7 Bass Guitar Buying Tips For Beginners

"Learn to crawl, then learn to run". This old saying applies perfectly to learning how to play bass. Looking back, I can see the choices I made as a beginner - and the choices my parents helped me with - that have brought me to where I am today as a bassist. .

It was the 1980s. I had a time with the endless passions of youth. At that time, someone should have planned to intervene to free me and bring me to the bass guitar. A tired old bass guitar, an amp equals a month's worth of food and endless passion for practice.

Although these devices were of poor design and quality, I found a way to make it all work, and proceeded to grind the cassettes and LPs until I was able to note the bass notes. quite complicated. Along with my passion for watching music shows and radio stations in college, I built my own ideas, found and studied under musical idols, and eventually came up with my own style.

But if there was one person ahead of the tutorial, I would have saved a lot of time and effort… and that's the point of this article. In addition to guiding you away from the fashion mistakes I've made, I'll share some pointers to put you on the fast track to glory.

1. START WITH A QUALITY BASS

My first bass was terrible - a piece of chipboard with steel strings and frets can scratch you when you're not careful. Luckily for you, many of today's imported basses are much better than mine, and with a little research you'll see no reason to own a bass that makes you uncomfortable while playing. it or one that costs too much.

Yamaha RBX170 and Yamaha TRBX174

Take for example the Yamaha RBX170 and TRBX174 basses. Both ship out of the box, offering a variety of chic styles, tones, solid construction and affordable prices. They are also easy to play thanks to their low action, relaxed need. These are key attributes that keep players inspired, instead of being held back by their instrument.

If you already own a beginner's bass that you can't speak when you pick it up, you should consider upgrading to an intermediate instrument like the Yamaha BB234 (or its 5-string cousin, BB235.) It's a real working "horse", with classic looks, durability, sweet sound and the kind of playability that serious musicians expect and deserve.

2. YOU NEED A QUALITY AMPLIFIER

Today's amplifiers and speakers are light enough to swing around with one hand and small enough to fit next to you in the back seat of a taxi… but powerful enough to "blow" the door of any room. Bigger isn't necessarily better, so skip the fridge-sized rigs and carefully consider a combo (amplifier and speaker combo) or an amplifier that combines tone shaping capabilities. and the capacity you need.

When it comes to amplifiers, by the way, know this: Your parents or roommates will be delighted if you buy a bass guitar with a headphone output jack.

Reference: Amplifiers

3. FIND A GOOD TEACHER AND COMMITTED TO SERIOUS LEARNING

There is no better way to start than under the guidance of someone who knows more than you and has the patience to guide you through the difficulties you will encounter. The right teacher will be able to assess your strengths and weaknesses, show you the right playing technique, encourage you, and regularly challenge you with observations, insights, theories, and lessons. Practice nourishes your passions and motivates you to grow and achieve new heights.

4. LEARN HOW TO READ MUSIC NOTES

There's no rule that says you can't play bass if you can't read music, and in fact, there's something laudable about taking a non-traditional route to your goals. But ideally you can balance natural genius with knowledge and ability, and "illiteracy" of any kind will hold you back.

Don't wait to get started. It can feel slow at first, but once you get started, you'll have access to a language that only other musicians can speak. Make reading a priority early on to speed your growth and open many doors – both musical opportunities and creative insights – that might otherwise remain closed.

5. PURCHASE A WIRE MACHINE

If your bass doesn't sound right, chances are you'll get a lot of sour looks from your bandmates as well as the audience. Fortunately, that's easy to do, even if you don't have particularly good ears: Just buying a winder gives you complete peace of mind. It avoids you false negatives.

6. MAKE SURE YOUR BASS IS INSTALLED CORRECTLY

You need to pay attention to adjusting the action, horse height, and boom to help you play comfortably and ensure that the bass guitar is intonation (i.e., it plays the right notes over the entire length of the guitar). keyboard). Most musical instrument stores have a luthier who can do this for you (if not, maybe they can recommend one), but if it's convenient, you might consider making your own…of course after referencing many online resources and videos.

7. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE

There is no substitute for regular, consistent practice, both alone and with others. Play until your fingers feel like they are about to fall off and do it again the next day and the next until sores start to form on your fingertips and your stamina you increase. You can only get better by running through finger exercises, as well as practicing notches and patterns on the metronome to help you better understand your timing and accuracy.

Challenge yourself by playing along with recordings of bassists you admire, and try to figure out the intricate lines in each step. Learn to play the same pattern in different positions up and down the lever.

And when you feel ready, take every opportunity you can to play with other people, especially if they are better than you.

Author: Michael Gelfand