. So, to make sure that you don't end up screwing yourself and losing interest in playing, here are 5 very important things that your new guitar should have.

1. The strings should be a reasonable distance from the fret board.

Most early guitarists get discouraged very quickly because frankly, the guitar can be hard to play. Now, not in every instance is that the guitarist's fault.

One of the deciding factors on whether a guitar is going to be easier to play than another is by its playing action and that's determined by the distance the strings are from the fret board. If you plan on using good posture and technique, go for something where the strings are easier to press.

2. You want good tone.

Honestly, you can have a guitar with mediocre tone and an amplifier with good tone and still have a good tone overall. It's more about your personal preferences with a guitar.

If you like more bottom end, get something with more bass. If you want a beginning guitar with more of a lead flare, get something with higher frequencies.

3. Get your preference on the number of pick-ups you desire.

There are a lot of different types of guitars and they all have different pick-ups. Some of them give you the choice of 2 and some give you 3. Find out how many channels you would like on your guitar and then go for it.

4. Do you like how it looks?

Probably more important than any of the other things is if you like how it looks. You can't purchase something that sounds pretty good, but makes you look like a nerd when you play it. People want to believe that you're a rocker and not just someone who loves Dungeons and Dragons!

5. Note the weight of the instrument.

A heavy beginning guitar can really weigh you down, literally. Some guitars are built to be nice and light for moving around while others are focused on a really loud and broad sound.

Find out what's more important to you and then make your decision from there.

Now, even though you'll have this really awesome instrument to play, you still need to figure out how to play it. That's why it's important to really get down to business from the very beginning and get some online guitar lessons.

Yea, lessons seem like a pretty big step in your guitar career, but it's more about learning to play the right way from the very beginning. Seriously, if you were to take only a few lessons, you would be way ahead of everyone else.

Here are a few reasons to look at some reasonably-priced online lessons:

* You'll learn the proper way to hold and play the guitar.

* Chords will be easier to play and easier to connect together.

* You'll learn the value of following a consistent tempo.

* Single note licks won't scare you anymore.

2010-01-10T10:53:00.000-08:00

Bass Guitar Maintenance

2010-01-07T23:38:00.000-08:00

Bass Guitar Polishing - It's a good idea to pick up a good guitar polish for your bass guitar. The guitar polish should be applied only to the guitar body, and only if your neck is a gloss neck. You do not want to apply polish to any bare wood or even the metal pieces on your bass. Some polish may affect the finish of your chrome or gold tailpieces, knobs, or jacks on the bass guitar. So get yourself a guitar chamois and polish in rub in a little at a time in circles. Then use a dry chamois to wipe down the area that you have polished. Your bass should now shine and look like new.

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Bass Neck Adjustment - Sometimes your bass guitar neck may become curved or arched toward the headstock of your guitar. An easy way to check it to hold your bass up to a light. You'll want to look from the body up to the neck and see if you see some curvature in the neck. Most basses have an adjustment at the headstock of the bass that may be adjusted for this purpose. You'll want to use a hex wrench or similar type tool for this adjustment. Use quarter turns and keep checking the neck curve. This is a trial and error process, but will do wonders with the playability of your bass with a straight neck. By the way if your neck adjustment does not appear on the headstock it's most likely at the butt of the neck. This is a more tedious adjustment because you may have to remove the neck and strings to get to the bass neck adjuster.
String Your Bass Guitar- Stringing your bass guitar is not as difficult as you may think. Most basses have either a string through body or a string through bridge. This just means you either start stringing your bass either through back of the body or through the bridge at the bottom of you bass body. Usually start with your low E string or thickest guitar string on the 1st hole at the top. String that through the nut (plastic piece at top of neck but below headstock) of the guitar and wrap a couple of time around the tuner and take string through the hole on that tuner. Make sure you take the string through the hole but on top of the wrap you just made to hole down the wrap of the string. Most people get pliers to pull and tighten the string and then cut any excess with some wire cutters. These tips should help you string your bass guitar in an efficient manner.

