Learn to Play Electric Bass: Your Complete Beginner's Guide

Bass guitar might not always grab the spotlight like a screaming guitar solo or thunderous drum fill, but it’s the secret weapon of any great band. It’s the essential bridge between rhythm and melody, laying down the groove – the bassline – that gives a song its pulse and energy. If you’re thinking about learning an instrument that’s both foundational and incredibly cool, learning to play electric bass is a fantastic choice.

In this guide, we’ll take you through the essential bass guitar basics to kickstart your musical journey. We’ll cover everything from choosing the right bass guitar and mastering tuning, to essential finger techniques and even playing your first song. Get ready to dive in and discover the world of bass!

Why Learn to Play Electric Bass Guitar?

While guitarists often get the glory in the band, there’s a unique satisfaction in being the bassist. Bass guitar provides the crucial low-end foundation, connecting the melodic flair of the guitar with the driving rhythm of the drums. Without a solid bassline, songs can feel thin and lack depth. Bassists are the unsung heroes, providing the groove that makes people move.

Need more reasons to pick up a bass? Think about your favorite songs. While you might admire a complex guitar riff, it’s often the bassline that gets your head nodding and your feet tapping. The bass creates that infectious groove that you feel in your bones.

Many bass players are also deeply involved in songwriting and understand song structure intimately. Consider iconic musicians like Paul McCartney of The Beatles, Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, Bootsy Collins of Parliament-Funkadelic, Geddy Lee of Rush, Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue, and Gene Simmons of KISS. These are all bassists who have been pivotal songwriters in their legendary bands. When you Learn To Play Electric Bass and start crafting basslines, you’re joining a lineage of influential musical creators.

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Is Learning Electric Bass Guitar Easy?

Whether learning electric bass guitar is “easy” depends on your musical background, dedication, and goals. The initial steps can be quite accessible, allowing beginners to quickly play simple basslines. However, like any instrument, mastering the bass and exploring its full potential requires time and practice.

The perceived difficulty often depends on the musical styles you want to play and your desired level of proficiency. Playing bass in genres like country or pop, which may be more guitar-centric, can be less technically demanding initially compared to rhythmically complex genres like funk, jazz, or progressive metal.

The physical aspect of the bass can also present a learning curve. Bass strings are thicker and require more finger strength than guitar strings. The longer scale length of some basses can also be a stretch for smaller hands. However, there are solutions! Short-scale basses, such as the Fender Mustang® Bass, are designed with shorter necks and lighter strings, making them much more comfortable for beginners and players with smaller hands.

Alt text: Fender Mustang Bass short-scale electric bass guitar in Olympic White finish leaning against a black amplifier, ideal for beginners learning to play electric bass.

“Everyone’s a beginner at some point. You get better at things by doing them more. You may be a beginner, but you’ll get better. I guarantee it.”

– Mike Dirnt, Green Day

Electric Bass Guitar Basics: Getting Started

Choosing Your First Electric Bass Guitar

Selecting your first electric bass guitar can feel overwhelming, but breaking it down into key factors makes the process manageable. Consider these elements to find the perfect bass for you:

Size and Scale Length: For beginners, especially those with smaller hands or who prefer a lighter instrument, a short-scale bass is an excellent choice. Short-scale basses like the Squier Bronco Bass, Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar Bass Special SS, and Fender Mustang Bass typically have a 30” scale length, making them easier to play and maneuver. A lighter bass can also be more comfortable for longer practice sessions, especially if you have back or shoulder sensitivity.
Tone and Sound: The kind of tone you’re after is subjective and often depends on the music genres you enjoy. Different basses offer distinct tonal characteristics. If you’re looking for a warmer, versatile tone that’s great for various styles, basses from the Fender Squier range are a fantastic starting point. They often feature thinner necks, which are comfortable for beginners. For a deeper, more powerful, and punchy tone, the Player Precision Bass® is a popular and iconic choice.

To further shape your tone, consider investing in a good bass amplifier and potentially some effects pedals. Amplifiers like the Fender Mustang GTX series of amps are incredibly versatile and often come with built-in effects and amp modeling. They are also compatible with the Fender Tone app, giving you access to a vast library of presets to emulate the sounds of your favorite bassists without needing a collection of pedals.
Number of Strings: Most electric bass guitars have four strings, which is standard and ideal for beginners. While five-string basses like the Fender American Ultra Jazz Bass® V offer an extended lower range and more creative possibilities, it’s generally recommended to master the four-string bass first. Four-string basses typically have thinner necks that are easier for beginners to navigate.
Budget: Investing in an instrument is a significant step, but you don’t need to break the bank to get a quality beginner bass. There are many excellent and affordable options available. The Fender Affinity Series™ Jazz Bass® is a highly regarded option that offers classic Fender sound and quality at a budget-friendly price point. Also, consider electric bass bundles which often include a bass, amplifier, strap, cable, and other essential accessories, providing excellent value for beginners.

