This post will introduce you to the bass guitar, touch on its history, its evolution and mention some of the amazing bass players that have graced the instrument. Read on to learn more about the bass guitar.

Welcome to the world of the bass guitar; if you’re reading this then you’ve taken an interest in the electric bass and have decided to pursue it further. Maybe this post will reaffirms your decision to play bass guitar, or perhaps it will be the final argument for you to start playing the bass yourself.

The bass guitar is a pretty cool instrument. It may not be as flashy as a drum kit, or command as much attention as a pimped out electric guitar, but it has a subdued, laid-back vibe all its own. A standard bass guitar has four strings and is tuned E-A-D-G; an octave below the lowest strings on a guitar to provide a sonic foundation for the melody to build upon.

While you may give up the fame and glory of the spotlight when you choose to become a bass player, you gain full control of the key of the music, and full dominion over the bass frequencies.

Bass Guitar Frequencies Move People

This is almost a mystical power that most people won’t even realize that you have. Many won’t even realize that it is the bass player and the way he chooses to play certain notes, leave others out, and the space and rhythms in between these that are hypnotizing them into dancing. It is a great responsibility that you take on – called the groove – without it; any music you play will be lame.

So besides this, why take on the bass guitar? What is it about the bass guitar that is cool, or should be attractive to someone just starting out that just wants to play SOMETHING? Well, getting up and running with a bass guitar is much easier than most other instruments. You don’t have to have four-way independence as with drums, you don’t have to memorize all the chord fingering patterns like you would with a guitar, and you don’t have to spend years to get a sound that doesn’t sound like a cat being tortured as you would with a violin. You can pick up a bass guitar and start playing bass lines almost immediately – the good news is that the easier it is to play an instrument along to music you like when you’re starting out, the more likely you’ll stay with the instrument for good.

Another great reason why the bass guitar is cool is that EVERYONE needs a bass player. You make the other band members sound good, and there are many styles of music out there that use the bass guitar. That means that if you’re a good bass player, you’re willing to work hard, learn and you have a great attitude –you’re going to have many more job opportunities than many other musicians would have.

Being a bassist is as much a state of mind as it is a position in the band. You need to put the song and the other musicians before yourself. You are the glue between the rhythm and the melody – you straddle the line between the drummer and the guitarist, giving the music that third dimension that makes music so exciting. If you’re willing to put your ego on the back burner, you can become a truly great bassist that is in demand.

Is playing the bass guitar easier? Yes it is. But to master any instrument is virtually impossible. Playing bass guitar is initially much easier than guitar; you can outline chords one finger at a time as opposed to learning the fingerings for each chord. You also have fewer strings to change than the guitarist, but keep in mind that bass guitar strings are thicker – so in some ways, playing the bass guitar is more difficult because you need to play just as fast as the guitarists but with thicker strings. This means that you’re moving more mass in the same amount of time or energy.

What you may not know about the bass guitar is:

There is something to be said for a simple bass line that does what it’s supposed to do, get some asses out of the chairs at the bar.

Bass guitars can be beautiful and expensive, they can break your heart and if you get used to playing them – playing bass guitar can indeed be habit forming!

The electric bass guitar was responsible for making rock n’ roll music come to life in the fifties – the bass could now be heard (as well as felt!) and helped to drive the new-fangled rock n roll bands mercilessly into the spotlight.

The electric bass guitar started out with 4 strings and remained that way for several decades, before evolving to 5, 6, 8 and even 12 stringed versions beginning in the mid-70s. These multi-stringed basses owe a large debt of thanks to Anthony Jackson who helped open the door to more than 4 string basses by commissioning the first six string bass guitar to be built in the 1970s!

Some famous bass guitarists include Paul McCartney, Sting, Geddy Lee, Jaco Pastorius, James Jamerson, Flea, Les Claypool, Victor Wooten, Billy Sheehan, Stanley Clarke and John Entwistle.

You can get started with a bass guitar kit that includes a bass guitar, a <a rel="nofollow" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/article_exit_link');" href="http://www.bassguitarrocks.com/2008/07/bass-amp-eq-for-beginners">bass guitar amp</a>, a guitar strap, an bass guitar instrument cable and a tuner for around $250 or you can even rent a bass guitar from many major music instrument retailers. Even if you don’t know of any teachers in your town, you can surf Youtube and find plenty of lessons for free that can get you started. There’s no good reason to sit on the fence anymore, playing bass guitar can be an affordable hobby that can actually make you some extra money if you choose to play out in bands.

Choosing to play the bass guitar has given me plenty of opportunity to learn and grow as a human being. It’s allowed me to experience the thrill of performing in front of large audiences while sharing the stage with some amazing bands and meet terrific people. Playing bass guitar is a great way to be creative, relieve stress and have fun!

So what are you waiting for? Get out there, find a bass guitar and start playing today!

