A Bass Guitar

Learning Bass Guitar Chords

The standard method of playing the bass guitar is by just using the fingertips or by plucking. However, some musicians may even use the plectrum to create sharp tones out of the thick strings. There are many creative techniques used on the bass guitar such as slapping, pulling, tapping, etc. When it comes to using the fretting hand, you are typically supposed to hold individual notes on the fretboard, unlike chords in the rhythm guitar. However, professional musicians are proficient in the techniques of using chords on the bass guitar. They are done experimenting with bass guitar chords for beginners. If you are thinking of playing chords on the bass guitar, remember that the pattern is similar to how you would be playing barre chords on the last four strings on a rhythm guitar. The following explanation will help you understand the fundamentals of bass guitar chords for beginners.

String Patterns of Rhythm and Bass Guitar

Strings on a Rhythm Guitar

e(1st)-----------------------------
B(2nd)---------------------------
G(3rd)---------------------------
D(4th)---------------------------
A(5th)---------------------------
E(6th)----------------------------

Strings on a Standard Bass Guitar

G(3rd)---------------------------
D(4th)---------------------------
A(5th)---------------------------
E(6th)----------------------------

The notations are shown considering a standard-stringed bass guitar that is one which has four strings. Be informed that the notations on the four strings of the bass guitar are same as the barre chords on the last four strings of the rhythm guitar. Just to brief you about how to read guitar tabs, the numbers on the lines denote the fret on which you are supposed to place the fingertips of the fretting hand. Simply refer to the below tablatures about basic guitar chords for beginners on the rhythm as well as bass guitar.

Bass Guitar Chords for Beginners

'C' Chord

Barre Chord on the Rhythm Guitar

e-------------3-------------------
B------------5-------------------
G------------5-------------------
D------------5-------------------
A------------3-------------------
E------------3-------------------

Chord on the Bass Guitar

G-----------5----------------
D-----------5----------------
A-----------3----------------
E----------------------------

'D' Chord

Barre Chord on the Rhythm Guitar

e-------------5-------------------
B------------7-------------------
G------------7-------------------
D------------7-------------------
A------------5-------------------
E------------5-------------------

Chord on the Bass Guitar

G------------7---------------
D------------7---------------
A------------5---------------
E----------------------------

'E' Chord

Barre Chord on the Rhythm Guitar

e-------------7-------------------
B------------9-------------------
G------------9-------------------
D------------9-------------------
A------------7-------------------
E------------7-------------------

Chord on the Bass Guitar

G------------9---------------
D------------9---------------
A------------7---------------
E------------0----------------

'F' Chord

Barre Chord on the Rhythm Guitar

e-------------1-------------------
B------------1-------------------
G------------2-------------------
D------------3-------------------
A------------3-------------------
E------------1-------------------

Chord on the Bass Guitar

G-----------------------------
D-------------3--------------
A-------------3--------------
E-------------1---------------

'G' Chord

Barre Chord on the Rhythm Guitar

e-------------3-------------------
B------------3-------------------
G------------4-------------------
D------------5-------------------
A------------5-------------------
E------------3-------------------

Chord on the Bass Guitar

G-----------------------------
D------------5---------------
A------------5---------------
E------------3----------------

'A' Chord

Barre Chord on the Rhythm Guitar

e------------5-------------------
B----------- 5-------------------
G------------6-------------------
D------------7-------------------
A------------7-------------------
E------------5-------------------

Chord on the Bass Guitar

G-----------------------------
D------------7---------------
A------------7---------------
E------------5----------------

'B' Chord

Barre Chord on the Rhythm Guitar

e-------------2-------------------
B------------4-------------------
G------------4-------------------
D------------4-------------------
A------------2-------------------
E------------2-------------------

Chord on the Bass Guitar

G------------4---------------
D------------4---------------
A------------2---------------
E-----------------------------

This is just one way of holding bass guitar chords for beginners. You can change the chord positions on other strings as well, provided that the notes are correct and in scale. When chords are played on the bass guitar, the sound output turns out to be very high. This is why the bass guitar amplifiers used should be powerful enough to handle such loud lowest tones. Also remember that playing chords on the bass guitar demands a lot of practice. One who is familiar in playing barre chords on the electric guitar can easily learn to play chords on the bass guitar.

Bass Tab For Beginner

Bass tablature, or bass tab, is a pretty simple system of music notation for bass. You will find it in music books, bass magazines, and all over the internet.

Strings in Bass Tab

Bass tab shows the strings of the bass drawn horizontally. Most often bass tab is written for 4-string bass, but you may see it for 5-string and 6-string basses, too. That will depend on whether more strings are required to play the song.

