Knowing what things are actually called is super useful in many situations. Whether you’re learning the lingo of D&D, a specific type of hardcore workout, or a new musical instrument, knowing what to say can make your experience a lot better. Knowing the parts of a bass guitar is a great example of this. You’re … Read more
Whether you’re listening to a song to try and learn the bass line or you’re just looking for more low end in your ears, you might be wondering, “Why is bass guitar hard to hear?” There are plenty of reasons why you might have trouble hearing the lower frequencies in a certain song. We’ll talk … Read more
Fret markers, or those dots you see on the fretboard of a guitar or bass, just always seem to be there. Often, they become a part of the neck that we don’t even really see unless we’re actively inspecting them. But, what are fret markers for? How important are they to everyday bass or guitar … Read more
Few bassists have captured the continuous attention and admiration of musicians across the globe as Victor Lemonte Wooten. From starting out in his family act, the Wooten Brothers Band, to winning five Grammys, working with the best of the best, and sharing his knowledge at the best music schools in the world, Victor Wooten appears … Read more
For many beginning bass players, the number of frets on your bass won’t be a huge concern. You’ll likely be thinking more about issues such as weight, overall size, and cost as you’re starting out. But, later on in your bass guitar journey, you may think a lot more carefully about how many frets on … Read more
The obvious answer here is, that they don’t. Not always. Bass guitars are found with four, five, and even six strings pretty regularly. A six-string bass guitar is more rare, but they are still quite popular with some musicians in the worlds of jazz and fusion. But, the standard is four. So, if there is … Read more
Learning to play bass guitar is a lot like learning to write fiction or poetry. We don’t learn the rules of grammar and good writing just to know the rules. There’s something a lot more important behind it. We learn the rules of language so that we can communicate more effectively. In other words, we … Read more
You know that feeling when you catch yourself with your jaw hanging open after watching something mind-boggling? That’s often the experience of countless people when they first hear and see bass virtuoso Mohini Dey. Still in the early stages of her career (though she started gigging at age 10!), she has accomplished bass guitar mastery … Read more
We all love the sound of a double bass. The deep and earthy tone can be both thunderous and soothing, playful yet menacing. The invention of the electric bass guitar took the double bass and made it more portable, louder, and faster; not to mention giving musicians a whole new array of sounds to play … Read more
When you’ve listened to enough bands, you learn the roles each instrument plays to produce a rich, musical tapestry. The drums drive the band; the keyboard and guitars flesh out the harmony, and the vocals or horns often carry the melody. Then there’s the bass. It’s the foundation, the harmonic grounding. Bass is the engine … Read more