I see a lot of questions asked by beginners: “What is the best bass guitar?” As with anything, the answer is highly individual. What is “best” for me may not be “best” for you. There are things to consider when purchasing your first bass guitar, though.

Name Brand

Imagine you’re in the market for a car. You find two cars that are in the same price range and have the same features. One is a name-brand that you recognize the other is an imported brand that you haven’t heard of. Which one are you more inclined to buy? Why? If the manufacturer has been around for a while, they must be making some fairly durable cars. The no-name car may be a lemon. The choice is easy: go with a name you’ve heard of before. Fender, Gibson, Ibanez, Washburn, Jackson, Rickenbacker — all are great names. You really can’t go wrong with these brands.

Lefty or Righty?

Are you right-handed or left-handed? To be honest, there are some left-handers who have adapted to, and actually prefer, playing a right-handed bass guitar. There’s going to be some adapting to learning to play the bass period — if you are truly a beginner — but it’s something to keep in mind. If you’re left-handed, consider getting a left-handed bass. Having the bass set up specifically for your dominant hand will be an advantage.

Price

This is probably a big one for you — it is for me as well. You want to make sure that you get a name-brand bass, but you don’t want to pay out the nose for it. Consider getting a used bass guitar. You’re still getting the brand name, you’re just not paying a premium for a new bass guitar. If it’s seen some wear, you can always take it to a local shop and have them give it some TLC for less than you would have paid for a new bass guitar. If given the choice of buying a brand new no-name guitar or a used brand-name guitar, I’d choose the brand-name every time. The same holds true for an amplifier. Buy a brand-name amp (Marshall, Fender, Ampeg, Crate, or Peavey) used to save some money.

You’ll be able to find the “best” guitar for you if you keep these things in mind. You may even be able to afford some lessons with all of the money that you save!

By: Ryan Konecky

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Best Bass Guitars Reviewed

The best bass guitar is a question that has no direct answer. It is a subjective topic that can only be answered by the musicians who play the bass. However, a bass guitar can be customized to fit a specific playing style. In finding the best bass, a musician must look for price and sound quality that fit their band.

A bass guitar is a type of stringed instrument that plays a lower tone and sound than a regular guitar. The most notable difference is that a bass guitar may have as few as four strings and they are much thicker. The thicker strings are what give the bass its low tone.

If a band or person rates quality by price, then a guitarist may want to look at “boutiques.” These stores usually have a greater selection of expensive and specialty guitars. Some of the brand names that can be found here are Steinberger or MBass. These are flamboyant pieces that give a bassist added style to go with their sound.

Gibson and Fender are very popular models. Of the two, Fender is better known for its bass guitars and has solidified itself as one of the preferred brands of guitar. These two types of bass are cheaper than the one’s found at the boutiques and can be altered to be given their own style. For someone starting out that would like a less expensive model, but one made of quality, either of these would make a fine choice.

Finding the best bass for a guitarist can depend on a lot on the individual. While price is an obvious factor, a lot more goes into picking out the perfect guitar. Just because one style works for one person, does not mean that it will work for you when you are looking to get a new instrument. Finding the best guitar is more about getting something in your hands that you are confident and comfortable, and that produces the sound that you are looking for.

By: Wes Hagan

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Best Bass Guitars Available

Ever thought that a guitar might be a more reliable investment than the stock market?  Vintage guitars are becoming a hot item in the collectibles market, and there are few icons more recognizable to Americans than a rock star and his guitar.  While a few months’ savings might have bought a guitar in the 1960s, some of those instruments are selling for big bucks today.  Recently, George Harrison’s guitar sold for a little under six hundred thousand dollars, for instance.  Eric Clapton’s favorite Stratocaster from the 1970s, Blackie, sold for nearly a million.

While celebrity collectibles have been a good investment for years, guitars themselves have largely been overlooked.  However, the guitar was perfected between the 1930s and the 1960s, depending on the model, and instruments from this period are highly regarded.  Some people think that in fifty to a hundred years, guitars from the mid 20th century will be thought of in the same way as violins and cellos from the 17th and 18th century.

