Learning to play bass guitar is one way to make your life colorful with music. While learning a new instrument can seem tedious, learning the basics on your own can be easy and rewarding.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Choosing a Bass Guitar
Step 1. Select the number of guitar strings
Because bass guitars require electricity, the shape or color of bass guitars can vary but still have a great sound. What's more important is to choose a guitar that has the right number of strings for your abilities. As a beginner, it's best to start with a bass guitar that has 4 strings.
- Bass guitars usually have 4 strings and this type of guitar is the most basic type. Almost all bass guitar music can be played with only 4 strings, and because the fret width is smaller than guitars with 5 and 6 strings, it will be easier to play.
- A 4-string guitar has an EADG base note, but if you want, you can turn it into something like a 5-string guitar by changing the base note to BEAD.
- 5 and 6 string guitars are great because they have a wider range of notes to play. However, this guitar requires a high level of skill on the part of the player to control the sound of the strings so they don't collide and also to achieve the whole note.
Step 2. Select a tone range
The pitch of a bass guitar is defined by the distance from the tip of the guitar to the body of the guitar, which is nothing but the length of the guitar strings. Guitars that have a long range of notes have longer strings and produce a lower sound. Guitars with a short range of notes are easy to play for beginners, but the sound produced is not as varied as a guitar with a long range.
- Most guitars come in 34” sizes, but you can also find small (under 30”), medium (30” - 33”), and extra-long (35” or more) sizes.
- Choose a 34” guitar, if your hand is neither too small nor too big for a good sound.
- If you decide to buy a bass guitar with 5 or 6 strings, choose a larger guitar size for a better sound. Choose a guitar size of at least 35” if you choose a guitar with 5 or 6 strings.
Step 3. Choose a guitar with or without frets
The frets are the metallic parts of the guitar. Frets are useful for marking the different notes that can be played and can be found on each guitar. However, when buying a bass guitar, you can choose a guitar without frets.
- A guitar without frets has no metal markings and consists only of a smooth guitar neck.
- Guitars without frets are more difficult to play because there are no markers for the notes you want to play. So you have to play bass by relying on sound alone.
- For beginners, it's better to choose a guitar with frets to give you a hint about notes and fingering. After a while you can switch to a guitar without frets for more of a challenge and a slightly different sound variation.
Step 4. Select the base material
Bass guitars are made of several different basic materials, including softwood, hardwood, or artificial materials. Each guitar's basic ingredients have a little effect on the resulting sound.
- Hardwoods, such as maple, walnut, ebony, and percussion will produce a percussion sound.
- Softwoods such as alder, basswood, and swamp ash, will produce a softer sound.
- The most well-known base material for guitars is graphite, although luthite is also often used to make bass guitars. This material has a consistent sound, because this basic material is not much different from the natural base material.
- Most bass guitars are made of mixed base materials, especially guitar neck base materials with other guitar parts. It's also a good choice, so you don't have to look for a guitar with a single base.
Step 5. Buy an amplifier
To play bass guitar, you have to connect it to an amplifier to hear the sound. An amplifier has 3 parts: a power amp, a preamp, and a speaker cabinet. The easiest option is to buy a combo amp. Although this type of amplifier is still lacking in sound compared to large amplifiers or separate amplifier sections, combo amps are easier for beginners to use.
Step 6. Decide whether to play with your finger or pick
Many people suggest learning both so you can play bass in a variety of ways.
Method 2 of 3: Playing the Bass Guitar
Step 1. Hold the bass guitar properly
In order to play beautiful music, it is very important to learn the correct position. You should always use a guitar sling so that your hands can focus on playing the notes you want.
- You can sit or stand, but make sure you have good posture. And make sure your guitar sling supports your guitar at the same height when you're sitting or standing.
- The guitar should be placed between the waist and the collarbone. Most people play the guitar on their stomach, but this is just a personal preference.
- The guitar should be tilted about 30 degrees, so you don't have to bend your wrist too far.
Step 2. Set the guitar pitch
The standard setting on a 4-string guitar is E-A-D-G, with E being the bottom string and G being the top string. You can adjust the pitch of the guitar by listening to the pitch, which is sometimes less precise, or by using an electric tuner that is more precisely tuned. To adjust the pitch of each string, all you have to do is twist the top of the guitar.
Step 3. Practice picking
The bass guitar is not like other guitars where the strings can be played by strumming all the strings together, the bass guitar can only be played by strumming one string at a time. It is very important to practice how to strum a bass guitar to produce a beautiful sound. Bass guitars can also be strummed like regular guitars, depending on the type of music being played.
- Always trim your fingernails. Your nails will affect the sound the guitar strings make.
- Pluck using two fingers to increase efficiency. Strum the guitar using the middle finger and index finger alternately. It doesn't matter which finger you start with, as long as the speed and cadence of both fingers are the same.
- Strum the strings close to the neck of the guitar for a softer tone. If you pluck the strings at the end of the body of the guitar, the sound will be more percussive. As you practice, locate your strum to a specific area of the guitar without moving around a lot.
