It may not always be center stage, but the bass is arguably the most important instrument on the bandstand. The bass guitar serves as the glue that holds all of the other instruments together, and a solid bass line can make all the difference between a hit song and an average one. If you want to learn how to play bass, it won’t be long until you can hold down a steady groove and unlock a world of musical collaboration.
But as any good musician will tell you, you must start with the basics.
So to help you on your jump-start your musical journey, we’ve created a handy bass guitar for beginners guide. We cover everything from how to choose a bass guitar to how to read guitar tabs. Follow along to find out all the ins and outs of this amazing instrument in this guide on how to play basic bass guitar.
How Hard is Learning Bass Guitar?
So how easy is it to play bass guitar? Learning to play the bass guitar can be challenging, but rewarding:
- Knowledge of basic music theory and guitar techniques is helpful.
- Practicing with a metronome, recording your playing, and using instructional videos are effective ways to improve.
- Having patience and dedication will be key to mastering the instrument.
Ready to get started on your journey toward learning how to play a bass guitar? You may want to sign up for bass guitar lessons. Your instructor will be able to guide you through tricky spots as you learn how to play the bass guitar, plus teach you customized techniques like what you see below in this video specifically for kids:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xxw_EUj_UbY
Why Learn Bass Guitar?
Although lead guitarists and singers tend to soak up all of the limelight, the secret weapon of any great band is a great bassist. The power of the bass cannot be overstated – just plug in a bass guitar to an amp, turn up the volume. When you hit the thickest string, you’ll hear what we mean. The bass isn’t just heard, it’s felt.
Even if an audience is unaware of the role that the bass plays in a band, take away the bass; they’ll definitely feel the difference. Together with the drummer, the bassist provides the rhythm and groove of every popular music style. This means that the demand for a good bass player is always high – if you take the time to understand how to learn to play a bass guitar well, you’ll have no trouble finding a gig!
How to Play Bass Guitar for Beginners
When it comes to learning how to play the bass guitar, you’re going to need an instrument so you can practice. If you’re just getting started with learning bass guitar, there’s no need to shell out thousands of dollars on a vintage instrument. It’s fine to start out with an entry-level bass for beginners, and then graduate to a higher-end model as your skills progress.
In fact, there’s no reason to purchase a bass guitar until you know you’re going to stick with it. You can always start out by renting an instrument until you get the hang of playing it. As you get more familiar with the bass guitar, you may find yourself gravitating toward different styles and models that you’ll eventually want to buy.
When you begin your search, start by setting a budget and gaining an understanding of the basic parts of a bass guitar. Understanding the parts of the bass and how it’s built will help you ask the right questions and make an informed decision.
Learn How to Play Bass Guitar By Identifying the Parts First
Let’s get to know a bass guitar:
- Neck: The neck of the bass guitar includes the headstock, fretboard, and an internal truss rod, which is how the neck is connected to the instrument body.
- Headstock: The headstock is the wider part at the end of the neck where the tuning pegs are located. The tuning pegs adjust the string tension and are how you change the pitch to tune the instrument.
- Fretboard: The fretboard is a thin piece of rosewood, ebony, or maple. Fretboards can vary widely in quality. The best fretboards are smooth and easy to move your fingers over. They are usually slightly arched from side to side; this arch is the radius.
- Frets: Embedded in the fretboard are thin metal strips called frets. The frets divide the neck into half step increments and determine where each note is played on the neck. While some basses are fretless, they require greater skill from the player and are best left to intermediate or advanced players. If you’re learning how to play bass guitar for beginners, you will definitely want a fretted bass.
- Truss Rod: The truss rod connects the neck to the body and is used to keep the neck from twisting. Because bass strings are much thicker than guitar strings, they exert a lot of pressure on the neck. Adjusting the truss rod allows the neck to be straightened if it becomes bowed or twisted. It is also used to adjust the string height.
Types of Basses for Beginners
There are so many different types of bass guitars that you might not be sure where to start your search. For instance, bass guitars come in several variations including solid body and hollow body basses. Pickups can be either single coil or humbucker, and electronics can be either passive or active. Basses come with four, five, and even six strings.
These variations (other than the number of strings) affect the tone of the bass and are not crucial to its playability. Smaller “scale length” basses are available that are perfect for younger players as they are a little smaller than full-sized instruments.
Where to Find an Instrument as You Learn How to Play Bass Guitar
The best option for choosing the right bass guitar for beginners is to set your budget and then visit your local music store. For example, maybe you want to look into acoustic bass guitars or perhaps you have your heart set on an electric version. Play the available options in your price range and see what feels best for you. The most important factor is making sure the instrument feels comfortable when it’s in your hands. But if you’ve never picked up a bass guitar; not to worry. Simply ask the employees for assistance, and they’ll be happy to answer your questions and offer recommendations.
As you progress in your studies, you may decide to upgrade to a better instrument. At that point, it’s good to have more of an understanding of pickups and electronics as these will help shape your personal sound on the instrument. Your bass teacher can also help you select a new instrument.
