How to Play Bass Guitar – Getting it Part by Part
Before you can learn how to play bass guitar, you need to familiarize yourself with the different parts that the instrument is made of as well as its respective functions and characteristics. If you don’t, the learning process will be similar to attempting to write a novel without being familiar with terms and concepts like premise, plot, and climax.Strings
Strings are the most essential music-making part of the bass guitar or any other string instrument for that matter. As with the banjo, violin, and the like, the strings of a bass guitar vibrate in order to create sounds.
There are four strings on a bass guitar and each one corresponds to a specific note as well as being able to produce a unique sound. The thickest string on your bass guitar is referred to as the E string. This is followed by A, D, and finally G, which is the thinnest string as well as the one farthest from your chest.
Frets
Do you see small strips of metal on your bass guitar? These are called frets, and they divide your guitar into two sections – top and bottom – just as strings divide your bass guitar between left and right sections. Pay closer attention and you’ll see that frets and strings combined create a grid which covers the guitar neck.
You’ll be able to create a sound with your bass guitar when you put your finger on one string and in between a pair of frets. The higher your “position” is, the higher your notes will be as well. Generally speaking, you go up by half a note with each fret.
Amplification
A bass guitar generally requires the use of an amplifier in order to have its sounds properly heard. This will probably be true for your own guitar as well unless, of course, you’re using an acoustic or upright bass.
If you do not have an amplifier yet then go and shop for one immediately! Your music will be better appreciated with it than without. Be sure to shop for amplifiers specifically designed for bass guitars as well. Anything else won’t generate as good as a sound as it should and not to mention the fact that you risk having your amplifier incur damage simply because it’s not designed to receive the kind of sounds that bass guitars produce.
There are many other parts of your bass guitar but you can learn them as you go. These include but are not limited to your guitar’s pick-ups, tuning pegs, nuts, headstock, and, of course, the neck and body.
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Hey your Teaching and Ideas are good, and close to on the money, but there are so many things that you are missing with modern day advances in computers and “Open Source technology” that some of the things listed here just are not right, for instance, I started my website to supplement your article on learning to play the drums online, you do not mention .Hydrogen one of the best GNU software virtual drum and sequencer programs at all, and in your article about the “old ways of piano leaning” I can only begin to say that although finale took away its free version of its beginning notation software there are plenty of other free ones that with the advances of Music XML and well .mid you can take a song from midi and spit out a score for free and although Ubuntu is a sleek and easy to use version of Linux it is not even necessary to run Linux as most of these programs have been ported for windows. And as to the RUN OUT AND GET AN AMP…. whoa there partner there are so many open source daws and guitar and bass virtual instruments and emulations that all you need is either an affordable 1/4″ to usb for crystal clear audio a/d conversion or lets not keep it a secret and your 6$ 1/4″ to 1/8″ converter from Radio Shack.
I am sorry if you take any of this negatively I think your heart is in the right place but with technology, you are just a little bit behind on the times.