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Parts of The Bass:: Tuning Pegs Headstock
Parts of The Bass:: Tuning Pegs Headstock
Tuning Pegs
Headstock
Nut
Frets
Neck
Body
Pickups
Volume and
Tone Knobs
Bridge
Strap Peg
? 44 Staff:
The
The Staff or Stave (Staves when used in the plural) is a grid of five horizontal lines
representing seven notes. The notes are symbols used to indicate pitch, and
how
? long each note is played. The stems of the notes below the B note, point up
J
Stems on the B note can pointR up or down.
Ledger lines are used when additional notes are to be played that are above or
below the standard staffs range. When a note goes off the staff, additional lines
Bar lines are drawn across the staff to divide the sections of music called
n
the end
# of the section,
n
measures,
or bars.
A double
barbline indicates
or#the end of
an important part of the music.
Clefs:
There are two kinds of basic clefs: the treble clef and the bass clef. Depending on
what instrument you play, you may see only one, or both at the same time. The
treble clef has higher notes, and the bass clef has lower notes.
Here are the names of the notes for both clefs:
The treble clef:
C
4
&4
A simple phrase to help you remember the notes on the lines of the treble clef are:
Every Good Boy Does Fine.
The notes on the spaces spell the word FACE.
&
Fine
Does
Boy
Good
Every
E
C
A
F
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Simple phrases you can use to remember the notes on the bass clef are:
Good Boys Deserve Fun Always.
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?
?
The notes on the lines, and A Cow Eats Grass for the notes on the spaces.
? #
Always
Fun
Deserve
Boys
Good
Grass
Eats
Cow
A
4
&4
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Flat b or Sharp 4# symbols shown on the staff indicate that the note is being
&4
raised or lowered a half step. The notes played on the same line, or space within
a?
series of notes following
asharp
or flat,
willremain
sharp or flat evenwif the sharp
Time
Signatures:
?
units
into
is divided
Music
called measures.
of beats. The numbers found to the left of the staff is the time signature. The top
number tells you the number of beats per measure. The bottom number tells you
what kind of note is used for each beat.
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is 4/4.
common
time
signature
measure. Any combination of notes that equal 4 quarter notes can be used to fill
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up the measure. For example, you can have 4 quarter notes per measure or 8
one whole
J
note in a 4/4 measure that you play once but let it ring out through 4 quarter notes
worth of time.
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?
If?
the
#music is written inn3/4 time,byou will play
# or any
3 quarter
# notesnper
measure
combination that equal 3 quarter notes. If you are playing in 6/8 time you will play
6 eighth notes per measure or any combination equaling 6 eighth notes. There are
in four
beat
Each note is worth a certain number of beats. You can counteach
four time
as follows: A whole note has four beats so it gets four counts, a half note
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gets two counts, a quarter note gets 1 count, an eighth note gets a 1/2 count and
a sixteenth note gets 1/4 of a count.
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?
Counting:
An
? eighth note gets half the time and is counted: 1, and, 2, and, 3, and, 4, and
a metronome, you can count along to the click. (you can also access
If you have
will keep you in perfect time. You can adjust the tempo, or speed of the beat faster
or slower and count along. Every click, or beep is worth 1 beat or count. We will
detail
cover
? counting
methods in more
in the next
few chapters.
Rests:
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Rests
breathing room in the music. Without rests there would be constant sound.
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?
?
BEAMS:
n
b
sixteenth
note beam consists of two horizontal
?
beams.
?
#
n
b
#
#
n
Beams group notes of the same value together to make reading music easier. A
Dotted
notes:
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A dotted
is a standard note followed by a dot. The dot lengthens the note by
note
half its value. For example, a quarter note would normally receive 4 beats. If you
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Ties:
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Ties have a similar effect as dots and are shown by using a curved line. The
curved line links the notes together creating one longer note. The second note is
NEVER played. The tie simply shows that the first note is sustained longer.
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Chords:
A chord is a combination of three or more notes that blend harmoniously when
played together. The notes of a chord are placed vertically on the staff to indicate
that all of the notes are to be played at the same time.
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Reading Tablature:
Tablature, or TAB is a simple method of writing down music played on guitar and
bass. TAB will show you where notes and chords are played, however, it does not
tell you the rhythm or time each note or chord should be played. It is best to use
TAB to practice exercises or when learning how to play songs with which you are
already familiar.
