Thursday, June 19, 2008

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.

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Friday, June 13, 2008

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.

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Thursday, June 5, 2008

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.

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Friday, May 30, 2008

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.

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Friday, May 23, 2008

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

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Thursday, April 10, 2008

Getting Used Bass Guitars for a Bargain

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

What would a rock band be without a bass guitar? It is one of the most overlooked of the rock instruments, but it is also one of the most essential. Without a bass, the only beat you have to go with is the beat of the drums, and that does not always work for certain songs.

The bass guitar is also one of the easiest of instruments to learn how to play. It only has a few chords, and often in songs, it uses the same beat over and over, with a few variations. Due to the ease of use, as well as its role as a part of rock and roll, many kids will want to take up the bass guitar.

However, the problem with bass guitars is that they are not cheap. This is not a problem for the child, but it is a problem for the parent who wants to encourage their child to try musical instruments to broaden their horizons.With bass guitars costing upwards of a few hundred dollars, what can parents do to ensure that they will be able to afford to buy a bass guitar for their children.

The answer comes in the form of a used bass guitar, which are a dime a dozen and can be found in stores and online.When you have the option of paying hundreds of a new bass guitar, or paying as little as $50 for a used bass guitar, which are you going to choose?

As any parent can tell you, children often get bored of things they are enthusiastic about, very quickly. If you spend hundreds on a new bass guitar and your child gets bored with it, then you are going to be out a lot of money. Even if you sell it, you will be selling it for a lot less than you bought it for, and you will take a heavy hit in the pocket book.

However, with used bass guitars, you will not pay a lot and if your child bores of it, then no harm no foul. You can then sell it and make a profit, or break even, whichever is good. When you are looking for a used bass guitar, try online and pawn shops. Online, you will find sites like Craigslist.com and eBay.com, which often have excellent instruments for sale. Pawn shops also have very cheap prices and if you decide to sell the bass guitar, you can sell it right back to the pawn shop.

Bass guitars are essential in rock music, think of bands like The Who, Nirvana, or The Red Hot Chili Peppers, without their signature bass rifts. As a result, many children want to learn to play the bass guitar and they will often go to great measures to convince their parents to buy it for them. If you are going to buy a bass guitar, make sure it is a used one, because the last thing you want when you spend a lot of money is to have your kid toss it into the closet after a month.

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Thursday, March 27, 2008

Ibanez SR400 Bass Guitar

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

The Ibanez SR400 bass guitar is very comfortable
to play. The neck is thin up at the headstock, you
can move your hand along it well because of the
necks finish. The SR400's neck at the back has
a matte finish making it very easy to slide your
hands up and down the neck. Its easier to play
the higher frets because the neck is a bolt-on
with a curve where the neck bolts.

The body of the Ibanez SR400 is contoured very
well. There are no sharp edges anywhere. You
can play the SR400 standing up or sitting comfortably.
If you are sitting down and put the bass on your right
thigh, it will stay balanced and not lean one way
or another.

The SR400 bass guitar is very playable because
the strings are loose. You won't have to play with
much force to get a sound, and it won't wear your
fingers out so much.

The pickups of the SR400 Ibanez are in "P/J"
configuration. There is a split "P" pickup at the
neck position and a single humbrucker at the
bridge. For each pickups volumn there are three
knobs and one for tone.

The Ibanez SR400 bass guitar stays in tune very
well. The tuners at the head are 2 on each side,
and they are Gotoh tuners. The tuners are not
to tight or loose, but they are light enough to keep
the strings in tune.

The SR400 bass is good for an intermediate guitarist,
and the best thing about it is its neck is so smooth,
playable, and thin.