Still unsure where to start? Find your Fender with their interactive tool to help you discover the perfect instrument that matches your style and musical preferences.

Alt text: Squier Affinity Series Jazz Bass electric bass guitar in Olympic White finish, a popular and affordable choice for those learning to play electric bass.

Essential Bass Gear Checklist for Beginners

Having the right accessories is crucial for a smooth and enjoyable learning experience. Here’s a checklist of essential gear for beginner bassists:

Bass Guitar Strap: A guitar strap is essential for playing while standing and helps hold your bass in the correct playing position. Straps also come in various styles, allowing you to personalize your setup.
Instrument Cables: Cables are necessary to connect your bass to an amplifier, effects pedals, and other gear. Invest in quality cables to ensure a clean and reliable signal.
Amplifier (Amp): An amp is crucial for hearing your electric bass. Bass amps are designed to handle the low frequencies of the bass guitar and deliver a full, rich sound. For beginners, a practice amp is ideal. To learn more, check out guides on how to choose your ideal bass modeling amp.
Digital Tuner: Keeping your bass in tune is fundamental. A digital tuner provides accurate and easy tuning. As your ear develops, you can also learn to tune by ear, but a digital tuner is invaluable, especially for beginners.

How to Tune Your Electric Bass Guitar

While the bass guitar produces a lower sound than a standard six-string guitar, it shares the same tuning for its first four strings – E, A, D, and G. These are the standard notes, from the thickest (lowest pitch) to the thinnest (highest pitch) string:

E String: The 4th string (thickest, lowest tone)
A String: The 3rd string
D String: The 2nd string
G String: The 1st string (thinnest, highest tone)

There are several methods for tuning your bass. You can tune by ear, use harmonics, or utilize a digital tuner. The Fender Tune app is a user-friendly and accurate tool for tuning your bass. Download the free app to ensure your bass is always pitch-perfect.

“Music is like the genius of humankind, universal… People who have never really taken the time to get into music, their lives are a lot smaller.”

– Flea, Red Hot Chili Peppers

Essential Bass Finger Techniques for Beginners

One of the long-standing debates in the bass world is The Great Bass Debate: pick versus fingers. The truth is, both techniques are valid and offer different sonic qualities. The best approach often depends on the genre you’re playing, your personal preference, and the sound you want to achieve.

Playing Bass with a Pick: Using a pick for bass playing offers advantages in terms of speed, attack, and articulation. You can generally play faster lines with a pick compared to fingers (especially when starting out). Experimenting with picks of different thicknesses can also dramatically alter your tone, giving you a brighter, more aggressive sound or a rounder, warmer tone depending on the pick.
Playing Bass with Your Fingers (Fingerstyle): Fingerstyle bass playing, often using the index and middle fingers to pluck the strings, produces a smoother, warmer tone. It also allows for techniques like slapping and popping, which are fundamental to funk and other genres. Many fingerstyle bassists start by alternating between their index and middle fingers for a consistent and rhythmic plucking motion. As you develop your technique, you can incorporate thumb slaps and finger pops for a more percussive and dynamic sound.

Alt text: Close-up shot of fingers plucking the strings of an electric bass guitar, demonstrating fingerstyle technique for learning to play electric bass.

How to Play Bass Chords

While bass guitars are primarily known for playing single-note basslines, learning to play bass chords can significantly expand your musical vocabulary and creativity. Although chords are more central to guitar playing, they are definitely achievable and useful on the bass. Since the bass guitar’s strings correspond to the lowest four strings of a guitar, many guitar chords that utilize only these strings can be adapted for bass.

Bass chords add harmonic depth and texture to your playing. They can be used to create interesting rhythmic patterns, emphasize certain parts of a song, or even create unique bass melodies that incorporate chordal elements.

How to Play Bass Scales

A bass scale is a sequence of eight notes played in ascending or descending order. This eight-note sequence is called an octave. Scales are fundamental to understanding music theory and are the building blocks for melodies, basslines, and solos. The notes within a scale remain consistent regardless of the instrument – whether you’re playing a scale on bass, guitar, or piano. Every scale begins and ends on the same note, called the “root note.” The final note of the scale is the root note, but an octave higher in pitch than the starting note.

A great starting scale for beginners is the G Major scale:

1st Note (Root Note): G
2nd Note: A
3rd Note: B
4th Note: C
5th Note: D
6th Note: E
7th Note: F#
8th Note (Root note, one octave higher): G

The G Major scale can be played on a single bass string or across all four strings. Learning scales like the G Major and the popular C Major scale on bass is crucial for developing finger dexterity, ear training, and understanding the fretboard. Scales help you recognize musical patterns and apply them when learning songs or writing your own basslines.

To explore and practice more bass scales, resources like Fender Play’s free trial offer comprehensive lessons and scale exercises to help you level up your bass skills.

