Have you always been a fan of the Beatles, and want to play like Paul McCartney? Or does the idea of playing like Flea from the Red-Hot Chilli Peppers make you want to learn bass?
It is often presumed that the bass guitar, with its four strings, is not as impactful or as important as the lead guitar. However, a quick listen to ‘Re-Arranged’ by Limp Bizkit will showcase how wrong of an idea that is. Learning bass is a fun hobby, and while the instrument only has four strings, it should not be seen as an easy option. Yes, within playing a bass for a day or so, you will be able to hit a couple of notes. However, learning to play and mastering the instrument are two different things. One way to enhance your practice sessions is by using free sample packs, which can provide you with a variety of sounds and loops to experiment with.
So, how can you get your head around the bass? This article will walk you through 4 simple steps to help you become an epic bass player, even if you have never played this guitar type before.
Learn Basic Scales
When you hold your bass guitar for the first time, you will need to learn the scales as a starting point in order to play it.
Some of the basic scales to learn include-
- The major scale
- The major pentatonic scale
- The natural minor scale
- The minor pentatonic scale
- The blues scale.
However, it may be the case that you find it hard to read music or scale sheets. It happens, and it shouldn’t deter you. Blues singer Hugh Laurie famously can’t read music, so it is worth looking into tabs. Bass tabs are a musical notation that indicates where on the bass you need to apply pressure to produce a certain note. Easy bass tabs use numbers and symbols to represent the positions and the time information for playing the bass. You can even order tab stickers to put onto the neck of the bass, which will help you make sense of those symbols, helping you learn quickly.
Focus on Proper Technique
If you have ever watched a guitarist or a bass player play, you will have noticed an array of techniques that are used. So, in order to get good at the bass, you should focus on your finger positioning, as well as the parts of the fingers you use to make different sounds. You should also, ideally, choose a consistent plucking hand to pluck the lower strings of the bass. Try using your writing hand to do this, and then alternate the fingers you use to pluck.
To play the bass, try to stand straight, with your wrist relaxed and the guitar rest placed across the back of your neck.
Play Along with Songs
Try to choose a song with a strong and clear bass line to play along with. Some good options include Chic- Good Times and Billie Jean by Michael Jackson.
Listen to the songs first; try to identify the notes by ear and match them to your bass. This is known as ear training and can help you become more familiar with the bass.
Practice Every Day!
I do not mean to sound too much like a music teacher here, but in order to get good at playing any instrument, you need to practice every day.
Even if you only practice for between 15-20 minutes per day, this can help you to become more confident with the instrument and will help you to improve. For each lesson, try to focus on one part of the bass. It could be learning the scales, using the tabs, or trying to practice a technique. This will help you get good fast and boost your confidence.
