Playing Bass Guitar in a Band

playingguitarPeople choose one instrument over another, like a bass guitar over a regular guitar, for a variety of different reasons. What makes someone choose a tuba over a flute or drums over a glockenspiel is mostly just the person's preference.  People choose what they like to listen to, what they like the look of, and what they think will be the most fun or the easiest to play.  Many people who want to learn a stringed instrument choose the bass guitar, because it has a reputation as being easy to play, without giving much consideration to the rest.  But if you're thinking of learning the bass guitar to play with friends or even as part of a band, you can make sure it's a match for your personality first.

You don't mind not being the star or the one in the spotlight. If you want to be the lead person in the band, unless you sing lead it's unlikely you'll be the 'star' while playing bass guitar. Many people prefer to be more behind the scenes.  They like to be a vital part of the music and having fun without having all the attention focused on them all of the time.  A person like this would make an ideal bass player in a band, because the bass can be as vital as the drums for keeping a rhythm, and it's key for forming the right chord at the right time, but it's a much more subtle role than lead singer or lead guitarist. Some jazz along with the occasional rock song will have a bass solo, but it's far more rare than a lead guitar solo.

You have a good sense of rhythm and ear for chords. While anyone who makes music needs a sense of rhythm, some instruments can get away with being imperfect in this area.  A lead guitarist might have a less than perfect sense of timing, but he or she relies on the drums and the bass guitar to set the rhythm and keep the song moving at the correct speed.  Even if some guitar lines fall behind or go to fast, it's easy to get back in time at certain spots thanks to the clear beat laid down by the bass player and the drummer. The good news is that if tempo is a problem for you, it's an easy problem to work on.  Get a metronome and practice!

You're content with a simple musical part. While bass guitar is an important part of a band, the bass part usually doesn't offer a whole lot of variety. At its simplest, the bass part will only require different notes based on the chord at the time in similar rhythms throughout the whole song. For some, that would be only repetitive and boring.  For others, it's perfect.

Look at yourself and what will be required of you if you choose to play bass guitar, and you'll be able to tell if you're a good match for the instrument.

