ULTRABASS BASS GUITAR PACK BASS PACK CONTENTS High-quality electric bass guitar High-quality lead (approx.
ULTRABASS BASS GUITAR PACK CONTENTS THE PARTS OF THE BASS .............................................................................................................................................................................. 4 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Left hand .......................................................
ULTRABASS BASS GUITAR PACK THE PARTS OF THE BASS Regardless of the type of bass guitar you play, the basic component parts are always the same. The following illustration shows you what the parts are called. Please take the time to familiarize yourself with them.
ULTRABASS BASS GUITAR PACK INTRODUCTION Welcome to the BEHRINGER family! This beginners book for the bass guitar will show you how much fun you can have playing a musical instrument. First we want to make you acquainted with the important basics about your instrument, various playing techniques and some other things. Then were going to show you some examples of styles, rhythm exercises and scales that will make it easy for you to start playing the bass.
ULTRABASS BASS GUITAR PACK Relative tuning method The relative tuning method is the most independent, and is one you can use any time and anywhere. The only thing you need is a reference note (e.g. from another instrument or a tuning fork). As long as one string is tuned correctly, all the other strings can be tuned in relation to it. In the following example, the fourth string (E) is the starting point. 1. Tune the open 4th string (E) with the aid of a reference note (e.g. tuning fork). 2.
ULTRABASS BASS GUITAR PACK PLAYING TECHNIQUES Picks Hold the pick (plectrum) firmly between your thumb and index finger. Your BASS GUITAR PACK contains three picks. Most bass players start with a thin pick and use thicker ones when they have improved their playing technique. Playing with a pick Here you can see the correct way for the pick to strike the strings. Relax and dont constantly think about what youre doing. This will help you to feel comfortable while you play.
ULTRABASS BASS GUITAR PACK Slap bass technique A well-established technique for playing the bass is known as slapping. This technique involves striking the strings on your bass with your thumb. Slapping often alternates with popping a higher string (i.e. releasing it with a snap). For example, first you slap the E string with your thumb and then you pop the D string with your index or middle finger.
ULTRABASS BASS GUITAR PACK NOTATION Fingering diagrams Fingering diagrams show you which notes to play and which strings to pick. The following illustration shows you exactly how the fingering diagram corresponds to the fingerboard on your bass. Tablature There are various ways to write down music, such as standard notation, which requires a certain amount of practice before you know where the notes as they are written are to be found on the fingerboard.
ULTRABASS BASS GUITAR PACK EXAMPLES OF MUSICAL STYLES In this chapter you will find some examples of different styles of music. We will be using tablature here, as this makes it easier for beginners. Its best to use a metronome so that you can achieve an steady rythm. Please remember to play the notes cleanly, keeping your left hand relaxed and free of unnecessary strain. Blues This standard blues pattern consists of 16 measures and only uses quarter notes.
ULTRABASS BASS GUITAR PACK Walking Bass This example shows you a typical blues, rhythm & blues and jazz style. As in the first example, it consists solely of quarter notes. Make sure that you dont leave any breaks between the individual notes, so that they flow into each other. RHYTHM As a bassist, you are largely responsible for the rhythm and the groove. Basically, you are the link between the rhythm instruments (drums, percussion, etc.) and the melodic instruments (e.g.
ULTRABASS BASS GUITAR PACK Rhythm exercise 1: This exercise combines the various note values in the course of eight 4/4 measures. To begin with, try playing each bar individually at a slow tempo ideally with the aid of a metronome. Sometimes it helps to count the quarter beats out loud or tap them with your foot while you play. Once you have mastered each of the measures individually, you can try joining them together. When you get to the end of the 8th bar, its best to start again from the beginning.
ULTRABASS BASS GUITAR PACK Rhythm exercise 2: This exercise now combines the different types of triplets in the course of eight 4/4 measures. Try to learn it in the same way as you learned the first exercise. You may find it rather difficult at first to get the feel for playing triplets, so try playing each bar separately at a slow pace, keeping a regular interval between the individual triplets. Rests Music contains not only notes but also rests, whose importance should not be underestimated.
ULTRABASS BASS GUITAR PACK Shuffle If you play a piece of music with a triplet feel (e.g. in eighth triplets) and you leave out the second note in each triplet (e.g. eighth-note rest), the result is a driving, lively rhythmwhat is known as a ternary rhythm, or shuffle. By comparison, the binary rhythm (without triplets) sounds somewhat more static and less vibrant.
ULTRABASS BASS GUITAR PACK The minor scale This illustration shows you the A minor scale. It also consists of a series of seven consecutive notes. Here, too, the scale begins again one octave higher on the eighth note (A): A - B - C - D - E - F - G - (A). The difference to the major scale is that the half-tones are different steps: from the 2nd to the 3rd notes (from B to C) and from the 5th to the 6th notes (E to F). This scale begins at the 5th fret (V).
ULTRABASS BASS GUITAR PACK The chromatic scale is an exception. As soon as you move to the next string, you have to shift the position by one fret. In addition, on the D string there are not four but five notes, of which both of the last two are played with the little finger. To do this, at the end of the scale you have to slide your little finger from the 9th fret (IX) to the 10th fret (X).
ULTRABASS BASS GUITAR PACK If you were then to take out every B and every F from these scales, you would be left with the notes of the C major (or A minor) pentatonic scale spread over the entire fingerboard. Practise this the same way as you did the C major scale. CHORDS Although bassists tend to have rather less to do with chords than guitarists, for example, we would still like to give you at least a brief introduction to what chords are and to what different kinds of chords there are.
ULTRABASS BASS GUITAR PACK In the following example you will find seven fingering diagrams showing you one way you can play these chords.
ULTRABASS BASS GUITAR PACK CARE AND MAINTENANCE Cleaning your bass When you finish playing, wipe the strings clean with a soft, dry cloth. The sweat from your hands can cause the strings to rust! Regular cleaning can prolong the life of your strings. Polish your bass from time to time with high-quality instrument polish containing a small proportion of silicon-free wax. To care for your fingerboard you can rub lemon oil on the wood with a cloth. This will prevent the wood from drying out.