Bass Space

The Art of Left Handed Bass Guitar

2010-05-11T02:47:00.000+01:00

For the beginners in this field, you have to first know some other players in this field. From the other player you can have their experience in this field and can learn from them.

This can be a very helpful step for the beginners. There are many guitar manufacturers in the world like Gibson, Norman, Seagull martin, Simon who can provide you with your own guitar. They give an equal chance to all players to go high. All facility will be provided by them to the left hand guitar player. The facilities like a new range of left handed bass guitars and also provide many options which include user specific guitars.

The best thing is you don't have to follow any rule while playing a left handed bass guitar. You have to design your own way to play the guitar. You should hold the guitar in that position in which you feel more comfortable. If you want to play a right handed guitar in left hand you should adjust the string according to that. Many people play guitar when they want peace, romantic, and satisfaction. There fore the popularity of left hand guitars is rising day to day. The guitar is the most popular instrument in the world wide. Last century the left handed guitar gain very much popularity even though the people have been playing guitar for years. Before some times no one even thought that a left hand man can also play guitar. Only by following diagrams and concentrating you can learn the act of playing left handed guitar.

You have to take care of some of the posture of your sitting like you should sit upright, put the guitar on your left side, us your thumb as support to your finger sit as your left hand reach top of the guitar. In many of the of guitar instruction are there for both the right and the left hand guitar, here the strings are assigned number 1 to number 6, starting from the highest pitched string. This highest pitched string plays the note E. The second one plays the note B. The third one plays note G, fourth D, fifth A, and sixth plays low note book that is E. By using a piano you can get your all six tunes with you. The most basis chord for music creation is G chord you have to start from their for any music. Using G chord thousands of music like, pop, folk, rock songs are created.

So basic thing is that just you have to concentrate a little and if you are a left hand person you definitely learn the art of playing a left handed bass guitar as well a right handed person can play.

Left Handed Bass Guitars and left hand players are a minority. And so the information that we have of them on the internet. On Beginner-Bass-Guitar.com and on the bass guitar secrets ebook there is mach more information for players.

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Bass Guitar Pickups Secrets

2010-05-08T14:16:00.000+01:00

By O Keynan

How the bass guitar sounds to a large extent is dependent on the pickups and a good bass guitar pickup can make a big difference to the sound that emanates from a guitar. You can always change your pickup if you are not satisfied with the one that you have on your guitar. Normally the pickups are categorized into two namely passive pickups and active pickups. What is the difference between the two and what are the advantages and disadvantages of each type?

The basic difference between the two is that active pickups are battery powered and the passive pickups are not. Let us look at both in detail so that we will be able to get a better decision regarding the kind of pickup that will be suitable for our guitar.

Most bass guitars that were made during the 1950s to 1970s period used the passive pickups and you can find this in the kind of music that we heard from the guitars of James Cameroon, Beatles and The Cream. You will hear a dynamic, full, warm and round tone from a passive pickup and therein lays the appeal. There is a larger magnet that is used in comparison to the active pickup and due to this external noise or interference is easily picked. When you use the passive pickups you can cut out or tune down the bass and treble frequencies.

The active pickups use a pre amplifier and will help you to cut and boost frequencies and you can control the tone coming from the bass in a much more effective manner. As it is battery operated you will need to carry an extra spare of batteries if your current batteries die down. As these pickups use very small magnets the chances of picking up the external sound or interference is very less. Most professionals listen to the different pickups that are available and then make a choice.

You also have the split coil pickups and this means that the double coil is split twice. There will not be just one coil under all the four strings but the pickups will be equally divided between two pair of strings. You will need to do a bit of research on good bass guitar pickups and then decide which one will ideally suit your requirements.

Bass Guitar Pickups is a crucial step on the way to build custom bass guitar. If you want to learn more about bass guitar please visit beginner-bass-guitar.com

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Learning Bass Guitar - Low Sounds For Setting the Mood

2010-05-05T02:45:00.000+01:00

Learning Bass Guitar - Low Sounds For Setting the Mood

By Todd Kittering

You may be wondering what sort of mood learning the bass guitar is setting the mood for? Have you ever heard one of those things go, its like hearing Barry White on steroids (well, that's the way my wife puts it anyway).

If you and your partner want to get in the mood for love then try learning bass guitar. What makes this instrument so special you may ask, well I am glad you did... The guitar is quite a bit different from your normal run of the mill guitars, the strings are different, the beats and timing when playing are different and sound is completely different.

If you learnt to play the normal guitar, you would not be able to all of a sudden be able to play a bass guitar but if you were learning bass guitar you could pick up a normal guitar and start playing it... sort of.

Your finger memory needs to be spot on and you will find that your patience is tested every time you pick up on instrument. But the results will be well worth it, especially when you learn some of those special songs that will make the other sex go crazy.

Make sure you take good care of your instrument, the strings are a bit thicker than a normal guitar and need to be cleaned regularly. If you look after it well, the the guitar will be with you for many years to come.

Tell your partner to sit back, relax, and take in the smooth low sounds of your bass guitar playing. It feels like every low note is reverberating through your body and making your bones vibrate. Now that is what you can call an aphrodisiac, and before you know it you will no longer be playing and your partner will no longer be listening...

Todd Kittering is a guitar enthusiast and recommends learning bass guitar. You can browse his site http://lead-guitar.instrumentmaestro.com for more information.

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The Many Styles of Playing Electric Bass Guitar

2010-05-02T11:23:00.000+01:00

By Victor Epand

Many bass instruments are played upright, as a direct result of the fact that the bass strings are usually the longest, and therefore the instrument is naturally much longer than standard ones. However, electric bass guitars are played in exactly the same way as a standard guitar, and the length of the instrument is roughly the same. This is of course an advantage achieved through the fact that the actual sound heard is produced electronically, and the overall tone, pitch and frequency of the note can be altered digitally.

The typical method used to play the electric bass guitar differs slightly from that used in the playing of a standard electric guitar, since the main method used is pizzicato, or the plucking of strings. Obviously those players who perform on standard electric guitars may also pluck the strings, but this is only one of a range of techniques that can be used. Electric bass guitarists almost solely use the plucking or pizzicato technique throughout their performance.

Plucking can be achieved quite happily through using the index and middle finger, or in some cases the thumb and ring finger too, but since the strings are steel, some players prefer to use plectrums or picks. Using a pick can help to increase both the speed at which a performer can hit the notes, and also the hardness with which the string is plucked. Usually the sound produced by an electric bass guitarist using a plectrum or pick is much sharper and harder, than the equivalent sound produced by a performer using just his or her fingers.

Of course, it is also true to say that the nature of the pick itself makes a huge difference to the quality and sharpness of the sound, and thicker, firmer picks will produce a harder, heavier sound, whereas the more flexible lightweight picks will produce a softer and more gentle tone. For a pick which sounds very similar in tone to using fingers would be one typically made from felt.

In some types of music it is preferable to create a sound using an electric bass guitar which evokes an impression more similar to a double bass. This double bass sound is achieved not by using a pick or a plectrum, but by actually plucking the strings. This on its own tends to create a note which is distinctly longer than that produced by a double bass, and so the typical technique is to pluck the string, and then use the flat of the hand to mute the note. This produces quite a thumpy sound, and is used quite frequently in various styles of music.