The appeal of any guitar grows over time, and there hasn’t yet been a period when the market sank.  That makes a vintage guitar a great investment choice, as well as a visually and emotionally rewarding collectible.  There’s nothing like being able to say that you own the guitar once played by a legend.

Values only continue to go up, too.  While a 1959 Fender Sunburst Stratocaster, one of the most famous types of guitar, originally cost about $250, it brought between eight and nine thousand dollars in 1997.  Today, you might have to pay seventeen thousand for a model with a slab fingerboard.

Recent stock market unpredictability has meant that people are more interested in guitar collecting.  These vintage instruments are a great type of protected investment.  For collectors who want to cover all the bases, consider a varied collection – acoustic, electric, exotic, antique, vintage, contemporary and even custom guitars.

What Defines A Vintage Guitar

To be a vintage guitar, an instrument needs to be more than just old.  It should be from a period that was influential.  Many good vintage guitars are made using techniques or materials that were discontinued, or made before a big change in the company.

For instance, Leo Fender, inventor of what we think of as an electric guitar, sold his company in 1965, a move which some think of as the death knell of Fender Musical Instruments.  Fender Telecasters and Stratocasters made before this time are in enormous demand.  Asking prices have risen into the five figure range.

It’s not just Fender, either.  C.F. Martin and Co. were the makers of the D-28, one of the most popular acoustic instruments ever.  Since 1969, Brazilian rosewood hasn’t been available as the standard wood.  Guitars produced by Martin after this period are considered inferior by many collectors.

Top Vintage Brands

The American brands that stand out when it comes to collecting vintage guitars as an investment (and also as a great guitar) are Guild, Martin, Gibson, Gretsch, and Fender.  Each of these manufacturers also has an era that collectors agree upon as having been the best.  Of course, make isn’t the only way you decide how much a guitar is worth.  The rarity and condition of the guitar are important, as is who’s owned the guitar and where it’s been.

If you want a great investment that’s also a piece of the past, look into vintage guitars.  Collecting them can be rewarding in many ways, and it’s a lot more stable than playing the stock market! A good place to begin your search would be Bob’s Vintage Guitars where you will find a large selection of vintage guitars and amplifiers. There is also a great deal of information about collecting vintage guitars.



By: Robert Meyer

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Best Bass Guitars Reviewed

Playing the guitar is one popular pastime nowadays. For some people, it is also a way of expressing themselves and elevates the hobby into an art form or sometimes, science.

Playing the guitar, however, is no joke. It requires a lot of patience and practice. For some people, they would rather study playing the bass guitar than the regular guitar. Here are some tips on learning to play the bass guitar.

1. Feel the beat

Playing the bass guitar differs primarily from playing a regular guitar because it entails an emphasis on the beat of the music. One can compare the bass guitar into a drum or percussion set that is made into a guitar. Beats are very important in playing bass guitar because this type of guitar gives depth and timing to any song.

If one grasps the notes of a regular guitar through his ears, a bass player grabs the notes of a bass guitar through his chest. The bass guitar pounds on the heart and gives it feelings through the depth of the music.

2. Learn the notes (single chords) on a regular guitar

The main thing about bass guitars is that they are tuned like ordinary guitars. The difference is that most regular bass guitars only have four strings which are far thicker than ordinary ones. This kind of strings allows the bass guitar to go very deep in terms of tone.

Take a regular guitar (which is tuned from the thickest to the lowest string- E – A – D – G – B – E) and exclude the two thinnest strings at the bottom and what is left is basically a bass guitar with thinner strings.

Bass playing is usually note-oriented and not chord-oriented. This means that single notes are hit more often in bass playing and this scheme is the essential element of bass playing. One should be familiar with the tunings and the notes in a regular guitar to be able to decently play the bass guitar.

3. Finger placing is important

Hitting the bass guitar fret board with the left-hand fingers is very important since it is a major factor that will determine the wholeness of each note. Try to place the fingers such that they are close to the fret on the right. The right hand should also be practiced so as to give bass guitar playing a holistic approach.

4. Strengthen your grip

Another important thing to develop in bass playing is the strength of both hand’s fingers. The bass guitar is a sturdy and solid musical instrument, strength is needed to play it.