The bass strings are drawn with the lowest-pitched string at the bottom. Standard bass tuning from lowest to highest is E-A-D-G and looks like this:

G ----------------------------
D ----------------------------
A ----------------------------
E ----------------------------

Some music will require a different tuning or more strings, but the perspective stays the same with the lowest (fattest) string at the bottom.

Fret Numbers in Bass Tab

In bass tab, notes are indicated by fret number. The fret number is written on the string on which it is played. Most basses have between 20 and 24 frets. You may see fret numbers from 0 (the open string) up to 24.

In this example you are to play the 3rd fret on the E-string followed by the 2nd fret on the A-string, then the 5th fret on the A-string, and finally the 5th fret on the D-string.

G -------------------------------
D --------------------5----------
A --------2----5----------------
E ---3---------------------------

Bars in Bass Tab

Bars are usually marked as they are in standard notation with a vertical barline.

G ----------------------------|-----------------
D ----------------------------|-----------------
A ----------------------------|-----------------
E ----------------------------|-----------------

Rhythm in Bass Tab

Many times rhythm is not indicated in bass tab. All you get is the order of the notes. In this case you are left on your own to listen to the recording and piece it together yourself.

Other times rhythm is marked underneath with the count written under the fret numbers.

In this bass tab example there is an eighth note count written underneath...

G ----------------------|---------
D -------------------5-|---------
A --------2----5-------|--------
E ---3------------------|--------
       1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

Other Bass Tab Markings

Many of the other markings found in bass tabs indicate the way notes are to be played. These are not standardized. You may see many variations. Often these markings are defined somewhere at the beginning of the bass tab. Some common bass tab markings you may encounter:

For markings on the strings:

• A forward slash ( / ) indicates a slide moving up in pitch.
• A back slash ( \ ) indicates a slide moving down in pitch.
• A caret (^) indicates a bend.
• An X (x) indicates a ghost note.
• An H (h) indicates a hammer-on.
• A P (p) indicates a pull-off.

For markings beneath the strings:

• An S indicates a thumb slap.
• A P indicates a pop.
• A T indicates a tap. Often which hand is used is marked with an L or R and assumes you are right-handed.

How to Read Bass Tab Summary

There’s not too much to reading bass tab. It’s just fret numbers on string lines. Bass tab can be a real aid to beginners before they have learned to read standard music notation or have learned the note names on the fretboard. And, it can be helpful to show complicated fingerings alongside standard notation. You should be at least familiar with bass tab.

Recommended Bass Tabs

If you're looking for some good bass tabs to play, check out my recommendations section for bass tab books.

How to Play bass Guitar

The bass guitar, also sometimes known as just 'bass', is a guitar which typically has four thick strings. It is really a wonderful instrument which is responsible for providing a deep bass effect to the music it is played with. Individuals who play the bass guitar are known as 'bass guitarists' or just 'bassists'.

Learning to Play the Bass Guitar
The most important key in learning how to play bass guitar is to understand and learn the notations and scales on the fretboard of a rhythm guitar. There are many people who want to learn how to play bass guitar. And to do this, they directly set out with laying their hands on the bass guitar. This is really a bad start for learning this instrument. It is better of you first get acquainted with the fretboard layout of a rhythm guitar, as the pattern of the bass guitar's fretboard is the same as that on any normal electric guitar. Once you are familiar with the notes and finger placements on the fretboard of an electric or an acoustic guitar, you can use the same finger placements on the fretboard of the bass guitar to get the appropriate bass tones. With playing the bass, you also ought to have the understanding of the music beat, as the bass has to flow well with the drums.

Physical Characteristics of a Bass Guitar
Generally, the size of bass guitars is bigger than normal electric guitar. This is because their fretboards are a bit longer. In addition, their fretboards are also broader. However, today, if you visit a musical instruments shop, you will find many brands offering smaller basses with thinner fretboards. Playing notes on bass guitars having such thinner fretboards becomes pretty easy.

Coming to the thickness of the strings, the thickness level of bass guitar strings is more than that of normal rhythm guitars. The thickness of the strings is what gives out a deep bass tone. For example, the size of the 1st string on a bass guitar would be double the size of the last string of a rhythm guitar. A second bass guitar string would be thicker than that of the first one. And according to the order, the last string is the thickest.

Conventionally, bass guitars have been known to have four strings. However, there are ones which have five, six, or eight strings. These pieces are exceptionally meant to be used by professional musicians. At the start it is suggested to play a four-stringed one. But after few years of fiddling with it, you can shift to more stringed ones.

