History of the Bass Guitar

      As far as instruments go, the bass guitar is one of the newest on the scene. It's a completely original component of today's bands and modern music and has not even been in existence for a century. Don't let the name "bass guitar" fool you either, the bass guitar is not actually derived from the guitar.

      While electric guitars were developed from acoustic guitars, bass guitars were developed from the double bass instrument. They were originally known (and are still sometimes called) electrical bass instruments or the electric bass.

      The original double bass, or simply the bass, are the massive, classical instruments that have been around for several hundred years. They are played with the instrument resting on the ground, using a bow across the strings.

      The bass guitar is of course held with a strap on a musician's body and is played using one's fingers. As opposed to the back and forth of the bow on its predecessor and the strumming with a pick of an electrical guitar, the bass guitar is typically played with either plucking or slapping movements of the fingers.

      It is tuned to sound the same as an original bass with of course the added benefit of being able to be amplified. In the early part of the 20th century, as music was getting louder, the bass was being drowned out and was unable to be heard. And so the quest for an electrical bass began.

Leo Fender and the Creation of the Bass Guitar

      Leo Fender was an amazing man, a visionary and is one of the single most influential people in modern music history. All of these things and many more is Leo Fender. However, one thing he is not is the inventor of the bass guitar.

      In 1935, it was Paul Tutmarc who developed the first incarnation of the electric bass. It was to be played horizontally and held like a guitar and could be plugged in for amplification. However, his instrument never truly caught on. It was in 1951 that the bass began earning its spot in modern music.

      Leo Fender created his Fender Precision Bass, which was mass produced and skyrocketed in popularity. Gibson followed shortly there after and the bass guitar became an important component of jazz ensembles and today, nearly all musical styles and bands.

      Just as with the electric guitar, Leo Fender capitalized on previous inventions, tweaked them to his own specifications and mass produced them to extreme success. While he should be remembered fondly for his contributions, let's not forget the original inventor of the electric bass, Paul Tutmarc.

      Love guitars, especially vintage bass guitars? Then a visit to the Vintage Guitar Warehouse is a must. You can find great deals on guitars from Gibson, Fender and many more manufacturers. If you love music and vintage guitars, you're going to love the Vintage Guitar Warehouse.

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You are an excellent player and Musician...So, why are you using below average strings?

If you are reading this, then you most likely know your stuff when it comes to guitars and equipment. 

Nobody can pull the wool over your eyes when it comes to selecting a good guitar or amplifier. 

In fact, if you are like most good musicians, you own more than a couple of instruments. 

Now, let’s think about something more specific to your sound. 

If you could improve one of those guitars with just one set of strings, would that be of interest to you? 

If your answer is Yes, then you might be interested in this…

Professor String has just published a book about one of the most misunderstood components of the guitar: Strings. 

All sounds made by your guitar or bass start with the vibration of a string. Yet most guitarists overlook the basic principles of how to select the best strings for their playing style. They often start with a particular brand of string and stick with it forever. Or, they are constantly switching brands and never focus on anything specific to their playing goals. The facts about guitar and bass strings are being exposed for you in Professor String's latest e-book called "Think You Know Guitar Strings?" It has been written as a guide that helps both beginners and advanced players. 

You most likely have a fun guitar and great chops, but do you know anything about ASI? If not...here is your chance to learn about it. For the first time, someone has written a chapter about Advanced String Intonation (ASI). 

Very little has been written about ASI. No single book or guide has been published about this topic until now. Professor String has been consulted by many of the worlds top guitar and bass luthiers about ASI issues over the years. If you are reading this, and do not know about ASI, you are too good of a player to simply ignore it. In the present day era of advanced digital tuners, ASI has become more prevalent to your tuning. This is the only book you will find on the market that covers the issues of ASI

Here is what some readers have said about this little book:

"For many years, I thought all strings tune by turning the keys and adjusting the bridge...They don't! Thanks to your book, I now have a better understanding of how tuning really works."

                                                                                                                                   -Jeff Lyons

                                                                                                                                  Guitarist from Springfield, MO.

                                                                                                                                  32 years playing experience

"For less than the cost of a set of bass strings, this book has changed my perspective on the basics of strings."

                                                                                                  -Anthony H.

                                                                                                                                    Bassist from U.K.

"I thought only a few guitar string companies actually made their own strings, and the rest were other companies putting their brand name on the package. I was totally blown away to read how many companies actually wind their own strings. Amazing."

                                                                                                  -John Geberhart

                                                                                                                                    Guitarist Sacramento CA.