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/?Ibanez-SR400-Bass-Guitar&id=36063

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Learn How to Play Bass Guitar

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Rich_Matthews]Rich Matthews

If you have ever wanted to participate in a band or start your own band, you might have considered playing the bass guitar. The bass guitar is generally made up of four standard strings, which makes learning to play easier than a five or more stringed guitar. The bass guitar is not a lead guitar, per se, but is actually an accompaniment to the lead guitar. Additionally, the bass guitar can be either acoustic or electric and is used to hold the 'bass' sounds and tonal qualities of a song. Therefore, in its design and makeup, it was created to give a group of instruments a certain melody and rhythm that can be adhered to by all the other instruments around it.

Whether you choose to teach, study, or learn to play the bass guitar with an instructor or on your own, getting a few fundamentals down is essential to developing good habits, especially when it comes to learning how to hold the guitar, strum or pick it, and properly move from chord to chord along different frets. Following, it will be up to you if you want to learn in the classical method, which dictates learning notes and reading sheet music. Or, especially with a four-stringed bass, you can learn to play in chords, which will make your learning progressively faster and allow you to begin playing tunes almost immediately. Developing this sort of learning and playing style will also leave more room for improvisation and fine-tuning your playing ear.

The four strings of a bass guitar are in, from lowest to highest, E-A-D-G note formation, which allows players to easily control which chord, octave, and pitch they want their music in. Mastering the frets on a guitar is generally essential and it helps if your guitar has visible fret lines. Then, as you learn, pressing down your fingertips in a certain fret becomes a straightforward process. Some bass guitars come with no frets; instead, the wood is nicely polished where the player has to inherently know which fret is which and where it is located. While this is much easier for more advanced players and songwriters, as a new student to the bass guitar, you're better off learning to play with visible fret indicator lines.

Additionally, whether you are teaching yourself, learning online, or learning from an instructor or friend, it is important that you are able to keep your bass guitar in tune. When you are looking for a bass guitar to purchase, throw in a small electric tuner as well. An electric tuner will help you normalize and accurately tune each of your strings so that a crisp and sharp sound can be produced. After some practice tuning the instrument, you'll be able to tell by ear if your guitar is in tune or not. In order that your playing sounds professional across the spectrum, always make sure that you are learning with a well-tuned guitar.

Overall, learning the bass guitar isn't that difficult. Within a month or so, you'll be able to play a few songs. Give yourself plenty of time, have patience, and practice at least a half an hour per day. Once your fingers get used to their proper positions and you are able to get your strumming down to match the rhythm of the song, you'll be on your way to more advanced types of music. Remember to always practice the chords you are learning. Practice from one chord to another and slide your hand from fret to fret. All of this will culminate to make you a good bass player in a relatively short amount of time.

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Friday, March 7, 2008

Be One With Your Bass Guitar Chords

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Rory_Herts]Rory Herts

So you think you have it in you to join the ranks of Flea, D’arcy, and George Harrison and play bass? Well, you have a long way to go, so you better start now.

Learning the basics

If you want to go into bass guitar playing, decide which bass you will play. You have a choice - the 4-stringed bass guitar, or five, six, seven, and even more strings. Beginners usually go for the 4-stringed bass guitar. The next step would be choosing the right bass guitar and learning the bass guitar chords.

A bass player who knows his bass guitar chords has an edge. His understanding of chord music theory will enable him to make his bass line definitive and very interesting. He knows the note to play and when to play it. Knowing bass guitar chords entails the mastery of all basic chords with emphasis on the 6th and 7th chords for bass guitar. A bass guitar chords lesson includes the entire basic chords, important 6th and 7th chords, the 12 keys, chord map, charts, and neck patterns. The bass guitar chords are composed of three or more notes played together, and each type of chord has a formula.

He also has to master the 12 different notes – A, B flat, C, D flat up to A flat. Not all songs, however, use these notes because the notes of a song are dictated by the song’s key. Mastery of the musical patterns equips the bass guitarist with the skill to learn songs off record. He will then be able to pinpoint accurately what scales were used and the chord patterns and changes that went with it.