As you learn chords and scales, refer back to this section. When reading tab
books, try to identify arpeggios and scales before you start playing, so you will get
an idea of correct finger placement. See the examples below:
Practicing Tips:
Relaxed Posture:
Save energy by maintaining a relaxed posture and a relaxed left hand. You do not
need to apply any more pressure than is required to produce a nice, clear sound.
You are not accomplishing anything extra if you apply more pressure than needed.
In fact, it can lead to fatigue and even injury.
Avoid Injury:
Keep your wrist as straight as you can, yet relaxed to avoid serious injury such
as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Your finger tips will get sore and develop calluses.
This is normal when you are first starting out. If you experience other symptoms
like shooting pains down your arms, then take a break from playing. Listen to your
body and do not over do it.
How to Practice:
It is far more productive to practice 15 to 20 minutes a day than for several hours
a couple of times a week. In a short amount of time, you will gain the strength you
need in your hands to play longer.
Practice Using a Metronome:
Use a metronome every time you practice.
E String Tuning:
Play your open E (open means to play the string without fretting any notes). Adjust
the string higher or lower until it is in tune. If you have nothing to use to tune the
E, choose a tone that sounds good to you and tune the rest of the bass to that. At
least your bass will be in tune to itself which is far better then playing completely
out of tune.
A String:
Play the fifth fret of the E string pressing down just behind the fret line, not on it.
This is an A note. Now play the A string and adjust it higher or lower until it matches
the A note you are playing on the E string.
D String:
Now play the fifth fret of the A string which is a D note. Adjust the open D string
until it matches the D note you are playing on the A string.
G String:
Play the fifth fret of the D string this is a G note. Do you see the fifth fret pattern?
Play your open G string until it matches the G note you played on the D string.
Fingerstyle:
Roll your fingers slightly down and all the way across the string to get a full bass
tone when plucking. Use your first and second finger (also known as your index
and middle fingers). Alternate between fingers consistantly and evenly.
Muting Strings:
Muting the strings is a consistent part of playing the bass. You only want certain
strings and notes to produce sound while the other strings remain quiet. To do this,
you want to make sure to position your right hand with your thumb as close to the
E string as possible. You only need to touch the string lightly to save energy.
Follow along with the open string exercises to learn how to pluck and mute each
string. Each open string you play should sound full and clear.
*As you alternate your fingers, place them back down ready for the next stroke.
Using A Pick:
Picking the bass is also a popular technique, especially in rock and metal. The
pick produces a more definite sound on the bass while fingerstyle produces a
warmer tone. No matter what your preference is, you may want to learn both skills
to become a well rounded bass player.
Hold your pick between your thumb and index fingers leaving only about 20% of
the tip of the pick showing. Glide the pick across the strings just enough to create
a clear sound. Do not dip your pick completely below the strings, as this would
slow you down. Save energy by letting your amplifier do the work. There is no
need to pick the strings as hard as you can.
Try the following pick exercises first with all downstrokes (D), then try them using
both up and down strokes (D, U), similar to alternating between fingers. You can
mute the strings using the plam of your picking hand.
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Playing Positions:
When playing notes on the bass, it is a good idea to become familiar with hand
positions. This will make playing bass lines and licks easier by avoiding too much
hand movement. A good saying to keep in mind is a finger, a fret.
1st Position:
1st position simply means to start with your first finger on the first fret. Remembering
a finger, a fret, you place your second finger on the second fret, third finger on the
third fret and fouth finger on the fourth fret.
2nd Position:
In second position, start with your first finger on the second fret. Your fourth finger
ends up on the fifth fret.
These positons contnue as you move up the fretboard (the third position starts on
the 3rd fret and so on). When you practice the exercises or begin to play along
to your favorite artists sheet music books, you will want to try to identify in which
position you should start.
#
h
1
Fingers: 1st
#
h
#
h
b n
#
h
2nd
3rd
4th
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Another exercise you can try is the pull-off. It is very common to follow a hammeron with a pull-off. Pull slightly away from yourself; you should really feel the string
dig in to your finger. It needs to be as loud as the note(s) that precede or follow
it. Pull-offs are often used as quick fills that add flavor when transitioning between
licks. Try the hammer-on exercise above, this time add a pull-off to the open string
after each hammer.
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#
1
? b n
b n
1
b n
2
b n
#
2
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b n
#
# # b n
1
? b n #
# # #
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#
1
A
Bb B
? b n
G#
F#
Bb
F#
#
3
C#
b n
Eb
C#
#
3
F#
b n
Bb B
b n
G#
F#
G#
After you play these exercises with confidence, try them using 16th notes. 16th
notes are counted like this: 1 ee and ah 2 ee and ah 3 ee and ah 4 ee and ah.
