Would you like to learn how to pluck a bass guitar? If so, you have come to the right place. The dominant bass instrument of modern mainstream music, the bass guitar is not a difficult musical instrument to play. There are several ways to pluck a bass guitar, the most important of which are described in this page. The first type uses your index and middle fingers. The second type is plucking using a plectrum or guitar pick. The third type is called "slap and pop" because you literally slap and pop the bass strings.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scx-gyOGugg It takes time to master all of these tricks, but as the ancients say, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

The most basic way to pluck bass guitar strings is to use your pointing and third fingers. Starting with your index finger alone, just pull across the topmost string gently. Try successive plucks while trying to make them sound like one another. Once you got this right, add your middle finger to the routine, alternating between the two fingers. A good drill is to try to make the sounds each of the two fingers produce sound like each other. You may first try resting your thumb on the pickup of the guitar. You may also just let your plucking hand float. While this is more difficult to accomplish, it makes it easier for you to move to the other strings, which you should begin to do as well.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scx-gyOGugg

Now you are ready to use a plectrum. Be sure to use a guitar pick that is designed for the bass guitar. First try a few plucks on one string, then on more strings. Next use your palm to slightly mute the strings, so you can know how "clean" you play or how stable the fingers of your other hand are pressing the strings against the frets. Also practice letting the strings ring by lifting your palm a little bit. The ringing effect is useful in several genres. You may experiment with downward strokes, upward strokes and both, alternating between them. The sound of down strokes are a characteristic of heavy rock and pop rock. Whether or not you prefer them, a good practice is to try to make your plucks sound uniform in terms of ringing.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scx-gyOGugg

The Slap and Pop is also widely used in rock music. To do a Slap, you turn the string into a drum-like or percussion instrument by hitting it with the side of your thumb. To do a Pop, use your index finger to hook and pop strings from underneath. Once you get used to Slapping and Popping, try alternating between them. Coordination is the key, and it takes a lot of practice to master it. The Slap and Pop are employed a lot to do octaves on the bass guitar.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scx-gyOGugg

Check out the how tos below to learn how to play other songs on Bass Guitar:

1. Bass Guitar Parts
2. How to Hold a Bass Guitar
3. How to Pluck a Bass Guitar
4. How to Play an A Note on Bass Guitar
5. How to Play an A Sharp on Bass Guitar
6. How to Play a B Note on Bass Guitar
7. How to Play a C Note on Bass Guitar
8. How to Play a C Sharp Note on Bass Guitar
9. How to Play a D Note on Bass Guitar
10. How to Play a D Sharp Note on Bass Guitar
11. How to Play an E Note on Bass Guitar
12. How to Play an F Note on Bass Guitar
13. How to Play an F Sharp Note on Bass Guitar
14. How to Play a G Note on Bass Guitar
15. How to Play a G Sharp Note on Bass Guitar