An initiation to bass guitar chords diagrams and notations

There are hundreds of bass guitar chords. There are even more ways to play them. You can play the “happy” notes or the major chords, or sound the minor notes for the “sad” tones. You can jazz up the tones by moving up a half step (augment) or go down a half step (diminish). Playing the bass guitar chords offer endless possibilities of combinations of note chords.

Any beginner will benefit from learning to read bass guitar chords tablature or tab. This is a method of music notation. The illustrations show where to put your fingers, the frets and the strings. They also show horizontal lines, and each string is noted according to its placement. You will also see notations like O and X or a number. An O denotes that you play the string on the chord without depressing it. An X means you don’t play the string at all. A number on a string denotes that the string should be played in the fret specified.

A beginner should be able to memorize the chords and practice playing until he is comfortable with his guitar. Eventually his hand movement will take on the dexterity that marks a great bassist. He will also learn the slaps, riffs, and slides, as well as the use of the pick.

Buying and playing your bass guitar

An electric or acoustic bass guitar should be comfortable to play. You must able to manage its weight, and the neck of the bass guitar should be navigable by your hands. Get the guitar from reputable dealers who can give you a warranty. If you are opting for a used bass guitar, you can be sure it is reliable if it was played for years. However, bear in mind that used guitars do not come with a warranty and these may have unsuitable modifications.

Playing the bass guitar is a physical thing. It is therefore practical to do warm-up exercises before striking the first bass guitar chords. Find a comfortable position that will not strain your hands. Relax, and your bass guitar music will be just as smooth as it is fluid. In time, you’ll be giving Flea a run for his money.

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Friday, February 29, 2008

Bass Guitar Lessons

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Bill_McRea]Bill McRea

The bass guitar often works with the drums to dictate the groove for most music genres. Bass guitarists help build groove and keep time. So you want to join "them" groove makers? You want bass guitar lessons, huh? Here we go...

Before you start taking bass guitar lessons, you need to get a bass guitar. You can start with a box guitar but what you'll be playing won't be the real thing. So, if you're serious, get your own bass guitar. You don't have to get a high end bass guitar. An average bass guitar will do just fine.

The best bass guitar lesson for you will depend on the way you learn best. There are folks who like it when a real person teaches them. If you fall into that category, then get a good bass guitar teacher.

Now, when looking for a bass guitar teacher, don't settle for a rhythm guitarist who claims he also plays the bass. If he ain't a bass player, he ain't a bass player. Get someone who does it for real.

If you have a more down-to-earth budget, hiring a bass player for you lessons might be a little too much for you to handle. For those who fall into this class, just go and get good bass lessons on Video CD's and DVD's.

These are great because everything has been systematically thought out and planned. These types of CD's and DVD's also come in grades and levels. So, if you're a beginner, you'll get all the basics you need with a beginner series. The only downside to this is that you will not get feedback on your progress unless you have someone who can assess you.

If you are more comfortable with the computer, you can get bass guitar lessons as software. The best ones will give you the opportunity of tracking your progress. For me, I prefer these software tutors more than all the other options.

So, there you are. You really have no excuse for not starting your journey into stardom now. All the bass guitar lessons you need are just a click or call away.

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Friday, February 22, 2008

Playing Bass Guitar Made Easy With Bass Guitar Tabs

By Rory Herts




You need a manual to operate a new appliance. You need to read the rules before you play a new board game. Learning to play the bass guitar is no different. You’ll have a manual like no other – the tablature.



Guitar Tablature



Learning to play the bass guitar is made easy with guitar tablature. Anybody who has a guitar and is willing to spend some time learning the rudiments can get along fine. If you are new to guitar lessons, do not be confused about tabs and tablature. They mean the exact, same thing in guitar lingo.