In playing the bass guitar, one should always take one lesson at a time. Bass playing requires repetition and there’s no sense in hurrying the learning process. One should feel the notes through his soul and through his heart and become one with the bass guitar.

By: Anthony Lee

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There are two types of bass guitar pedals and these are multi-effects pedals and dedicated effects pedal. There are distinct advantages in both of these models and let us look at each one of them in an individual manner so that we can make the decision on buying the one that suits our playing style.

Let us look at the multi effects model first and this is a single unit through which you will be able to achieve different effects. There are some musicians that such equipment works out to be a disadvantage as you will not be able to get the desired result as too many effects are cramped into one single unit.

The quality of the effect also gets affected due to this but it is still a great way to getting introduced to the various effects that are capable from a single unit and you will also learn to manipulate the various effects in a very effective manner.

In the case of a dedicated effects pedal there is only one effect that is created and if you are one that will use a particular effect more often, then you can opt for it. As there is just one effect that is created it comes out pretty well and you will be able to achieve the desired results. You can also use a number of dedicated effects pedal in order to get a wide range of effects and you can also try the modular variety.

You will be able to add an entirely new dimension of playing the guitar when you use the bass guitar pedal and the effect though subtle has a profound addition to your skill of playing the guitar. The pitch and the tone changes when you use the guitar pedal in an effective manner. You will also be able to create an illusion of multiple instruments playing in perfect sync with each other when you use the bass guitar pedal.

Most musicians feel that it helps create the necessary special effects or drama while you are playing the guitar and all this helps in enhancing the overall impact of the music you create. But if you do not use it properly then you can totally spoil a piece of good music and you will have to practice using it before you try it out in a concert or in front of an audience.

By: O Keynan

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Best Bass Guitars Reviewed

This material seeks to answer your question on how to tune a bass guitar. Well since I don’t know exactly how many strings are on your bass guitar I shall present you with different options, namely, 4-string, 5 string, 6 string, and 7 string basses.

First of all we shall look at the standard tuning of bass guitars.

The standard tuning of a four string bass guitar from highest (thinnest string) to lowest (fattest string) is G-D-A-E.

On a five string bass the tunings are similar with the addition of a low B string.

On a six string bass guitar, a thinner (higher pitched) string is added, and is tuned to C. In other words on a 6 string bass guitar the settings are B-E-A-D-G-C, where B is the fattest string or lowest note and C the highest and thinnest.

On a 7-string bass a high F-string is added. The settings on a 7-string bass are B-E-A-D-G-C-F where B is the lowest and F the highest.

Tuning your bass is all about matching the pitch of your instrument to that of a bass guitar tuner, pitch pipe, tuning fork or a correctly tuned piano or keyboard. If you do not have a tuner or keyboard instrument, you can find an online tuner by doing a search.

Now all you have to do is match the pitch of the strings to the corresponding notes on your tuner. Hopefully your ears are sufficiently developed (musically), for you to hear this. When the note on your bass is the same as that of your tuner, the vibration patterns will match and you will hear no wah-wah-wah sound when you play the two notes. There will be no clash between the two notes.

So how do you tune your bass?

Loosen the string and tune up to the correct note. In other words your string should be well below the correct pitch and only then do you begin to tighten. That way you avoid breakage by tightening the string too much. Listen carefully to make sure the two pitches match and that there is no wah-wah-wah or clashing sound between the two notes.

As long as the notes are in sync, you will hear no wah-wah-wah sound. But if you pass the in tune point, you will begin to hear that undesired sound again, and it means that you will have to loosen on the string a little until you get back to the in tune point.

Tune all your strings one by one by matching the sound of the strings to the corresponding note on your tuner.

Tuning your bass is not hard. But as with any other instrument it involves practice. And of course, practice makes perfect. After a while you may find that you do not even have to rely on an electronic tuner to tune your bass. Hope you found this guide useful. Good luck.

By: Mantius Cazaubon

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Best Bass Guitars Available

Let us try to get a best bass guitar songs list among the hundreds of wonderful songs that we have heard over the years. The list though not inclusive of all the legends is an attempt at listing out a top 10 bass guitar songs. The number ten songs on the list is Break on Through by the Doors and it is quite a wonderful way that bass is used in this song that makes it such a hot favorite. Higher up on the list at number nine is Boris the Spider by The Who.

