The bass guitar is responsible for the big bottom or thick sounds you hear in your favorite songs. It adds depth and dimension to any melody and effectively fleshes out any sounds in a band. If you grew up listening to Paul McCartney or Kim Gordon playing the bass guitar and want to learn how to achieve that unreal tune yourself: it’s time to pick up a bass.
If you’re ready to give it a go, here are the basics you’ll need to cover to get started:
Is the bass guitar an easy instrument to learn?
Learning the basics of the bass guitar can be relatively easy. However, once you pass the beginner stages, things start to get tricky.
To master the bass guitar, you’ll want to consider the genre you’re passionate about and focus on learning all the ins and outs of that particular genre. Some genres are harder than others and require more practice to create that good-feeling tune we all know and love. For example, country music is more straightforward, but rock and heavy metal can be more rhythm-focused.
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Mastering the finger techniques
There are two common ways to play bass: with and without a guitar pick. People will tell you different things, but we’ll let you in on a secret: there’s no right or wrong answer. It’s up to you and your personal preference.
- Playing with a pick helps with speed and versatility. You’ll be able to pluck the notes quicker than you would with your fingers, which would be beneficial for certain songs and genres.
- Playing with your fingers also provides a range of benefits. When you play with your fingers, it creates a soothing sound. You’re able to move with the motions of the song.
When learning to play the bass guitar, always choose the method you’re most comfortable with. You can switch things up once you’re more familiar.
Understanding bass chords
A bass chord is a combination of three or more notes played together. These notes work together to create a distinct sound. Bass chords are similar to the cords you’d play on a guitar and occur frequently within certain songs.
Bass chords are a fundamental part of a song and are exciting and inviting. They add some fun to songs and help make them unique. As a rule of thumb: all four strings on a bass correspond with the first four strings on a guitar.
How to play the bass scales
These are consecutive series of notes played up or down. Every bass scale has eight different notes, called an octave. The notes on a scale don’t change, and the first and last notes remain the same.
Here’s an example of the major scale. The major scale is the most common and arguably the most important scale to be familiar with.
- 1st Note: C
- 2nd Note: D
- 3rd Note: E
- 4th Note: F
- 5th Note: G
- 6th Note: A
- 7th Note: B
- 8th Note: C
Once you have this down, try moving the pattern around and getting comfortable with playing at different places on the neck. This is a great exercise to help you familiarize yourself with the major scale and learn new scales in the future.
Practicing tips for beginners
Once you understand how bass scales work and you’re familiar with the different finger techniques, it’s time to start practicing and learning how to tackle songs from start to finish.
As you embark on this journey, here are a few things to keep in mind:
Practice makes perfect
Always make time for practice. When you push yourself to make the bass part of your daily routine, you can reach your goals quicker and sharpen your skill set. If you can, try finding 20-30 minutes in your day every day.
Know the fundamentals
The fundamentals are the scales and the techniques. Start by focusing on learning the different bass scales and learning one new technique at a time. Slowly but surely, you’ll expand your knowledge and be able to take on more complicated genres or songs.
Go easy on yourself
No one said learning how to play the bass guitar would be easy. Be patient with yourself, celebrate your progress, and always be trying to expand what you know.
How Musicians Institute can help
If you’re passionate about the bass guitar and want to make it part of your future, you’ve come to the right place. At MI, you’ll get hands-on experience and learn how to handle any genre while you also unlock your own playing style. Request more information today to see if our bass guitar program is right for you.