Bass guitar tabs or other guitar tablature provide visual interpretation of the guitar’s fret board so formal training is not necessary to understand guitar tabs. Bass guitar tabs are also easy to read and interpret; hence, application is faster and easier. Bass guitar tabs are musical notations that look like a written music document. Instead of the usual dots spread on a 5 line stave to show a specific note, the frets are numbered on a six line stave. The line represents a guitar’s string. Therefore, the six lines are the six strings of the guitar. Bass guitar tabs are also read from left to right.



If you have a four-stringed bass guitar, the bass guitar tabs will show four horizontal lines representing the four strings. The topmost string is the G string, followed by the D string, the A string, and lastly, the E string. If you see two numbers (one above the other) on one string, it indicates that the string is to be played simultaneously.



Wake up those fingers



If you are reading bass guitar tabs, you will notice that you won’t be determining the position of the fret board where you have to play the note. The bass guitar notes can be played in various left hand positions and on diverse strings. Bass guitar tabs are also easy to understand because the notations are clear. Instead of learning how to study the pitch, you are learning where to place your fingers.



Playing the bass guitar is taxing. It requires speed, and with all the slapping and sliding, the fingers should be exercised regularly to perform well. In addition, your fingers should be able to take the impossible chords and switch chords with ease and agility. Practicing the hand is basic in bass guitar playing. You have to achieve speed without losing accuracy with each pluck. You also have to get used to the sensation of holding the guitar without using your left hand. As you go along, you will discover that you won’t be depending on your left hand to prop the guitar. Master this, and play all bass guitar tabs with ease.



Apart from the bass guitar tabs and acquiring fingering speed, bass guitarists have to learn the tapping, slapping, and popping techniques. These techniques support the song context, making the notes more appealing and distinctive.



Get those bass guitar tabs



The Internet has made it possible for almost everyone to get guitar tabs. They can choose the songs they want to play, or even entire albums of their favorite rock bands. Bass guitar tabs can be downloaded anytime. E-books and CDs on all guitar tabs and playing styles are also available for a minimal fee. Joining guitar forums can also boost your knowledge about bass guitars – tabs and all. Indeed, master the manual and you’ll master the instrument.




It is now easy to play bass guitar with bass guitar tabs, so visit aboutplayingguitar.com for bass guitar chords and free guitar chords



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Thursday, February 14, 2008

Some Information That Can Help You Learn To Play Bass Guitar

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Chris_B_Simpson]Chris B Simpson

If you are considering learning how to play the bass guitar, you can expect that it will be quite a bit different from learning how to play a regular guitar, since it is much more complicated. Playing it is all about the different beats that you hear of a song. This is the focal point of that song you are hearing and playing. Each beat throughout the song must be heard properly so that you can have the correct timing down when you play. When you are listening for the beats you will be able to literally feel these pounding beats in your chest, it is an incredible feeling.

When you begin learning how to play your bass guitar just keep in mind that it is all about the beat and your timing ability. It is something that is going to take some time and so much patience, so do not get discouraged too quickly. If you continue practising and learning new techniques, in a matter of time, you too can learn how to play bass. If you believe it, you can achieve it! Remember that each time you begin feeling kind of down about not catching on quickly enough, it is not something that can happen overnight.

Another important thing that you have to keep in mind when trying to learn how to play bass is that the bass guitar is tuned pretty much the same as the regular guitar. The difference in the bass guitar is really the strings. They usually only have 4 strings and they are not like the strings on the regular guitar, they are quite a bit thicker than the strings on a regular guitar. What you will begin practising when you first attempt to learn something about the bass is, the notes. With a regular guitar you have to worry about which chords to play and when. With a bass guitar it is not about chords but rather about the guitar notes. You still need to be pretty familiar with a regular guitar, as far as the proper tuning and the notes, as with the bass. Learning about both types of guitar will benefit you greatly when you are learning to play bass.

Figuring out where to put your fingers on it can be tricky at first. You should also try and learn how to play with both hands, not just one, this will definitely help you when playing. Last but not least, practice doing things to help on improving your grip in your fingers and hands. Practice, practice and more practice, that is what it is going to take to help you learn how to play the bass guitar. Work hard and in a matter of time, you will be able to show off your skills to all of your family and friends. Good luck with it!

