Great Chitter Chatter - Stories from Loud Voices

Want to play the bass? This is a great idea on your part! While the bass guitar isn’t nearly as popular as the regular electric guitar, it can be just as rewarding to play, if not more. The bass player acts as the glue in a band, tieing the rhythm section to the melodic components of the music. Bands that don’t have bass players often sound thin and tinny, so your task is certainly important.

So, how do you get started playing the bass guitar? First, you’ll need a bass. The most popular style of bass are the Fender basses. Fender makes two main types of basses, the J-Bass and the P-Bass. These each sound quite different, but that is beyond the scope of this article. Give them a listen first. There are also fancier types of basses out there, such as fretless bass guitars, but let’s not worry about those right now.

You will also need a bass guitar amp. These amplifiers make it possible to hear what you are playing. To start, get a small practice amp, which is designed for bedroom use by beginners. They are, however, too quiet to be heard over a drum kit, so you’ll need a larger amp once you start performing.

So, you have the gear. Time to go learn how to play! By taking lessons as a beginner, you develop good habits right from the start. A good teacher will help you with all parts of your playing, from technique to tone. Lessons may seem pricy, but they are worth it.

So, I hope this gives you a quick idea about what it takes to learn to play the bass guitar.  Getting better takes time, but its all worth it in the end. It’s not an easy instrument, but once you become proficient, it is very rewarding to play.