Introduction to Bass Guitar

Bass guitars have four strings and each of those strings has a name and number. The name of the string is given by the note that the string produces. The number is assigned by place; the highest string is the first string, and the lowest is the fourth string. This is easily visible in a form of musical notation designed specifically for guitarists called Tablature. Example of Bass Guitar Tablature: Standard Tuning Tablature 1St String G-----2nd String D-----3rd String A-----4th String E-----Each string of the bass guitar runs from the Bridge to the Tuning Keys. The Bridge holds the string in place at the base, and the Tuning Keys increase and/or decrease the tension on the strings which changes the note that the string produces. The strings lay across the Neck of the guitar, which is where we find the Fret Board. Along the Fret Board are raised notches called Frets. By placing a finger on the Frets the length of the string is changed which also changes the note that is produced. By changing the notes of the strings we are able to form new notes and play scales. Chords and scales are the building blocks for any song classical or modern. Understanding Tablature Tablature (or TAB, for short) is a form of musical notation designed for guitarists only! It has four lines; just as the bass guitar has four strings. Each line of tablature represents a string of the guitar. On each line of tablature there will be a number.

This number indicates on which fret you will place your finger to produce the desired note. Example of a Note by Tablature: G G--------D--------A--------E----3---Guitar Scales/Solos and Tablature TAB can also be used for Scales and Riffs. Again, each line represents a string, and each number tells you which fret to play. Example of Scale TAB using the Gmaj/Emin Pentatonic Scale: G---------------------------------0---2-----------------------D-----------------------0---2---------------------------------A-------------0---2-------------------------------------------E----0---3----------------------------------------------------Scales are the very foundation of Riffs. Riff and Scale work require a strong understanding of rhythm, timing and demands precision with your picking/thumping/plucking hand. Rhythm, Timing, and Precision are all skills that we will learn and build upon by how to count music and read tablature. Counting Music Music is broken down into segments called measures. In standard timing a measure is four beats. This timing is called 4/4 timing. Standard music notation will be used in playing rhythm. The types of notes and they counts they receive are listed below:

Standard Staff/Clef Notation Though we will mostly use tablature for its simplicity and widespread acceptance in the world of contemporary musical notation, it is important to be familiar with Standard Staff/Clef Notation as well. Listed below is the Standard Staff for the Bass Clef:

Notes Along The Fretboard Now that we understand how to read music the next thing we must learn is how to play notes on our bass guitar. We start with the 4 notes given to us by our standard tuning G-D-A-E each of these notes can be changed by pressing our finger at one of our frets. Each fret indicates a one-half step increase in the notes value. Typically from one Natural Note to the next there is an increase of one-full step (2 frets) with the only two exceptions being between E to F and B to C. These natural notes are only one-half step (1 fret) apart. For an example, think of a piano all of the white keys are natural notes and all of the black keys are sharps or flats:

Notice that there is not a black key between E and F nor is there one between B and C. In much the same way there is not a fret between these notes either. Notes On The Fretboard Below is a diagram showing all of our notes along the fretboard for each string. In playing bass it will be important to know where these notes are and how they work together. We will spend a fair amount of time learning these notes and how they are grouped together in sets of 7 called scales.