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Fret Buzz - If your getting fret buzz on your bass your strings are likely to low and buzzing on the frets. There are usually two easy ways to adjust for this. First check the curve of your neck with the tips listed above. Is your neck curved to much. If so straighten out your neck with your neck adjustment info above. Secondly, your bridge pieces may be set to low. A lower setting on your bridge pieces may cause fret buzz. The bridge pieces on a bass are usually the four ridged piece where the strings set on the bridge. They usually have screws to adjust them up or down. Try raising the pieces where the strings sit that you are having the problem. Just raise them a little at a time until the problem disappears. If you are not comfortable with this adjustment most local guitar shops should be able to take care of this for you at a decent price.
Bass Pickup Height and Bass Pole Pieces - If your bass pickups are sounding a little weak, you may want to try adjusting your bass pickups. Some basses give you the option to adjust bass pickup height and bass pole pieces. Adjusting both of these options should help you get a stronger sound from your pickups. One word of caution, do not adjust to much as you will get out of phase type sounds from your bass. To adjust pickup height there are screws on either side of the pickup which usually raise or lower the pickup try small adjustments here. To raise or lower pole pieces, you have to have pickups with adjustable pole pieces for the most part. The pole pieces are the metal pieces or magnets that you see in the middle of the pickup itself. These pieces actually pickup the sound from the strings of the bass. If your pickups have adjustable pole pieces you'll see a hex wrench slot or screw as the pole pieces. One can raise or lower those to change the hotness of the pickup. Remember a little adjustment goes a long way.
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Bass Strap Locks - It's a great idea to get strap locks for you bass guitar. They are easy to apply and prevent your bass from falling from your strap. Basically, Schaller strap locks work great, but I've seen other brands work just as well. All you need to do is get a wrench and apply the locks to the strap itself. Then get a screw driver, remove the old strap buttons from your guitar, and screw in the new strap button. Your bass guitar is now secure and won't fall off of you during your next gig or show.

Learning to Play Bass Guitar - 4 Guitar Playing Tips

2010-01-06T09:59:00.000-08:00

Playing the guitar is one popular pastime nowadays. For some people, it is also a way of expressing themselves and elevates the hobby into an art form or sometimes, science.

Playing the guitar, however, is no joke. It requires a lot of patience and practice. For some people, they would rather study playing the bass guitar than the regular guitar. Here are some tips on learning to play the bass guitar.

1. Feel the beat

Playing the bass guitar differs primarily from playing a regular guitar because it entails an emphasis on the beat of the music. One can compare the bass guitar into a drum or percussion set that is made into a guitar. Beats are very important in playing bass guitar because this type of guitar gives depth and timing to any song.

If one grasps the notes of a regular guitar through his ears, a bass player grabs the notes of a bass guitar through his chest. The bass guitar pounds on the heart and gives it feelings through the depth of the music.

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2. Learn the notes (single chords) on a regular guitar

The main thing about bass guitars is that they are tuned like ordinary guitars. The difference is that most regular bass guitars only have four strings which are far thicker than ordinary ones. This kind of strings allows the bass guitar to go very deep in terms of tone.

Take a regular guitar (which is tuned from the thickest to the lowest string- E - A - D - G - B - E) and exclude the two thinnest strings at the bottom and what is left is basically a bass guitar with thinner strings.

Bass playing is usually note-oriented and not chord-oriented. This means that single notes are hit more often in bass playing and this scheme is the essential element of bass playing. One should be familiar with the tunings and the notes in a regular guitar to be able to decently play the bass guitar.

3. Finger placing is important

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Hitting the bass guitar fret board with the left-hand fingers is very important since it is a major factor that will determine the wholeness of each note. Try to place the fingers such that they are close to the fret on the right. The right hand should also be practiced so as to give bass guitar playing a holistic approach.

4. Strengthen your grip

Another important thing to develop in bass playing is the strength of both hand's fingers. The bass guitar is a sturdy and solid musical instrument, strength is needed to play it.