Yet another method used by some electric bass guitarists is to either slap or pop the strings, creating a sound which is reminiscent of funk music. This technique literally involves slapping a string with the index finger or middle fingers, creating a flatter sound, or by popping the strings with the same fingers. This slap technique has been popularised in such other styles of music as rock and fusion.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for guitars, drums, keyboards, sheet music, guitar tab, and home theater audio. You can find the best marketplace at these sites for electric bass guitar, rock guitar, sheet music, guitar.

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Can You Find a Good Bass Guitar Package?

2010-04-30T02:40:00.000+01:00

By O Keynan

The first bass guitar package that we will look at is Dean Vendetta Guitar & Amp Pack Metallic Black and the accessories in this include electronic tuner, strap, cord, picks and gig bags. The amp also forms part of the accessories and such a package is considered ideal for beginners. One of the most reputed names in the world of guitars is the Yamaha company and the package that is available for this model are Yamaha GigMaker EG Electric Guitar Pack Black.

A bass guitar kit from a reputed manufacturer assures you that you get world class accessories which will help you keep your precious guitar in prime condition. Some of the popular guitar kits include ESP LTD M10 Electric Guitar kits, Behringer GPK844 Electric Guitar Package, Ibanez IJX40 Jumpstart Electric Guitar Package, Squier Stop Dreaming, Start Playing SE Special Strat Electric Guitar Pack, Epiphone Les Paul Junior Electric Guitar and All Access Amp Pack, Squier Stop Dreaming, Start Playing Affinity Strat Electric Guitar Pack, Squier Stop Dreaming Start Playing Affinity Strat HSS Electric Guitar Package with G-DEC, Fender SE Special Strat with Squier SP-10 Amp Value Pack Black, Fender SE Special Strat with Squier SP-10 Amp Value Pack Arctic White, Fender SE Special Strat with Squier SP-10 Amp Value Pack Brown Sunburst, Fender Affinity Special Strat and Frontman 15G Amp Value Pack Black, Fender Affinity Special Strat and Frontman 15G Amp Value Pack Metallic Blue, Silvertone SS10 Citation Electric Guitar Pack, Fender Affinity Strat HSS and Bullet 150 DSP Amp Value Pack Black.

You have separate bass guitar package based on your individual needs and requirements and you can buy one either from the manufactures directly or online where you will be able to check the various features that are part of the package. You will also be able to compare the various prices and models before you make the final choice. Before you decide to buy the package you must decide what kind of accessories you will require while playing the guitar. If you travel constantly for concerts you will definitely need a good guitar cover that not just protects your guitar from the elements of nature but also from an accidental fall. You will have a lot of foam on the inner side of the bag so that it absorbs any fall and there is minimal damage.

The strap that you choose to wear must also be comfortable as you might be wearing it for a longer period of time. You must pick your bass guitar package with a lot of care and after comparing a number of models.

O.Keynan is professional bass player that plays over 7 years. He owns and maintains Beginner-Bass-Guitar.com, a great recourse that giving you all the information you need about bass guitar package and bass guitar in general

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The Martin Bass Guitar Pros and Cons

2010-04-28T07:41:00.000+01:00

By Or Kynan

The Martin bass guitar is famous for its steel string guitars and have made several models of electric guitars. The company has withstood all the competition with constant innovation and reinventing all there models over the years. The management of the company has remained with the family and it is their sheer dedication to the craft and art of making guitars that has helped the company overcome all difficulties and emerge as a leading manufacturer of world class guitars.

There were some special characteristics of the martin bass guitar and in the earlier days these included an adjustable neck. A screw used to be mounted on the back of the heel of the neck and this was extended right up to the neck block. Due to this the neck could be moved up and down. By inserting a clock key in the heel the neck could be adjusted. This made playing the simple guitar a bit complicated and slowly this design was phased out.

One of the major innovations of Martin guitars is the X bracing system that was part of the guitar top design. This design is still in use and most musicians feel that it contributes a big way to the sound and treble of this guitar. Most of the guitars during the early years had a 12 fret neck and it was Martin guitars that introduced the 14 fret neck guitar.

You will be surprised to know that there are more than a hundred different models of the Martin guitar and they have been at the forefront of innovation and design that has revolutionized the guitar industry as a whole. In the year 2004 when they built their millionth guitar they studded it with rubies and diamonds making it one of the most priceless musical instruments to own.

It has been researched that during a concert a guitar endures more than 180 pounds of tension and the X bracing system that the Martin guitars are designed with see to it that it endures enormous amount of tension and does not warp under the force. There are also special models and limited editions that are made periodically to commemorate a special occasion.

Martin guitars have a unique labeling system where an initial letter and the number of zeroes signify the body size and type. The higher the number is the higher will be its design detail. There are many famous models of the Martin bass guitar and these include the 000-1, 000-15, 000-28EC, 000-28ECB, 000-18, D1, D18, D28, HD-28, HD-35, D-45, J-40, OM-28, OM-42PS, 16 series, 15 series, Road series, Little Martin, Backpacker and EB 18 to name just a few.

The vintage Martin bass guitars too fetch a good price as they are admired for their unique sound and bass.

Or Kynan is professional bass player that plays over 7 years. He owns and maintains Beginner-Bass-Guitar.com, a great recourse for company information like martin bass guitar, have a great acoustics guitars. For more information about bass guitar go to http://www.beginner-bass-guitar.com.

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Bass Guitar Lessons - Through a Proven System Here is How You Can Learn to Play This Instrument

2010-04-25T17:28:00.000+01:00

By Joshua K. Lincoln

Playing a musical instrument may be something that you have always wanted to do in your life. Well, what is holding you back? Are you the person who likes rock music, especially? An important instrument in any rock band is the bass guitar. Besides the drummer who provides the rhythmic beat for any great rock band, the bass guitar is equally as important in providing the foundation harmonically.

Being able to find someone who can provide bass guitar lessons to you is much easier, now that we are ten years into the 21st century. No longer do you have to go into the yellow pages and try to find a person who could teach the instrument. Going back to the late 1990's, it was no easy thing to do in locating a quality bass guitar instructor. If you lived in a remote, sparsely populated area you might have had to commute 40 miles, roundtrip, where the nearest music studio was located just to take lessons.

Back then, the person working out of the studio might have been some guy who really specialized in lead or acoustic guitar. Sorry, but the technique and style of playing the bass guitar is quite different. If you were taught by some incompetent guy who only worked part-time; and who really was not proficient on this particular instrument, nor could he communicate well in teaching, then guess what? You probably would not have become a really good bass guitar musician. You just would have quit after a few months.

With the advent of the internet, you should seriously consider taking bass guitar lessons online. It is the proven system for learning how to play the instrument. You would need to do some serious research, however before committing any money into the lessons. A solid, interactive internet program should have testimonials listed on their home page from students who have successfully completed the tutorials. You need to make sure that the instructors, themselves, are proficient at playing and teaching the bass guitar. You should be taught something more than the slapping technique. You should be taught how to read the guitar tablature, (where the student actually reads the chords for the instrument) and the playing skills required for you to excel on the bass.

