Taking the dive into how to play the bass can be one of the most awesome things you can do with your time and energy. It can also be one of the biggest wastes of time and energy, if you don't know how to approach it. What's up, my name is Jay, and I'm a bass player, bass lover, and musician. My goal is to help you learn the bass, so without further ado, here are five of my favorite tips about how to play the bass.
An important point to keep in mind is getting an adequate bass and enough gear. Too many people skimp out on this step, and end up with either not the right gear or unplayable equipment. To solve this issue, I'd suggest that you get a bass guitar kit. These kits come with the bass and also with all the gear you'll need, including amp, tuner, strap, picks, and sometimes even an instructional DVD. If someone gave you a guitar or you bought one, be sure to set it up right.
You'll want to have a good instructional guide. Whether you just rely on a printed book, a video set, an online program, or in person lessons with an instructor, you need a tool to learn. If you don't know what you are doing, you are not going to make much progress in learning how to play the bass. You want to make sure that you have a program that is going to teach you the fundamentals so that you can build your skillset accordingly.
The biggest pitfall to avoid when learning how to play the bass is losing motivation by learning complicated theory first, instead of learning songs you truly enjoy. Begin by researching the tabs to songs you love, and then learning how to play those songs. This will give you a positive emotional boost you'll need if you are to tackle the more complex and heady music theory that you'll learn as you progress in the bass guitar.
Practice, practice, and practice again. You need to practice every single day in order to master the bass guitar. If you are super busy, fit in just a 20 minute practice session - you'll be happy you did. On days where you have more time, practice for an hour or two. This isn't hard to do if you really love what you're doing, you'll make time for it. And you'll be a better bass player for it. There's no better feeling in music than taking a song that looks challenging and working on it every day until you can play it with your eyes shut!
Truly enjoying yourself is the last ingredient in bass mastery. Bass is about emotion, movement, and groove. The bass is what creates the melody of the song, ties it to the percussive elements, and moves the song forward. Bass is what drives music. And you have to feel it in you in order for anyone else to feel it. The way you feel it is by having a great time, having boatloads of fun, and letting that come through you in your music.
An important point to keep in mind is getting an adequate bass and enough gear. Too many people skimp out on this step, and end up with either not the right gear or unplayable equipment. To solve this issue, I'd suggest that you get a bass guitar kit. These kits come with the bass and also with all the gear you'll need, including amp, tuner, strap, picks, and sometimes even an instructional DVD. If someone gave you a guitar or you bought one, be sure to set it up right.
You'll want to have a good instructional guide. Whether you just rely on a printed book, a video set, an online program, or in person lessons with an instructor, you need a tool to learn. If you don't know what you are doing, you are not going to make much progress in learning how to play the bass. You want to make sure that you have a program that is going to teach you the fundamentals so that you can build your skillset accordingly.
The biggest pitfall to avoid when learning how to play the bass is losing motivation by learning complicated theory first, instead of learning songs you truly enjoy. Begin by researching the tabs to songs you love, and then learning how to play those songs. This will give you a positive emotional boost you'll need if you are to tackle the more complex and heady music theory that you'll learn as you progress in the bass guitar.
Practice, practice, and practice again. You need to practice every single day in order to master the bass guitar. If you are super busy, fit in just a 20 minute practice session - you'll be happy you did. On days where you have more time, practice for an hour or two. This isn't hard to do if you really love what you're doing, you'll make time for it. And you'll be a better bass player for it. There's no better feeling in music than taking a song that looks challenging and working on it every day until you can play it with your eyes shut!
Truly enjoying yourself is the last ingredient in bass mastery. Bass is about emotion, movement, and groove. The bass is what creates the melody of the song, ties it to the percussive elements, and moves the song forward. Bass is what drives music. And you have to feel it in you in order for anyone else to feel it. The way you feel it is by having a great time, having boatloads of fun, and letting that come through you in your music.
About the Author:
Learn more about how to play the bass by checking out Jay Steeds's website, where he shares bass guitar tips, totally free!