Learning to Play Real Music on Your Bass Guitar
You are now ready to play some music. You have bought your bass
guitar, learned to string and tune it, and are reading everything in
sight about music and playing. Where do you start and how do you know
you are doing it right? Start with some simple basics and build up from
there and follow some of the following sound advice and you will be a
pro in no time flat.
If you are anything like most people, you will learn quicker by having
someone show you how to do something than trying to learn it on your
own. Learning to play a musical instrument is no different and,
depending on the seriousness of your commitment, you should look into
purchasing guitar lessons from a reputable teacher. If anything,
beginner’s lessons can help you solidify the basic fundamentals of
playing music and help you instill solid technique that will ensure many
pleasant days ahead. There are numerous instructors out there who you
can learn from and it is worth checking out the local yellow pages.
Also, you can start networking with anyone you know that plays music,
whether or not they play the same instrument. You never know when the
right connection will lead you to a great mentor, and if anything, you
will develop some great friendships and others to jam with in the long
run.
Online instructions and programs abound on the net. You may be the type
of person who would benefit from some of these programs. Personally, I
just don’t believe that anything can beat a personal instructor, but
that is just my preference. Take you time shopping around online though.
There are just too many people out there who will take your money for an
empty product and you may end up learning how to play with a lot of bad
habits from people who just aren’t qualified to teach.
There are two types of music you can start learning from; regular sheet
music and tablature. Unless you are a musical genius who finds out they
can play anything after hearing it just one time by ear, these are the
two ways you can expect to learn to play your music. Learning how to
read sheet music in the long run is a great investment of your time and
will be advantageous for you, but learning tablature will be immediately
gratifying. Tablature is a type of shorthand for the musician, a musical
notation that will tell you where to put your fingers rather than tell
you what note to play.
There are a ton of websites out there offering sheet music and
tablature, just hit the web and have fun. A word of caution here, start
with the simple stuff before tackling the super jam rift that you want
to learn so badly. You want to be successful? Then take it one step at a
time and don’t set yourself up for failure and discouragement. A journey
of a thousand miles begins with a single step and your future as a bass
guitarist will hopefully be a lifelong journey.
The most important thing you can do for yourself when first learning to
play music is to watch your form. Are you practicing proper left hand
placement? Are you using a strap to protect your body from unnecessary
back and shoulder stress? Are you keeping your plucking fingers straight
and teaching yourself to use the larger hand and wrist muscles for long
term stamina or burning your fingers out by bending them? Form is
important and good habits right from the beginning are crucial for your
success.
One thing you are going to want to do for yourself eventually is find a
partner or two to play with. If you continue to practice music by
yourself you become rigid in your form and loose the ability to adapt to
others. The bass guitar is made to be part of a group of instruments and
you just don’t want to get stuck in your own world and unable to play
well with others.
When it comes right down to it, playing actual music is just a matter of
taking it one note at a time. Practice makes perfect and good playing
habits will keep you in the game for a long time to come. Enjoy your
journey and get to playing!
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