Learn To Play Bass Guitar

"Once you have a basice understanding of guitar playing you need to choose which type of bass guitar interests you most and how you are going to play it. The four string bass is tuned an octave lower than the six string guitar with its four strings tuned to E A D G. The five and six string bass guitars can be tuned in many different ways to give a wide range of how you express yourself through your music. Now is not the time to make the decision about which bass guitar you choose, you will find out as you experiment and gain some experience playing in groups."
Learn To Play Bass Guitar

More info on how to play bass guitar

These sites feature articles and videos on learning to play bass guitar:
How To Play Bass

Electric Bass Guitar

Bass Guitar Music

Bass Guitar Tabs

How to Tune a Bass Guitar

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Mantius_Cazaubon]Mantius Cazaubon

This material seeks to answer your question on how to tune a bass guitar. Well since I don't know exactly how many strings are on your bass guitar I shall present you with different options, namely, 4-string, 5 string, 6 string, and 7 string basses.

First of all we shall look at the standard tuning of bass guitars.

The standard tuning of a four string bass guitar from highest (thinnest string) to lowest (fattest string) is G-D-A-E.

On a five string bass the tunings are similar with the addition of a low B string.

On a six string bass guitar, a thinner (higher pitched) string is added, and is tuned to C. In other words on a 6 string bass guitar the settings are B-E-A-D-G-C, where B is the fattest string or lowest note and C the highest and thinnest.

On a 7-string bass a high F-string is added. The settings on a 7-string bass are B-E-A-D-G-C-F where B is the lowest and F the highest.

Tuning your bass is all about matching the pitch of your instrument to that of a bass guitar tuner, pitch pipe, tuning fork or a correctly tuned piano or keyboard. If you do not have a tuner or keyboard instrument, you can find an online tuner by doing a search.

Now all you have to do is match the pitch of the strings to the corresponding notes on your tuner. Hopefully your ears are sufficiently developed (musically), for you to hear this. When the note on your bass is the same as that of your tuner, the vibration patterns will match and you will hear no wah-wah-wah sound when you play the two notes. There will be no clash between the two notes.

So how do you tune your bass?

Loosen the string and tune up to the correct note. In other words your string should be well below the correct pitch and only then do you begin to tighten. That way you avoid breakage by tightening the string too much. Listen carefully to make sure the two pitches match and that there is no wah-wah-wah or clashing sound between the two notes.

As long as the notes are in sync, you will hear no wah-wah-wah sound. But if you pass the in tune point, you will begin to hear that undesired sound again, and it means that you will have to loosen on the string a little until you get back to the in tune point.

Tune all your strings one by one by matching the sound of the strings to the corresponding note on your tuner.

Tuning your bass is not hard. But as with any other instrument it involves practice. And of course, practice makes perfect. After a while you may find that you do not even have to rely on an electronic tuner to tune your bass. Hope you found this guide useful. Good luck.

Mantius Cazaubon is a successful author and publisher of [http://www.electric-guitars-guide.com/bass-guitars.html]Bass Guitars Guide. A resource for [http://www.electric-guitars-guide.com/bass-guitars.html]bass guitar reviews, information and tips on buying bass guitars online.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mantius_Cazaubon http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Tune-a-Bass-Guitar&id=439902

Important Theories on Electric Bass Guitars

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Victor_Epand]Victor Epand

The electric bass guitar is a bass stringed instrument. This instrument is played with the fingers either by plucking, slapping, popping or tapping and sometimes even using a pick. It is quite similar in form and structure with an electric guitar. But comparatively it has a larger body along with a longer neck. Most of these are four stringed.

The electric bass guitars came by an invention and an immediate replacement with the double bass for those in the genre of popular music. It provides a low pitch sound in any genre of music.

Most of them are commonly solid- body electrics, though there exists a few semi hollow body guitars. The latter provides a more rounder and an acoustic sound.

The neck of the electric bass guitar is one of the most crucial part of the instrument. The preferable size of the neck depends on the size of your hand. It is available with various types of neck shapes. The neck can be rounded, oval, flat back, v or even asymmetrical. However, if it is a five or six stringed electric bass guitar then you can expect the neck to be wider.

This can have a varied number of frets. Some electric bass guitars have twenty one while some others may even have twenty four frets.

Also, if you possess such a guitar, you should also posses a tuner. A tuner will help you to keep your instrument fine tuned and at the same time hold pitch. Invest in a tuner, that will be resistant to rust and airborne corrosives for this specialized guitar.

