Bass Guitars for Beginners: Learning the Basic Techniques

After you have learned the basic parts of the bass guitar, the next step is to learn some of the basic techniques that you need to know in order to start playing like a pro.

Holding Your Bass Guitar

1. Always use a guitar strap whether you'd like to play standing up or sitting down. This will let your back and shoulders bear the weight of your guitar in order for your hands to freely move up and down the fret board.
2. Adjust the guitar strap so that the bass falls at a comfortable level across your chest. Normally, your bass guitar must be at about the same level as your belly button.
3. Mind your posture. Keep your back straight and try not to bend or slouch when playing.
4. When sitting, the height of your chair should allow for your feet to be flat on the ground. A food rest is an excellent idea.
5. A right-handed person will have his headstock on the left side. Look at the strings of your bass if you are holding it right, the thickest string (E) should be closest to your chest and the thinnest string (G) to your feet.
6. Take your fretting hand and hold the neck of your bass smoothly. Your thumb should be resting behind the neck of the bass, supporting your hand while you're other fingers glide above the strings, ready to strum.

Fretting

1. To have your ready to start fretting notes on the neck, place your thumb behind the neck and your fingers poised above the fret board.
2. Cut your nails on your fretting hand. Long fingernails can get in the way of you holding down each string completely.
3. In playing a note, be sure that the string is pressed down in between frets rather than on them directly. This is how the true sound of a note is produced.
4. Rather than holding down the string with your fingertip, try using your finger pad right below. This will make is simpler for you to hold the string down firmly.
5. At first, holding down the large bass strings can be difficult or painful and can give you blisters. But do not lose hope, this is just natural. After a while, your fingers will become stronger and develop thicker skin which can make fretting so much easier!
6. Practice fretting the strings of your bas with each of your fingers. Though it can be tempting to do everything with your index finger, the rest of your fingers need strengthening as well, so get them to work.

Plucking

1. Grasp your plucking hand flaccidly over the strings with your palm turned towards the instrument.
2. Put your thumb on the side of the bass that is closest to the neck. Your thumb will serve as an anchor while your other fingers pluck the strings.

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