                                                                                                                                    42 years playing experience

Here is some information about the book:

eBook Title: Think You Know Guitar Strings?
Total Pages: 40
Edition 2.0

Price: $19.95

                                                      TABLE OF CONTENTS

                      About the Author........................................................................................5

                      Foreword...................................................................................................6

                      Introduction................................................................................................8

                      String Makers...........................................................................................11
                      How Strings Are Marketed.......................................................................15
                      History – Where it all began......................................................................18
                      Metal Strings............................................................................................19
                      Nylon Strings............................................................................................19
                      Gauge.......................................................................................................20
                      Maintenance..............................................................................................21
                      Wound Strings...........................................................................................22
                      Flat Wound Strings....................................................................................23
                      Round Wound Strings................................................................................23
                      Semi-Round Wound Strings.......................................................................24
                      Electric versus Acoustic..............................................................................25
                      String Coatings...........................................................................................25
                      Getting to Know Acoustic Guitar Strings.....................................................26
                      Tuning........................................................................................................29
                      Intonation...................................................................................................30
                      ASI…the untold tuning problem..................................................................32
                      Advanced String Intonation (ASI)...............................................................33
                      Final Word.................................................................................................39

        

   To buy this book click in the button below 

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Bass Covers - Keeping Your Bass Guitar Safe at All Times

      Transporting your bass can be a real problem. You can easily avoid the potential pit falls by using a proper fitting cover. There are two primary types to choose from and within those types is an entire range of styles that are also available.

      Bass covers can protect your investment from scratches and other damages. They are well worth the investment of purchasing one. A good rule of thumb is to purchase the cover as soon as you purchase the bass this way you are sure to have it on hand.

      You can find bass covers is a hard shell cover. These covers are perfect if you plan on traveling quite a bit with your instrument. These covers are usually easy to carry and provide the most durable protection for your instrument.

      These types of covers usually have a hinged lid that is secured using fasteners the bass sits in the case snugly so that it does not bounce around while being transported.

      These types of covers come in a wide range of colors and finishes. With the most popular finish being leather.

      On these types of covers you will usually have several carrying options you will have handles that can be grasped and carried like a pocket book and you will also have shoulder strap options as well.

      There are usually monogram options so that you can personalize your own. This makes the bass easily recognizable as your own and is perfect for identification purposes.

      There are soft cover options as well. These options are lighter than their hard cover cousins. These type of bass covers are lighter than the hard cover counterparts and are usually of a one size fits all type.

      The covers can be made from many different materials but usually materials that have a little give to them are used so that they can be manipulated around the bass without tearing.

      These are light weight options and also can be monogrammed but usually are embroidered where as the hard covers are either etched or imprinted.

      This option is usually less expensive than the hard cover option, but it is also less durable than the bass covers that have a hard outer shell.

      Bass covers are a necessary piece of equipment that makes transporting your instrument as well as storing it an easy option.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chuck_Chass

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The 5-String Bass Guitar

      For anyone who has learned how to play the bass guitar that has four strings, having one that is 5-stringed would be heaven-sent. This type of bass guitar is much more popular today as it allows you to play music without the need for you to move up or down on the fret board that much.

      The five string guitar of this kind is much like the four stringed one, only that a B string is added on top of it. This has been introduced to the music society way back in the 1980's at the onset of the darker and heavier type of sound. The strings tend to be much closer together which makes it easier for you to move around your neck area when you play. This also allows you to play songs using the drop D tuning. It would also be an easy start if you used a five string guitar when you start learning to play bass guitar.

      The first commercial production of the 5 string bass guitar was in 1986. It was known as the Musicman Sting Ray 5. Within a couple of years, a lot of models for the 5 string guitar if this kind were made by many top producers of guitars such as Yamaha, Ashburn and the likes.

      Now going back to the B string that has been added on top of the strings to make it the five string guitar. There is of course a certain way to make it sound well. The common way to use the extra fifth string is when you are playing in the key of D. One of the main things to adjust to when using the five string guitar would be to be more familiar with the E string being close to you instead of the B one. Once you get past that stage, you are now comfortable playing the five string bass guitar.

      There may be a lot of tips to consider when playing the five string bass guitar. One thing to remember is to be familiar with all the notes on all the strings. Also you must not use a certain string as your point of reference. This manner of consciousness would make you easily learn even the six string guitar in the future. Lastly, what you should focus on much more would be which string you are on when you're playing at any specific time.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_I_Haley

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How to Learn Bass Guitar - Options and Tips

      With the Internet you will find the goal to learn bass guitar much easier, as there are so many new methods offered by the Internet. There are videos for instance which will show you firsthand how to learn bass guitar, and many of these you can even watch for free and do not have to pay for so you can learn bass guitar free.

      Regardless of which method you choose to use to learn bass guitar, here are a few tips that you will find very helpful. For one, before you even try to hold the instrument at all, you are going to need to understand how you are supposed to hold your arms and hands. You need to hold your right arm straight out so that it is parallel to the ground, and release all of the muscles in your hand. Take a look at your hand and notice the positions that your fingers are in.

      This is basically the way that you are going to need to hold your fingers when you are holding the guitar. Now you want to bring your hand to a flat, hard surface, making sure that you keep your forearm parallel to the ground the entire time. Place your index and middle fingers on the flat, hard surface so that only the fingertips of your index and middle fingers are on the tabletop and both fingertips are touching each other.

