Bass guitar for beginners

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2004-09-23 14:17:59

Last author: Maurer's conclusions
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Hello my students *room is empty*
How are we today?
Welcome to the bass guitar for beginners class. Everyone is welcome to this site, so long as you are eager to learn or contribute.
In our year we shall cover
-History and purpose of bass guitar
-Rudimentary playing skills
-Technique
-Scales

1. The idea of and the importance of the bass has existed for hundreds of years. In the pieces of J. S. Bach, the bass was just as important as the alto, or the tenor, etc.
In classical music the bass line is played upright bass or a bass viola. However, certain forms of music such as New Orleans jazz and ragtime used brass instruments for the bass line. Due to breathing requirements, the brass players played a 2 beats to the bar rhythm, which is what game that type of music it's “oom-pah feel.”
However, around 1935 the compositions of people such as Duke Ellington became more complex, and required a 4 beats to the bar rhythm, so they stopped using the brass to play the bass line, and instead used an upright bass.
However, the acoustic bass had its disadvantages. It was hard to hear over all of the other instruments, and it was very big and bulky, making transport difficult.
This is what encouraged the invention of the electric bass guitar, in 1951 by Clarence Leo Fender. The first model was called the Fender Precision Bass, by the Fender Musical
Instrument Company.
The bass guitar is made up of a head, a neck, and a body. The head consists of the tuning pegs and the string posts. Where the head is joined to the neck is the nut. The neck, or fretboard/fingerboard consists of the frets. The neck is connected to the body. Where the neck is connected to the body is a cutaway, so players have access to the higher frets. The body has two strap buttons, where a strap can be attached. At the bottom of the body there is a bridge. The strings run from the bridge to the string posts and tuning pegs of the head. Below the strings is a pickguard, to protect the body from the pick. Near the pickguard and also below the strings is the pickup. That is where the sound is picked up, transferred to the photo jack, or input cable, which runs to the amplifier. The two knobs on the bass are for volume control and tone control. The place of the body where the bass is thinnest is known as the waist.

End of lesson one – History and purpose of the bass guitar

2. The most common way for bassist to play is by mimicking the chord that the guitarist/pianist/whatever is playing. They can either mimic the chord by playing the same chord, or by playing the corresponding note; e.g. the guitarist plays a G-chord, the bassist plays a G-note. The bass guitar typically has four strings, and they are typically tuned to (from lowest to highest/thickest to thinnest) E-A-D-G. It is crucial to remember this, so try to come up with a rhyme or something to help you not forget.
E.g. Every Ant Digs Ground (or some little stupid sing-song phrase)
In order to play a G-note, you could play the G-string (yes very funny…=P) open, or you could play a G-note on one of the other strings by pressing down hard between the frets at a certain place (technique will be taught later so do not worry about that).
In order to know where to press down, some basic knowledge of Music Theory is required. There are seven main notes, and they are A, B, C, D, E, F and G (the note following the G would be an A again, but this time an octave higher). There is a half-step between all notes, except between B and C and E and F. The half step is either a sharp or a flat. So here is what the notes would look like if we were to include half steps: A, A#(<the symbol for sharp (we won’t be using flats, but if you are curious an A# is the same as a B-flat)), B, C, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G# and so on. Each fret represents a half-step.
So back to our goal; to play a G-note. Once again, you could play the G-string open, but if you were to play it on the E-string, you would have to work out which fret would be the G-fret. Open, the string is E. So if you put down your finger on the first fret it would be an F (since there is no half-step between E and F). After that it would be an F#, and then on the third fret a G.
So to review, we could play a G by either playing the G string open, or by holding down the 3rd fret of the E string. Now for practise, find out where you could play an F on every string.

(To be continued; this lesson is not over. For “homework,” just try and figure out as many notes in as many different locations as possible. Also try to memorise some. That way, playing will be much easier for you, since you will not need to think so much each time you try to play a note.)

Feel free to contribute ideas by messaging me or posting them at the bottom of this page.
Also feel free to ask me questions.
I left this page without a password so people can make contributions (WITH MY PERMISSION). If anyone starts SPAMming or cluttering up this page, you will be reported to the town guards, and you will not be asked to return to this wiki...

Students names:

2004-07-17 [Maurer's conclusions]: Well ask away, or just join this wiki class...

