From an outsider’s perspective, the bass might seem like a fairly simple instrument to learn. With only four strings, it can’t be that hard, right? Well, once you start to dive into learning the bass, you will find that this instrument holds endless possibilities of things to play and learn. Playing and learning the bass can be hard at first, but with some practice and dedication, you will be able to reach your goals. Here are some tips for improving your bass playing.
PRACTICE YOUR TECHNIQUE:
One of the reasons why people get turned off to playing the bass is that it calls for a different technique than that of the guitar. Due to the gauge of the strings and the size of the instrument, the bass can be a very physically challenging instrument to play if you are not using the proper technique. A good way to make sure you are correctly practicing your technique is to be very mindful of how you are holding your bass and how you are playing the strings. From there, you can make any necessary adjustments to your playing.
KEEP YOUR PLAYING SIMPLE:
Especially if you are just starting out on the bass, keeping your playing simple can make a world of difference when learning and writing music. There is no need to learn the hardest song on the bass right out of the gate. Try working your way up from simple bass lines to more complex as your skills continue to grow. This also goes for writing your own bass lines, as there is no need to push yourself too hard when you are just beginning to play.
LEARN THE NOTES:
This may seem like an obvious tip, but learning and memorizing where all of the notes are on the neck of the bass is very important to the learning process. Knowing your notes will make learning songs so much easier and will also give you a better introduction to music theory. The bass can take some time to learn, but if you continue to take lessons, practice and learn more, you will see progress.