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Hot Bass How-Tos

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 Earth, Wind & Fire's Let's Groove Tonight on bass

Looking for a quick video lesson on how to play Earth, Wind & Fire's "Let's Groove Tonight"? It's a pretty easy tune (and consequently one well suited for budding bassists) - there are only two parts to the song and this video provides a thorough breakdown of each. For more information, and to get started playing the bass line from "Let's Groove Tonight" yourself, watch this free video bass tutorial.

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: 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: 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 walking bass lines

Check out this instructional bass guitar video that shows you how to play dominant 9th and 13th chords through the circle of 5ths with a walking bass line. Improve your guitar playing skills by learning a few tips on walking bass line techniques.

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: Play the Beatles' "In My Life" on an electric bass

Want to know how to play the bass line to the Beatles' "In My Life"? Learn how with this free video bass lesson. 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 John Lennon song on your own electric bass, watch this how-to!

How To: Play the coronet

Our expert shows you how to play the cornet. Duane Carter tells you the differences and similarities between the cornet and trumpet. He also shows you how to use your tongue, lips, and breathing to accentuate notes. Duane gives you tips and advice for practicing the cornet. So, what are you waiting for? Start learning the mellow sounds of the cornet today!

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: 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 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: 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: 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 The Clash's "Should I Stay or Should I Go" (bass)

Should you stay or should you go? Well, that depends on if you want to learn how to play the baseline for "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" by the Clash. If you're staying, pick up your bass guitar and get ready to rock! Watch this video lesson to see the baseline broken down and spelled out, note-by-note, along with fretboard positions and strings to play. Plus, you can hear the notes of the line played against a metronome click to ensure that you can hear the rhythm.

How To: Play the bassline from Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean"

Wanna play the bass like a pro? Paul Wolf provides a superlative video, for beginners, to learn how to play Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" on the bass guitar. The use of a picture within a picture provides beginners good closeups of where to place the fingers of both hands to accomplish the task. He includes a slower version and a breakdown of the parts of the piece, the chords and metronome settings to help with the changes in tempo of the song. He provides great insights to all of the rift...

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: Play bass guitar rhythm

In this video series, watch as jazz musician Ryan Larson teaches advanced bass guitar lessons in all twelve keys. Learn how to read tab and relate it to scale names, how to walk through various bass lines, and how to play a Latin walking bass line.

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 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: 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 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: 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 "Come As You Are" by Nirvana on the bass

Interested in learning how to play the bass line to Nirvana's "Come As You Aware"? 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 "Come As You Are" on your own bass guitar, watch this how-to!

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 basic walking bass lines

If you are looking to begin playing the bass then this how to video is the place to start. This is a short demonstration lesson detailing the basic principles of walking bass lines. You will learn some easy scales and how to play a walking bass line for whatever song you are playing. With this tutorial you will learn tips to improve your walking bass technique.

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