Because it only has four strings, it might be thought that the bass guitar might be thought of as one of the simpler instruments to learn to play, especially compared to the six-stringed guitar. But the bass guitar is just as difficult to master.
The videos collected on this page are some of the best online resources that will introduce you to playing the bass guitar. For a comprehensive tutorial on everything from playing notes to understanding rhythms, check out Mahalo's guide on How to Play Bass Guitar.
Bass-Playing Tips
- Try playing sitting and standing up, then practice in whichever position is most comfortable
- Make sure to rest weight of the bass on your guitar strap to free your hands
- Press down in between frets, not on them, to play the proper note
- Holding down strings will hurt your fingertips at first, but they will eventually grow calluses
Different ways to Play Bass Guitar
- Finger Style
- Using a Pick
- Slap Bass
- Tapping
Fast Facts
Played primarily with the fingers either by plucking, slapping, popping, tapping or using a pick
4-string standard tuning from low to high: E A D G
Traditionally has four strings
5- and 6-string models are also popular
The bass Guitar is similar in appearance and construction to an Electric Guitar
Will only play one note at a time, unlike multi-tonal instruments like the piano
Dave Marks Walking Bass Lesson 01
Dave Marks explains and demonstrates arpeggios. There is also a pdf that goes with the video, just click on the link (more info) in the text box for this video on youtube to see the url to download it. Almost half a million people have seen this 4.3 minute closeup free video and most of them found it helpful for beginners.
Closeup of Bass Guitar Playing
The Bass Guitar is a beautiful instrument. This closeup shows how a bass guitar is held and played. Photo Credit is Creative Commons by Jsome1
Introduction to How to Play Bass Guitar Videos
Because it only has four strings, it might be thought that the bass guitar might be thought of as one of the simpler instruments to learn to play, especially compared to the six-stringed guitar. But the bass guitar is just as difficult to master.
The videos collected on this page are some of the best online resources that will introduce you to playing the bass guitar. For a comprehensive tutorial on everything from playing notes to understanding rhythms, check out Mahalo's guide on How to Play Bass Guitar.
References
Fast Facts
-
Fact:
Played primarily with the fingers either by plucking, slapping, popping, tapping or using a pick
-
4-string standard tuning from low to high
E A D G
-
Fact:
Traditionally has four strings
-
Fact:
5- and 6-string models are also popular
-
Fact:
The bass Guitar is similar in appearance and construction to an Electric Guitar
-
Fact:
Will only play one note at a time, unlike multi-tonal instruments like the piano