2004-07-17 [Melody_Rain]: your class is doing great so far. its ok students come and go. I'd rather just put up lessons and the ones who would wanna know read what you have to say and ask u questions if nessesary.

2004-10-04 [Melody_Rain]: BEAUTIFUL!!! I love how your class is set up.

2004-10-04 [Maurer's conclusions]: Yes, but it would be fun if anyone came..:( sniff sniff:P

2004-10-04 [Squirrelywrath]: Well, if I had known about this class say, a year ago (if it existed), I would've become a student. Fact is, most people already know the basics and don't come here. ^^ Bass Rules!

2004-10-04 [Maurer's conclusions]: True. But you never know. There are always some bass noobs out there...

2004-10-04 [Squirrelywrath]: Indeed

2004-10-11 [mr mooow]: hello, i play bass, but im not a beginner...i been playing for 9 months...im on grade 5 of 7 on the rockschool books...(7 being high) *feels proud...

2004-10-11 [Maurer's conclusions]: Aha. Not bad. Do you need any help? Or are you just bragging:P

2004-10-12 [mr mooow]: no, i need a wee bit of help...my guitar teacher keeps telling mre to play the things using the correct pattern...like...(Finger = number),(frett equall letter)

2004-10-12 [mr mooow]: e:---(2)f*------------------

2004-10-12 [mr mooow]: a:---------(1)a*------------

2004-10-12 [mr mooow]: d:---------------(3)f-------------

2004-10-12 [mr mooow]: g:--------------------------------------

2004-10-12 [Maurer's conclusions]: E-A-D-G is the standard tuning of a bass. Therefore, for the E-string, you must have your middle (2nd) finger on the 2nd fret to make in an F#. For the A string you must have your index (1st) finger on the 1st fret to get A#. For the D-string, you need to have your ring (3rd) finger on the 3rd fret to get an F. The G-string (^^) is played open. Does that answer your question?

2004-10-13 [mr mooow]: YEAH, I PLAY LIKE THAT OCCASIONLY BUT NOY ALL THE TIME...IS IT WORTH DOING IT ALL THE TIME?

2004-10-13 [Maurer's conclusions]: What do you mean? Playing just that pattern all the time?

2004-10-14 [mr mooow]: no, i dont play that pattern but if i have got to stretch to a far away fret up the fret board i dont always use the pinky to hit that note...i use the finger before it...is it worth using the pinky most of the time?

2004-10-18 [Maurer's conclusions]: Well, it is good to try and use the pinky. The more often you use it, the stronger it will get, and then the easier it is to use. Of course, in some cases, it is just better to move the whole hand up instead of extending the pinky.

2004-10-18 [mr mooow]: cheers!

2004-11-02 [2000HRS]: What's the standard tuning in 5 string?

2004-11-02 [Maurer's conclusions]: E - A - D - G - B

2004-11-03 [2000HRS]: Every Ants Dig (like) Gun Bound? lol

2004-11-03 [Maurer's conclusions]: Every Acid Dealer Gets Busted

2004-11-03 [mr mooow]: even aliens destroy green beavers...

2004-11-03 [Maurer's conclusions]: Eat A Dick Groaning Boy

2004-11-03 [mr mooow]: Eat a demented girls boobs!

2004-11-04 [2000HRS]: lol i like the "every ants dig ground" one.. that got stuck in my head. I'm getting my 5-string bass like next week. I barely know how to play bass.. but I believe I could learn. Any help?

2004-11-04 [Maurer's conclusions]: It's not terribly hard, but you should probably get some form of teacher who can teach you hand positions and things like that, I can only teach you theory.

2004-11-05 [2000HRS]: I don't have money for a teacher. Well, I sort of can learn that hand position of this one site I saw. It's pretty cool. Other than that.. all I need is the chord tabs etc. I know there aren't many but there's some. Theory will be a good thing *bows* lol...

2004-11-07 [Maurer's conclusions]: Ask away, I'll do my best to help you.

2004-11-07 [2000HRS]: i'm gettin my bass on this Wednesday. Then I'd have a tons of questions. lol.. first up: What's different between 4 and 5 string bass? And which one do you prefer/play?

2004-11-08 [Maurer's conclusions]: A four string bass has 4 strings tuned from lowest to highest E A D G, and a five string bass has five strings, which are tuned to E A D G B. Five string basses may be more versatile, since you can hit higher notes, but since most bassists use basses to hit the lower notes, it won't make a difference. I play a four string.

