Before You Begin to Learn Bass Guitar…

Just as with learning any new skill, learning bass guitar requires some preparation. Obviously you will need a bass guitar and amplifier, but there are a few other points to consider. Sure, you are itching to start playing, but before you begin to learn bass guitar take a little time now to read about 4 small things that you can do that will make your progress faster and smoother.

1. Get to Know Your Bass

Get used to the feel of your bass guitar and learn the names of each component and what they do. If you are learning from a book or online, an instruction to  “play near the bridge” is not much use to you if you do not know what a bridge is. Learn where each control is located and what it does. To learn about the various components that make up a bass guitar read our articles on the bass guitar body and neck.

2. Be Consistent

We learn by repetition and if something is slightly different each time we do something, our brains will be confused and will take longer to memorize it. You will probably practice seated so get yourself an armless, comfortable chair. Get one that allows you to sit upright and use it every time you practice.

Always hold your bass in the same position. There is more information on how to correctly position your bass in our article about straps. It is also a good idea to wear your bass on its strap even when sitting. This should help to keep the instrument in the same position whether sitting or standing. Many bass players will say that they find it more difficult to play standing. This is often because their bass will be located in a different position than when seated. They learn to play seated and then when they stand, the bass position moves and it feels unfamiliar.

3. Learn to Tune Your Bass

Always make sure that your bass is perfectly tuned before playing it. An out of tune instrument will sound terrible, especially if you are playing along with a song and trying to learn it. Tuning before every session will not only make you sound better, but you will soon learn to tune your instrument quickly and perfectly every time.  Learn all about tuning in our series of articles:

• Part 1 – The Basics
• Part 2 – A Couple of Methods
• Part 3 – Using harmonics
• Part 4 – Electronic tuners

4. Enjoy Yourself

It is amazing how many people psych them selves up to believe how difficult it will be to take on a new task. In their minds, they keep going over everything that could go wrong and how badly they will tackle it. By the time they are actually ready to begin, they are dreading it and feel so stressed that their thoughts becomes reality. They have convinced themselves that they will fail before they begin.

You are about to embark upon a wonderful journey into another world, the world of music. Playing a musical instrument should bring us joy and allow us to express ourselves in ways that are impossible with words. Yes, it will be difficult at first, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it. Never lose sight of the day when you will be able to  play effortlessly and remember that every practice session and lesson will bring you a little closer to your goal.