Looking for a guitar or accessories? Check out [http://guitars.supashops.com ]Guitar Heaven for a full range of guitars and accessories. Also download free guitar lessons.

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Thursday, January 24, 2008

Learning to Play Bass Guitar - 4 Guitar Playing Tips

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Anthony_Lee]Anthony Lee

Playing the guitar is one popular pastime nowadays. For some people, it is also a way of expressing themselves and elevates the hobby into an art form or sometimes, science.

Playing the guitar, however, is no joke. It requires a lot of patience and practice. For some people, they would rather study playing the bass guitar than the regular guitar. Here are some tips on learning to play the bass guitar.

1. Feel the beat

Playing the bass guitar differs primarily from playing a regular guitar because it entails an emphasis on the beat of the music. One can compare the bass guitar into a drum or percussion set that is made into a guitar. Beats are very important in playing bass guitar because this type of guitar gives depth and timing to any song.

If one grasps the notes of a regular guitar through his ears, a bass player grabs the notes of a bass guitar through his chest. The bass guitar pounds on the heart and gives it feelings through the depth of the music.

2. Learn the notes (single chords) on a regular guitar

The main thing about bass guitars is that they are tuned like ordinary guitars. The difference is that most regular bass guitars only have four strings which are far thicker than ordinary ones. This kind of strings allows the bass guitar to go very deep in terms of tone.

Take a regular guitar (which is tuned from the thickest to the lowest string- E - A - D - G - B - E) and exclude the two thinnest strings at the bottom and what is left is basically a bass guitar with thinner strings.

Bass playing is usually note-oriented and not chord-oriented. This means that single notes are hit more often in bass playing and this scheme is the essential element of bass playing. One should be familiar with the tunings and the notes in a regular guitar to be able to decently play the bass guitar.

3. Finger placing is important

Hitting the bass guitar fret board with the left-hand fingers is very important since it is a major factor that will determine the wholeness of each note. Try to place the fingers such that they are close to the fret on the right. The right hand should also be practiced so as to give bass guitar playing a holistic approach.

4. Strengthen your grip

Another important thing to develop in bass playing is the strength of both hand's fingers. The bass guitar is a sturdy and solid musical instrument, strength is needed to play it.

In playing the bass guitar, one should always take one lesson at a time. Bass playing requires repetition and there's no sense in hurrying the learning process. One should feel the notes through his soul and through his heart and become one with the bass guitar.

To learn how to play guitar using the easiest to follow method, please visit http://www.Guitar-Playing-Tips.info/

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Thursday, January 17, 2008

Five Golden Rules that Generate Great Basslines - Part 1, Play the Root of the Chord

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=John_Rhodes]John Rhodes

1 Playing the root of the chord.

Bass players get maximum mileage by simply playing the root of the chord during each bar.

What is the root? It is the letter used in the name of the chord!

For Cmaj7 just play C, For Cm7 just play C, For C7 just play C, For Cmaj7+11 just play C

For Bbmaj7 just play Bb, For Fm7 just play F, For A7 just play A, For Gmaj7+11 just play G

possible progression and bassline:

chords || G / / / | Am / / / | C / / / | D / / / ||

bassline || G / / / | A / / / | C / / / | D / / / ||

If you are aware that the bass is playing a G on beat 1 of bar 1, then you've got to try a G chord first.

What are you going to try if you're not listening to the bass? beats me!By playing the root of the chord the BASSLINE supports the chord perfectly.

Of course there is a couple of levels to this concept. PART 1a is about diplaced roots!

SO

Determine the note played by the bass on the first beat of the bar and you have the root of the chord.

Now play a selection of chords based on that root, with the track, and finish sooner.