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The Bass Guitar and Why it Rocks

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The Takamine ES31C Jasmine Cutaway Acoustic Electric Guitar is an excellent Acoustic for budding guitarists.The ES31C Jasmine is a high-value Dreadnought with a Nato body, impressive gloss finish, Spruce top and Rosewood fingerboard. Great features at a great price, the chrome plated tuning machines will keep this guitar tuned up and ready to jam for years to come.Inside every Jasmine, you'll find the heart and soul of a Takamine. Their finest luthiers oversee every aspect of the design, construction, and quality control of these beautiful looking, beautiful sounding guitars. The electronics system in these models includes a piezo pickup under the bridge and a control section with volume and tone controls.If you could see inside a Jasmine Dreadnought by Takamine, you'd see its true beauty. Skilled craftsmen, using time-tested construction methods along with contemporary styling, have created acoustic/electrics with powerful resonance. Thanks to built-in p... Click For Great Discounts >>

Takamine ES31C Jasmine Cutaway Acoustic Electric Guitar

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Takamine ES31C Jasmine Cutaway Acoustic Electric Guitar

• 10 Packs of EXL110 Electric Guitar Strings
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D'Addario EXL110-10P Nickel Regular Light Electric Guitar Strings, 10 Sets

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D’Addario EXL110-10P Nickel Regular Light Electric Guitar Strings, 10 Sets

• complete electric guitar kit
• mahogany EVOXM guitar w/ 2 humbuckers
• 10 watt clean to dirty guitar amp
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An entire guitar rig with everything you need to get rolling! The Dean EVOXM and Amp Pack includes the Dean EVOXM Guitar, Dean M10 Guitar Amp, gig bag, tuner, cord, strap, and picks. An ideal guitar the beginning guitarist. Click to enlarge. Compact 10-watt practice amp with plenty of gain. Click to enlarge. Dean EVO XM Guitar
The EVO XM is a perfect blend of vintage design, old world craftsmanship and decades of guitar building technology. This affordable yet stylish axe has a lightweight basswood body in a mahogany stain for a "high-end" look, with a maple neck and 22-fret rosewood fingerboard. A set of Dean high-output humbuckers deliver the sonic goods, while the adjustable TOM-style bridge keeps you in tune for the length of the gig. Great for players of any le... Click For Great Discounts >>

Dean Bass Guitar Starter Pack with EVOXM Natural, 10 Watt Amp, Gig Bag, Cord, Strap, Picks

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Dean Bass Guitar Starter Pack with EVOXM Natural, 10 Watt Amp, Gig Bag, Cord, Strap, Picks

• 3 Single-coil pickups paired with a 5-way pickup selector switch, and 1 volume and 2 tone controls offers an incredible range of tones.
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Product Description
Fender Starcaster Strat Packs deliver a great-sounding, sleek-looking Stratocaster electric guitar paired with a compact but still-mighty guitar amplifier and a host of essential accessories. This Strat Pack includes a blue Stratocaster guitar, strings, picks, a strap, Squier SP-10 amp, a 10-foot cable, a tuner, a gig bag, guitar stand, and an instructional DVD. ... Click For Great Discounts >>

Fender Starcaster Strat Pack Electric Guitar with Amp and Accessories - Midnight Blue

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Fender Starcaster Strat Pack Electric Guitar with Amp and Accessories – Midnight Blue

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Elixir NanoWeb Electric Guitar Strings give your guitar long lasting tone!Breathe life in to your electric with Elixir's NanoWeb guitar strings. Providing excellent tonality that lasts 3 to 5 times longer than ordinary strings, they have the bright tone and punch of a non-coated version. Elixir Strings are uniquely coated to protect wound strings from dirt and grim that can be the death of regular strings. The NanoWeb's strong, flexible, micro-thin polymer tube protects your strings from these inevitable factors.Elixir NanoWeb Electric Guitar String FeaturesGreat sound that lasts 3 to 5 times longer than ordinary stringsThe Same Bright, Punchy tone that you get with non-coated stringsA traditional string feel guitarists loveStrings are not just strings: they are the connection between you and your music. When strings go dead, so goes the inspiration to play. After all, who wants to play when strings feel crusty and their sound is muddy and dull? Its a curs... Click For Great Discounts >>

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Elixir NanoWeb Electric Guitar Strings

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The Starcaster 15G is perfect for any guitarist in need of a compact, powerful little amp! With built-in selectable distortion, this little beast can take you from crystal clean to tough and mean! And weighing in at just 9.26 lbs., you can take it anywhere you want to play!... Click For Great Discounts >>

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Fender Starcaster 15-watt Electric Guitar Amplifier

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Fender Starcaster Strat Pack Electric Guitar with Amp and Accessories – Black

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This electric guitar pack is perfect for aspiring guitar players. A complete kit provides everything you need to play the electric guitar. Included are a full-sized Kona electric guitar, 10 watt amplifier with 5-inch speaker, gig bag, and a bunch of accessories. A large chord chart and the Electric Guitar Basics For Dummies book with CD are also included to get you on your way. Everything you need to get started playing electric guitar. The KA10 makes a perfect starter and practice amp. The Electric Guitar Basics For Dummies book with instructional CD gets you started quickly. Kona Electric Guitar
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Electric Guitar Pack For Dummies

