Learn To Play Bass Guitar

Good right hand technique is so crucial to good bass playing. You need to be able to play strong and hard and convey a good rhythmic feel. It’s perhaps more important to focus on this when you learn to play bass guitar than on the left hand technique.

Basically you have two main techniques: Using your fingers or using a pick. OK, some might object, and I agree – slapping and popping is also used a lot, however, slapping is still something that is relatively specialised to particular styles of music, while picking or fingering can be used in most other styles.

Ok, so you want to learn to play bass guitar, what do you do? I suggest that you have a good think about the music styles you’re into and determine if pick or fingers are most commonplace, then you go ahead and try it out. If it works wonders for you, then continue using that technique. If not, then try the other.

Here’s how to practice the two techniques. Get hold of a metronome or a drum machine to keep time with (absolutely essential, I’m telling you) and start playing in time with the clicks. You can have the clicks on every beat (1 – 2 – 3 – 4) or on the upbeat (2 and 4 – the best way, as it simulates the snare drum) and simply play steady notes. You should change keys and strings of course, and preferably follow a chord progression.

This sound simple and easy, and it is, of course, but if you do this regularly and gradually increase the speed to a level that is comfortable yet challenging, you will become a solid player.

Always alternate the fingers and practise up and down strokes with the pick.

If you figure that you rather play with a pick than using fingers, the following is a good thing: Try to play on each beat using only down strokes. Guitarists do this a lot and the feel and attitude you get is very important in punk rock context.

Also try to dampen the strings with the palm of your right hand, making a more percussive sound.

These are a few important things to consider when you learn to play bass guitar, so practise well and cheerio!

Here’s a few more articles:

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