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Hot Bass How-Tos

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How To: Play the bassline for "Soul Man" by Sam & Dave

"Soul Man" was one of the biggest hits of 1967, and still holds its ground in success. Sam & Dave's hit single, written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter, will forever live on in the music world, and through you… if you play bass. This video is a beginner's lesson to bass guitar, which teaches you how to play the baseline for "Soul Man" by Sam & Dave, with the baseline perfected by Duck Dunn. This is a good bass line for beginners who've played for a bit to get their fingers around.

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: 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: Play the bass to Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit"

Kurt Cobain's simple but majestic songwriting for Nirvana has been perhaps the greatest boon to aspiring rock musician of the last two decades. The video from How To Play Bass details how to play Krist Novoselic's iconic bassline from the song Smells Like Teen Spirit. Even if you can't count sixteenths, this video should have you playing the song quickly and is a great way for beginners to learn to play a really fun part without needing too much experience.

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: Walk on one chord

Extend one chord on upright bass for an extended period of time. Learn about one chord walking on upright bass in this free stringed instrument video from a jazz and classical bassist.

How To: Bow an upright bass

Bowing an upright bass is a technique that diversifies the sounds and music that can be made by the instrument. Play with a bow on upright bass with tips from a music teacher in this free stringed instrument video series.

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 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: 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...

How To: Name the parts of an electric bass guitar

In this bass guitar lesson for beginners, you'll learn how to identify and name each part of an electric bass guitar. Regardless of your preferred style of music, if you want to be great, you'll need to know the basics. And it doesn't get much more basic than knowing what each part of your bass is called.

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 note on a bass guitar

In this bass guitar lesson for beginners, you'll learn how to fret and play a natural A like a natural. 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 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 note on the bass guitar

In this bass guitar lesson for beginners, you'll learn how to fret and play a natural C. 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: Fret and play a D sharp or E flat note on the bass

In this bass guitar lesson for beginners, you'll learn how to look sharp while fretting and playing a D sharp or E 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 b...

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: Fret and play a G sharp note on a bass guitar

In this free video bass guitar lesson, you'll learn how to fret and play a G sharp note. 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 guide for bassists.

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, ...

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