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In playing the bass guitar, one should always take one lesson at a time. Bass playing requires repetition and there's no sense in hurrying the learning process. One should feel the notes through his soul and through his heart and become one with the bass guitar.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anthony_Lee

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2010-01-05T23:59:00.000-08:00

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Dani California - Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium - UPDATED!
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Tabbed By : Ethan Linck
e-mail: ntkbassist@yahoo.com
Tuning: Standard

Bass by Micheal Balzary (Flea)

Here is the bass part for RHCP’s first single of Stadium Arcadium, Dani California.

Update: This is now pretty much perfect. Everything is tabbed out, chorus and bridge
fixed, all the solo fills done. Enjoy.

Verse:

G|--------------------7-------------------|
D|-----7------5-3-------5h7p5-------------|
A|----------------5-5---------7-5---------|
E|-5-5----3-3-----------------------------|

G|--------------------7------------|
D|-----7------5-3-------7----------|
A|----------------5-5------3-5-5---|
E|-5-5----3-3------------5---------|

G|--------------------7-------------------|
D|-----7------5-3-------5h7p5-------------|
A|----------------5-5---------7-5---------|
E|-5-5----3-3-----------------------------|
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G|--------------------7----------------|
D|-----7------5-3--------------5-------|
A|----------------5-5----5h7p5---7-----|
E|-5-5----3-3----------------------5---|

G|--------------------7-----5----------|
D|-----7------5-3-------5h7---5---5----|
A|----------------5-5-----------7------|
E|-5-5----3-3--------------------------|

G|--------------------7-------------------|
D|-----7------5-3-------5h7p5-------------|
A|----------------5-5---------7-5---------|
E|-5-5----3-3-----------------------------|

G|--------------------7-------------------|
D|-----7------5-3-------5h7p5-------------|
A|----------------5-5---------7-5---------|
E|-5-5----3-3-----------------------------|

G|--------------------7-------------------|
D|-----7------5-3-------5h7p5--5---5------|
A|----------------5-5------------7---7----|
E|-5-5----3-3-----------------------------|

G|--------------------7-------------------|
D|-----7------5-3-------5h7p5-------------|
A|----------------5-5---------7-5---------|
E|-5-5----3-3-----------------------------|

G|-----------------------------------------------|
D|-----7------5-3--------------------------------|
A|----------------5-5--5-55-5---5-55-5---5-55-5--|
E|-5-5----3-3------------------------------------|

Chorus:

G|--------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------| x3
A|-------3-3-(3)3h5-55-5----------------|
E|-1-1-1-----------------3-3------------|
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G|------------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------------5---|
A|-------3-3-(3)3h5-5-5--5-55--5-55--5-55---7---7-|
E|-1-1-1------------------------------------------|


Post chorus wierd guitar thingy:

G|--------------------7-------------------|
D|-----7------5-3-------5h7p5-------------|
A|----------------5-5---------7-5---------|
E|-5-5----3-3-----------------------------|

G|--------------------7-----------------|
D|-----7------5-3-----------------5-----|
A|----------------5-5---5h7---3-7---7---|
E|-5-5----3-3---------------5-----------|

Verse 2:

G|--------------------7-------------------|
D|-----7------5-3-------5h7p5-------------|
A|----------------5-5---------7-5---------|
E|-5-5----3-3-----------------------------|

G|--------------------7-----------------|
D|-----7------5-3------------5-7-5------|
A|----------------5-5----5h7------7-5---|
E|-5-5----3-3---------------------------|

G|--------------------7-------------------|
D|-----7------5-3-------5h7p5-------------|
A|----------------5-5---------7-5---------|
E|-5-5----3-3-----------------------------|

G|-----------------------------------------------|
D|-----7------5-3--------------------------------|
A|----------------5-5--5-55-5---5-55-5---5-55-5--|
E|-5-5----3-3------------------------------------|

Chorus

Bridge:

G|----------------------------------------------|
D|-----9-------9---9----9---7------9---7--------| x3
A|-------9-7-----9--------9--------------9-7-5--|
E|-7-7-------------------------7-7--------------|

G|--------------------------------------------|
D|-----9-------9---9----9---7-----------4-----|
A|-------9-7-----9--------9---------5-7-------|
E|-7-7-------------------------7-7--------7---|

Verse 3:

G|--------------------7-------------------|
D|-----7------5-3-------5h7p5-------------|
A|----------------5-5---------7-5---------|
E|-5-5----3-3-----------------------------|

G|--------------------7-------7---------|
D|-----7------5-3-----------9---9-7-----|
A|----------------5-5---5h7---------9-7-|
E|-5-5----3-3----------------------------|

G|--------------------7-------------------|
D|-----7------5-3-------5h7p5-------------|
A|----------------5-5---------5h7p5-------|
E|-5-5----3-3-----------------------------|
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G|-----------------------------------------------|
D|-----7------5-3--------------------------------|
A|----------------5-5--5-55-5---5-55-5---5-55-5--|
E|-5-5----3-3------------------------------------|

G|---9-9-99-9-99-9-9------------------|
D|------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------|
E|------------------0-0-00-0-0-00-0-0-|

Chorus x2

Solo

G|--------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------|
A|-------3-3-(3)3h5-55-5----------------|
E|-1-1-1-----------------3-3------------|

G|------------------------------------|
D|--------------------3---------------|
A|-------3-3-(3)3h5-5---5-3--3--------|
E|-1-1-1--------------------5--3------|

G|--------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------|
A|-------3-3-(3)3h5-55-5----------------|
E|-1-1-1-----------------3-3-3----------|

G|---------------------------------------5---7-5---7-5----|
D|-----------------------------------5-7---------7-----7--|
A|-------3-3-(3)3h5-5-5--5-55--5-55-----------------------|
E|-1-1-1--------------------------------------------------|

G|--------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------|
A|-------3-3-(3)3h5-55-5-55-------------|
E|-1-1-1--------------------3-3-3-------|

G|--------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------|
A|-------3-3-(3)3h5-55-5----------------|
E|-1-1-1-----------------3-3-3----------|
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G|---------------------7---------------|
D|-----------------------5h7p5---------|
A|-------3-3-(3)3h5-55---------7-5-----|
E|-1-1-1-------------------------------|

G|--------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------------------2-3-5-7-8-9-10-10----|
A|--------------------------------0-2--3-3-------------------5*-|
E|-1-11-1---1-11-1---1-11-1---1-1-------------------------------|

2010-01-04T07:05:00.000-08:00

Reading a bass guitar "tab" is different than reading standard sheet music, and easier. This is the key difference between tablature and standard notation, as standard notation is more complex. Bass tab does not require knowledge of note names, and rhythm does not need to be "read," either (indeed, tabs do not appropriately convey rhythm). Instead, the structure of tabs requires only an understanding of numbers, as well as a few special symbols. This means that, unlike standard sheet music, bass tabs are more easily found on the Internet, thanks to the ordinary characters that are involved.

Instructions

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Things You'll Need:

Bass guitar

Step 1

Pick up your bass guitar and determine the number of strings it has. Many bass guitars have four strings, while some have five or six. Look at the bass-guitar tab. Each line on the tab represents the strings on your bass guitar, with the first line representing the thinnest string on your bass and the last line representing the thickest string on your instrument.
Step 2

Look at the numbers that are found on your bass tab. Each number corresponds to the fret number on your bass guitar's neck, and each number will be located on a separate line. So a "6" on the last string on the tab means you play a note holding down the thickest string on your bass at the sixth fret. A "0" on a tab means you must play the string open (or without holding down a fret). Additionally, each number will be arranged along the tab either to the left or to the right. The numbers closest to the left side get played first, while the numbers to the right get played last.

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Step 3

Find any place on the bass tab where multiple numbers are lined up vertically on separate lines. This indicates that a chord is to be played, or that each of these strings must be held down along the same fret to play a combined note.
Step 4

Check for an "H" or a "P" on the bass tab. These are symbols that require you perform two related actions. An "H" stands for "Hammer On." A hammer-on involves playing one note and then, without releasing that note, pressing your finger onto a fret to play another. So if you see "5h7" on a tab, this requires you to hammer on from the 5th to the 7th frets. A "P" requires you to perform a "Pull-Off" move--a reverse Hammer On that is achieved by removing a finger from a string over a fret while keeping your other finger on the remaining fret.