Another important factor that determines the sound of the electric bass guitars is the wood that is used for manufacturing the guitar. Musicians from various walks of life believe that the wood chosen for the top acts as the single most important factor. It is important as the wood dictates the tonal quality of the instrument.

However, you should know wood plays differential characteristics depending on which part of the instrument it is used. Though the sound of the guitar does not completely depend on the wood but it is an important factor to be considered. Uniformly the design and the skill of the maker also make a lot of difference to the sound of a single electric bass guitar.

Another topic for discussion is the continuous debate over a five string and over a four string bass guitar. A five string electric bass guitar consists of a B string as the fifth string. This string is below the traditional low E string. Though most bass players are comfortable with a four string bass. A few players prefer a five string electric bass guitar.

Those who are looking for an additional range of low pitch sound prefer a five string guitar. It also provides the extra effects when competing the synth bass parts. A five string electric bass guitar is also ideal for playing bass solos.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for guitars, drums, and synthesizers. You can find the best marketplace for guitars, drums, and synthesizers at these 3 sites: [http://www.sellusedguitars.com]guitars, electric guitars, rock guitars, [http://www.selluseddrums.com]drums, drum sets, drum kits, and [http://www.sellusedsynthesizers.com]synthesizers, keyboards.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Victor_Epand http://EzineArticles.com/?Important-Theories-on-Electric-Bass-Guitars&id=826271

The Art Behind Bass Guitar Tabs

The Art Behind Bass Guitar Tabs
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Rory_Herts]Rory Herts

Playing bass (or any guitar, for that matter) is more than pressing strings and fancy strumming. There’s a lot of technicality involved, technicality that’s religiously safeguarded by bass guitar tabs. After all, the only way the instrument can be played right is when there’s a guideline, right? It’s no Egyptian papyrus, but it’s close enough.

Tabs or tablature?

When glossing guitar songbooks you see the phrase guitar tabs a lot. Have you ever wondered if this is a close relation to tablature in music? Well, it’s not rocket science to tell that tablature and tabs are exactly the same, tabs being merely a nickname of sorts.

In guitar, tabs are musical notations that guide players where to place their fingers along the strings and in which fret. Tabs are frequently used for guitars and other stringed and fretted instruments. This is the more popular reference for learning guitar for pop and rock music. This also has several advantages over the tedious musical notations. In contrast, classical music is steeped in staff notation for accuracy in rhythm and timing.

Reading your bass guitar tabs

A bass guitar will have four strings. The first uppermost string is the G string (no, it’s not underwear), followed below by the D string, which is tailed by the A string. The last string, E, is the strongest of all the bass strings. These strings are represented by four horizontal lines. The numbers below the lines are the frets where the notes are played on. You will observe the frequent appearance of the “O” which indicates that the string should not be fretted or pressed against a fret. If there are numbers above the fret numbers – the note has to be played on that fret.

If a number appears above a number on top of the fret, the strings are to be played at the same time, this time like a chord. Most bass guitar tabs are accompanied by legends to help the player understand some of the unfamiliar terms. In general, bass guitar tabs are easier to learn than the formal guitar musical tablature.

More guitar enthusiasts are finding bass guitar tabs convenient to use when attempting to understand the rudiments of bass guitar playing. There is no need for them to understand the underlying principles of guitar tablature because they want to learn how to play the bass guitar fast. Bass guitar players who dream of making it big opt for formal lessons in the fine art of bass guitar. A lesson in bass guitar will introduce them to the formal musical scales meant for stringed instruments. With experience and a solid background on musical theories, bass guitar players can switch easily from bass guitar tabs to scales.

Start with easy pieces

If you want to start a band, you should start with easy song pieces. Try out guitar pieces with simple bass guitar tabs. You will gradually progress on all fronts, from rhythm to bass, with constant practice and lessons. If there are difficulties along the way, you can always ask advice and opinions from the pros.

Practice your hand speed, slapping, and picking. Bass guitar tabs will require fast playing and switching of notes. You can add a dash of your own style by adding slaps. The faster you can go, the better you can play your bass guitar. Start practicing with free bass guitar tabs. You can have access to thousands of bass guitar tabs online and offline. Just decide what song pieces you want to learn but always start from the simple to the complex to avoid developing bad guitar habits that will ultimately be too hard to shake off.

Indeed, bass guitar tabs are easy enough to learn. After all, they’re not hieroglyphics.