The advantages in taking lessons on the bass guitar online are quite obvious. You would be able to download the tutorials, (or pop the DVD's into your system connected to your television) at a convenient time in your schedule. You have the advantage of repeating each tutorial as often as necessary until you master what is being taught in the lesson. Quality programs which teach the bass are very affordable as well; usually running around $25-30/ month. Taking lessons from a teacher at a music studio would usually cost at least that much, per weekly lesson!

For those people who might not think that the bass guitar is an important member of a band, consider the following musicians: Have you ever heard of Paul McCartney? While McCartney is proficient on the keyboard, drums, and in vocals; he was also the bass guitar player in a little group called The Beatles! Sting is a well-known contemporary rock musician who is also a master on this instrument.

You can never know what taking bass guitar lessons could provide for you. Perhaps you only want to do it recreationally. However, any band needs a great bass guitar player. If you take become serious on the instrument and practice, you'll never know what doors could be open for you in the music industry. There is much more information that I simply could not include in this article. I urge you to please visit this site: http://theplayguitarlessons.info.
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Guild Bass Guitar Secrets

2010-04-23T02:37:00.000+01:00

By O Keynan

A testimony to their huge popularity was that many music legends of that time like Johnny Smith, Duane Eddy, Roy Orbison, John Lee Hooker, Merle Travis, Paul Simon, Keith Richards, Dave Davies, George Benson, Buddy Guy, Howlin' Wolf, Richie Havens, Bonnie Raitt, Steve Miller, Eric Clapton, Muddy Waters, Doc Watson, Ry Cooder, George Strait all preferred using this guitars.

Guild bass guitars had only three models in those initial days and these were F-30 Aragon, F-40 Valencia and F-50 Navarre. These models were introduced in the year 1954 and by 1963 other famous models such as D-40 Bluegrass Jubilee and D-50 Bluegrass Special were launched. The D-55 which is also a very popular model was introduced in the year 1968. The six string and 12 string guild bass guitars were a rage at that point of time and many considered them matchless. The 12 string guitar uses the Jumbo F body which gives it a distinct tone unlike other guitars which also have the 12 strings.

The folk music craze was at its peak at that point of time and the guild bass guitars were a hot favorite property. It was the days of the Woodstock festival of music and Richie Havens who many consider as one of the biggest legends of music who mesmerized audiences all over the world used the guild bass guitar. After years of popularity the company did encounter some problems along the way but like a phoenix rising out of the ashes restructured itself and came back to occupy a position as one of the leading manufacturers of guitars. The company did move to a larger place to accommodate the ever increasing demand for its model of guitars.

In the year 1995 Guild was acquired by Fender Musical Corporation and this added a new chapter in the company's growth. There has been constant innovation and experimentation with the designs and this has resulted in their models been loved the world over. There have also been numerous variations to the existing models to make them look and sound better. The models can be classified as DV series, GAD series and Traditional series and each one of these series has many models. We have tried to, list some of the more famous models. The various models of the guild bass guitars are F-50, F-50 with D-Tar pick up system, F-50R, F-50R with D-Tar pick up system, F-30 Aragon, F-30 Aragon with D-Tar pick up system, F-40 Valencia, F-40 Valencia with D-Tar pick up system, F-47M, F-47M with D-Tar pick up system, F-47R, F-47R with D-Tar pick up system, F-412, F-412 with D-Tar pick up system, F-512 and F-512 with D-Tar pick up system. Each one of these models has a unique feature and this makes the sound totally distinct.

The quality and durability of this guitar is very good and has helped it retain its favorite position among all music lovers. If you start looking at the musicians who have used the guild bass guitar over the years it would like a who's who of the music world. Prepared to get surprised when you read the list of great artists all over the world who have used this wonderful guitar and this list includes greats like Bryan Adams, John Baez, Richard Barone, Brendan Benson, George Benson, Steven Page, Eric Clapton, Sheryl Crow, Brian May, Paul Simon, Buddy Guy, Johnny Cash, Phil Lesh, Peter Tork, Bruce Springsteen, Leslie Feist, John Denver, Nick Drake, Barry Gibb, Johnny Smith, Mississippi John Hurt Scott Mathews, Tommy Smothers and many others. The guild bass guitars have held their own all these years through fine craftsmanship and excellent sound quality.

Or Keynan is professional bass player that plays over 7 years. He owns and maintains Beginner-Bass-Guitar.com, a great recourse for knowledge on all kind of bass guitars. Guild Bass Guitar, Yamaha bass guitar, Gibson bass guitar, and much, much more.

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Exercise For Short Scale Bass Guitar

2010-04-20T09:56:00.000+01:00

By O Keynan

Let us look at the how to create exercise for short scale bass guitar. When you start creating the exercise you must keep a note as a reference point and this will help you go back and play different patterns. How does the bass guitar scales affect the music we play and what are the options for an individual with longer arms and shorter arms. Bass guitar scales that are extra long are usually up to 36" and these have a higher string tension due to which a more defined tone is available on the lowest string. There have been a number of changes to the brief scale bass guitar and you also have the 28" neck which is ideal for individuals who have shorter arms or for children. It is not just people with short arms who prefer the short scale bass guitar but other players who find it very comfortable to use as it is quite light compared to the others. You can also play the guitar much faster in the short scale.

The fret placements that are on the guitar are determined depending on the length of the neck. If it is a long scale neck then the fret placement which are a ratio that is calculated based on the scale length the distance between the frets are longer and if it is a brief scale then the distance between frets is shorter. Due to the short distance that the frets are placed in the short scale it makes it much easier to play faster and you can mesmerize your audience by playing very fast.

The tonal quality is another difference that exists between a long scale neck and small scale neck. As the tension of the string at a certain pitch determines the tonal value the longer the neck the better will be the sound. This is particularly true if you are using a five string guitar and due to the longer scale neck you will get an amazing sound from the lowest string.

Bass guitar scales also determine to a large extent the number of strings that should be there on the guitar. A four string guitar will perform very well with a short scale neck where as a five string or a six string guitar is ideal for the long scale neck. The neck is also larger on the six string guitar and if you are blessed with smaller hands you should opt for the short scale neck guitar with four strings.

You can choose the guitar type you want based on your individual needs and requirements and there are musicians who have large hands but prefer playing the short scale neck guitar and vice versa where individuals with shorter hands play the long neck scale guitars. Your knowledge about short scale bass guitar will help you make the right choice. You must use the patterns to find out what chords are there and with practice you will be able to find out how to create any cord using the exercise for short scale bass guitar.

If you loved the Short Scale Bass Guitar article, there is ton more information on our site at http://www.beginner-bass-guitar.com

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Hagstrom Guitars - An Experience in Creative Playing

2010-04-18T02:35:00.000+01:00

By David A Robinson

Hagstrom guitars are, not surprisingly, made by Hagstrom, a company that started life in the town of Älvdalen in Sweden. The company name is correctly spelled as Hagström with a dieresis over the "o," but once the Hagstrom guitars hit the English speaking market, the name was changed to include only letters without accents.