Types of Bass Guitars (In Brief)
Like in rhythm guitars, bass guitars also have electric and acoustic versions. If you are thinking how to play electric bass guitars or the acoustic ones, the style and techniques are one and the same. The only difference is the music which is played. Acoustic bass guitars are suitable for jazz music, soul music, classical music, and other soft styles of music. On the other hand, an electric bass is suitable for rock music and heavy metal musical genres. So, a bassist can go crazy and heavy with the tones from electric bass guitars. Bass guitars are also differentiated by the number of strings they have. But since I have discussed it earlier, I will prefer not to emphasize on it much.

The most difficult bass guitar to play is one which does not have any frets. It is known as a fretless bass. Frets give guitarists the idea of what will be the sound like when a particular note is held on the fretboard. If these frets are not present, a majority of guitarist will mess up with the correct tones. As you advance further in your playing, you will naturally get to know many of these complex bass guitar playing techniques.

Notations on the Fret Board of a Bass Guitar
Now comes the most important part of playing any stringed musical instrument, which is placing your finger tips on appropriate positions on the fretboard. As mentioned earlier, the notations on a bass guitar fretboard is the same as that on a classical guitar's fretboard. The only difference is that a normal rhythm guitar has six strings, and a bass guitar typically has four strings. So, in this case, the first to fourth bass guitar strings are in the same manner of third to sixth rhythm guitar strings. In simple words, if you do not consider the first and the second string of a rhythm guitar, the notations would be same the as of a bass guitar. A figure will help you better understand.

Strings of a Rhythm Guitar

e----------------------------
B---------------------------
G---------------------------
D---------------------------
A---------------------------
E---------------------------

Strings of a Bass Guitar

G---------------------------
D---------------------------
A---------------------------
E---------------------------

The sounds produced by all these four bass guitar strings will be of the same note like in the rhythm guitar, but with an extremely deep lower tone.

Playing Techniques to be Used on the Bass Guitar
The bass guitar playing style in totally different from that in a rhythm guitar. For beginners, initially it would be very tough to hold the notations on the fretboard. This difficulty arises due to the strings being thicker than normal, and it is not easy to press such strings onto the fretboard. But with regular practice, you can get comfortable with the fingerings.

In a rhythm guitar, you generally hold several positions on the fretboard to play a particular chord. However, in a bass guitar you need not play a whole chord (Professionals can and may do it though). In general, the bass guitar is to be played with just holding a particular note on the fretboard. Suppose the rhythm guitarist is playing the 'G' chord, you need to hold the 'G' note on just a single string. And this is how the bass guitar sound goes along with that of the rhythm guitar. This is just the fundamental technique of fingering the fretboard of a bass guitar for appropriate sounds.

You also need to pay attention to the strumming hand. The bass guitar is generally played with just the finger tips, without using a plectrum. However, some guitarists may prefer to use a plectrum. When using the chording hand for plucking the strings, you also need to play the appropriate string with noting the position of the fingering hand on the fretboard. This is how right and left hand coordination is supposed to be done, which is very crucial for getting good sounds from the bass guitar.

There are many more bass guitar playing techniques that you need to learn once you are familiar with the basic style of playing. Some of the techniques are slapping, plucking, fretting, tapping, two-handed tapping, and many more. In addition to these standard techniques, there are also different techniques developed by famous bass guitarists, which are now being used by many aspiring bassists all over the world. Read more on learn how to play guitar.

Few Notable Bass Guitarists

This is a just a short list of some well-known guitarists whom you can get inspiration from in learning how to play bass guitar. Listen to the way they play the bass and try to imitate them. Doing so will really make you a good bassist.

John Leven - Europe
Abraham Laboriel
Victor Wooten
Flea - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Duff McKagan - Velvet Revolver
Marco Mendoza
Billy Sheehan
Stuart Hamm
John Illsley - Dire Straits
Tony Kanal - No Doubt

21 Agustus

Agustus 2011

           

            Panasnya udara di siang ini yang menerpa rerumputan nan hijau di bumi pertiwi yang pernah kelam pada jamannya dulu, aku di sudut sebuah taman melihat sebuah Monumen seorang pejuang yang lusuh, kotor dan berdebu serta coretan tangan manusia yang tak bertanggung jawab menghiasi setiap bagian di Monumen tersebut. Dalam lamunanku aku berkata apa yang mereka dapat hingga mereka memperjuangkan negara ini hingga darah mereka ibarat kata dapat mereka minum sendiri.Sejarah menanggisnya Ibu Pertiwi dengan hamparan perjuangan dari para manusia dan Rakyat jelata,tangisan dan kecaman datang silih berganti dengan maha dahsyatnya. Pemuda dan Pemudi saling bertekuk lutut dihadapan Sang Khalik saat mereka sadar bahwa inilah dunia yang harus kita perjuangkan. Para pejuang kemerdekaan tetap berjuang hingga mereka mati bekalang tanah. Hidup pun tak Guna matipun Segan, karena mereka berusaha demi anak cucu setelah mereka, hingga senja menyambut mereka akan terus mengencarkan granat kepada pejuang asing yang ingin menduduki bumi kita. Kata ‘MERDEKA’ bukan kata yang ingin diucapkan oleh pejuang di bumi pertiwi kita, melainkan ‘KEBEBASAN’ itulah kata yang mereka ucapkan pada saat berjuang.karena mereka ingin kebebasan diantara kehidupan mereka.