2004-11-08 [2000HRS]: Sweeet. Are there any chords? I mean some people yes, and some people say no. So I'm pretty much confused. If there are then.. can you list like a few of them or something? That'd be helpful. Oh, and are there chords on 4 and 5 string bass different from each others?

2004-11-09 [Maurer's conclusions]: Yes, you can play chords on the bass, but it is much harder. In any case, the chords would not change if you had a 4 or a 5 string.

2004-11-10 [2000HRS]: Hmm.. so i guess there's books about chords right? And yeah.. like most chords are written in 4-string bass so if you're playing with 5-string bass.. will the 5th string be like open all the time?

2004-11-10 [2000HRS]: hehe.. sorry if you're getting tired of answereing all these dumb questions.

2004-11-10 [Maurer's conclusions]: No it's no problem. There are books about bass, and they would probably have chords in those. However, on a five string, you will need to include the 5th string in a chord (which may mean not leaving it open), or you just dont play it.

2004-11-11 [2000HRS]: So do they have like a chord book just for 5-string?

2004-11-11 [2000HRS]: Oh yeah. I got my bass today. It rocks. I've been learning it quite a bit in a little time today.

2004-11-15 [Maurer's conclusions]: I doubt they have a chord book for a five string. If you are having trouble with a chord, just ask me and I will give you a tab. Did you get a 4 or a 5 string?

2004-11-16 [2000HRS]: I got a 5-string. I'm learning pretty much right now. I know all the keys on the four strings of the first 4 frats including finger roll etc. just in 6 days. I'm proud of me hehe.

2004-11-16 [2000HRS]: I think I might tune the b-string into E.. I don't know how it'd sound but that's just my imagination.

2004-11-16 [Maurer's conclusions]: You could, but it would make chords much more complex, if you were to use all of the strings

2004-11-16 [Maurer's conclusions]: Also, make sure that the string does not break, because then it will whip you, and that hurts like FUCK!

2004-11-16 [2000HRS]: lol hehe.. it happened to me once so I know that. oh yeah.. how do you slap? And what's spider crawl?

2004-11-17 [Maurer's conclusions]: slapping the string with the thumb and release strings with a snap = slapping

2004-11-17 [Maurer's conclusions]: spider crawl... hmm. haven't heard that one. i will look it up for you though

2004-11-17 [2000HRS]: I heard that yesterday.. or saw it on some page... I'm not sure. Anyways.. it says like spider crawl.. so I'm guessing that it's kinda cool... and difficult.

2004-11-18 [2000HRS]: oh my god.. I'm stuck at this shit lol. What are the box shape and movable boxes? It says something like comman bass fingering blah blah blah... i think you know that. Anyways.. I'm just wondering about fingering. Do you finger them like seperatly or like all together? I'm so lost.. or is it like octaves? But I fingered that they don't go together.. but I see like A box , E box, and B box for the box shape.. soo.. help?

2004-12-13 [Maurer's conclusions]: Sorry, didn't see this. I don't knwo the term box shape (I don't know many terms in English) but I will look it up.

2004-12-13 [2000HRS]: Wow, where are you from? I found out what they are now. Now I'm in minor scales.. and I don't quite understand the transation between major and minor scales such as: a nautral minor is related to C Major..

2004-12-14 [Maurer's conclusions]: Sweden. I speak English fluently, but I don't know all bass terms:D

2004-12-14 [Maurer's conclusions]: Do you know the difference between a major and a minor scale?

2004-12-15 [2000HRS]: yeah I know what they are. Minor scales make "sad" sounds. But the transation is a little different. I think I got it now. I'm in chromatic walk. It's a pretty cool one. Soon, I'm gonna be learning the right hand techniques :D Oh yeah, what's a slide? How do you play a slide?

2004-12-15 [Maurer's conclusions]: I know this one! A slide is when (with your left hand) you plant one of your fingers at one of the ends (either high or low), and slide it to where the next note is.

2004-12-16 [2000HRS]: So what's the different between slides and hammer ons/pull off?

2004-12-16 [Maurer's conclusions]: Hammer is when you have your first finger on the (for example) first fret of the G string, and you play that, and then hit down hard with your second finger on the 2nd fret. Pull off is the opposite.