It has to be easier doing it this way than trying listen to the guitar. [http://www.king-of-chords.com/beginners-bass-guitar.html ]see my beginners bass page and download some scale charts for bass

Hi John Rhodes here from http://www.king-of-chords.com let me help you become King of Chords. Benefit from my experience. I've transcribed over 30,000 songs and still counting. I've analyzed them too, for my private students. You can access some of the strategies I've recognized in use over the years, and download lots of free pdfs for chords and scales at my site. When you sign up for my ezine, you get 4 mp3 tracks to help your soloing, find out about how the 5 golden rules of bass lines help you transcribe and access to "chords progression of the month" an analysis of the chords, scales and construction of a classic track. Thanks

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Thursday, January 10, 2008

Electric Bass Guitars

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Seth_Miller]Seth Miller

Electric bass guitars produce a very striking sound that gives a punch to any type of music. The sound it produces is lower and deeper than normal guitars. These have a longer neck and are tuned an octave lower in pitch than a normal guitar.

Bass guitars are based on the double bass, and the sound it turns out is magical to the ears. It has a similar range as other bass instruments. The bass guitar just like a classic guitar with a bass design. Its body is made of wood, with an option of a fully hollow body, partially hollow body or completely solid body. The electric bass, in contrast to the double bass, is played while held horizontally across the body. Unlike the double bass, it is not played with a bow; instead, it is usually plucked with the fingers, thumbs or plectra. You can play the electric bass guitar sitting or standing.

The bass players generally stand while playing, although sitting is also accepted, particularly in the orchestral settings. However, it is a matter of player’s preference as to which position gives him the greatest ease of playing. When sitting and playing, the instrument can easily be balanced on the thighs or legs. A bass guitar suits almost all kinds of music, like rock, jazz and pop, but it’s very popular in contemporary music. Playing a guitar is fun, but the electric bass guitar definitely add that little sound and vibration to your fingers as you enjoy playing it. [http://www.e-ElectricGuitars.com]Electric Guitars provides detailed information on Electric Guitars, Acoustic Electric Guitars, Cheap Electric Guitars, Electric Bass Guitars and more. Electric Guitars is affiliated with [http://www.Piano-Web.com]Piano Lessons.

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Thursday, January 3, 2008

Bass Guitar Tablatures

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Thomas_Morva]Thomas Morva

A guitar tab is a system of notations, letters, symbols and other visual representations - instead of the traditional musical notation. Guitar tabs give directions to the player as to how to play a musical piece through a diagram of strings of the guitar.

Tablature consists of a diagram of strings of the guitar with finger positions indicated by numbers corresponding to the appropriate frets and sometimes with the numerical representations of the fingers. Guitar tabs are very important for those who are enthusiasts and are keen on learning new tunes and technicalities of guitar and especially those songs which have extensive guitar uses, both plucking and other types of fingering as well as lead parts.

A bass guitar is slightly different in shape from other guitars (rhythm guitar, classical guitar, Hawaiian guitar, etc.) A bass guitar is used for complementing and filling up the sound in an orchestration or a band and it goes in tune and rhythm with the drums and percussion. A bass guitar’s neck or fret board is much longer than the fret boards of any other guitars and it has four strings called the bass strings.

Nowadays tablatures, guitar tabs in particular, have vertical lines which represent the strings of the guitar (no matter what kind of guitar it is) horizontal lines for the frets, and dots signifying the position of the figures. In the case of a bass guitar there will only be four horizontal lines signifying the four strings of the bass guitar. A bass guitar can never be played with a spectrum (an object used to strum the strings of the guitar). Instead, it is played with figures just by plucking. Therefore, a bass guitar tablature is different from those of the rhythm or the classical guitars. [http://www.e-GuitarTabs.com]Guitar Tabs provides detailed information on Guitar Tabs, Free Guitar Tablatures, Classical Guitar Tablatures, Bass Guitar Tablatures and more. Guitar Tabs is affiliated with [http://www.Guitars-source.com]Guitar Tabs.

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