Hot Bass How-Tos
How To: Play "Every Breath You Take" by the Police on the bass
Want to know how to perform the bass line from the Police's "Every Breath You Take"? See how to play it 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 classic Sting song on your own bass guitar, watch this how-to!
How To: Play the bass line to "Rain" by the Beatles
Want to know how to play the bass line to the Beatles' "Rain"? 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 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 the bass line to David Bowie's "Let's Dance"
Want to play "Let's Dance," the hit single from David Bowie's 1983 album of the same name, on your electric bass guitar? This free video music lesson will show you how it's done. While this tutorial is best suited for intermediate players (advanced ones should be able to figure out the song themselves), beginning bassists should also be able to play along given a little time and effort. Learn how to play the bass line from David Bowie's "Let's Dance" with this video guide.
How To: Play the bassline from "Tears of a Clown"
Do you love the song "Tears of a Clown" by Smoky Robinson? Well, if you're a beginner bass player you're in luck. In this tutorial from How To Play Bass, learn how to play Bob Babbitt's bassline to "Tears of A Clown". This lesson is geared toward beginner bass players.
How To: Play "Tush" by ZZ Top on the bass guitar
If you're a beginner bass player, sometimes the best way to learn is to watch others play. Also, learning from books and virtual bass websites can be frustrating and confusing, but this video makes it all simple. It's a beginner bass lesson for "Tush" from ZZ Top. It's basically a 12-bar blues, and there are 2 different bass lines to this format— either the verse or what's played under the guitar solo.
How To: Play "She's Not There" by Santana on a bass guitar
"She's Not There" is a great song from The Zombies in the 1960s, a top-ten hit in the U.S., and it spawned a number of covers, including hit version from his 1977 album Moonflower. Not quite as famous as the original, peaking at #27, but good nonetheless. And that's the version you'll be learning in this bass how-to.
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: 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 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: 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: Build basslines from a root note
Paul from how-to-play-bass.com demonstrates basic tips and tricks to building your own basslines from the tonic note. Soon you'll be walking, grooving, and swinging your way up and down the fretboard.
How To: Play "Moondance" by Van Morrison on the bass
Paul from how-to-play-bass.com gives a great tutorial of a simplified bassline to "Moondance" by Van Morrison. Paul reduces the walking jazz bassline to an easier format for beginners.
How To: Play the bass line to "London Calling" by The Clash
Paul from how-to-play-bass.com gives a great lesson on how to play "London Calling" by The Clash. This is a great pacing, walking bassline with ample slides and triplet rhythm. Pay attention.
How To: Play "Light My Fire" by The Doors on the bass
This is a great lesson by Paul from how-to-play-bass.com for playing the bassline from The Doors' "Light My Fire". It's a simple bassline that utilizes triads and simple chord changes.
How To: Play "Under Pressure" on the bass
This great tutorial shows you how to play John Deacon's bassline to Queen's "Under Pressure". It's a great breakdown of the various parts and notes so you can learn it very quickly.
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 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: 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: 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 the bassline from "Brown Eyed Girl"
Grab your bass and get ready to learn some beginner songs, specifically "Brown Eye Girl" by Van Morrison. This two-part video will teach you through playing songs, not learning scales.
How To: Play "Pump It Up" by Elvis Costello on the bass
Everybody loves Costello, but not everyone knows how to play Costello. If you want to learn how to start playing bass, "Pump It Up" from Elvis Costello is a perfect choice to begin with. If you're a beginner and want to get better, learn songs not scales.
How To: Play the bass guitar for beginners
This video shows in great detail how to slap the strings of a bass guitar with the thumb or pop the strings with the finger. The various angles of the video make it easy for a viewer to see what it looks like as they slap or pop the guitar, especially the over the shoulder angle. With this angle, the viewer sees what they would see if they were looking down at their own guitar. The picture-in-picture view is also helpful so that the viewer can see up close what both of their hands are doing w...
How To: Play Mozart's "Turkish Rondo" on a five-string bass
This three-part video lesson series presents a guide to playing Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's "Alla Turca," or "Turkish Rondo," on an electric bass guitar. While this lesson is geared toward intermediate and advanced players, bassists of all skill levels will find something to take away. Get started playing Mozart's "Turkish Rondo" on the bass with this awe-inspiring set of video bass lessons.
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: Play slap bass guitar for beginners
If you are looking to begin playing the bass guitar then this how to video is the place to start. This is a short demonstration lesson about slap bass techniques. You will learn where how to hit the strings and get that cool slap sound while still resonating the strings. Slap bass is a difficult technique to master, so it will take a lot of practice. With this tutorial you will learn tips to improve your slap bass guitar technique.
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.
How To: Play the upright bass
The upright bass can be played with fingers or with a bow. Learn how to play upright bass in this free double bass video lesson from a music teacher.
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: Play melodic basslines on the upright bass
Practice upright bass by learning a number of melodic basslines. Learn about melodic basslines on upright bass in this free stringed instrument video from a classical and jazz bassist.
How To: Master basic acoustic bass techniques
The bass guitar is one of the most important rhythm section instruments that widens the sound of any musical piece. Learn tips on some beginning techniques and tips from an expert that anyone can use to become a better bass player.
How To: Play minor scales and arpeggios on the upright bass
Practice upright bass with minor scales and arpeggios. Learn about scales, sharps, flats, and more in this free upright bass video from a classical and jazz bassist.
How To: Use voice leading in walking basslines
Practice upright bass by trying voice leading over walking basslines. Learn how to play voice leading progressions in this free upright bass video from a jazz and classical bass player.
How To: Play dominant scales and arpeggios on the upright bass
Every string instrument has scales and chords that can be played and the bass is no exception. Learn what a dominant scale is and about arpeggios from a musical expert int his free video clip series.
How To: Play with good intonation on the upright bass
The upright bass is a musical instrument that requires skill and technique. Learn a few bass tips for shifting your fingers and improving intonation from a professional music teacher in this free video series.
How To: Play soul music on the bass guitar
Would you like to be a soul master? Learning to be an R&B and soul bassist has never been easier with these free videos on music theory.
How To: Play bass guitar scales
Bass is the anchor of the string instruments linking all the others together. See why and get playing tips in this free video series on musical instruments.
How To: Master basic upright bass scale and patterns
Discover upright bass scales and patterns, as well as how to move between chords. Learn about playing the upright or double bass in this free video series from a music teacher.
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.