If you love the bass guitar you know that playing the bass can be plain and simple or it can be very complicated.  However, No matter what style you are playing the biggest thing to keep in mind is to just play the music from the heart.  You should feel the piece and let the listener enjoy the melody and groove.  Here are a few basic tips that could help beginners when creating their first bass lines.

First, think about your bass tone or sound that should be played.  Will it be real smooth like a jazz bass player or have a bit of an edge to it like a Metal player?  Of Course, this all depends on the type of song, genre of music, and rhythm you want to use.

It’s not against the rules to do some personal experimentation.  Listen to different types of music and songs you are wanting to play.  Be inspired by different types of music or even different instruments. Many players will listen to trumpet riffs to get ideas for bass lines. Be creative. Hear how different bass tracks sound different depending on the music. Move the track forwards or backwards to see which sounds better.

Shorter more Staccato notes sometimes sound better than the long legato notes if a bass part need a choppy sound.  When writing a song you can try to edit some notes taken from other parts of the song to fit them into a totally different phrase.  The melody is still familiar but with a different cut because it was inserted on a different line. Again experiment!

Leave some space or silence in the bass parts of the song.  Have you ever noticed how famous bass players put emphasis on the silence between the music notes, especially when they try to emphasize a feeling of pressure into the sound.  It leaves the listener’s ear hanging in anticipation and then satisfying them just a few beats later.

Avoid creating bass lines or melodies that are too difficult for you to play.  You may want to show off how good you are, but you will show you're a better player when keeping things simple.  Some parts of the song can be very attention grabbing especially if the rhythm is extremely fast.  The trick is keeping the frets static until the melody changes.  Like playing drums, bass can be repetituous and percussive. Try to manage your bass lines and chords with some variety.  It is not bad to go back to the first simple bass lines just to avoid having a “wreck” with the sound at the end.

Use the song itself as inspiration for creating your bass lines. Play off of each member of the band. Follow the drums for a phrase, then guitar, and then maybe vocals and back to drums. But again be careful not to overcomplicate things. The Bass is the backbone of the song. Riffs with more bass melodies are best heard when the notes are player in the higher registers similar to the lead guitar.

Never hesitate to edit what your playing so that it is more comfortable to play.  When in doubt, KEEP IT SIMPLE. The best advice is to listen to the bass line and be decisive on the good and/or the bad timing.  Remember that too much of a good thing can turn out badly, the same with playing bass.  If its exaggerated too much, it could ruin the whole song. A little highlighting on the initial beat of a song’s phrase can do the trick.

So to summarize -  be creative, keep it simple, don't be too complicated. The bass sets the groove of the song. Have fun with the bass and most of all enjoy playing!

Technorati Tags: bass playing tips, beginner bass, leanr to play bass, tips for learning to play bass

Bass Players are like most any group of people who have a passion about something they love.  Each has their favorite influence, favorite song, favorite venue, and of course favorite bass guitar.  If you ask any bass player what they feel is the best bass guitar available you will get as many answers as there are makes and models of guitars.

First off I want to say that I'm not a big guy. I'm not a little guy either, I'm 5'11" and in my active gigging days I weighed about 175lbs.  I feel I have fairly small hands so I tend to gravitate toward basses that have smaller necks.  I also like the speed of a smaller neck so most of my guitars I like are those with smaller necks. So what I feel is the best bass guitar will no doubt be different from what you feel is the best bass guitar.

Since there are so many choices I want to give you my personal favorites and recommendations. (I am in no way affiliated with any of the manufacturers nor am I given any incentive to influence my opinion) My hope is that this may help you find the best bass guitar for you.

IBANEZ - I love Ibanez guitars and basses.  I've always felt that Ibanez made quality instruments at decent prices. The Sound Gear series of bass guitars has been a main part of my gear since I first started playing.  They feature thinner necks and thinner nuts but still maintain a nicely balanced body. They feature active pickups which tend to give a sharper punch for heavy styles of music. Most of the lower lines have bolt-on necks, however I've never notice any problem with sustain or resonance.  These guys are number one in my book!

Spector - Spector is another bass I've always looked at longingly, though they're a bit more expensive and priced for the professional. This bass is fantastic in all respects. Natural finishes and silk natural necks allow the wood to breath and resonate properly.  If you can afford a Spector - get one. It will last you a lifetime.

Yamaha - A lot of people really love Yamaha basses.  I've tried many times to love and even like these basses. They look great, but to me they are just too big and heavy. I have a lot of friends who swear by them though and really love them.

Fender - Fender is THE classic bass company. Fender Precision and Jazz basses have been in just about every professional bass players guitar line up. I had picked up a cool new Fender bass many years ago called the Fender Prescision Lyte. This was very similar to the Ibanez with a smaller neck and nut and was extremely well balanced.  I think Fender has since stopped making those basses quite a while ago.  Of the best Fender Precision basses, it's my opinion that the American Classic Deluxe and  the Road Worn '50's Precision (new for 2009) are two sweet axes to grind.

All in all, when you need to find out what the best bass guitars are to you, simply visit your local music store and try out as many basses as possible.  Don't let the sales guys intimidate you. Play each bass as much as you can for as long as you can.  Even the expensive ones.  Play as many different basses and play different basses that are the same model. Each and every guitar will play just a little different and feel just a little different in your hands.  You will know when you've found the best bass guitar for you. It will just sing to you!

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Technorati Tags: best bass guitar, best bass guitars, fender bass guitars, ibanez bass guitars, spector bass guitars, yamaha bass guitars