Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   Can you learn the bass guitar without first learning the guitatar?
   I have no experience in playing guitar or other instruments and would really like to learn bass. Could i learn bass without first learning guitar, or is it necessary to learn guitar first. I dont want crits just telling me to go play guitar please.

   • ANSWER:
     Except for the manner in which they are played (changing pitches by moving your fingers and strumming strings) and how they are tuned (with tuning pegs) they are not very similar instruments. The Bass Guitar is in bass clef and usually plays a more melodic line. The Guitar is played in treble clef and usually plays chords. Bass has usually only four or five strings and the Guitar has six (or sometimes twelve).

     You can definitely learn Bass Guitar without learning the Guitar first, you should have no problem with it.

2. QUESTION:
   What is the best resource for learning bass guitar for a complete beginner?
   I want to learn the bass guitar. I got one, and I am looking for the best resource for learning the bass guitar...from a complete beginner's view point. It can free or paid, but free would be better. Thanks

   • ANSWER:
     honestly....youtube......i've been playing for 9 months, ive been watching covers on youtube and learning songs off them and theres a guy called dmanlamius on youtube who has amazing covers (i learned how to tap from his videos, 2 weeks later i could play jerry was a racecar driver easily)

3. QUESTION:
   Any good tips for learning Bass Guitar? Or where to buy one?
   I'm learning how to play bass guitar for a garage band that my friends and I are starting. Before yesterday, I had never touched a bass guitar. Do you have any tips for a beginner? Preferably, where to buy a good, cheap guitar, or fingerings, instrument care, etc?

   • ANSWER:
     Buy a new one on musiciansfriend.com or buy it used from craigslist. I suggest that if you don't already know how to find notes on the fretboard that you learn.

     You don't have to know every note you play, just how to find out by just looking at it. The guitar players will be playing certain chord progressions and the most prominent chord is what you want to figure out.

     Let's say it's C, so now you can play all the notes in the C scale and you will be in harmony with the rest of the song. He might play other chords where it goes to a different key, but mostly you'll want to stick around that C.

     You'll want to learn modes and scales. The minor pentatonic scale is the most common, while learning all of the modes will give your fingers a good muscle memory of the right notes. Once you learn scales and modes you can just move your hands up or down the fretboard up or down depending on what key you are in.

     Keep it simple. There is absolutely no reason to be all over the place and especially with bass. You can make only a few notes sound really good with just how you play them.

     Learning finger picking is pretty valuable if you plan to play for years. You'd want to practice that off the bat. Slapping the bass is fun but it takes some practice. You can always use a pick but I think using your fingers is actually easier after you get used to it.

4. QUESTION:
   What Is A Good Course To Learning Bass Guitar?
   Want to get into "Learning Bass Guitar" and was looking to find a good course.

   • ANSWER:
     MANY tutorials on youtube.com

     PLease answer my question

5. QUESTION:
   Is it necessary to learn Acoustic Guitar before learning Bass Guitar? Any other tips will help as well.?
   I want to learn Bass guitar, but I'm not that good with Acoustic, so shall I learn Acoustic one first or I can straight away start with Bass. Do mention pros and cons of either case, if any. And if you got any tips, that'll help too. Thanks!

   • ANSWER:
     What does acoustic guitar have to do with Bass. Bass Playing has nearly nothing to do with guitars. Bassists have their own technique and their own way of playing. The Bassist usually creates basslines and knows music theory like the back of their hand. Guitarists start out with chord patterns and usually don't ever learn anything about why they are playing what they are playing. The bass on the other hand is very empowering, very open to improvisation and you learn a lot about music. If you want to play bass than go get a bass and start learning in some way. I recommend getting a very cheap four string to start. Eventually you will want a better four string or a five string. Guitars are associated with chords, rifts, and guitar solos while the bass is associated more with basslines, arpeggios, and good knowledge of scales which allow you to know how you can work with a bassline you have. The bass is also not easier than guitar. This is because in most music the guitar is just strumming chords while the bass is actually moving through a series of different notes to build a foundation. There are of course more complex songs with crazy guitar solos but you have to realize that playing a guitar solo on a bass is a lot harder than doing it on a guitar because the notes on a bass are farther apart which requires more motion in your fingers. Just get a bass and play

6. QUESTION:
   Where to start at learning bass guitar?
   I just bought a Ibanez GSR200 electric bass guitar 2 days ago, with your average amp and cord. This is my first instrument ever, and I don't know where to start learning. I already know my hand position and how to strum the strings and stuff like that, but how do I learn notes and stuff?

   • ANSWER:
     Hello,
     I completely understand where you are coming from. Back when I was first learning how to play bass guitar, I had nobody to guide me or anything. I found it easiest to look up tabs of songs (www.bassmasta.net is a good site). Several easy songs to try are I'm So Sick by Flyleaf, Blitzkrieg Bop by the Ramones, and Mouthful of Poison by Kittie.
     There are many bass books out there that will display notes, chords, and sheet music in lame man's terms to make it easy. If you're on a low budget, the best way to learn how to play is to read Tab because they are completely free.