      Now you can move on and actually start holding the guitar. You will want to place your right thumb on the E string of your bass guitar to learn bass guitar, and make sure that it is midway between the end of the fingerboard and the pickups.

      These are just the most basic tips to help get you started, and if you want to become a really advanced bass guitar player, you will need to practice, practice, practice. The more often you play, the more skills you will learn and the better bass player you will become. Especially if you are interested in joining a band or otherwise playing bass professionally for instance, you will need to be practicing all the time.

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Learn to Play Bass Guitar With These Fundamentals

      Before you begin to learn to play bass guitar, there are a few things that you need to know about this wonderful instrument. The bass guitar is one of the most rhythmic instruments that can only be appreciated by those who understand music and know the importance that it holds in a concerto. It would help if you were to take some time out to understand the features of the bass guitar.

      In addition to this, if you want to learn to play bass guitar, you will need to know some of the common terminologies that are used. Another important point is to understand the manner in which you should place your fingers to play the right notes.

Know your Bass Guitar

      Just as in a regular guitar, the bass guitar consists of the body, the pegs used for tuning, head-stock, neck and nut. The body of the bass guitar is attached to the neck, which is essentially the long, thinner area of the guitar. This is the part that has the strings along with the frets. It is held by the hand that is not strumming the guitar.

      The head-stock of the guitar is furthest from the body and is at the other side of the neck of the guitar. It is at the head-stock that you will be able to see pegs that are used for tuning. The nut is a small part of the bass guitar that is located at the center of the head-stock and the neck. The four strings of the bass guitar are arranged starting with E. This is the thickest string. It ends with G, the thinnest string. String A and D are located in the middle.

Bass Guitar Terms

      If you want to learn to play bass guitar, you will need to know the specific terms used in the videos you may watch. Fretting is a term that is used to describe the act of catching 2 strings of the bass guitar and leaving them together. This is done in order to create specific note. When you learn to play bass guitar, you will understand that there is a right manner to do this. You need to place the thumb behind the neck and ensure that your fingers are in an angle over the fret board. You can also pluck the strings. This is something that can be done when you pluck a string to make a specific note. Many guitarists use a pick in order to pluck, but some prefer to use their fingers.

The First Notes when you Learn to Play Bass

      When you learn to play bass guitar, you will need to know how to hold the guitar in the right manner. For those who are right handed guitar players, the neck and the head-stock should be placed toward the left. The densest string should be at the top and the thinnest one should be at the lower end. By simply plucking the strings E, A, D and G you will be able to check out the note that they make. This kind of playing is called 'open'.

      Once you have figured out the basics, you can start to learn to play bass guitar, but do remember that you should have fun while playing if you want to ensure that you keep at it till you master the bass guitar.

      Discover how to play a guitar like a pro by using these proven, time tested techniques used by guitar legends at Learning Acoustic Guitar and let Learn To Play Bass Fast speed you on.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alfie_J_Parkin

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How to Play Bass Guitar For Beginners - 5 Great Aston Family Man Barrett Bass Lines You Should Learn

      If you are a bass guitar beginner learning how to play bass guitar, once you've started to get your left and right hand technique co-ordination together you should graduate immediately to songs. Bob Marley tunes are great ones for bass beginners - they combine simple, melodic bass lines with an interesting rhythmic sensibility.

      The bass player for Bob Marley was a guy called Aston Barrett, often known by his nickname of 'Family Man.'
Here are 5 great Bob Marley tunes you should learn to play that will help develop your song vocabulary, and are a heap of fun to play too.

1. Stir It Up

      This is a really simple bass line. But playing through the song will teach you a great lesson for bass guitarists - which is to learn the parts of a song and then deliver them time after time with verve and feeling. Sometimes as bass guitarists we are called upon to play simple and repetitive lines. It's a good habit to get into to start learning to do that now and make those lines groove like crazy.

2. Jamming

      Jamming is a shuffle or 12:8 feel bass line. Again it's not particularly complex, but is great fun to play. I've gigged this both in the original Bob Marley style, and also in a 'smooth jazz' style similar to saxophonist Grover Washington's great version of the tune.

3. Get Up Stand Up

      Great song. Great bass line. Again this is not too complex, but mastering the rhythm will help develop your rhythmic sensibility. And the line in the verse is oh so simple, but so melodic. This is one of those tunes that just flat out feels good to play.

4. I Shot The Sheriff

      This isn't one of my favorite Marley tunes. But I decided to include it because it can be played in several different ways so you should learn it. I've gigged it as a reggae tune, faithful to the Bob Marley version, as a rock tune - like Eric Clapton's version) and as a reggae flavored smooth jazz tune where the format of the song lends itself to alternating melodies with solos, all punctuated by the G Minor Pentatonic Riff that closes each cycle out.

5. Is This Love

      This IS one of my favorite Marley tunes. Again it has a loping, shuffle feel. Learning this one will teach you some interesting rhythms (swing 8th notes, quarter note triplets) and help develop your melodic sensibility. This is another great fun tune to play.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Wolf

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