How To Quickly Learn Bass Guitar: A Step-By-Step Guide

Outline

1. Is Bass Guitar Easy to Learn?
2. Bass Checklist for Beginners
3. What to learn play bass guitar?
3.1. Bass finger techniques for beginners
3.2. How to play bass chords
3.3. How to tune a bass guitar
3.4. How to play bass scales
4. Tips to learn bass fast
5. FAQs

1. Is Bass Guitar Easy to Learn?

Bass guitar might appear easy to play at first, but as you gain more experience with the instrument, you will be able to use your skills to play basic or more complicated basslines in songs.

The level of difficulty in learning bass guitar varies depending on the musical genre and the level of expertise you aim to achieve with your instrument. For example, playing bass guitar may be simpler for more tone- and guitar-driven songs in the country genre than for rhythm-focused genres such as funk, hard rock, and heavy metal.

The physical size and thickness (or gauge) of bass strings can also make learning more difficult for beginner bass guitarists. If you have tiny hands, short-scale basses (such as the Fender Mustang® Bass) can help you navigate up and down the neck of your bass guitar and span a shorter space between frets.

2. Bass Checklist for Beginners

To learn bass guitar effectively, you must have adequate tools. The following are essential for bass guitar players:

• Bass guitar strap – A bass guitar strap not only keeps your instrument in the correct playing position but also reflects your personality and sense of style.

• Cables – If you want to connect your bass to an amplifier or daisy-chain effects pedals, cables are what make it possible.

• Amps – When you plug in your electric bass and hear it come to life with a rumble, there’s nothing quite like it. An amplifier can help you hear the true tone of your instrument and improve your technique, whether you turn it up to 10 or practice at a lower volume. Not sure which amplifier is best for you? Get some help and learn how to choose the perfect bass modeling amp.

• Digital tuner – Keeping your bass in tune can help improve your ear. As your skill level grows, you may wish to experiment with different bass tuners. A digital tuner can assist you in determining the correct pitch.

3. What to learn play bass guitar?

3.1. Bass finger techniques for beginners

Playing bass with a pick: If speed and versatility are essential to you, playing bass with a pick might be your optimal choice. Not only can you play notes quicker with a pick than with your fingers (disregarding years of experience and refining your technique), but utilizing  bass picks of different thicknesses might assist you in altering your tone and producing a new sound.

Play bass with your fingers: Playing bass with your fingers creates a mellower sound and gives you the ability to slap and snap your strings for a funk-infused tone. Starting by plucking the strings with your index and middle fingers is usually easiest for those who use their fingers to play bass. Even so, with practice, you can increase your skill level and try slapping the strings with your thumb for a natural tone.

3.2. How to play bass chords

You might not come across chords as frequently when learning to play bass as you would when learning to play guitar. Although, learning how to play bass chords will only improve your playing. While basslines are typically the focal point of a song, bass chords add depth, flavor, and a bottom-heavy beat.

A chord is a combination of three or more notes that create a distinct sound when played together. Chords are the basis of guitar playing, but they can also be played on bass. A bass’s strings are tuned to the first four strings of a guitar. Therefore, many chords that use only the first four strings of a guitar can also be played on bass.

3.3. How to tune a bass guitar

The bass has a heavier, more bottom-heavy sound than the guitar, even though it has the same first four strings and is set to the same notes. The bass guitar’s strings are:

• E represents the fourth (lowest tone) string.
• A represents the third string.
• D denotes the second string.
• G is the first (and highest tone) string.

There are a few ways to tune your bass. You can do it by listening or through harmonics, which means playing a specific fret on a different string and making the sound of a higher, open string match it. The Fender Tune app makes it easy to stay in tune, though. To make sure your playing always sounds great, use the free bass tuning software.

3.4. How to play bass scales

A bass scale is a set of notes played in ascending or descending order. Each scale consists of eight notes. An octave is a group of eight notes. The notes in a scale are the same regardless of the instrument you’re playing it on, be it bass, guitar, or ukulele. Every scale starts and ends with the same note, called the “root note.” The last note in every scale is also the root note, but its pitch is one octave higher than the first note.

The G Major scale is easy to learn when playing bass scales:

G: 1st note (the root note).
A: 2nd note
B: 3rd note.
C: 4th note.
D: 5th note.
E: 6th note
F: 7th note.
G: 8th note (one octave higher than the root note)

Playing the popular C Major scale on bass may help you play a variety of songs. Scales not only improve finger dexterity but also help you distinguish the same notes and tones even when performed on various frets. Learning scales can also help you discover and apply patterns when playing songs or developing your music and basslines.

4.Tips to learn bass fast

The most effective way to learn bass guitar quickly is by learning the proper technique from an instructor. The following tips will help you develop the mechanical skills needed to play correctly:

• Small, precise motions. Only move the fingers that need to move, and only as far as they need to move.
• Lifting them only as far as they need to be raised from the strings and no farther.
• Make sure the fingers are in the precise place to produce a clear sound at the appropriate loudness without using more effort than necessary.

To avoid strain, make sure your hands and body are free of tension. This means that there should be no sudden movements from underused fingers or other body parts.

There are several things about practicing you can do to improve your guitar playing skills:

• Practice regularly, if not every day.
• Work on a variety of exercises to help develop the proper technique.
• Learn versions of songs that are appropriate for your level of competence.

Always keep your instrument within reach, in the place where you spend the most time (apart from work or school). Taking 5-10 minutes of free time to do a brief practice session has been beneficial to my pupils. If you do this frequently, you will be astonished at how far you can get. I’ve also seen that students who use these shorter intervals to focus on technical exercises, beginning with simple finger exercises and progressing to scales and chord changes, improve quicker than students who work on pieces or songs.

Working on your technique may not sound fun, but it will help you progress faster and prevent cramping and stiffness in your hands and arms. Another effective habit is to have a goal for every time you sit down to practice, no matter how long or short your practice session is.

5. FAQs

Is it possible to teach yourself to play bass guitar?

Although having an experienced instructor can be helpful, it is possible to learn to play bass guitar without one. Even if you already know how to play the guitar, give yourself some time to get used to it. Be patient, and understand that becoming proficient at a new instrument will take time and effort.

How long will it take to learn how to play the bass?

If you have no prior experience with another instrument and you practice for around 2-3 hours each day, it should take you approximately six months to learn the basics of the bass. After a year, you should be able to reach the level of ‘advanced beginner.’

Is bass the easiest instrument to learn?

Bass is one of the most quickly learned instruments. It takes far less time than piano, guitar, or drums to progress from total novice to skilled band member. This is because, although pianists and guitarists frequently play chords of three notes at a time, bassists play the fundamental notes one at a time.

How many hours should you devote to bass practice each day? 

If your goal is to become a proficient bass player, then practicing for 2-3 hours daily is a good starting point. However, if you want to achieve mastery of the instrument, you should aim for 6-8 hours of practice per day. Charlie Parker, the great jazz saxophonist, practiced for 12 hours daily for several years! Jimi Hendrix never put down his instrument.

In conclusion, if you want to learn how to play bass guitar, there are a few things you need to do. First, find a guitar that suits your style and budget. (Check out the best bass guitar for beginners of 20222). Second, take some time to learn the basics of playing guitar. Finally, practice regularly and listen to recordings of bass guitarists to get an idea of how the instrument should sound.