You can learn to play the bass guitar fast with [http://www.aboutplayingguitar.com/2007/08/30/where-can-i-get-the-bass-guitar-tabs-of-my-favorite-bands/]bass guitar tabs; Visit aboutplayingguitar.com for the latest [http://www.aboutplayingguitar.com/2007/09/02/what-are-bass-guitar-chords/]bass guitar chords You can also go to this site now for [http://aboutplayingguitar.com/2007/08/30/where-can-i-find-a-free-guitar-sheet-music/]free guitar sheet music on almost any song.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rory_Herts http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Art-Behind-Bass-Guitar-Tabs&id=730403

Bass Strings Guide - What You Need To Know Before Buying Strings for Your Bass Guitar

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ilse_Hagen]Ilse Hagen

There will come a time when you will need to change the strings of your bass guitar. For that reason, here is a bass strings guide you can refer to. To begin with, bass strings are cords that are thickly coiled so they can produce very low sounds. You can buy them usually in sets of 4 to 6 strings depending on your type of bass guitar. 4-stringed bass guitars require strings for E, A, D, and G.

Your guide to strings

A bass strings guide won't be complete without it telling you about the qualities of the strings you can buy and these are the stainless steel and the nickel-wound bass strings.

If you prefer to play bass with a rock band, then the nickel-wound strings are ideal for you because their tones are captivating and clear. These are strings that are made with steel wraps that are plated with nickel.

However, if you prefer to play your bass without the clicking sound caused by your fingers or the strings hitting the fretboard, you can opt for the stainless steel bass strings because they are smoother and restricts noise. These are also ideal if you like playing in long gigs and performing in studio sessions.

Still, make sure to check on the durability of your bass strings-you wouldn't want one to snap in the middle of your performance. It will definitely hurt.

For extra durability, make sure they have a round core to provide a more cohesive contact between the core wire and the outer wrap. Aside from that, make sure that they are treated with liquid nitrogen to ensure longevity and prevent immediate rusting or thinning due to sweaty fingers and excessive use.

More information on [http://www.pickyguide.com/musical_instruments/bass_strings_guide.html]Bass Strings is available in [http://www.pickyguide.com/musical_instruments/bass_strings_guide.html]Picky Guide, one of the fastest growing online magazines giving [http://www.pickyguide.com/]free consumer reviews and information.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ilse_Hagen http://EzineArticles.com/?Bass-Strings-Guide---What-You-Need-To-Know-Before-Buying-Strings-for-Your-Bass-Guitar&id=992095

Rickenbacker 4003 Electric Bass Guitar

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jeremy_Hier]Jeremy Hier

The Rickenbacker 4003 electric bass guitar is one
of the few electric basses to have earned the accolade
"classic" as a title for itself. The Rickenbacker 4000
Series guitar is attributed for creating new dimensions
of bass playing capabilities. Basses by Rickenbacker
are made by hand in America, using traditional methods
refined and honed.

The Rickenbacker 4003 electric bass guitars can be
traced back to the original 1928 patent. This bass guitars
pickup is renowned for its unbelievable clarity and wide
range response. The 4003 electric model is a single,
hum protected design with high power output. Adjustment
screws lower and raise units according to the guitarists
preference.

The Rickenbacker has a toggle pickup selector that
guitarists may switch from one output channel to the
other, or both. Each 4003 electrical bass has separate
pickup controls and separate treble and bass tone controls.
The hallmark of this guitar has always been the neck
which runs the full length of the bass.

Rickenbacker electrical bass guitars have a fluidly
sculpted body and head that serves to establish proper
instrument balance. You can play easily without
fatigue due to its thin fast neck and ergonomically
accurate body contour.

Make sure to always protect your instrument,
especially if your on the road alot.
All Rickenbacker bass guitars are protected with a
deluxe molded hardshell case, which also includes an
accessory pocket, heavy-duty hardware, and extra padding.

Copyright © JJ PERSISTENT PUBLISHING, INC.

PERMISSIONS TO REPUBLISH: This article may be republished in its entirety free of charge, electronically or in print, provided it appears with the included copyright and author’s resource box with live website links.

Jeremy Hier is the Business Manager and Webmaster of [http://www.best-guitar-deals.com/ ]Best Guitar Deals
Jeremy Hier is a freelance writer and regular contributer He likes to offer his advice and tips to consumers looking to purchase [http://www.best-guitar-deals.com/acoustic-guitar.html ]acoustic guitars and [http://www.best-guitar-deals.com/electric-guitar.html ]electric guitars

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeremy_Hier http://EzineArticles.com/?Rickenbacker-4003-Electric-Bass-Guitar&id=36064