Photo Credits: 1

2010 Fender Jazz Bass POTS Guitar J Bass Guitar NR

2010 Fender Jazz Bass POTS Guitar J Bass Guitar NR

US $5.51
Sale
NEW ZEBRA Electric Bass GuitarStrap Amp Cord Gigbag

NEW ZEBRA Electric Bass GuitarStrap Amp Cord Gigbag

US $69.69
Sale
2004 Fender Jazz Bass Left Handed Lefty Guitar Bag P

2004 Fender Jazz Bass Left Handed Lefty Guitar Bag P

US $269.99
Sale
Gallien Krueger Bass Guitar Amplifier FULL STACK

Gallien Krueger Bass Guitar Amplifier FULL STACK

US $650.00
Sale
Korg GA 1 Electronic Guitar Bass Tuner

Korg GA 1 Electronic Guitar Bass Tuner

US $14.95
Sale
2010 Fender Aerodyne Jazz Bass GUITAR KNOBS Smoked

2010 Fender Aerodyne Jazz Bass GUITAR KNOBS Smoked

US $6.05
Sale
NEW 46 NATURAL WOOD SOLID BODY BASS GUITAR GIG BAG

NEW 46 NATURAL WOOD SOLID BODY BASS GUITAR GIG BAG

US $79.95
Sale
Kaces Bass Guitar Gig Bag

Kaces Bass Guitar Gig Bag

US $50.00
Sale
NEW RED MET Electric Bass GuitarStrapGigbag15w AMP

NEW RED MET Electric Bass GuitarStrapGigbag15w AMP

US $139.99
Sale
NEW Eleca PRO FULL set BASS Electric Guitar Strings 4

NEW Eleca PRO FULL set BASS Electric Guitar Strings 4

US $4.99
Sale
Guitar Bass To USB Link Cable adapter PC Recording 3M

Guitar Bass To USB Link Cable adapter PC Recording 3M

US $9.99
Sale
Brand New Bass Guitar Boy Mens Metal Belt Buckle 308H

Brand New Bass Guitar Boy Mens Metal Belt Buckle 308H

US $1.99
Sale
BRAND NEW 15W BASS GUITAR AMP AMPLIFIER NR

BRAND NEW 15W BASS GUITAR AMP AMPLIFIER NR

US $39.95
Sale
Flat Head Chrome Strap Lock for Electric Guitar Bass

Flat Head Chrome Strap Lock for Electric Guitar Bass

US $1.39
Sale
New Round Head Chrome Guitar Bass Strap Lock Locking

New Round Head Chrome Guitar Bass Strap Lock Locking

US $.99
Sale

Originally posted 2009-01-08 14:50:58. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Blog Traffic Exchange Related Posts
  • guitarLearn to Play Bass Guitar For someone starting out with a first instrument, a bass guitar is an excellent choice. The bass guitar is probably the easiest stringed instrument to learn to play, far easier than either an acoustic or electric guitar, a banjo, a mandolin, or a violin, for instance. And a stringed instrument......
  • blog traffic exchangeThe Legacy of Jaco Pastorius - Joe Sinaguglia For over twenty years now, the planet has been without the presence of Jaco Pastorius, the revolutionary electric bass player of the 70s. He was a member of the group Weather Report and later led his own bands. Sadly, the lifestyle caught up to him in 1987. Despite his death,......
  • doubleMusical Instruments Bass When some people hear the word bass, they immediately think about the bass guitar, a popular instrument in many types of music today. However, there is actually a large number of different instruments that fall under the base category, and the bass guitar is only one of them. Bass instruments......
  • guitar1Review of Bass Guitars In regards to instruments, the bass guitar is the new kid on the block as it hasn't even celebrated its 100 year mark yet. An interesting fact is that although it is called a bass guitar it is not even derived from the guitar. Acoustic guitars brought forth the electric......
  • bassguitarThe History of the Bass Guitar The electric bass guitar is a staple of the music scene today. It provides the bass spectrum of sound to the likes of rock, jazz, metal, blues and numerous other musical acts. The bass may provide one part of the larger melody, or be featured as the primary instrument. Over......
Online Stores

Learn to Play Bass Guitar

For someone starting out with a first instrument, a bass guitar is an excellent choice. The bass guitar is probably the easiest stringed instrument to learn to play, far easier than either an acoustic or electric guitar, a banjo, a mandolin, or a violin, for instance. And a stringed instrument is often easier to learn to play than a keyed instrument like a piano, or a woodwind or brass instrument. Woodwinds and brass require you to not only know how to finger the instrument to produce the correct notes, you also have to have the correct embouchure—this is how you blow the instrument properly and involves the position of your mouth, the slackness or firmness of your lips and the air flow. The piano requires you to play notes with both hands, and doesn't sound great a note at at time.

A bass guitar, by comparison, involves the simple plucking of a few strings. A beginning bass guitar player can learn 4 or 5 notes and play the bass line to an entire song. But just because a bass guitar is great for a musical beginner, it still requires lot of practice and learning to master the instrument. You'll still need to spend lots of time with the instrument to really be any good at it, and to move beyond that 5-note bass line.

If you have an excellent ear and a musical affinity already, you may be able to pick up a bass guitar and start learning. Most, however, will need some instruction. You can find courses online to teach you the beginning steps in learning the bass guitar, and valuable information from how to choose your first guitar or play a fretless bass. There are courses DVDs, books like Mel Bay teaching books which are excellent if you want to teach yourself, or you can take lessons from a friend who knows how to play.

Private bass guitar lessons from an instructor are also an option, and a good way to get a solid foundation underneath you. If you're unsure of what you're doing when you teach yourself and you get into bad habits in the beginning, becoming a great bass guitar player will be more difficult. But if you start out with an instructor who can make sure you learn the basics correctly, later you can move on to teaching yourself without worrying that you're doing things wrong.

Practice your bass guitar every day, if you can, but at least spend an hour or two with it every other day or so. You won't improve if you don't practice, and you'll forget the new things you've learned if you wait too long between practice sessions. Consider purchasing a bass guitar tuner and a metronome. The tuner will make sure your strings are tuned properly, so you won't spend time hearing the wrong notes as you play. And the metronome will help you practice correctly, by forcing you to keep perfect time as you play your bass guitar.