“That is what intrigues me; songwriting and song structure and expression.”

– Geddy Lee, Rush

How to Create a Bassline

A bassline is the heartbeat of a song – a sequence of notes played on the bass that harmonically connects chord progressions, establishes the song’s key, and drives the rhythm. Think of iconic basslines like the funky intro to Rick James’ “Super Freak” or the haunting opening bass riff of Nirvana’s “Come As You Are”. These basslines are instantly recognizable and form the foundation of those songs.

Crafting a bassline is where your developing bass skills truly come to life. Here are some tips to guide you in creating your own basslines:

Identify the Key: Start by determining the key of the song. Understanding scales and listening for the root note and chord progressions will help you identify the key. Knowing the key is essential for creating a bassline that complements the song’s harmony.
Analyze the Chords: Listen to the guitar chords and break them down into their individual notes (arpeggios). Using chord tones as a basis for your bassline ensures that it harmonizes effectively with the song’s chords.
Focus on Rhythm and Timing: Bass is fundamentally a rhythm instrument. The bassline sets the groove and tempo of the song. Pay close attention to the song’s tempo and time signature and use this rhythmic framework to build your bassline.

For a deeper dive into bassline creation, check out Fender Play Live sessions where experienced bassists like Caleb Buchanan offer crash courses on building memorable basslines.

How to Practice Electric Bass for Beginners

Establishing good practice habits is essential for progress on the bass guitar. Consistency is key. Even short, regular practice sessions are more effective than infrequent long sessions. Here are some tips for effective bass practice:

Schedule Dedicated Practice Time: Make practice a regular part of your routine. Even 15-30 minutes daily can yield significant results. The Fender Play app allows you to set practice reminders to help you stay consistent.
Create a Dedicated Practice Space: Having a designated practice area helps create a focused environment. This space could include a stand or case for your bass, a comfortable chair that promotes good posture, and any practice materials you use.
Start with Fundamentals: Begin each practice session with fundamental exercises like scales, arpeggios, and technique drills. Focus on one or two specific techniques at a time to build a solid foundation.
Be Patient and Persistent: Learning an instrument takes time and effort. Don’t get discouraged by initial challenges. Celebrate small victories and gradually build upon your skills. Consistent practice and patience are the keys to long-term progress.

Learn a Song on Electric Bass Guitar

One of the most rewarding aspects of learning electric bass is applying your skills to play actual songs. Learning songs you enjoy not only makes practice more fun but also deepens your understanding of music and develops your musical ear.

An excellent beginner song for bass guitar is “La Grange” by ZZ Top. This blues-rock classic features a simple yet powerful and driving bassline. “La Grange” introduces new bassists to the influence of blues music on genres like rock, funk, and country.

“La Grange” is ideal for beginners because its main bass riff is based on a few single notes played with a strong rhythmic feel on a single string. While there’s a slide between frets in the bridge section, the song primarily focuses on rhythm and consistent tempo. It’s also a great song to practice fingerstyle bass technique and explore how fingerstyle playing affects the tone.

Learn how to play “La Grange” on bass with step-by-step lessons on Fender Play.

Alt text: Still image from Fender Play bass lesson for La Grange by ZZ Top, showcasing online electric bass lessons for beginners.

Explore Bass Song Collections

Looking for more songs to learn on bass? Explore Fender Play’s curated song collections. These collections group songs by artist, genre, difficulty level, and techniques, making it easy to find music that inspires you and helps you develop specific skills. Browsing these collections can guide your learning path and help you discover new music and techniques within your favorite genres.

Here are a few recommended bass song collections on Fender Play:

10 Easy Songs to Learn on Bass: Perfect for absolute beginners, this collection features iconic and easy-to-learn basslines from songs like Salt n’ Pepa’s “Push It” and Nirvana’s “Come As You Are.”
Slap Bass: Dive into the world of funk bass with this collection focused on mastering slap and pop techniques.
Blues Form Bass Basics: Learn blues bass fundamentals with this collection of skills lessons and songs, including classics like “Boom Boom” by John Lee Hooker and James Brown’s “I Got You (I Feel Good).”
Must-Know Rock Riffs: Master 14 essential rock basslines and riffs, ranging from classic rock anthems like Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall Pt. 2” to punk rock staples like Green Day’s “Longview.”
Walking Basslines & Arpeggios: Explore the walking bassline, a fundamental technique in genres from rockabilly to blues to jazz, through skill-building lessons and songs.

Discover Fender Play Bass Lessons

Learning to play electric bass guitar is a rewarding journey that enhances your musical appreciation and opens up new creative avenues. By learning bass, you’ll develop a deeper understanding of rhythm, harmony, and the vital role of the bass in music. Sign up for a free trial of Fender Play today and unlock a world of bass lessons, skills, scales, and songs to fuel your musical passion.

Learn to Play Electric Bass: Your Complete Beginner’s Guide