            Salahkah mereka menginginkan kebebasan yang layak untuk diperhitungkan dengan mata dan kepala mereka yang memangsa kekejaman perang. Mereka bukan pejuang untuk diri mereka, mereka bukan kesatria yang dibayar, mereka bukan mesin pembunuh. Mereka adalah Rakyat Jelata yang menggorbankan kampak, ladang, ternak mereka demi KEBEBASAN di Negara ini. Inilah bentuk ksederhanaan dalam perang, bukan bentuk strategi ataupun bentuk senjata. Melainkan jiwa Nasionalisme yang tinggi dan perjuangan tanpa menghitungkan dua kali ataupun sogokan oleh penjajah yang menawarkan berbagai gemilang harta dan rampasan mereka. Dan satu hal lagi yang tak akan kita bisa lupakan, bagaimana mereka akan terus berusaha walau mereka kalah dalam strategi dalam senjata, mereka menyimpan semangat yang tak ada dimanapun tempat terjual. Mereka yang terus bercucuran keringat akan terus berjuang, sedangkan mereka yang telah bercucuran darah akan terus dikenang hingga kita menghirup angin dunia ini. “Apabila di dalam diri seseorang masih ada rasa malu dan takut untuk berbuat suatu kebaikan, maka jaminan bagi orang tersebut adalah tidak akan bertemunya ia dengan kemajuan selangkah pun”. Itulah kata yang terlontar dari mulut sang Pemimpin pertama di Negara yang dijuluki sebagai Negara Khatulistiwa atau Negara Rempah - Rempah. Dan bagaimana pejuang membuktikan bahwa mereka dapat menjadi momok yang amat menakutkan bagi negara lain, menjadi tongkat pemukul yang kuat bagi penjajah, menjadi pagar yang tak mampu ditembus oleh berbagai senjata apapun. Itu dikarenakan semangat dan kepercayaan dalam diri mereka masing – masing, masih belum puas tersakiti dan terlucuti negara ini dengan laknatnya para tetinggi yang hidup didalam tempurung moral Rakyat Indonesia ini. Apa ini jawaban dalam segala perjuangkan dulu yang mana disetiap sekolah dasar disetiap saat di perdengarkan di setiap telinga Rakyat Jelata di setiap pelosok desa. Landasan yang dulu dijadikan sebagai penegak bangsa, kini hanya menjadi penghias dinding setiap Lembaga – lembaga yang mengakui bahwa mereka adalah Indonesia. Dimana rakyat Indonesia yang dulu pernah menjadi monster bagi negara lain, menjadi negara yang patut di perhitungkan di kanca negara luar lainnya. Apa ini yang bayaran mereka yang telah berjuang dengan segala semangat dan jerih payah mereka dibayar percuma dengan kelakuan kita yang tak menghargai perjuangan mereka hingga kita dapat menghirup nafas KEBEBASAN sampai saat ini. Lagu kebangsaan yang dulu nyaring dinyanyikan oleh anak dan para penggembala dengan penuh kidmat disetiap penjuru negeri, musnah sudah semua dengan nyanyian yang telah mengeser lagu tersebut.

            Indonesia Bangkitlah dengan kepakan sayap sang Garuda yang melebarkan bentangan sayap ke penjuru dunia. Indonesia merah darahku putih tulangku, semangat ini yang akan membawa Indonesia kembali bangkit dari tidur panjangnya. Dan menjadi sebuah simbol bahwa inilah Indonesiaku dan Inilah yang akan kami perjuangkan hingga nafas kami tinggal satu hela. Dalam tangan ini kami akan terus mengenang beliau – beliau yang mempertaruhkan berbagai yang mereka punya demi indonesia, bayaran ini yang akan kami berikan kepadamu yang telah Mati Tanpa Imbalan dan Sanjungan.

            MERDEKA...MERDEKA...MERDEKA...

            Indonesia , Agustus 2011

                                                                                                                        Y. Daniar. S