Electric solid-body Hagstrom guitars have been produced since 1958. The company had been producing accordions since 1932, so the Hagstrom guitars were a considerable deviation from their usual line. The early Hagstrom Deluxe guitar, however, had a sparkling celluloid finish that had long been used on their accordions.

Hagstrom soon started making hollow-body guitars along with their solid-body guitars. The Viking and the rather strangely name Jimmy (named after Jimmy D'Aquisto of New York) are early examples of successful Hagstrom hollow-bodied products.

Hagstrom guitars expanded from making lead and rhythm instruments to making bass guitars in 1961. The Hagstrom Standard was their first model, but it was the Hagstrom H8 produced in 1965 that caused a stir in the world of music, for it was the world's first 8-string bass guitar.

The sixth Hagstrom H8 to be produced was owned by guitar legend, Jimi Hendrix. He had his bass guitar in 1967. Other well-known bass players who owned one of the famous Hagstrom guitars include Danny McCulloch who played bass for the Animals, and Mike Rutherford, bass player for genesis.

The innovation that is Hagstrom guitars probably reached its peak with the Hagstrom H8. It was based around a normal four stringed bass guitar, but the strings were simply doubled up, a bit like the way a 12-string guitar is.

It did have an interesting sound, however. This was mostly because of lighter gauge strings being arranged above the standard strings and tuned to a whole octave higher. The resultant tone was quite unique.

Hagstrom guitars were not the only thing the company produced. They also made a range of amplifiers and speakers. Swedish super group ABBA used Hagstrom equipment on their first tour of the world. However it is for their guitars that Hagstrom are best remembered.

The company stopped their Swedish side of production in 1983. They did some collaborative work with Japanese companies, but decided not to proceed in that direction. Hagstrom guitars, while much loved all over the world, could no longer compete with the cheap labour markets of Asia.

It took 21 years before Hagstrom guitars once again started in production in 2004. As they couldn't compete with Asia, they decided to go there and their current factory is now in China. There are plans to return production to Sweden, but at the time of writing this has not happened yet.

Hagstrom guitars, especially the early ones, have become highly collectible items. Elvis Presley used a red coloured Hagstrom Viking II on his Elvis Presley's '68 Comeback Special. In the early 1990s this guitar was sold for $50,000.

Hagstrom guitars have developed a cult following from people all over the world who have fallen in love with the highly distinctive instrument. Since 2006, fans gather every year for the Hagström Festival at Älvdalen in Sweden during the first week of June to exchange guitar stories and play some music - on Hagstrom guitars, of course.

David A Robinson
Advice and help on Hagstrom guitars.

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Bass Guitar Tuning - Is Learning How to Tune a Bass Guitar So Hard?

2010-04-15T13:47:00.000+01:00

By Ricky Sharples

If you already play the guitar and know how to tune it, why do you need a special tutorial for learning how to tune a bass guitar? The answer is in the sound of the bass guitar. It is so low it is very difficult for some people to judge whether or not their guitar is in tune. So let us take a look at the bass guitar and some methods of tuning it.

Bass guitarists have proved themselves to be such innovators that there is now an astonishing range of bass guitars with different numbers of strings and a range of tuning options to widen the range of notes produced. For the purposes of this tutorial we will stick with the original four string bass guitar. It is tuned to one octave lower than the standard guitar.

Most guitar players seem to agree that the best way to begin tuning a guitar is to start with the guitar strings tuned lower than you want them to be and then tune them UP to the correct pitch. Actually it is a good idea to start with the strings a lot lower than they need to be so you do not over-tighten them and run the risk of a broken string.

Let us look at the basic tuning method first. Tuning the bass guitar to a piano or keyboard. Find Middle C and go down two octaves. Got that C note? Okay, find the E below that. This is your note to tune the fourth string of your bass guitar. Play the open fourth string and the E on your piano at the same time. If you hear a sound vaguely like the noise a helicopter makes, your guitar is out of tune. Turn the tuning peg on your bass guitar as you play the guitar and the keyboard together, and listen to the "helicopter" sound. It will slow down as your guitar becomes in tune with the keyboard, and will eventually vanish. Repeat this process for your A, D and G strings.

Another tuning method you need to learn is to get the E string as close to tuned as you can and tune the other strings accordingly. Play the note at the fifth fret of the E string together with the open A string. Once these two notes are the same, play the fifth fret of the A string at the same time as the open D string. When the D string sounds the same as the fifth fret of the A string, move onto playing the fifth fret of the D string and tune the open G string to that. Now your bass guitar is in tune.

You can also tune the bass guitar to itself using harmonics. Touch your finger lightly on the fifth fret of the E string without pressing down. You will hear a chiming note. Now play this harmonic again but at the same time playing the harmonic at the seventh fret of the A string. Tune the A string till it matches the harmonic on the E string. Now play the fifth fret harmonic on the A string and match the seventh fret harmonic on the D string to that. Next, match the seventh fret harmonic on the G string with the fifth fret harmonic on the D string.

Lastly, and most easily is the electronic tuning method. Electronic tuners have a visual guide to tell you when your guitar is sounding the right note. For the sake of your maturity as a guitar player you should first practice at tuning the bass guitar using one or all of the other methods, then check it with an electronic tuner. You can buy an electronic tuner at a music store or online. You can even do a search for online bass guitar tuners.

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There are some common elements of guitar playing that I cover such as learning to play solo guitar, how to learn guitar chords, how to learn to read and play easy acoustic guitar tabs, finding a free online guitar tuner, looking for free guitar lessons online, how to learn guitar scales, how to play guitar fast.

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Top 10 Bass Guitar Songs

2010-04-13T02:32:00.000+01:00

By Or Kynan

Let us try to get a best bass guitar songs list among the hundreds of wonderful songs that we have heard over the years. The list though not inclusive of all the legends is an attempt at listing out a top 10 bass guitar songs. The number ten songs on the list is Break on Through by the Doors and it is quite a wonderful way that bass is used in this song that makes it such a hot favorite. Higher up on the list at number nine is Boris the Spider by The Who.

At number eight we have Whipping Post by Allman Brothers band and at number seven we have Roundabout by Yes. Dazed and Confused by Led Zeppelin is at number six and at number five we have The Real Me by The Who. Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple is at number four and at three we have Another One Bite the Dust by Queen.

At number two we have My Generation by The Who and the topmost position is occupied by Money by Pink Floyd. There could be a number of people who could be annoyed that the list does not include the legends of bass guitar like Beatles, Eagles, Dire Straits, Black Sabbath, Taylor Swift, Guns N Roses, Eric Clapton, Metallica and many more wonderful, talented and gifted legends who had made the bass guitar a magical instrument.

The list as stated earlier is not a complete list and there are bound to be arguments and counter arguments about the validity of an inclusion. The list is just a starting point where beginners or novices in guitar playing can listen to and learn the wonderful skills from the legends who have strummed the guitars to perfection to bring out the best music that we had all loved and cherished.

Along with the list of top 10 bass guitar songs we must also have a list of top 10 bass players who have immortalized this humble instrument into a great piece of art. This list would again not be a complete list but just an attempt to identify the legends of guitar who have given us such wonderful music. Paul McCartney from the former Beatles was considered a legend that used to play the bass to perfection and most people thought that his fingers were magical when they touched the guitar and some of the most memorable bass guitar songs have come from this great man. Others on the list would include Pino Palladino, Flea, Jaco Pastorius, Mark King, Tony Levin, Geddy Lee, Bootsy Collins, Charlie Haden and John Paul Jones.