So, what is the best beginner bass guitar? The truth is, it depends. What might be perfect for you might not be ideal for another beginner. For now, just focus on finding an instrument in your price range that feels good under your fingers and comfortable in your lap. Most beginner basses have adequate electronics and four strings. Play a bunch of different instruments and choose the one that feels right for you!
How to Hold a Bass Guitar
Before you start rocking out on your instrument, you’re going to need to know how to hold a bass guitar.
Once you’ve chosen a good bass for beginners, it’s time to start learning how to properly position your instrument in your hands. As a beginner, we recommend using a shoulder strap to help evenly distribute the weight of the instrument.
Assuming you’re playing on a right-handed bass guitar, you can follow the following steps to learn how to hold a bass guitar:
- Start by slightly angling the bass guitar upward so that you have free range of your left hand.
- Use your left hand to cradle the instrument’s neck, where you will eventually place your fingers on the strings.
- Keep the bass guitar close to your body, so you can easily access the fret and strings.
- Using your right hand, rest your thumb on the bass pickup, and use the rest of your fingers to strum the strings.
With that said, if you are left-handed, you can look into left-handed bass guitars, in which case, you would do the reverse. You would use your left hand to strum and your right hand to play the notes on the neck.
How to Tune a Bass Guitar for Beginners
Ready to learn bass guitar? Well, first and foremost, you need to make sure your bass guitar is in tune. If your bass isn’t tuned correctly, not only will the basslines you play sound off, but the development of your listening skills will be held back. Hearing the differences between notes is an important skill that comes naturally as we practice, and playing in tune is the best way to develop your “ear.”
Tuning your bass can be tricky if you’re a beginner. The good news? The more you do it, the easier it will get. Tuning your instrument is especially crucial if you’re going to be playing with other musicians.
The bass is pitched exactly one octave lower than the guitar. The strings are tuned to the same four notes as the 4 lowest guitar strings: E, A, D, and G. Here are a couple of methods to help you get in tune and ready to play.
Lean on Other Musicians
If you’re playing with a guitarist and they are in tune, have them play the four bottom strings. Use your ears and turn the tuning pegs on your instrument to match their pitch.
If you have a piano handy, you can ask them to play the tuning notes and match the pitch by turning your tuning pegs. Today, there are also a number of apps for your smartphone that will help you tune your instrument.
Try an Electronic Tuner
Electronic tuners are also available and make tuning a snap. Simply plug your instrument into the tuner and pluck a string, then turn your tuning pegs until the arrow lines up with the correct note on the face of the tuner and you are done. Go through all four strings. There are also portable tuners. They are easy to take along and clip onto the headstock of the bass and help you tune through the vibration of the notes.
No-Tech or Low-Tech Methods for Tuning Your Bass
One great method to learn that requires no technology and is called the “5th Fret Method.” With this method, you need to get one string in tune (preferably the low E) and then use that string as a reference pitch. Even if you don’t have access to a keyboard or other tuning device, the 5th fret method will let you tune the instrument “to itself.”
Once you’ve tuned the low E string, press your finger on the 5th fret of the E string. This is the note “A”. Pluck the open A string and compare the two. Use the tuning pegs to match the pitch.
Now that the A string is in tune, repeat the process to tune the D string. Fret the 5th fret on that A string, pluck the open D string and adjust the tuning pegs to match the pitch. Using the same process, tune the G string, and you’re ready to go!
How to Read Bass Tabs
Of course, when you’re learning how to play bass guitar, you’re going to want to learn some bass guitar notes for beginners, along with some easy chords.
How to Play Bass Guitar Chords
A chord is when you play multiple notes at the same time. Once you’re familiar with a few basic bass chords, you can move on to chord progressions, which is when you string several chords together to produce a song. We recommend starting out with the Major, Minor, Major 7, Minor 7, and Dominant 7 beginner bass guitar chords.
However, even if you haven’t mastered chords just yet, you can always play songs using bass tablature (AKA bass guitar tabs). This refers to a simple system of music notation. Basically, these tabs tell you where exactly to place your fingers on the fret, without having to know specific chords or how to read music.
Where to Find Tabs as You Learn How to Play Bass Guitar
Tabs are available through books, bass magazines, and on various websites online. Learning how to play bass using tabs is a great option for beginners, but it’s no substitute for learning how to read music notation or chord charts. This is because tabs only show you where to play a note – they don’t give you any information about the rhythm of the bassline. If you’re using bass tabs, you’ll want to already be familiar with the song or play along with it as you go.
Still, it’s much easier to learn how to read tabs than it is to read standard musical notation. Use tabs to learn your favorite basslines quickly, then work on your standard music reading skills so that you’ll become a well-rounded musician.
Reading Bass Tabs
Bass tab is a system that shows the strings of the bass drawn horizontally, like this:
This is standard bass tab for a four string bass. The lowest (fattest) string is at the bottom.