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Step 5

Learn additional symbols that may be found on a bass tab. A bar line, or |, requires you to lay your fingers over all of the indicated strings. A back slash, or /, requires that you slide your finger up the string along the different frets while playing a note, and an "R" requires that you do the same in the opposite direction. A "B" symbol means you must bend the string slightly as you play a note, and a "T" has you merely tapping a string to play a short note.

2010-01-02T22:53:00.000-08:00

Cool michael jackson tribute
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bass guitar songs

2010-01-02T02:56:00.000-08:00

Here I will put every day or 2 some bass guitare songs

White stripes -Seven Nation Army



Part A
G---------------------------------------------
D---------------------------------------------
A--7-7-10-7-5-3-2-----------------------------
E---------------------------------------------


Part B
G---------------------------------------------
D---------------------------------------------
A--7-7-10-7-5-3-5-3-2-------------------------
E---------------------------------------------


Part C
G---------------------------------------------
D---------------------------------------------
A---------------------------------------------
E-33333333-55555555---------------------------



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Gibson Bass Guitar

2009-12-31T04:10:00.000-08:00

I found some nice place that you have there review of all of the Gibson Bass Guitars
If you like bass guitars that gibson make you probably will like that site
Gibson Bass Guitar Review

If you still didn't claim you free bass leassons click here

Find cheap basses

2009-12-28T06:31:00.000-08:00

If you are a bass player or you want to be a bass player, you are in a club of unique individuals. Most people want to be the star or frontman. Bass players are different. And if you are looking for cheap bass guitars, know that you have a lot of options to choose from. Whether you are in the market for acoustic, electric, or stand up, you can find it without leaving your chair. (Till it comes time to taking one for a test drive.)

If you know which style of bass you want to play, you will save a lot of time researching on the web. If you are unsure, take the time to run to your local music store and try a few on for size. You will be surprised at all the options available to you. Who knows, you may end up getting into a whole new style of playing based on the shape and sound of the instrument you tested. I'm speaking to those who are just now considering the bass guitar.

Lets take a look at a few aspects to think about when making a decision about which of the cheap bass guitars is right for you. Well talk a little about bass players in general, what you may end up spending on one, as well as how to determine which one is right for you.

Cheap Bass Guitars - Right For You? (Playing the bass is a lot different than playing guitar)

Most bass players that are just starting out buy cheap bass guitars. By cheap I'm not saying the bass is bad quality, just that it is on the lower end of the price range. When I talk about cheap, that is what I am referring to.

What makes bass players unique? In my opinion, its the fact that they don't feel the need to be in the main spotlight. Bass players are content with being in the background. As a general rule you will not see bass players jumping and screaming all over the place like you do guitarist and singers. They just hang out, not requiring all the attention. The dirty little secret is, they are what holds the band together, keeping the rhythm and tempo allowing the others to do their thing.

If you already play the guitar, but want to learn how to play the bass, you can pick it up quickly. The main thing to remember is that you are going from lead person to rhythm person. That is probably the most difficult aspect of the transition you will need to make. The nice thing about learning to play the bass is that it is relatively easy to pick up. If you have a good sense of rhythm, keeping a beat, you will do fine. There are not a lot of cords to learn. Once you understand the scale you will be in business.

Average Cost For Cheap Bass Guitars (You can get a nice bass for cheap)

Like most durable goods that you buy, bass guitars are no different, there are the super cheapies, then there are the middle of the road pricing. and of course the prices on the upper scale. We will be looking at the lower to middle range to buy cheap guitars. Bass guitars can get really expensive but you do not have to spend a ton of money to own a quality bass. Fact is, it is about the same as with most quality cheap guitars.

You are going to want to spend a couple of hundred dollars on a bass. If you go much less than that, you are going to notice the difference on how it plays and feels. The action on the neck will feel awkward and the bass just will not have that smooth deep, full sound that you are looking for. Super cheap guitars are for children to start on. It works for them, since they are just understanding the whole music thing anyway.