Here we spoke about great bass guitar songs and great bands. But if you want to learn how to play the bass guitar, If you want to play the bass in 8 days or less... This is the place for you. http://www.beginner-bass-guitar.com

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Best Bass Guitar Pedal Effects

2010-04-11T12:29:00.001+01:00

By O Keynan

There are two types of bass guitar pedals and these are multi-effects pedals and dedicated effects pedal. There are distinct advantages in both of these models and let us look at each one of them in an individual manner so that we can make the decision on buying the one that suits our playing style.

Let us look at the multi effects model first and this is a single unit through which you will be able to achieve different effects. There are some musicians that such equipment works out to be a disadvantage as you will not be able to get the desired result as too many effects are cramped into one single unit.

The quality of the effect also gets affected due to this but it is still a great way to getting introduced to the various effects that are capable from a single unit and you will also learn to manipulate the various effects in a very effective manner.

In the case of a dedicated effects pedal there is only one effect that is created and if you are one that will use a particular effect more often, then you can opt for it. As there is just one effect that is created it comes out pretty well and you will be able to achieve the desired results. You can also use a number of dedicated effects pedal in order to get a wide range of effects and you can also try the modular variety.

You will be able to add an entirely new dimension of playing the guitar when you use the bass guitar pedal and the effect though subtle has a profound addition to your skill of playing the guitar. The pitch and the tone changes when you use the guitar pedal in an effective manner. You will also be able to create an illusion of multiple instruments playing in perfect sync with each other when you use the bass guitar pedal.

Most musicians feel that it helps create the necessary special effects or drama while you are playing the guitar and all this helps in enhancing the overall impact of the music you create. But if you do not use it properly then you can totally spoil a piece of good music and you will have to practice using it before you try it out in a concert or in front of an audience.

O Keynan is professional bass player that plays over 7 years. He owns and maintains Beginner-Bass-Guitar.com, a great recourse that will give you all the information about bass guitar pedal, acoustic bass guitars, bass guitar scales. There is a lot to see.

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What You Need to Know About the Bass Guitar

2010-04-09T10:40:00.000+01:00

By Marqus Smith

For the benefit of absolute novices to the guitar, we may begin with a mention of the fact that there are basically three types of guitar - especially where it is the modern 'electric guitar' we are looking at. The first of these is what musicians sometimes refer to as the lead guitar (or the solo guitar, in some circles). The second of these is what musicians sometimes refer to as the rhythm guitar; though its usage is not universal. And the third is what is referred to as the bass guitar, which is our focus here.

The guitar, by convention, has four strings (or wires, depending on your nomenclature) - whereas the other types of guitar have six strings. To be sure, there are some instruments classified as bass guitars that have five or six strings, but the standard is four. As it turns out, these four strings that make the bass guitar represent notes E, A, D and G in the bass cleff.

Many music styles make use of the bass guitar. From rock music to pop music, punk, country, jazz and lot of other styles in between, this is an instrument you will tend to hear in the background if you listen very carefully. In some music styles such as fusion and heavy metal, the bass guitar actually steps from the background, sometimes even acting as the soloing instrument. In some genres of music, the bass guitar plays such a crucial role that a piece of music without its usage would sound incomplete in the ears of keen listeners.

There are many ways of playing the guitar. In most cases, it is played with the fingers - but use of a plectrum in playing it is not completely unheard of either. Where it is played with the fingers, the playing may involve thumping, tapping or simply plucking.

The bass guitar is mainly used in playing what are musically known as 'bass-lines.' With a good and well tuned speaker, it is quite easy to make out those bass-lines in any piece of music where the instrument is used. The bass-lines in turn act as harmonic anchors, seeing that use of a lead guitar and rhythm guitar on their own could leave the music somewhat unanchored, harmonically. This is where a subtle 'feeling of incompleteness' as previously alluded, comes out in pieces of music where the bass guitar is not used. What we mean by saying that the bass guitar serves as a harmonic anchor is that it helps to 'keep it all together.' Therefore although its sound may not be all that clear to the listener from the foreground, it is still playing a crucial role in terms of anchoring the whole musical edifice. It is the same way that the foundation of a house may not be very visible to the people using it - yet where we know that the house would be very weak without that (albeit invisible) foundation.

Normally, the guitar is first connected to an amplifier and the output driven into a speaker, where the instrument is used in a live performance.

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Bass Guitar For Starters - Important Tips

2010-04-08T04:26:00.000+01:00

By Stuart Michael M

Bass guitar is my favorite type of guitar. You may think that being a bassist is nothing great because the bass sound is very low and soft, unlike electric guitar. If you have this type of thinking, you are absolutely wrong. Try comparing a song that has this guitar play and the other version of similar song without this instrument. You should agree with me once you have done it.

The number of strings in a bass guitar varies. It may consist of 4, 5 or even 6 strings. The most common type of this guitar is the 4-string bass. 5 and 6-string bass are for advanced player. If you are new, start off with 4-string bass. Here are several things you need to know in the process of learning this guitar.

Being a bassist requires some music background. Simple music theory like note A to G must be clear in your head, as a bassist only plays with notes. There are bassists who play chords but it is rather uncommon. You must know the notes of each string and the respective notes at a particular fret. Take some time memorizing the location before start playing. It will provide you smooth play if you know the location of each note clearly.

Other than that, you need learn how to grip on the strings properly. The strings of a bass guitar are very thick and you need press the string with sufficient strength to provide a clean sound. It may be painful at first as you are not used to it. Give it some time practicing and this problem will be eventually solved.

A bassist needs to be good in timing as well. Try to feel the beat of each song and learn the various tempos in different songs. Drummer is like the leader of a song as he or she is the one that determines the beat. Your job is to feel the beat and follow the play of a drummer in order to make the playing synchronize.

Stuart is writing for many websites, he enjoys writing on wide range of topics such as Lefty Electric Guitars and Left Handed Guitars. You may visit for more details.

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Bass Guitar Effects Pedals - 5 Effect Pedals For the Bass Guitarist

2010-04-08T02:24:00.000+01:00

By Alan Williamson

Overview

The effects that are described for each Effects Pedal are the same for both electric and Bass Guitars. However, for the Bass Guitar, the effect is often modified to suit the lower frequency range of the instrument.

Bass Wah Wah Pedal

As with the Electric Guitar Wah pedal, the Bass Wah effect is produced by the use of a rocking treadle type foot pedal. However, with this type of unit, the use of custom EQ circuitry is incorporated specifically for Bass frequencies and the result is a full fat bass tone with a smooth response. This is ideal for enhancing your rhythmic playing, from warm and subtle, to punchy.

Octaver Pedal

The use of the Octaver is to produce a note that is one full octave below the original note played - quite a useful pedal for Funk and R&B - and many are able to cope with two or three note chords. Due to its need to create the altered pitch 'live', the pedal needs to have a fast response or tracking capability suitable for use with rapid playing techniques.

