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Hot Bass How-Tos

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How to Play bass: Double stopswith tritones

How to Play Double-Stop Boogie with Rich Appleman and Danny Morris When you play double-stop, you have two techniques to choose from, like strumming two post strings at the same time. You could also play this by strumming 2 adjacent strings. Tritone means three tones. Try to slide in and out of the tritones to make a nice sound on the base coupled with an open string. Couple it with a nice chord, you can now play the double-stop boogie.

How To: Drop D tune a bass

This is a tutorial video on how to play bass, brought to you by How to Play Bass, hosted by Paul Wolf. In this lesson Paul teaches you how to tune your bass guitar down to what is called "Drop D" tuning. Follow along with him, as Paul demonstrates how to achieve this tuning by two different methods. The first method is done by tuning to the 'A' string, and de-tuning the 'E' string to 'D'. The second method involves a similar process, this time using the 'D' string to achieve the same effect.

How To: Change the strings on a bass guitar

Is it getting to that time? When the strings on your bass need changing & you're not sure how to replace them? Don't take it in to a guitar shop and pay a string changing fee... Learn how to change bass strings yourself! In this two-part video tutorial, learn step-by-step how to replace old bass strings with brand new ones.

How To: Play bass guitar for beginners using open strings

In this tutorial, we learn how to play bass guitar for beginners using open strings. Get used to look at written notes. To do this, look at open notes on a piece of paper and work on your right hand technique. You won't be pulling straight up, your finger should be resting on the string. Pull it slightly backwards and feel the string vibrate. A nice and eve stroke will be perfect, do this for all the notes to get them to all sound the same. Then, combine looking at sheet music with your right...

How To: Fret and play a G note on a bass guitar

In this bass guitar lesson for beginners, you'll learn how to fret and play a natural G. Regardless of your preferred style of music, if you want to be great, you'll need your head and hands on the same page. And there's no better way to get your head and hands on the same page than to practice. Happily, the Internet is awash in video tutorials like this one. For more information, and to get started playing this note yourself, watch this free video lesson for beginning bassists.

How To: Play the bassline from the Beatles' "Come Together"

Want to know how to perform the bass part to the Beatles' "Come Together"? Learn how to lay it down with this free video bass lesson, which presents a complete breakdown of the song's bass line. This tutorial is best suited for beginning players. For more information, and to get started playing this classic Beatles song on your own bass guitar, watch this how-to!

How To: Properly hold an electric bass guitar

In this bass guitar lesson for beginners, you'll learn how to hold an electric bass guitar using the proper technique. Regardless of your preferred style of music, if you want to be great, you'll need your head and hands on the same page. And there's no better way to get your head and hands on the same page than to practice. Happily, the Internet is awash in video tutorials like this one. For more information, watch this free video lesson for beginning bassists.

How To: Fret and play an A sharp or B flat note on bass guitar

In this bass guitar lesson for beginners, you'll learn how to fret and play an A sharp or B flat. Regardless of your preferred style of music, if you want to be great, you'll need your head and hands on the same page. And there's no better way to get your head and hands on the same page than to practice. Happily, the Internet is awash in video tutorials like this one. For more information, and to get started playing this note yourself, watch this free video lesson for beginning bassists.

How To: Fret and play a C sharp or D flat note on bass guitar

In this bass guitar lesson for beginners, you'll learn how to fret and play a C sharp or D flat note on the bass. Regardless of your preferred style of music, if you want to be great, you'll need your head and hands on the same page. And there's no better way to get your head and hands on the same page than to practice. Happily, the Internet is awash in video tutorials like this one. For more information, and to get started playing this note yourself, watch this free video lesson for beginnin...

How To: Get better at the bass

In this tutorial, we learn how to get better at playing bass. To progress, you first need to practice with your bass! You need to not practice once a week, you need to practice regularly, no matter how busy you are. 30-45 minutes a day is adequate practice time to learn the bass properly. Next, you will need to be persistent, because it take commitment, even when you don't feel like practicing. If you let things slide, you can continue this process. Keep daily practice in your routine. Last, ...

How To: Play the bass line to "Parklife" by Blur

With learning any instrument, often the hardest part to gaining any fluency is being able to bend your fingers to stretch out even to the furthest notes and do so with finesse. So if you wish to become a famous bass player in a rock band, one of the best things you can do to help with finger fluency is simply practicing a few drills.

How To: Play "Let It Be" by the Beatles on the bass

Want to know how to play the bassline to the Beatles' "Let It Be"? See how it's done with this free video bass lesson, which presents a complete breakdown of the song. While this tutorial is best suited for intermediate players, bassists of all skill levels can play along given a little time and effort. For more information, and to get started playing this great (and simple) Paul McCartney song on your own bass guitar, watch this how-to!