If you on the other hand are really ready to get serious, you are going to want an instrument that you love to play that keeps the passion alive so that you keep practicing. If you understand how cheap bass guitars are made you might think about picking up a used one. A word of caution, you have to know what to look for or you could get burned.

Cheap Bass Guitars - On-line Options Do all your research right here On The Internet

As you know, the Internet has the answer to almost any question. Whether you are looking for cheap electric guitars, cheap acoustic guitars or cheap bass guitars for that matter, you can find just what you are looking for for the price you want to spend. So, how can you know which bass is going to give the most value for your dollar?

Here are the three things you should do. Check in the forums that relate to bass guitars. Find out what people are talking about and what they are buying. Go to the review sites and see which guitars rate the best. What names keep showing up? You can also go to the big name stores on-line, they will often have a star rated system for you to see. Be diligent, this is going to take a little time

Visit my site for more www.beginner-bass-guitar.com.

amazing bass player

2009-12-27T11:50:00.000-08:00

amazing!!!

free mini course

Muse - Hysteria

2009-12-24T07:19:00.000-08:00


G|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-0-0-10-0-10h12-0-10-0-7-0-8-8-7-5-7------------------10-0----0-10-10----10h12-|
E|-------------------------------------0-0-10-0-10h12-0------12---------12-------|

G|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-0-0-10-0-10h12-0-10-0-10p9-0-9p8-0-8p7-----------------------------------|
A|----------------------------------------0-10-0-10h12-0-10-0-7-0-8-8-7-5-7-|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|x5

G|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-0-0-10-0-10h12-0-10-0-10p9-0-9p8-0-8---------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-|
E|----------------------------------------------------------------------|

free mini course

G|----5-3h5------5-3h5-------------------------|
D|--------------------------5-3h5------5-3h5---|
A|-3--------3--3-------3-----------------------|
E|-----------------------3--------3--3-------3-|

G|----7-5h7------7-5h7-------------------------|
D|--------------------------7-5h7------7-5h7---|
A|-5--------5--5-------5-----------------------|
E|-----------------------5--------5--5-------5-|

G|----5-3h5------5-3h5-------------------------|
D|-------------------------5-3h5-------5-3h5---|
A|-3--------3--3-------3-----------------------|
E|-----------------------3-------3--3--------3-|

G|----7-5h7------7-5h7---------------------------------------------|
D|----------------------------------------10--------10-10----10h12-|
A|-5--------5--5-------5-0-0-10-0-10h12-0----0-12-0-------12-------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------|


G|----5-3h5------5-3h5-------------------------|
D|--------------------------5-3h5------5-3h5---|
A|-3--------3--3-------3-----------------------|
E|-----------------------3--------3--3-------3-|

G|----7-5h7------7-5h7-------------------------|
D|--------------------------7-5h7------7-5h7---|
A|-5--------5--5-------5-----------------------|
E|-----------------------5--------5--5-------5-|

G|----5-3h5------5-3h5-------------------------|
D|-------------------------5-3h5-------5-3h5---|
A|-3--------3--3-------3-----------------------|
E|-----------------------3-------3--3--------3-|

G|----7-5h7------7-5h7-------------------------------|
D|----------------------------------------------14\0-|
A|-5--------5--5-------5-0-7--0-5h7-0-0-0-0-0-0------|
E|---------------------------------------------------|

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G|------------------------------------------|
D|------------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------------|
E|-0-0-10-0-10h12-0-10-0-10p9-0-9p8-0-8p7-0-| x3

G|---------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------|
A|--------------10--------10-10----10h12-|
E|-10-0-10h12-0----0-12-0-------12-------|


G|----5-3h5------5-3h5-------------------------|
D|--------------------------5-3h5------5-3h5---|
A|-3--------3--3-------3-----------------------|
E|-----------------------3--------3--3-------3-|

G|----7-5h7------7-5h7-------------------------|
D|--------------------------7-5h7------7-5h7---|
A|-5--------5--5-------5-----------------------|
E|-----------------------5--------5--5-------5-|

G|----5-3h5------5-3h5-------------------------|
D|-------------------------5-3h5-------5-3h5---|
A|-3--------3--3-------3-----------------------|
E|-----------------------3-------3--3--------3-|