Overdrive and Distortion Pedal

If you want gutsy sounds for playing Rock/Metal etc, then the distortion pedal is for you. These pedals enhance the signal to the point where the resulting sounds are anything between rich and warm 'clipped', to something which is a lot more aggressive. Pedals vary in complexity from a few simple controls to more complex versions incorporating control over harmonic content and tone shaping facilities. Often these pedals are criticised for introducing high levels of noise, and are quite difficult to use for studio recording. Considering the way the signal is being boosted and enhanced, it's not surprising.

Bass Chorus Pedal

Again this pedal is specifically designed for the Bass frequency range. These pedals emulate the effect of having multiple bass notes playing in unison where slight variations create the chorus effect. It is possible to emulate up to sixteen voices depending on the make, and voice randomisation produces a thickening of the sound.

Bass Compressor/Limiter Pedal

The Bass Compressor enables the Bassist to play over a wide range of playing styles - from normal rhythmic playing to greater dynamic styles such as 'slap' - while maintaining the same output or volume from the Amplifier. This enables the audience to hear all your playing, while maintaining a balance within the band. The Compressor is probably the most commonly used pedal, but is the most difficult to use. If not set up correctly, the pedal can produce a rather bland performance.

Conclusion

If you want to use a number of Bass effects, you may want to choose using multi-effect units which incorporates all or any of the above. However, many criticise these saying that having all effects in one unit compromises the quality and functionality of each individual effect. Although, with the advent of microprocessor electronics, a large range of control over the parameters and sound shaping facilities are available to the user, so whether these criticisms are valid or not is difficult to confirm. It is probably down to the opinion of the individual which will decide the method to adopt, and there is certainly an appeal to the ease of setting up at a gig - with fewer cables to worry about going wrong at the most inopportune time.

There are a number of these types of pedals on the market today, which can make deciding the type or make of pedal to buy a bit daunting. If you would like more information on what's available on the market today, plus some great YouTube videos on various pedal types, please visit Bass Guitar Effects Pedals for upcoming news, reviews and sales.

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How to Play the Bass Guitar Starting Today

2009-10-09T22:33:00.003+01:00

Learning to play a new instrument, especially the bass guitar, can be a very rewarding, life long hobby. It can even become a lucrative and exciting career.

Many of us have dreams of standing on stage, looking out into a crowd of adoring faces as we play our bass guitar. That is great. This is one of the many reasons that many people pick up the bass to begin with. The truth of the matter is that you do not have to wait years to become a master of the 4 string to enjoy your new found talent.

If you want to learn to play bass, it can be done in as little as a few minutes every day (though many would prefer to play for hours). The bass guitar is perfect for anything from keeping a simple rhythm to creating spectacular and haunting solos. While the complexity of the musical feats that can be performed is simply amazing, you don't have to be Cliff Burton, Paul McCartney, or John Paul Jones to begin playing the bass guitar at performance level. It is in fact, one of the simplest instruments to begin playing. Not only that, there are varied musical styles to choose from as an entry point. Rock and roll, funk, country, classical, and jazz are just some of the many musical categories that incorporate the bass guitar into their sound. So no matter what your musical taste (or the favorite of those you play for), your favorite genre is sure use the 4 string.

Millions of people every year decide that they are going to learn to play a new musical instrument. Be one of the thousands that follow through on their dream and set aside a few minutes (or a few hours) of the day and begin enjoying one of the most rewarding past-times ever invented by man, learn how to play the bass guitar today and you won't look back.

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So You Want to Learn Bass Guitar?

2009-10-09T22:33:00.001+01:00

So you want to learn bass guitar? Many people do, but find it difficult to get a book on bass guitar, especially one with an accompanying CD. A lot depends on the style you want to play, and whether you want to be a new Duane Eddy or just to play in a cover band. However, if you really want to play, the principles that apply to any other style of guitar also apply to you.

If you intend to learn with a book, try to get one with an accompanying CD so that you can get some audio as well as written visual help. It's one thing being shown what to do and following written instructions, but quite another actually doing it, and making it sound right. Especially if you don't know what it should sound like because you can read a book, but can't hear it.

Learning bass involves different skills to those needed to play rhythm or lead guitar, since you will generally be setting the beat along with the drummer. You might have to play solo, but not at the high rate of solo lead, and will have less need of the specialist techniques that enable a player to play lightning fast riffs. However, you will need a knowledge of your frets, and many bass guitar players prefer to play without a fret because they find it easier and less constrictive.

You will have to learn the same basics, such as the various parts of your guitar, and how they contribute to the music. You will also have to learn how to tune your guitar to different keys, and how to play the various scales. Scales are very important to you because they are the basis behind the vast majority of your work. You will have less need of chords, and more of scales. You will have to know every note that your instrument is capable of playing, and how to get the best pure sound out of each and every one of them.

Spider walking is one of the techniques that you will be able to use, and there are others. But how are you to learn all of these things? Where does a bass guitarist go for lessons, other than to another bass guitarist? Many just teach themselves through continual practice by ear, and by listening to tracks of other bass guitarists. However, they are unlikely ever to be better than those they listen to without expert tuition that opens up the instrument and its possibilities to them. There are ways to learn without finding the right books. In fact you have two major options, apart from books and CDs.

1. Videos.
Video bass guitar lessons are very useful in that you not only see what you should be doing, but also what it should sound like. Advanced techniques can be designed to provide subtle nuances in tonal quality, and various sound effects, but unless you can hear what you are trying to achieve you would have no way knowing if you had succeeded or not. Video can achieve what a guitar tuition book cannot, and even more than an a book with accompanying CD.

2. Membership Sites
The problem with a straight video is that once you have covered the content, there is no more. A guitar membership site, however, offers you ever-changing content, and the option of a number of different teachers according to the style you want to play: blues, pop, heavy metal, rock country and so on, and also the type of guitar you want to specialize in: bass, electric or classical being the most common.

Once you have completed a sequence of lessons in one style, you could then progress to another, and end up a very versatile guitarist. You can also focus on playing techniques as opposed to learning chords and scales, and play to many of the tracks that such sites offer. You can also lapse your membership once you have reached your desired level so you pay only what is needed for you to become an accomplished guitarist.00004000

Whichever way you choose: the one-off payment for a bass guitar tuition video or the monthly membership offering continual bass guitar teaching in all aspects of playing bass, you will find it easier than simply learning from a book. While the latter was the way that most of the more established guitarists learned when they didn't just teach themselves, there is no longer any need to go the old fashioned way.

If you want to learn bass guitar take the individual DVD or online video route. This is the 21st century, and video rules, OK?

If you are serious about learning bass guitar, click on iJamplay where you will find a membership site offering everything mentioned in this article, and allow you to learn bass in a very short time.

Read Want to Learn bassGuitar and other articles on my blog.

Learning Bass Guitar

2009-10-07T21:17:00.001+01:00

You want to learn bass guitar? There are many people who do, they just find it difficult to start out. Many people find it hard to select a book they think will help them learn. Many people think they need a book and an accompanying CD. While this does help, it's not a necessity. Many times it depends on the sty of music you want to play.

If you've decided to learn bass guitar through a book, you should get a book that comes with a CD. This lets you listen to how the song was intended to be played so you have something to compare it to. Audio will help. make sure you follow the written instructions.