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Electric Guitar Pack For Dummies

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The Icons of Rock series provides a solid foundation and understanding of your instrument the "Smart Way!" Learning Electric Guitar is a detailed course into playing the guitar designed to take absolute beginners into intermediate levels, lesson by lesson. This book comes complete with over 2-1/2 hours of DVD instruction with Patrick McCormick and Greg Douglass. Section 1: Learning Guitar Step 1 with Patrick McCormick. This section covers everything a beginner needs to know to understand how to play the guitar including: Reading Music Notation, Open Chords, Finger Exercises, Chord Matching Formulas, Reading Tablature, Barre Chords, Chord Progressions, Power Chords, and more! Section 2: Lead Guitar with Greg Douglass. Greg is a multi-platinum recording artist who has performed and recorded with such Icons of Rock as the Steve Miller Band, Eddie Money, Greg Kihn, Van Morrison, and more. In this section you will discover: Lead Licks, Scale Patterns, Alternate... Click For Great Discounts >>

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Electric Guitar Lessons: Learn how to play Electric Guitar the Smart Way!

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The On Stage XCG4 Guitar Stand - What a great deal!We were floored when we found out about what a great bargain this guitar stand truly is. The XCG4 holds virtually any acoustic or electric guitar or bass. This is a tubular metal stand with black velveteen rubber padding, a heavy-duty sheet metal leg housing, a security strap on the top yolk of the stand and a matte black powder coat finish. Setup and height adjustment is easy with its non-scratching friction knob.The XCG4 Black Tripod Guitar Stand is another amazing buy from AMS!On Stage StandsFor nearly 20 years, The Music People! Inc. has been on of the nations leading suppliers of microphones and pro audio equipment. The Music People! Inc. also owns and manufactures On-Stage Stands support stands. Founded on a promise of quality, innovation and customer service, The Music People! Inc. is committed to the needs of music professionals throughout the world.... Click For Great Discounts >>

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On-Stage Folding Tripod Guitar Stand, Black

Description
Getting Started on Electric Guitar offers a complete course for the beginning electric guitarist. Step-by-step lessons incorporating clear, easy-to-follow 3-D graphics and unique play-along tracks teach the viewer the essential chords, scales and techniques used by electric guitar players in every popular style, including rock, blues and country. This DVD is separated into two major sections. Part 1 ¯ The First Step covers: tuning methods · string names · essential chords and scales used by all players · musical reference section (notes, rhythms, chords and scales) · practice tips · fretting-hand technique · picking-hand technique · backing tracks for play-along · an animated fretboard · plus much more. Part 2 ¯ Play Electric! covers: right-hand technique · left-hand technique · rhythm parts (muting, alternate picking, arpeggios) · soloing technique (string bending, vibrato) · rock, blues & country styles · rhythm and solo ideas for each style

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Fender Presents: Getting Started on Electric Guitar — A Guide for Beginners

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Disney by Washburn Hannah Montana 3/4 Scale Electric Guitar

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• Classic Fender Stratocaster guitar for all styles of music
• Synchronous tremolo bridge for subtle shimmers or hard-core whammy
• Three single-coil pickups paired with a 5-way pickup selector switch; volume and 2 tone controls for wide range of tones
• Package also includes strings, picks, strap, gigbag, guitar stand, and instructional DVD

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Fender Starcaster Electric Guitar Pack with Amp and Accessories, Candy Apple Red

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Fender Starcaster Electric Guitar Pack with Amp and Accessories, Candy Apple Red

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(Plenty in stock! Ignore the "1 used & new.") For intermediate to advanced guitar players. Download a FREE 25 page preview at http://Guitar-Music-Theory.com (copy and past this URL into your browser's address bar). Fretboard Theory by Desi Serna covers music theory from a guitarist's perspective including scales, chords, progressions, modes and more. Hands-on approach to theory gives you total command of the fretboard and music's most critical elements by visualizing shapes, patterns and how they connect. Content includes: How to learn and practice Pentatonic and Major scale patterns. Guitar CAGED chord inversions and arpeggio patterns. Chord progressions and playing by numbers (Nashville Number System). Roots, keys and applying scales. Understanding music modes and modal scales such as Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Locrian. Playing and using intervals including thirds, fifths and sixths. Adding extensions such as "add 9," "suspended 4,... Click For Great Discounts >>

Fretboard Theory - Learn Guitar Theory, Scales, Chords, Progressions, Modes, Song Details and More. Music Theory Lessons For Acoustic and Electric Guitar.

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Fretboard Theory – Learn Guitar Theory, Scales, Chords, Progressions, Modes, Song Details and More. Music Theory Lessons For Acoustic and Electric Guitar.