By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Rory_Herts]Rory Herts
Playing bass (or any guitar, for that matter) is more than pressing strings and fancy strumming. There’s a lot of technicality involved, technicality that’s religiously safeguarded by bass guitar tabs. After all, the only way the instrument can be played right is when there’s a guideline, right? It’s no Egyptian papyrus, but it’s close enough.
Tabs or tablature?
When glossing guitar songbooks you see the phrase guitar tabs a lot. Have you ever wondered if this is a close relation to tablature in music? Well, it’s not rocket science to tell that tablature and tabs are exactly the same, tabs being merely a nickname of sorts.
In guitar, tabs are musical notations that guide players where to place their fingers along the strings and in which fret. Tabs are frequently used for guitars and other stringed and fretted instruments. This is the more popular reference for learning guitar for pop and rock music. This also has several advantages over the tedious musical notations. In contrast, classical music is steeped in staff notation for accuracy in rhythm and timing.
Reading your bass guitar tabs
A bass guitar will have four strings. The first uppermost string is the G string (no, it’s not underwear), followed below by the D string, which is tailed by the A string. The last string, E, is the strongest of all the bass strings. These strings are represented by four horizontal lines. The numbers below the lines are the frets where the notes are played on. You will observe the frequent appearance of the “O” which indicates that the string should not be fretted or pressed against a fret. If there are numbers above the fret numbers – the note has to be played on that fret.
If a number appears above a number on top of the fret, the strings are to be played at the same time, this time like a chord. Most bass guitar tabs are accompanied by legends to help the player understand some of the unfamiliar terms. In general, bass guitar tabs are easier to learn than the formal guitar musical tablature.
More guitar enthusiasts are finding bass guitar tabs convenient to use when attempting to understand the rudiments of bass guitar playing. There is no need for them to understand the underlying principles of guitar tablature because they want to learn how to play the bass guitar fast. Bass guitar players who dream of making it big opt for formal lessons in the fine art of bass guitar. A lesson in bass guitar will introduce them to the formal musical scales meant for stringed instruments. With experience and a solid background on musical theories, bass guitar players can switch easily from bass guitar tabs to scales.
Start with easy pieces
If you want to start a band, you should start with easy song pieces. Try out guitar pieces with simple bass guitar tabs. You will gradually progress on all fronts, from rhythm to bass, with constant practice and lessons. If there are difficulties along the way, you can always ask advice and opinions from the pros.
Practice your hand speed, slapping, and picking. Bass guitar tabs will require fast playing and switching of notes. You can add a dash of your own style by adding slaps. The faster you can go, the better you can play your bass guitar. Start practicing with free bass guitar tabs. You can have access to thousands of bass guitar tabs online and offline. Just decide what song pieces you want to learn but always start from the simple to the complex to avoid developing bad guitar habits that will ultimately be too hard to shake off.
Indeed, bass guitar tabs are easy enough to learn. After all, they’re not hieroglyphics.
You can learn to play the bass guitar fast with [http://www.aboutplayingguitar.com/2007/08/30/where-can-i-get-the-bass-guitar-tabs-of-my-favorite-bands/]bass guitar tabs; Visit aboutplayingguitar.com for the latest [http://www.aboutplayingguitar.com/2007/09/02/what-are-bass-guitar-chords/]bass guitar chords You can also go to this site now for [http://aboutplayingguitar.com/2007/08/30/where-can-i-find-a-free-guitar-sheet-music/]free guitar sheet music on almost any song.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rory_Herts http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Art-Behind-Bass-Guitar-Tabs&id=730403
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Be One With Your Bass Guitar Chords
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Rory_Herts]Rory Herts
So you think you have it in you to join the ranks of Flea, D’arcy, and George Harrison and play bass? Well, you have a long way to go, so you better start now.
Learning the basics
If you want to go into bass guitar playing, decide which bass you will play. You have a choice - the 4-stringed bass guitar, or five, six, seven, and even more strings. Beginners usually go for the 4-stringed bass guitar. The next step would be choosing the right bass guitar and learning the bass guitar chords.
A bass player who knows his bass guitar chords has an edge. His understanding of chord music theory will enable him to make his bass line definitive and very interesting. He knows the note to play and when to play it. Knowing bass guitar chords entails the mastery of all basic chords with emphasis on the 6th and 7th chords for bass guitar. A bass guitar chords lesson includes the entire basic chords, important 6th and 7th chords, the 12 keys, chord map, charts, and neck patterns. The bass guitar chords are composed of three or more notes played together, and each type of chord has a formula.
He also has to master the 12 different notes – A, B flat, C, D flat up to A flat. Not all songs, however, use these notes because the notes of a song are dictated by the song’s key. Mastery of the musical patterns equips the bass guitarist with the skill to learn songs off record. He will then be able to pinpoint accurately what scales were used and the chord patterns and changes that went with it.
An initiation to bass guitar chords diagrams and notations
There are hundreds of bass guitar chords. There are even more ways to play them. You can play the “happy” notes or the major chords, or sound the minor notes for the “sad” tones. You can jazz up the tones by moving up a half step (augment) or go down a half step (diminish). Playing the bass guitar chords offer endless possibilities of combinations of note chords.
Any beginner will benefit from learning to read bass guitar chords tablature or tab. This is a method of music notation. The illustrations show where to put your fingers, the frets and the strings. They also show horizontal lines, and each string is noted according to its placement. You will also see notations like O and X or a number. An O denotes that you play the string on the chord without depressing it. An X means you don’t play the string at all. A number on a string denotes that the string should be played in the fret specified.
A beginner should be able to memorize the chords and practice playing until he is comfortable with his guitar. Eventually his hand movement will take on the dexterity that marks a great bassist. He will also learn the slaps, riffs, and slides, as well as the use of the pick.