Learning to play bass guitar involves different skill levels. basssets the general beat and feel of the song. It's more of a rhythm instrument, like the drums are. Sometimes on bass you'll play solo, but it won't be the same type of lead guitar solo you'd expect. It's more suttle.

You should learn the basics first. Learn the names of the parts of the guitar, names of the strings, and how to tune the guitar. After that learn scales. Many bassists learn to play by ear and never actually learn to read music, though a basic ability to read music is recommended by most bass guitar websites. IT's best to be prepared for any situation you need to play guitar, be that playing basic guitar tab, learning to read normal sheet music, or playing by earn.

The author is the owner of a site where you can buy guitars online

Blazing Bass Fretting Hand in 3 Easy Steps

2009-10-06T21:03:00.001+01:00

Do you ever find yourself stuck in one spot on the bass neck when jamming with friends or bandmates? Ever wonder how to break out and be able to play notes all over the bass? Here I explain three steps you can take toward fretboard freedom. Follow these steps and you will be instantly on your way to playing some blazing bass!

1.Thumb placement is important

Thumb placement is no small detail, but something of critical importance if you want to be a good bass player. In order to make playing the bass much easier on yourself it's important to keep the thumb of your fretting hand in the right spot. Keeping your hand setup properly makes it much easier to play your bass lines, scales and chords, and also begin to develop fast single note runs.

When you go to play your bass, don't grip the neck like you would a chin up bar or a baseball bat. Your palm (ideally) should not touching the back of the neck.

The proper position for the thumb of the fretting hand in the middle of the back of the neck opposite the index or middle fingers. It's best not to have your thumb peeking over or wrapped around.

There are times when it's more comfortable to wrap your thumb around the bass neck if you're pedaling one note for a while. That's perfectly acceptable. But if you are trying to play something with more than one note involved, you'll probably find it much easier to play with your thumb properly positioned.

You just plain can't spread your hand out very far with your thumb wrapped around the neck of the bass. With your thumb in the right spot you can cover much more fretboard real estate!

2. Finger position

It's impo00000959rtant to keep the fingers of your left hand positioned correctly. Make sure your hand and fingers are perpendicular to the bass neck and press the strings down with the same part of your fingertips that you type on a computer keyboard with.

On bass guitar any four frets in a row are called a 'position'. From the first fret to the fourth fret is a position. From the fifth fret to the eighth fret is a position.Try to get used to the feel of having one finger per fret for four frets to cover a 'position'. Start someplace easy like the fifth or seventh fret.Practice playing all four of those notes in a row all the way up the strings (in one position) and back down. Play slowly at first to develop a nice strong and even tone.

At times you won't really need to cover all four notes. In this case you can cover only three frets instead of four - like from the fifth to the seventh frets. This would be more like a traditional upright bass technique where they don't call four notes in a row a 'position'. It creates sort of a box shape which contains useful and important notes. It's an easy way to handle minor keys and pentatonic based songs.

3. Practice one and two octave scales to start.

One of the real tricks to learning the bass fretboard is in memorization of scale patterns. It's really not that hard, but it does take practice to gain muscle memory (but you get it pretty quickly).

Start with one octave Major and minor scales, ascending and descending (in one position). It's best to practice these with a metronome click, but that's up to you. You want to be getting a nice even tone.

Next you would move on to the same scales in two octaves. This is obviously more challenging, and it will really help you to see the fretboard in a bigger perspective.

If you practice these three steps, you should begin to develop some good fretboard agility within a few weeks. Also, when playing with band, you will begin to see the other notes of the chord the guitar player (for instance) is playing more clearly. Then it's matter of connecting the dots.

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Be One With Your Bass Guitar Chords

2009-10-06T01:17:00.001+01:00

So you think you have it in you to join the ranks of Flea, Darcy, 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 the00000D70 notes of a song are dictated by the songs 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 dont 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 guitar00004000 music will be just as smooth as it is fluid. In time, youll be giving Flea a run for his money.

You can definitely master your bass guitar chords, so visit aboutplayingguitar.com for the latest and find free guitar chords You just have to go to this site now for bass guitar tabs of your favorite bands.

The Birth of the Electric Bass Guitar

2009-10-02T22:11:00.000+01:00

The Birth of the Electric Bass Guitar
By Victor Epand

The electric bass guitar is fairly easily identifiable because the overall shape is quite different to the standard electric guitar. An electric bass guitar usually has a body which is much larger in size than a standard electric guitar, and the neck is often much longer, with the scale length used for the frets much larger too. The overall size of an electric bass guitar is the most obvious distinguishing feature that makes it easy to spot, but of course its extra size can cause trouble for beginners. If you are looking at buying an electric guitar, and are considering the bass version, then it will be important to try out one such example first. The physical size may, in some cases, prohibit effective use, and a standard sized guitar may prove to be a more suitable alternative.

An electric bass guitar usually has four strings which are tuned to the same pitch as the double bass, or in some cases the strings are simply tuned to be one octave lower than the lowest four strings of a standard guitar.

For the last fifty years, the electric bass guitar has been the instrument of choice for producing the bass notes in most popular music, causing a dramatic decline in the popularity of the double bass for such music. The electric bass guitar has proven to be a very popular instrument, not only for use within popular music, but as an instrument in itself, often used for solo performances. In particular, jazz, funk and rock styles often feature an electric bass guitar solo, or prominent performance within a piece.

It was actually back in the 1930s that the electric bass guitar was born, with Paul Tutmarc's invention - originally referred to as a fiddle. It comprised of four bass strings, had a body and a fret board - and was played horizontally. Named an electronic bass fiddle it proved to be very popular, and because its manner of playing was more similar to that of a guitar, it meant that it was easier to pick up by guitarists than a fiddle would have been for them.

Although Tutmarc's fiddle marked the dawn of the electric bass guitar, it took about twenty years for the idea to take hold, and be developed by Leo Fender before it became a popular instrument. Fender created the Precision Bass, and took the rough form of a Telecaster with a single coil pickup. With four steel strings the instrument became popular with many well known bands and groups of the fifties, and it was at this point that the bass guitar became popular worldwide.

Following closely behind Fender was Gibson, whose bass guitars were generally smaller then fender's, and incorporated a humbucker pickup rather than the single coils. Gibson's most famous creation was the Thunderbird with a 34 inch scale, and duel humbucking pickups located halfway between the neck of the guitar and the bridge - a more usual position.

Today, electric bass guitars can be bought in a range of styles and shapes, although still generally larger than the standard electric guitars. For complete flexibility, however, you could always consider a duel neck guitar - with one being a bass, and the other a standard six string guitar!

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How a 5-String Bass Guitar Works

2009-09-23T01:22:00.000+01:00

How a 5-String Bass Guitar Works
By Keith Dean

Even though we mainly address issues concerning guitar players in these columns, as we grow with our skills on the guitar, and eventually start making music with other musicians, it's helpful to become aware of some of the nuances of the other instrumentation we may encounter in a group situation.

One such instrument is the bass guitar. The bass has the responsibility in a group or band, of carrying the bottom end of the rhythm section.