Natural 5 string electric bass guitargig bagacc Jazz

Natural 5 string electric bass guitargig bagacc Jazz

US $199.95
Sale
Stellah Elm 4 String Electric Bass Guitar Natural

Stellah Elm 4 String Electric Bass Guitar Natural

US $179.47
Sale
NEW 46 LEFT HANDED NATURAL P BASS GUITAR GIG BAG

NEW 46 LEFT HANDED NATURAL P BASS GUITAR GIG BAG

US $89.95
Sale
NATURAL ELECTRIC ACOUSTIC BASS GUITAR EQUALIZER EBA NR1

NATURAL ELECTRIC ACOUSTIC BASS GUITAR EQUALIZER EBA NR1

US $99.95
Sale
Natural Electric Bass Guitar 3D Fridge Magnet NEW

Natural Electric Bass Guitar 3D Fridge Magnet NEW

US $6.99
Sale
NEW 46 NATURAL WOOD SOLID BODY BASS GUITAR GIG BAG

NEW 46 NATURAL WOOD SOLID BODY BASS GUITAR GIG BAG

US $79.95
Sale
New NATURAL Stellar Neptune002 Pro 4 String Bass Guitar

New NATURAL Stellar Neptune002 Pro 4 String Bass Guitar

US $150.00
Sale
Takamine EGB2S Acoustic Electric Bass Guitar Natural

Takamine EGB2S Acoustic Electric Bass Guitar Natural

US $349.00
Sale
Yamaha RBX 250 Bass Guitar Natural Finish Long Scale

Yamaha RBX 250 Bass Guitar Natural Finish Long Scale

US $125.00
Sale
Conklin Groove Tools GT 7 7 String Bass Guitar Natural

Conklin Groove Tools GT 7 7 String Bass Guitar Natural

US $599.59
Sale
New Jay Turser Natural Tele Electric Bass Guitar DEAL

New Jay Turser Natural Tele Electric Bass Guitar DEAL

US $189.99
Sale
NEW PRO FUSION LEFT HANDED NATURAL BASS GUITAR LEFTY

NEW PRO FUSION LEFT HANDED NATURAL BASS GUITAR LEFTY

US $177.77
Sale
NEW NATURAL BEAUTY PRO QUALITY 5 STRING BASS GUITAR

NEW NATURAL BEAUTY PRO QUALITY 5 STRING BASS GUITAR

US $154.95
Sale
NEW LEFT HAND 46 NATURAL ELECTRIC BASS GUITAR

NEW LEFT HAND 46 NATURAL ELECTRIC BASS GUITAR

US $84.95
Sale
Schecter Stiletto Custom 4 Bass Guitar Natural Satin

Schecter Stiletto Custom 4 Bass Guitar Natural Satin

US $549.00
Sale

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2008-12-08 17:51:28. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Blog Traffic Exchange Related Posts
  • doubleThe Double Bass - Then and Now In the modern orchestra, there are a number of stringed instruments that cover a variety of sounds. Highs and lows, the entire spectrum of sound audible to the human can be accessed with stringed instruments. At the lowest end of the spectrum, the double bass, or upright bass, can access......
  • blog traffic exchange Robert Trujillo: Bassist for Metallica Metallica was up to the task of performing at Ozzfest this year, for they commanded the attention of the massive stadium. Robert Trujillo was rocking for over two hours with drummer Lars Ulrich, singer/guitarist James Hetfield and lead guitarist Kirk Hammett, all of whom brought forth a power that made......
  • doubleMusical Instruments Bass When some people hear the word bass, they immediately think about the bass guitar, a popular instrument in many types of music today. However, there is actually a large number of different instruments that fall under the base category, and the bass guitar is only one of them. Bass instruments......
  • blog traffic exchangeThe Legacy of Jaco Pastorius - Joe Sinaguglia For over twenty years now, the planet has been without the presence of Jaco Pastorius, the revolutionary electric bass player of the 70s. He was a member of the group Weather Report and later led his own bands. Sadly, the lifestyle caught up to him in 1987. Despite his death,......
  • guitar1Review of Bass Guitars In regards to instruments, the bass guitar is the new kid on the block as it hasn't even celebrated its 100 year mark yet. An interesting fact is that although it is called a bass guitar it is not even derived from the guitar. Acoustic guitars brought forth the electric......
Online Stores
acoustic bass bass clarinet bass clarinets bass drum bass drums bass family Bass Guitar bass guitars bass instruments bass part bass store bridge one clarinet family concert bass counterpoint definite pitch different instruments Double Bass eb series electric bass electric bass guitar electric stringed instruments fender bass fender guitar fret board genres of music indefinite pitch kick drum launch leo fender lionel hampton low frequency magnetic coils modern music monk montgomery musical acts musical instrument musical instruments music of today music scene orchestras percussion instruments stand up stringed instrument stringed instruments