Remember that each number is the quarter note and should be played with each
click of the metronome. With 16th notes you are now playing 4 notes per beat.
Whole Step
Half Step
Keep in mind the natural half steps between B and C, and E and F.
The following pages demonstrate the first 1,2,3,4 pattern through the first twelve
frets. Once you complete that pattern start on the 1,2,4,3, then 1,3,4,2 and
continue through each column one pattern at a time throughout the first twelve
frets.
# n
# n
b n
b n
# n
# n
# n # n
# n
# n
b n
# n # n
# n
? #
b n
# n
? b n
b n
# n
Octaves:
Octaves are fun patterns to play and are very common in bass playing. The octave
note is the same note, but a whole set of notes higher or lower in pitch. For example:
To find the octave of a C note, you must go through the series of notes starting
with (C,D,E,F,G,A,B,C) the second C is the octave. Moving up the fret board, the
octave note has twice as many vibrations per second as the original note. Moving
down the fret board, the octave has half as many vibrations per second.
A great way to find octaves on the bass is by using the up 2, over 2 formula. What
that means is in order to find the octave note to any note on the E or A strings, you
need to go up two strings and then over two frets as shown. (This formula works
the same way on a 5 string bass starting on the low B string.)
Octave Exercises:
Try the following exercises using the first and third fingers on your left hand. Keep
an eye out for the quarter notes in both patterns. After you get a hang of these,
use the octave diagram to create your own exercises.
j
j
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9
9
7
7
5
7
7
9
9
7
7
5
7
7
7 7 5 5
5
7
3
3
5
7
5
5
3
3
5
5
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9
7
7
7
7
5
5
5
7
3
7
5
9
5
7
7
7
5
5
5
7
3
7
5
Rest Exercise:
Rests are silent spaces counted the same way as regular notes. Rests help add
personality and feel to music. Without breathing room, music would be a constant
wall of sound. Even speed metal bands take advantage of rests. The following
exercise is great to help you read notation and keep time while incorporating
rests.
Quick Review:
?4
4
Rests:
Whole Rest
Count:
Half Rest
Quarter Rest
Refer to the reading music notation chapter if you forgot some of the note values.
Notice that this exercise includes quarter notes, half notes, whole notes, dotted
half notes, and several rests. Mute the notes to keep them from ringing during the
rests.
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3
Slap Technique:
The slap bass technique adds extra attitude and personality to your playing. Strike
or slap the string with the side of your right thumb in a rocking motion. Slap the
bass on the down stroke with your thumb and use the first finger of your right hand
to pluck the upstroke.
Try this technique with octaves at first. Slap the root note and pluck the octave
note.
Lets start this one in the key of E. The 1 chord is E, the 4 chord is A, and the 5
chord is B. (If the music is written with different versions of chords like E7 or Gsus4
you can still play the root note.
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5
5
b
j J
3
1
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j J
b
2
5
3 3 1 3
3 3
0
0
Major Scales:
Major scales are made up of seven distinct notes, plus an eighth ( the eighth note
is an octave higher than the root note). To construct any major scale, start with the
root, or key note. Move up a whole step (two frets) for your second note. Move up
another whole step. This is the third note of the scale. Next, move up a half step
(one fret). This will be the fourth note. Move up another whole step, for the fifth
note. Again, move a whole step, for the sixth note, and up again a whole step for
the seventh note. One more half step completes the scale. Each major scale has
this step pattern 2 whole steps 1 half step 3 whole steps and 1 half step (2-1-3-1). 1
-W- 2 -W- 3 -H- 4 -W- 5 -W- 6 -W- 7 -H- 8 In the key of F you will have the following
notes: F, G, A, A#, C, D, E, F, G, A, A#, C.
Minor Scales:
A natural minor scale also has seven distinct notes, as well as an eighth note, the
octave.
Step Pattern:
The major pentatonic is built from these intervals of a major scale:
1st (root) - 2nd - 3rd - 5th - 6th notes of a major scale.
In the key of G Major, the notes in the scale are: G A B C D E F# G
To build the G Major pentatonic scale you would play G - A- B - D - E which are the
1st (root) - 2nd - 3rd - 5th - and 6th notes.
Blues Scale:
The Blues scale is the same as the minor pentatonic scale with the addition of the
b5. The flat 5 note is also known as the blue note. This blue note ads an extra
touch to your playing.