The bass player works closely with the drummer, and a top notch rhythm section is one in which the bass player and drummer work seamlessly together, nearly as one unit.

On a normal 4-string bass guitar, the four strings are tuned just like the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th strings on the guitar. The difference being that the bass strings are much "thicker" in diameter and gauge, and are tuned to a lower "octave" than a guitar string.

The strings on a 4-string bass are tuned like this:

E A D G

Most bass guitars are of the 4-string variety, but an ever increasing model that has been in existence for quite a while now, is the 5-string bass.

On a 5-string bass, and extra string is added to the low end of the bass guitar. In most cases, this string is of a large diameter thickness, and is tuned to a low "B".

This tuning allows the bassist to extend the low end range of the instrument beyond that of a normal 4-string bass, which can add a whole new dimension to the music.

Then notes on a 5-string bass are tuned like this:

B E A D G

Although this extra "B" string would obviously add some new tonal possibilities for the bassist in the key of "B" - one of the more common ways the extra 5th string is used is when playing in the key of "D".

On the extra 5th string, the "D" note is located on the 3rd fret of the new 5th string. With a normal 4-string bass, the player is limited to the open D string (or the 5th fret of the A string), to give them the lowest possible bass note when playing in the key of D.

Now, with a 5-string, the bassists can "reach down" an octave from that and add some serious bottom end to songs in the common key of "D".

Bass players that are used to a 4-string bass, and then attempt to play a 5-string bass, sometimes face a challenge making the transition. The reason is, that they are used to the "E" string being closest to them when playing, but now that is replaced by the new "B" string, so a big adjustment must be made.

But, in the end, most bass players find that the increased choices in range and tonality are well worth going through a brief period of adjustment.

Over 40, 50, 60? For Free Video Guitar Lessons designed for Active Adults go to http://www.adultguitarlessons.com/amember/free_lessons-1225ez.php

Keith Dean is founder of http://www.AdultGuitarLessons.com and a 30 veteran of stage and studio. He toured extensively as a road musician throughout the US and Europe, was a former lead guitarist for Jason Aldean, and has shared stages with Little Big Town, Wild Rose, Winger, Confederate Railroad and more. He is a published songwriter, owned and operated a successful music store, and has instructed numerous students in guitar.

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The Perfect Acoustic Bass Guitar

2008-12-21T15:37:00.001Z

The Perfect Acoustic Bass Guitar
By Chris Jonas

I did not no this until recently, but the difference between a poorly made instruments and a high-quality one is enormous. Acoustic bass guitars can vary tremendously, and the one I had been using before was in pretty bad shape. The neck was bent and warped, which made it very difficult to finger correctly. The intonation was also a little bit out, so it didn't even stay in tune very well. New, it would have been a very high-quality electric bass, but my dad hadn't taken very good care of it and it showed.

I resolved to take very good care of my own acoustic bass guitar. Every day I used it, I would start by wiping it with a dry cloth, tuning it up, and checking to make sure that everything was in working order. Acoustic bass guitars are actually pretty low maintenance instruments, so as long as you keep them in the right conditions, they are not too hard to take care of. You don't want to expose them to excessive moisture or to get them too hot or too cold. Most of all, you don't want to have radical temperature changes. Basically, don't leave it in the car or in your unheated apartment in winter if you can avoid it.

It is amazing what having a nice sounding instrument will do for you. I have experimented a little bit with playing bass before as I told you, but it has never felt anything like this. The sound was so rich and full on the acoustic bass guitar that I just couldn't stop playing. My fingers were practically bleeding by the time I was done practicing every day, and the next day I was always ready for more. I knew that, if I persisted, I would be good in no time.

In a lot of rock bands, the guitar player with the inferior skills ends up playing the bass. As a result, there are a lot of lousy bass players out there. When I first touched this acoustic bass guitar, however, I knew that I would become good. I would not just be another second string musician. I would specialize in playing the acoustic bass guitar and really investigate all of the sonic possibilities. I'm not there yet, but I'm definitely making progress. Any day now, I will be the bass player I want to be.

Chris Jonas is a chef working in Soho, New York. Check out these great Guitar Lessons reviews and articles or the more specific Learn Bass Guitar articles and resources.

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Top 5 Inexpensive Bass Guitars For Girls

2008-11-20T13:48:00.000Z

Top 5 Inexpensive Bass Guitars For Girls
By Jon Brickley

For a long time the job of a bassist has always been thought of as man's work. There were standout female bass players like Tina Weymouth or Carol Kaye, but in the largely male dominated rock industry, bassists were mostly guys.

That's really started to change in the past decade or so. Now we see many more female bass players. Here are five top inexpensive basses for beginniners or if you just want a name brand bass guitar without paying a lot:

1 Squier by Fender Affinity Series Bronco Bass Guitar

These basses are just plain cool anyway, forget about the fact they're only about $150 online. Broncos are super easy to play and have a short 30" scale neck. A real basic setup - one middle pickup, volume and tone -means there's not a lot that can go wrong. If there's ever a problem in the electronics cavity, it should be a simple repair job. Bronco basses are solid instruments and are very cool looking with their shallow cutaways. They also deliver Fender tone for not a lotta $$.

2 Ibanez GSRM20 Mikro Short Scale

This is another short scale bass guitar with a 28.6" inch neck. It fits great in smaller hands and would be a great choice for a petite female. By the way, this bass also seriously rocks. The pickups and electronics are quality and record well. The Ibanez mikro short scale is a quality bass that will provide huge low end for you to rock the house.

3 Squier by Fender Affinity Series P Bass or J Bass

Fender Precision and Jazz basses are two of the standard choices for bass guitar players, male or female. Buying one from the Affinity series is a good way to save substantial $$. These are full size basses with long scale necks. They also weigh more than the short scale basses which is something to consider. Full scale basses can be tiresome to have slung over your shoulder for long periods of time - like band rehearsals and gigs. Other than that, a Squier Precision or Jazz bass is a great place to start and a good way to get a new bass at a bargain price.

4 Daisy Rock - Rock Candy Bass (Atomic Pink)

Daisy Rock is a company that designs bass guitars for girls. Some of them are much more 'girlie' than others. The Rock Candy Bass is a full scale, yet lightweight bass guitar. It comes equipped with very good electronics and pumps out the low end. The bass body is contoured body is designed to perfectly fit the female form. A little pricier than the others but well worth the money.

5 Daisy Rock Daisy Bass

This bass is actually shaped like a daisy. It's geared toward younger girls, but is a very solid instrument and will perform great at gigging and recording. It's a very lightweight bass and sports a short scale neck. Teen girls and petite women will find this bass most comfortable to play. Because of the shape, it may be difficult to play this bass while sitting. It's not only an inexpensive alternative, it's a delightful fashion statement as well.

The instruments reviewed here were picked for being the most suitable bass guitar designs for females. These models provide a lot of bang for the buck and are relatively inexpensive basses. Girls who want to play bass or want a new bass for cheap, won't go wrong with any of these choices.

Jon Brickley has developed a series of step by step video tutorials for bass guitar students. Easy to understand lessons teach you bass guitar basics quickly or unlearn bad bass playing habits that are holding you back - Get your copy now by clicking here ==> http://www.overnightbassplayer.com

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