Questions tagged [bass-guitar]

For questions about the bass guitar, whether acoustic or electric.

The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb (by plucking, slapping, popping, tapping, or thumping), or by using a pick.

The bass guitar is similar in appearance and construction to a guitar, but with a longer neck and scale length, and four, five, or six strings. The four-string bass—by far the most common—is usually tuned the same as the double bass, which corresponds to pitches one octave lower than the four lower strings of a guitar (E, A, D, and G). The bass guitar is a transposing instrument, as it is notated in bass clef an octave higher than it sounds (as is the double bass) to avoid excessive ledger lines.

(From Wikipedia)

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Why should you begin plucking with the index finger when playing the bass?

According to this question and answer and elsewhere I've seen and read online, you should start the plucking action with your index finger. Naturally, for me, middle then index is more comfortable for normal playing and ring then middle then index…
rishimaharaj
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Bass Guitar - Practicing and Improving

I've been playing bass for about four years now. Before that I had some experience with guitar and piano but once I picked up a bass I loved it. I'd consider myself at about an intermediate skill level. I have some basic scales down, can throw in…
Vecta
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Is it possible for an unamplified acoustic bass guitar to be loud?

One of the groups I play for, a renaissance-faire-friendly folk act, is considering investing in an acoustic bass guitar, for both amplified and unamplified use. However, acoustic bass guitars have a rep for being useless when they're not plugged…
Goodbye Stack Exchange
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Could someone explain slapping?

I have tried to mimic the slap/thump sound. It feels like I don't understand what slap is, even after spending almost an hour watching tutorials. Is any of the below on the right track? I tried plucking the string upward and letting it loose,…
Emil
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Should I be worried about buzzing on my bass?

When playing the 4th fret string D there is a buzzing sound. You can't hear the buzzing when the bass is plugged into my amp, only when the bass is alone. Should I be worried about this? Any solutions?
alex
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Bass - describe attacking one note in one or more bars

Is there an official musical term for attacking a single note in one or more bars? This is for bass guitar but there might be a more general term used when playing this style with other instruments. Tab would look something like: EEEEEEEE | EEEEEEEE…
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How to learn to play bass guitar from chord sheets as a rhythm guitarist?

I'm primarily a rhythm (acoustic) guitarist with a little bit of music theory. Mainly I play songs from a chord sheet in my church band, no score. I'm interested to learn a bit of bass as I was given one but am unsure how to figure out what to play…
Mr. Boy
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What is the purpose of plastic thumb in slapping?

I have in some videos people wear a big plastic thumb when they slap. What is the purpose of that? Here is an examplewhere Buckethead uses it:
Shevliaskovic
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How can i add simple bass guitar in my simple songs?

Hello i play guitar and sing for 1.5 year. I know the very basics of music theory, and i am writing and recording (with an audio interface) simple songs. With simple songs i mean just a guitar playing 4 chords and me signing. I find really…
Leon Vitanos
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How do I try out a new bass before buying?

I am in the market for a new bass for myself (Schecter Stiletto 5-Studio), and none of the retail music shops (Guitar Center or Sam Ash) carry it because it's not a new model, and of course the selection at those stores is limited. I'm not asking…
nixhex
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bass technique for 4th and 7th jumps

Playing a melody with fourth or minor sevenths jumps on a bass guitar is usually a purely horizontal movement on the fretboard, staying at the same fret and just switching strings. It's not a problem staccato, but if I'm trying to keep the notes…
Bruce Fields
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What are the most common causes of hand cramps on bass?

There are several questions about getting hand cramps while playing guitar, but I didn't find one on bass. My left hand cramped up midway through the gig last night. I have another gig that's twice as long next week and am worried it will happen…
Duston
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Active Bass with circuitry removed?

I have bought a 1989 fender MIJ Lyte bass. The owner took out the active wiring saying he likes the sound better. He offered to put it back. Whats the best advice here? Thanks in advance, Cheers alf
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Bass playing additional fifth below what it should

I have a Squier affinity j bass V that I bought about 9 months ago. It was working great but the last couple days for some reason when I play there hear a low fifth playing under the note.
Samuel
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Connecting Roland vb-99 to Personal Computer (USB)

I have a Roland vb-99 and I'm trying to use its default editor (vb-editor). When I open the program it asks me to perform the midi setup but when I open it I can't find the vb-99 in midi in or out. I've been fiddling for ages with the system menu…
Pitto
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