2004-12-17 [2000HRS]: so you pluck twice in hammer on or pull off.. but you only pluck once in slides?

2005-01-31 [*_* Smiley on Ecstasy]: Are you supposed to put your name underneath "Students Names" if you want to be a student?

2005-01-31 [Maurer's conclusions]: If you want. To KornKid, pluck once in both cases.

2005-02-03 [2000HRS]: Thanks. I've passed those missions now :) I'm learning funk bass which is slap and pop. It's kinda hard.. but it sounds really funky if you get it right.

2005-02-04 [Maurer's conclusions]: Slap is nice

2005-02-04 [2000HRS]: I still prefer bass solos in just normal plucking style. It just sounds right to me.... but when you're playing with a band I think sometimes slap and pop really comes in handy.

2005-02-04 [Maurer's conclusions]: For solos, it is also harder to play slap, because it is hard slapping on the higher strings. I tend to pluck or gallop when I play.

2005-02-06 [2000HRS]: ohh... true i hate slapping the higher strings... it's a pain in the ass.

2005-02-14 [cavegirl]: Hinkin bout gettin a fender 4 ma b-day. im just a beginers beginer... wots the main differece between an p bass an a jazz bass?

2005-02-14 [w00t0ttjfrkff]: i play my bass with my fingers i find it easier is this how a bass should be played

2005-02-15 [2000HRS]: bass could be played with picks (most metals are played that way) or with fingers (it could sound funky.. and is way which I prefer).

2005-02-15 [2000HRS]: "The P in P-pickups stands for Precision Bass. They are made of two single coil pickups that are offset so they each pick up vibrations from two different strings. The signal is combined before it reaches the volume and tone controls. Each single-coil is wound in opposite directions to reduce hum. Basses usually have one P-pickup". "The J in J-pickups stands for Jazz Bass. They are made in one piece that picks up vibrations from all four strings. J-pickups are single coils, and J-bases usually have two of them: one near the neck and one by the bridge."

2005-02-15 [cavegirl]: o rite... so um... which 1 is better 4 a beginner say?

2005-02-15 [2000HRS]: I'd recommand a P-bass.. but I'm not a pro player so i don't know. Jazz bass is good if you wanna.. well play shits like Jazz kick ass riffs.. but if you're undecided.. choose P-bass.

2005-02-23 [Maurer's conclusions]: What do you plan on playing?

2005-02-23 [cavegirl]: who me? Blink 182 even tho ma heart is in peices at the mo

2005-02-24 [2000HRS]: I don't think it'd much such different in playing blink 182's songs on any kind of bass. No offense, but their riffs are easy and it'd still be the same if you're using a crappy bass.

2005-02-24 [cavegirl]: I ken their riffs r easy but theyr songs r amazin so i wanna play them! its b blink an other punk rock bands id wanna play

2005-02-24 [w00t0ttjfrkff]: budgie are a gr8 band arent they if u have heard them

2005-02-24 [cavegirl]: Iv heard of Budgie the little helicopter....

2005-02-24 [2000HRS]: Oh yeah.. there's a band in UK called like Five monkey or something like... they only consist of bass and vocal.. never heard of 'em but it sounds really nice.

2005-02-26 [w00t0ttjfrkff]: yeah metalica did a cover of one of budgies songs called breadfan

2005-03-23 [cavegirl]: I got me sel a cruiser by crafter a few weeks ago just incase any1s wunderin

2005-04-23 [Holic]: You know, in our town there are millions of jokes about bass-players... ^_^ But anyhow, I know it's an important instrument! (yeah, no point in this message ^_^)

2005-04-23 [cavegirl]: lol! i hav another pointless msg.................................. this wikis called bass 4 beginers rite, an theres members in all....... if the members play bass then does that not suggest their no longer beginners???????

2005-04-24 [2000HRS]: There's a period of time for any "player" to considered as a beginner. My drummer became an intimidiate player in 2 weeks after he got his drums.. so time varies. Yes there are alot of jokes about bass players.. but they don't know that all the solos sound shitty without a bassist. And a bassist is a person who starts the song... the guitarists and everyone follows the bassist.

2005-04-29 [Jo!]: how do i join ur wiki

2005-04-30 [2000HRS]: add your name up there.

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