G|----7-5h7------7-5h7-------------------------|
D|-------------------------7-5h7------7-5h7----|
A|-5--------5--5-------5-----------------------|
E|-----------------------5-------5--5--------5-|


G|----5-3h5------5-3h5-------------------------|
D|--------------------------5-3h5------5-3h5---|
A|-3--------3--3-------3-----------------------|
E|-----------------------3--------3--3-------3-|

G|----7-5h7------7-5h7-------------------------|
D|--------------------------7-5h7------7-5h7---|
A|-5--------5--5-------5-----------------------|
E|-----------------------5--------5--5-------5-|

G|----5-3h5------5-3h5-------------------------|
D|-------------------------5-3h5-------5-3h5---|
A|-3--------3--3-------3-----------------------|
E|-----------------------3-------3--3--------3-|
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G|----7-5h7------7-5h7-------------------------------|
D|----------------------------------------------14\0-|
A|-5--------5--5-------5-0-7--0-5h7-0-0-0-0-0-0------|
E|---------------------------------------------------|


G|------------------------------------------|
D|------------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------------|
E|-0-0-10-0-10h12-0-10-0-10p9-0-9p8-0-8p7-0-| x5

G|------------------------------------------|
D|------------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------------|
E|-0-0-10-0-10h12-0-10-0-10p9-0-9p8-0-8p7\0-|
free mini course

Bass Guitar Secrets

Learn How To Play Bass Guitar For Beginners

How to Play the Bass Guitar : How to Play Bar Chords on Bass Guitar

Learn to Play Bass Guitar

Learn to Play Bass Guitar - Fret board and Rhythm

Beginner Bass Guitar Lesson

Learn Guitar BASS Lesson Inspired By Victor Wooten

The Best Way to Start Beginners Bass Guitar Lessons

Why Play Bass Guitar and Not Something Else?

LEARN TO PLAY A BASS GUITAR

Used Bass Guitar , to buy or not to buy?

How to Make Bass Guitar Kits

Things You'll Need:

Read This Before You Buy A Bass Guitar Pack

Yamaha bass guitar - Yamaha RBXA2 Bass

acoustic bass guitar

Black Sabbath - Iron Man Bass Tab

Epiphone Viola VS Bass

About the Name

Structural Features

Electronic Features and Sound

History

Availability

Alternatives

Bass Guitar for Beginners – Easy Punk Rock Songs Read more at Suite101: Bass Guitar for Beginners – Easy Punk Rock Songs: Rock Out With The Ramones,

Punk Rock Riot, Old School Flair With a New School Edge

In True Punk Fashion

About Vintage Bass Guitars

Michael Jackson - Billie Jean

How to Read Music for Bass Guitar

Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit Bass Tab

Top 4 Beginner Bass Guitars

1. Yamaha RBX374

2. Squier Standard Jazz

3. Epiphone Les Paul Special Bass

4. Ibanez GSR200

Jazz Bass Vs. Precision Bass

How to Play Bass Guitar for Newbies

Get to Know Your Bass

Strings

Frets

Amplification

Other Features of the Bass Guitar

Lesson 1: Basic Techniques

Holding Your Bass

Fretting

Plucking

Lesson 2: Playing Notes

Playing Notes

Note Positions on the Bass Guitar

Practice Lessons

Lesson 3: Playing Scales

The Chromatic Scale

The Major Scale

The Minor Pentatonic Scale

Practice Lessons

Lesson 4: Playing Patterns

Understanding Chords

Understanding Root Notes

Simple Bass Patterns

Practice Lessons

Lesson 5: Understanding Rhythm

Listen to Music

Use a Metronome

Play With Other People

Lesson 6: Practicing

Conclusion

« Reading Sheet Music

learn to bass guitar

How to Play Bass Guitar for Newbies

Get to Know Your Bass

Strings

Frets

Amplification

Other Features of the Bass Guitar

Lesson 1: Basic Techniques

Holding Your Bass

Fretting

Plucking

Lesson 2: Playing Notes