How To: Tune up your bass guitar with Dale Titus

In this how-to video, you will learn how to tune your bass. This is important, as weather can affect your tuning. Every time you pick up your bass, you should tune it. First, start with the low E string. You will need to listen to a reference E note to tune this string. A tuner or piano can be used. Go to the fifth fret on the E string and tune the open A string to this note. Tighten or loosen up the string accordingly. Now, go to the fifth fret of the A string to tune the D string. Next, go ...

How to Play bass: Two handed tapping technique

This video is a bass lesson that demonstrates how to use a two-handed tapping technique often used by Eddie Van Halen and others on guitar. To do this on bass, you should put your middle finger over the top of your index finger to make a more solid tapping finger, and put your hand up the neck with your thumb on the back of the neck. Land your finger to tap, and pull to pluck the string. He places his left hand on the frets in anticipation of pulling the string with the right hand. He demonst...

How To: Change Strings on an Upright Double Bass

In this video, I describe and show how to change strings on an upright double bass instrument. Several important thing that should be considered: First of all, don't change all strings at once, as this could damage your instrument if the sound post falls or changes position. So please, only change the strings one after another. Secondly, mark the position of the bridge; it may change position during string change, but it shouldn't. Thirdly, apply some graphite to the slots of the bridge and s...

How To: Play "Little Wing" by Jimi Hendrix on the bass

Want to know how to perform the bass part to Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing"? Learn how to lay it down with this free video bass lesson, which presents a complete breakdown of the song's bass line. While this tutorial is best suited for intermediate players, bassists of all skill levels can play along given a little time and effort. For more information, and to get started playing "Little Wing" on your own bass guitar, watch this how-to!

How To: Play "Don't Look Back in Anger" by Oasis on the bass

Want to know how to perform the bass part to Oasis' "Don't Look Back in Anger" from their 1996 album (What's the Story) Morning Glory? Learn how to lay it down with this free video bass lesson, which presents a complete breakdown of the song's bass line. While this tutorial is best suited for intermediate players, bassists of all skill levels can play along given a little time and effort. For more information, and to get started playing this Oasis song on your own bass guitar, watch this how-to!

How To: Play the song "Radioactive" by Kings of Leon on the bass

Radioactive by Kings of Leon is a very straightforward song for bass players, although as they say in the world of music "simple is almost always better". If you're just getting started on bass, or if you're just really into the song and want to learn it on bass, this video has what you need. In it you will get a full lesson on how to play "Radioactive" by Kings of Leon.

How To: Boil vigor into your bass guitar strings for a "brand new" tone

This is an old school trick to revitalizing your bass playing skills— on the cheap. If you're in desperate need of some new bass guitar strings, but can't afford the cost, then there's a solution to bringing new life into them for that "brand new" tone— boil them. Boiling bass guitar strings is a great trick to restoring your sounds, but you can only do this a couple times or it will stretch them out too much and break.

How To: Play "Le Freak" by Chic on the bass

Le Freak by Chic is a popular song from the 70's and the epic bass player on the track was Bernard Edwards. The song for bass players is all about sticking in the pocket and grooving hard when it calls for it. In this excellent lesson you will learn how to play each section of the song from the intro, through the extended bridge, and more!

How To: Play the main bassline to "Disco Inferno" by the Trammps

There's no better way to hone your bass wielding skills while shaking that fine backside of yours than grooving along to the superhit "Disco Inferno" by the Trammps. After being included on the soundtrack to John Travolta's "Saturday Night Fever," the song was catapaulted to the top of the charts and many of us still recognize the tune today.

How To: Play the bassline from "Jamming" by Bob Marley

In this tutorial, we learn how to play the bass line from "Jamming" by Bob Marley. For the intro, you will set your metronome at 90, then start to play the notes. The first bar is a B at the seventh fret of the E string, playing a rhythm with that. The second bar is E on the seventh fret of the A string. Play these together, then start with the third bar of the song. The third and fourth bar are played together, and are D and F# on the third fret of the G string. Once you start to do this, yo...

How To: Play the bassline from "Time is Tight" by Booker T

In this video, we learn how to play the bass line from "Time is Tight" by Booker T. Start with the intro playing the metronome, the chords will be: C, A, and G. You will have CCA, CCA, then CCAG for your rhythm as you are playing. Practice playing this over until you reach the first verse of the song. Now, play F on a higher string, then D, and C. The sequence is, F, F, D, F, D, C, F, D, C, F, D, C, and D. Play eight bars, then continue on to play the rest of the verses throughout the song. W...

How To: Do rhythm changes in C while playing bass

In this video, we learn how to play bass: Rhythm changes in C. A lot of times this tune is played very quickly, but playing slow can sound very nice as well. When you play slow you can see and hear exactly what the note is supposed to be like. There is more time in between the notes when you play slowly, so you have to have a lot of control over your hands and chords. When doing rhythm changes, make sure to feel the groove as you are going so you can feel you are in key with the rest of the m...

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