Bass Guitar Lessons for Beginners

Starting to play the bass guitar can be overwhelming. That is why this page breaks down the process in easy to follow step-by-step lessons. If you are patient and do not mind practicing, then you should be able to make good progress within a few weeks.

Be sure to visit this site frequently. I would recommend going through each lesson at least four or five times in order to master the principles. If you build the core skills, then you will be able to progress quicker later on. If you neglect the basics, you will eventually have to study them again, and by then you will probably also have to unlearn some bad habits.

A few tips on how to get the most out of your practice sessions:

• Eliminate distractions. Set aside a certain amount of time (at least 15 minutes) and focus on a lesson. Turn off your cell phone and close your e-mail and instant messaging. Set your status as "practicing the bass guitar" and catch up with your friends later.
• Practice a lot. During an interview, The Beatles once said that a band should practice for 100 hours for every hour of performing. I think they were optimistic. Unless you are a naturally talented bass guitar player like Paul McCartney, you will probably need about 300 hours of practice before you can even think about performing in public. But do not dispair, if you are diligent and keep working, you will be ready to perform in a band before you know it.
• Be honest about your strengths and weaknesses. Some people will be able to pick up on things immediately, while others will need to go over them ten times until they learn them. Most beginning bass guitar players are better at certain aspects of music than others. For example, someone may develop excellent technique and hand positions after a few lessons, but have horrible rhythm. If this is the case, then don't be afraid to go through the rhythm lesson 30 or 40 times. The only thing that matters is whether you eventually master the skills. This is the advantage of online lessons - no one will know how long it takes you to learn something. They will only see the results.

Lessons for Beginners

Ready to get started? Even if you do not have a bass guitar, you can still start practicing some fundamental skills. Here are the bass guitar lessons for beginners:

• Rhythm - A necessary skill for all musicians, rhythm is especially important for a bass guitar player. You can start developing your rhythm right now without a bass guitar.
• Warm Up - Getting ready to practice is important. The more your play, the more you should stretch and work on your posture. You can review these warm ups and try them right now without a bass guitar.
• Scales - How to start playing groups of notes in succession. The next step in practicing after you are familiar with the basic notes on your bass guitar.

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Further Reading

Where to Find Bass Guitars for Sale Online - Discusses the best online musical instrument stores for bass guitars and other gear.

Beginner Online Bass Guitar Lessons - No Bass Guitar Required - Start learning the bass guitar right now, without an actual bass guitar, by studying music and notes. If you have a bass guitar, you can use these lessons to begin practicing as well.

Hal Leonard Bass Method - The Complete Edition

Learn to play the bass guitar with the help of this book. This is one of the best books that I have found for learning to play the bass guitar.