Buying and playing your bass guitar
An electric or acoustic bass guitar should be comfortable to play. You must able to manage its weight, and the neck of the bass guitar should be navigable by your hands. Get the guitar from reputable dealers who can give you a warranty. If you are opting for a used bass guitar, you can be sure it is reliable if it was played for years. However, bear in mind that used guitars do not come with a warranty and these may have unsuitable modifications.
Playing the bass guitar is a physical thing. It is therefore practical to do warm-up exercises before striking the first bass guitar chords. Find a comfortable position that will not strain your hands. Relax, and your bass guitar music will be just as smooth as it is fluid. In time, you’ll be giving Flea a run for his money.
You can definitely master your [http://www.aboutplayingguitar.com/2007/09/02/what-are-bass-guitar-chords/]bass guitar chords, so visit aboutplayingguitar.com for the latest and find [http://www.aboutplayingguitar.com/2007/08/30/where-can-i-find-some-free-guitar-chords/]free guitar chords You just have to go to this site now for [http://www.aboutplayingguitar.com/2007/08/30/where-can-i-get-the-bass-guitar-tabs-of-my-favorite-bands/]bass guitar tabs of your favorite bands.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rory_Herts http://EzineArticles.com/?Be-One-With-Your-Bass-Guitar-Chords&id=730420
So you think you have it in you to join the ranks of Flea, D’arcy, and George Harrison and play bass? Well, you have a long way to go, so you better start now.
Learning the basics
If you want to go into bass guitar playing, decide which bass you will play. You have a choice - the 4-stringed bass guitar, or five, six, seven, and even more strings. Beginners usually go for the 4-stringed bass guitar. The next step would be choosing the right bass guitar and learning the bass guitar chords.
A bass player who knows his bass guitar chords has an edge. His understanding of chord music theory will enable him to make his bass line definitive and very interesting. He knows the note to play and when to play it. Knowing bass guitar chords entails the mastery of all basic chords with emphasis on the 6th and 7th chords for bass guitar. A bass guitar chords lesson includes the entire basic chords, important 6th and 7th chords, the 12 keys, chord map, charts, and neck patterns. The bass guitar chords are composed of three or more notes played together, and each type of chord has a formula.
He also has to master the 12 different notes – A, B flat, C, D flat up to A flat. Not all songs, however, use these notes because the notes of a song are dictated by the song’s key. Mastery of the musical patterns equips the bass guitarist with the skill to learn songs off record. He will then be able to pinpoint accurately what scales were used and the chord patterns and changes that went with it.
An initiation to bass guitar chords diagrams and notations
There are hundreds of bass guitar chords. There are even more ways to play them. You can play the “happy” notes or the major chords, or sound the minor notes for the “sad” tones. You can jazz up the tones by moving up a half step (augment) or go down a half step (diminish). Playing the bass guitar chords offer endless possibilities of combinations of note chords.
Any beginner will benefit from learning to read bass guitar chords tablature or tab. This is a method of music notation. The illustrations show where to put your fingers, the frets and the strings. They also show horizontal lines, and each string is noted according to its placement. You will also see notations like O and X or a number. An O denotes that you play the string on the chord without depressing it. An X means you don’t play the string at all. A number on a string denotes that the string should be played in the fret specified.
A beginner should be able to memorize the chords and practice playing until he is comfortable with his guitar. Eventually his hand movement will take on the dexterity that marks a great bassist. He will also learn the slaps, riffs, and slides, as well as the use of the pick.
Buying and playing your bass guitar
An electric or acoustic bass guitar should be comfortable to play. You must able to manage its weight, and the neck of the bass guitar should be navigable by your hands. Get the guitar from reputable dealers who can give you a warranty. If you are opting for a used bass guitar, you can be sure it is reliable if it was played for years. However, bear in mind that used guitars do not come with a warranty and these may have unsuitable modifications.
Playing the bass guitar is a physical thing. It is therefore practical to do warm-up exercises before striking the first bass guitar chords. Find a comfortable position that will not strain your hands. Relax, and your bass guitar music will be just as smooth as it is fluid. In time, you’ll be giving Flea a run for his money.
You can definitely master your [http://www.aboutplayingguitar.com/2007/09/02/what-are-bass-guitar-chords/]bass guitar chords, so visit aboutplayingguitar.com for the latest and find [http://www.aboutplayingguitar.com/2007/08/30/where-can-i-find-some-free-guitar-chords/]free guitar chords You just have to go to this site now for [http://www.aboutplayingguitar.com/2007/08/30/where-can-i-get-the-bass-guitar-tabs-of-my-favorite-bands/]bass guitar tabs of your favorite bands.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rory_Herts http://EzineArticles.com/?Be-One-With-Your-Bass-Guitar-Chords&id=730420
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No Theory Video - Beginner to Pro Jim Lee is an artist, musician and educator. He plays the bass, drums, guitar and other instruments too. He's been in many bands, from blues to punk. Most bass instruction is theory oriented and boring... I wanted FUNKYCHOPS to be easy and fun. FUNKYCHOPS is a play-by-ear method that requires no note reading or prior slap bass knowledge. Video AND audio Each riff features audio and video played at 3 speeds. Jim plays a riff and you say “cool, can you play that slower?” ... no problem, you hear it played slower and then you imitate. This is how Jim learned, except you'll be learning much faster! 101 riffs in 3 speeds You will learn, slowly, the tricks to play riffs that blaze. Plus you'll improve your ear-playing skills which will make you a better bassist. This slap bass video & audio instruction works with Windows & Mac computers. Download is simple & easy. 