- Pluck the strings by sliding your fingertips against the strings. Do not pull the strings when playing the guitar, because the sound produced is not pleasant to hear. If you want to amplify the sound, increase the sound level on the amplifier, not amplify the strings.
Step 4. Mute the strings you don't play
To produce a clearer sound that doesn't interfere with the notes you're playing, it's important to mute the vibrating strings by holding them down with your fingers.
- Keep your thumb close to the E string as often as possible, so that when you're not playing a note with your thumb, you can use it to mute the E string.
- If you have to cross several strings to play different notes, try using several of your fingers at once to help mute the sound.
- You can also move your thumb to a string other than E to mute other strings if you're playing a high note.
- Do not press down on the strings, but simply place your finger or thumb on the strings to prevent the strings vibrating which can produce sound.
Step 5. Learn how to play root
Root is the root note of a chord you play. The A chord is played by ringing several strings, and usually the root is the note played in the chord name. Usually, you'll be playing bass by focusing only on the root of each chord.
Step 6. Learn to play octaves
All types of music consist of 12 notes, which can be played with a low or high pitch. The pitch of the note is also known as the octave.
- To play a note that's an octave higher than the note you're playing, drop two strings and slide two frets to the right.
- To play a note that is an octave lower than the note you are playing, go up two strings and 2 frets to the left.
- You can play a low octave with your index finger and a high octave with your ring finger. Use your other finger to mute the unplayed strings.
Step 7. Learn to play the root and fifth chord notes
Once you understand the root note, learn the fifth chord. The fifth note is a note that is 5 notes from the root. Usually these notes are played together, to accompany the guitar or piano player. Luckily finding this tone is very easy.
- To play the fifth note above, slide two frets to the right on the next string.
- To play the fifth note below, keep pressing the same fret and move to the previous string.
Step 8. Keep the rhythm while practicing
The most important job of a bass player is to keep the rhythm of the music he plays. Bass will give a beautiful sound to any music, however, the most important task is to maintain the rhythm of the music. Once you're good at strumming and playing the right notes, practice keeping the beat.
- Listen to the bass player's voice on your favorite song to learn how to play the beat.
- Buy a metronome to help you practice. A metronome is a device that produces sounds at a certain tempo, helping you to adjust the rhythm and tempo. You can set the speed of the metronome to practice slow or fast rhythms.
Step 9. Practice regularly
The most important thing for learning a new instrument is to practice regularly. Practicing only a few minutes each week will make it difficult for you to master this instrument. Practice at least 10-20 minutes every day to train your hands to get used to playing bass, and also to make the bass sound you play even more beautiful.
Method 3 of 3: Continuing Your Learning
Step 1. Start studying tablature
Tablatures are guides that teach you how to play certain notes if you don't know how to read sheet music. Since many people did not know how to read sheet music, tablature became increasingly popular.
Focus on learning finger-strumming tablature if you decide to play the bass with your fingers instead of the picks
Step 2. Start learning the scales
As boring as they may seem, scales are essential if you want to be a serious musician. Learning scales will help your finger picking, speed, and agility, as well as helping you to play improvised notes.
Step 3. Try playing solo
Solo playing is when a playing musician demonstrates his abilities and plays varied, different, and sometimes improvised notes. Playing solo is tough, but you'll look great.
Step 4. Start creating your own songs
When you're getting tired of playing other people's songs, maybe it's time for you to make your own music. Composing your own songs takes a lot of time, a lot of practice, and getting off to the wrong start, but creating your own songs is a matter of personal pride.
Step 5. Learn advanced techniques once you are ready
Some of these techniques include sweep picking (with fingers or picks, but more difficult with fingers), tapping, termolo picking (which is also more difficult with fingers than picks), and slapping/popping.
Step 6. When you feel the need to have two or more bass guitars, buy one
If you've reached this point, then you really like what you do. You may find yourself getting tired of tuning your bass guitar over and over again, so having 2 or 3 bass guitars can help you save time.
Tips
- Check your technique. Getting into the right technique from the start can help you as you learn.
- Hear the songs you like and play. Your practice just gets easier because you already know the song!
- Pressing the frets on the guitar with the fingers on the left hand is very important because this is the main factor that determines the quality of the sound produced. Try placing your finger close to the fret on the right. Your right hand should also be trained so that your bass playing is more varied. Learn to play the bass while expressing yourself and make this your hobby. Practice, patience, and curiosity will pay off.
- Asking other musicians will help improve your skills.
- Looking for a good teacher. Remember, a great bass player does not mean he is a good teacher. A good teacher will test your skills and help you understand the instrument you are learning.
Warning
- Your fingertips will be scratched. As with most sports, keep playing and your finger will heal on its own.
- There are times when you will feel frustrated. But that doesn't mean you have to give up!
- Make sure you position your instrument correctly. Otherwise, your wrist will be injured. And also you have to repeat learning the right way from the beginning.