     P.S: It may take you awhile to learn each note's name (such as E F# Fb and so on) because of the different tunings associated with playing the bass. Best bet is to, once again, get a feel for each string and fret and learn tabbed songs. Any questions, feel free to ask

7. QUESTION:
   Should I start learning bass guitar?
   I already play a little bit of guitar (mostly acoustic) and I was thinking of learning another instrument as well. I heard bass is boring as hell though, but I might as well give it a shot.

   Whats a decent, inexpensive bass guitar to start off with?

   • ANSWER:
     People who say bass is boring don't understand the instrument. I find bass incredibly rewarding and creatively stimulating.

     The Ibanez Soundgear series is unbelievably good value for money. The GSR ones are the absolute cheapest. But if you can push for an SR200, do. They have very comfortable, narrow necks - quite unlike the baseball bat necks on Fender P-basses. The string spacing is also very narrow, which makes it easier to learn if you're used to guitars. It also makes them unusually well-suited to guitarish techniques like playing chords.

8. QUESTION:
   is learning the bass guitar hard?
   I play the violin and a little piano. Is learning the bass guitar different from these instruments and will it be hard to learn?

   • ANSWER:
     It is different. You know well that every instrument is hard. But if you already play the violin it shouldn't be too hard. Now, do you have that jazzy/rock/blues feeling? Cause it's a different thing from classical.

9. QUESTION:
   Where should I start when it comes to learning bass guitar?
   Im trying to learn how to play and I really don't know where to start.

   • ANSWER:
     alot of people i see here post things such as ''i taught myself piano its easy''
     let me say any instrument is easy (&these are most likely the ramblings of people who have only played guitar a few months), but to properly play it & understand what the heck your doing (this helps your creative process when writing your own stuff or just in general) is another different matter.
     i could be taught to recite out 10 basic piano tunes, but give me the likes of Mozarts music & ask me to use certain techniques that are heard on piano. i would fail (as would all the people claiming ''its easy'' on their respective instruments)

     the problem with teaching yourself guitar (or any instrument) is that alot of people give up they get frustrated. (supposedly 90% of self taught musicians quit)
     also alot of people can ''play'' guitar, ie bang out a few songs & intros eg starirway to heaven. But there is a notable difference heard between a self-taught guitarist playing a song & a trained guitarist.
     guitarists are a dime a dozen, everybody plays guitar (heck i play guitar) however a decent guitarist is hard to find this is where you can benifit from lessons as most people don't take lessons.

     Lessons are definitely a great idea, a teacher can show you techniques & correct you. i still get corrected over things i do at my lessons.
     alot of the internet resources aren't that great, again it is alot of amateurs with bad technique posting who started out similar to you, or looking to make a quick buck.

     every music autobiography i have read (& i read quite a fair bit of them as i LOVE music) the guitarist/any instrument, has gotten lessons at some point.
     there are a rare few virtuoso (ie talented) people who didn't get lessons but even at that they start practicing with other people who have got lessons & learn off them.
     As somebody said those ''guitar for dummies'' are great, however that is as a side tool to reference to. not to just teach yourself, at a glance you learn the basics but when you study those books they can get quite complicated & a teacher can clear any questions you have.
     a teacher also encourages you to practice & gives you set goals.
     Don't get me wrong you can learn by yourself but if you are in any way serious about wanting to play music & want to get to a good level, i'd DEFINITELY suggest lessons. Also alot of people seem to start their music career out on guitar as it is such a famous instrument & lots of people own guitars in some form. Don't be suprised if you feel like quitting guitar because everybody plays it after a few months it happens to alot of people, it doesn't mean you aren't musically talented.

     PS try not to ask people to give you the chords to a song, its better if you can work them out yourself it creates an ear for certain notes. however make sure what you are playing is correct.
     PPS: i read here an answer off somebody who was in a music college, she roughly said ''the teachers would cringe when they heard that a new 'self-taught' musician was coming to the colllege, because the teachers all knew he/she would have to be retaught due to them having bad technique''

     Rory Gallagher- Walk On Hot Coals (ROCK, the 5 minute solo isn't as good as the ''irish tour'' solo, but jesus christ this rules & it highlights the bands chemistry)

     ''Rory's death really upset me. I heard about it just before we went on stage, and it put a damper on the evening'' Jimmy Page (Led Zep)

10. QUESTION:
    Is it easy to go from bass to learning electric guitar?
    I've been playing bass for about 3 years (no lessons or tutors). Is it easy from going from bass, to learning guitar?

    • ANSWER:
      If you understand the theory behind the instrument (mainly just the tuning) then you will pick it up easily. It take a minute to get used to the chord shapes etc, everything will seem a bit fiddly at first, it gets easier! You should be fine. It is a lot less stress on your hands so beware of breaking strings.