In tab, notes are indicated as a fret number on a string. Most basses have between 20 and 24 frets so you may see fret numbers between 0 and 24. For example, you may see something that looks like this:
In this example, start by playing the 3rd fret on the E-string followed by the 2nd fret on the A-string, the 5th fret on the A-string, and finally, the 5th fret on the D-string.
Measures are marked as in standard notation with a vertical bar line. Often rhythm is not indicated in bass tablature. All you get is the order and position of the notes. Rhythm may occasionally be marked with the count written under the fret numbers. It’s often best to listen to the song you’re practicing to get the rhythm of the piece.
There’s really not too much to know about reading bass tab. Basically, it’s just fret numbers on string lines. While it’s a great way for a beginner to start playing quickly, the best method is to use tab as you begin to study standard musical notation and memorize the note names on the instrument.
How to Play Bass Guitar: Beginner Tips
Practice is the key to learning how to play bass guitar for beginners. How long should you practice? Practice as often as you can fit into your schedule. However, it’s best to establish a basic regimen in order to progress. Here are some tips to get you started:
- Practice regularly. Preferably practice a bass guitar lesson daily, and from 30 minutes to as long as you can.
- Find a time of day when you can practice without distractions and when you can concentrate. Some players get up early and practice for an hour before work, some practice after dinner.
- Start with technique exercises. Run scales, play arpeggios, and chords to get your fingers moving and your mind focused.
- As a bass player, developing a strong sense of time is important. Always practice with a rhythm device whether it’s a metronome, a drum machine, or a play-along recording.
- Start slowly. Focus on each note and as you gain fluidity and precision.
- Work on muscle memory. The more you practice and repeat certain notes, rhythms, and patterns, the more comfortable playing will become for you. Before you know it, you won’t have to look down at your fingers at all when you play.
- Practice with other musicians. By playing along with others, you can learn new skills and fine-tune what you already know. Round up a singer, drummer, and guitarist, and you’ll have yourself a band!
- Keep track of your progress with a practice log. Keep track of your routines, goals, exercises, and difficult passages you need to work on.
Are You Supposed to Strum a Bass?
Strumming is a technique used primarily on chord-based instruments like the guitar, where the player uses their fingers or a pick to play multiple strings with a single motion. The bass guitar, on the other hand, is typically played using a technique called plucking, which involves using the fingers to pluck individual strings. This technique is essential in creating the bass’s unique tone and groove.
However, just because plucking is the standard technique for playing bass, it doesn’t mean you can’t strum. In fact, there are plenty of songs where strumming is not only acceptable but also adds a unique element to the music. Just listen to classics like “Come As You Are” by Nirvana or “Longview” by Green Day, both of which feature prominent bass strumming.
Strumming can also be an effective way to fill out a mix. On a busy recording, a bassline can get lost in the mix or overshadowed by other instruments. Strumming can help the bass cut through the mix and add a melodic element to the song. It can also be used as an alternative to playing complex basslines, providing a simpler and more rhythmic foundation for the song.
However, there are some instances where strumming may not be appropriate. If you’re playing in a band where the bass’s main role is to provide a groove or foundation for the music, strumming may be distracting or overpowering.
In these cases, it’s best to stick to traditional plucking techniques. It’s also worth noting that strumming may be more challenging on a bass than on a guitar, as the strings are typically thicker and require more force to play.
Is Bass Harder to Play Than Guitar?
One question that frequently pops up in the music community is whether bass or guitar is harder to play. While it ultimately depends on individual preference, there are a few thing sto keep in mind.
One main difference between bass and guitar lies in the number of strings. A standard bass has four strings, whereas a guitar has six. This means that the bass is technically easier to play since it has fewer strings; however, it presents a challenge when it comes to playing chords. Typically, bass players don’t play chords as often as guitarists do. Instead, they focus on laying the foundation for the rhythm section.
While both instruments share similarities, they differ greatly in terms of their roles in a band. The bass is the backbone of the rhythm section, and its primary purpose is to support the harmony and provide a steady, low-end pulse. Guitar, on the other hand, often plays lead melodies and solos, which require technical skills and creativity.
Playing bass requires you to have a strong foundation, both in terms of rhythm and physical strength. Your fingers need to be able to withstand consistent plucking, which can be a daunting task for beginners who are not used to using their fingers this way.
And while bass may seem easier at first glance, mastering it requires a different set of technical skills.
For example, bass players need to have excellent rhythm and timing to keep the beat steady and consistent. They also need to have a good understanding of the role of each instrument in the band and how they fit together to create a cohesive sound.
Guitarists, on the other hand, need to have a good ear for melody and know how to create harmonies that complement the singer’s voice.
How Can I Teach Myself to Play Bass Guitar?
Learning to play any instrument is a challenge that can pay dividends for your lifetime. While it’s possible to teach yourself how to play bass, it’s a good idea to study with a qualified teacher.
They can help you avoid bad habits and will offer direction, inspiration, and encouragement to get you through challenges that may arise. Sign up for bass guitar lessons with us today to receive the tools you need to master this instrument in no time!
Megan L.