At number eight we have Whipping Post by Allman Brothers band and at number seven we have Roundabout by Yes. Dazed and Confused by Led Zeppelin is at number six and at number five we have The Real Me by The Who. Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple is at number four and at three we have Another One Bite the Dust by Queen.

At number two we have My Generation by The Who and the topmost position is occupied by Money by Pink Floyd. There could be a number of people who could be annoyed that the list does not include the legends of bass guitar like Beatles, Eagles, Dire Straits, Black Sabbath, Taylor Swift, Guns N Roses, Eric Clapton, Metallica and many more wonderful, talented and gifted legends who had made the bass guitar a magical instrument.

The list as stated earlier is not a complete list and there are bound to be arguments and counter arguments about the validity of an inclusion. The list is just a starting point where beginners or novices in guitar playing can listen to and learn the wonderful skills from the legends who have strummed the guitars to perfection to bring out the best music that we had all loved and cherished.

Along with the list of top 10 bass guitar songs we must also have a list of top 10 bass players who have immortalized this humble instrument into a great piece of art. This list would again not be a complete list but just an attempt to identify the legends of guitar who have given us such wonderful music. Paul McCartney from the former Beatles was considered a legend that used to play the bass to perfection and most people thought that his fingers were magical when they touched the guitar and some of the most memorable bass guitar songs have come from this great man. Others on the list would include Pino Palladino, Flea, Jaco Pastorius, Mark King, Tony Levin, Geddy Lee, Bootsy Collins, Charlie Haden and John Paul Jones.

By: Or Kynan

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Best Bass Guitars Available

Do you need a special type of guitar?

The simple answer is No! For a beginner, any (nylon stringed) classical guitar will do the job.

Having said that, there are 2 points of confusion that are worth mentioning. They may seem obvious to most people, but I’m here to tell you they are not obvious to everyone.

1) Any guitar with steel strings on it is NOT suitable. There was a time when certain styles of Country and Western and jazz guitars were advertised as “Spanish guitars” for some unknown reason. (I think because they have roughly the same shape as a classical / flamenco guitar). If you look hard enough you may even find a few books of the 1920’s , 30’s, and 40’s which have plectrum style music for these “Spanish guitars”. The equation seems to be: Flamenco = Spanish music = let’s play it on my grandpa’s Spanish guitar. Now where did he put those plectrums? Or something like that.

2) Another common misconception is that the bass strings on a classical guitar are steel. On the outside they look the same as their steel brothers but that’s where the similarity ends. Classical guitar bass strings have many fine strands of nylon woven together inside the copper winding. If you look closely you will see these strands poking out of the end of the string.

3) The action needs to fairly low without producing excessive string buzz.

4) A solid wood top produces a better tone than a factory laminated wood guitar.

5) A tapping plate (golpador) needs to be attached on the top of the guitar. Genuine flamenco instruments already have these but any decent guitar repair shop or Luthier can stick one on for you. Right hand tapping techniques can certainly damage the guitar if this protection is not there.

6) Flamenco guitars are generally lighter in construction. I personally don’t like heavy guitars. For me a guitar must feel comfortable and “user friendly”. Heavy wood guitars like some classical guitars don’t do it for me.

7) When I was learning I bought cheap guitars only. Mainly because I could not afford to pay $500 or more for a expensive hand made guitar by a respected luthier. That doesn’t mean a second hand non-flamenco factory made guitar is no good. For example, I think Yamaha makes good beginner classical guitars that are more than suitable for learning flamenco with an attached golpe plate. I was pretty rough on my guitars so I never got precious about an instrument. When my guitar needed replacing, I just visited the local second hand guitar shop and spend an hour trying out different classical style guitars. A guitar does not have to be expensive; it just needs to “speak to me”. What I mean is that it needs to feel comfortable and have a strong tone.

One consideration that I think is important is whether the strings maintain good tone even if they are fairly worn. This has more to do with the guitar than the strings themselves. That’s why trying old guitars in a second hand shop is a good idea if you just want a cheap beginners instrument. I would try those with worn strings first. The problem is that many guitars sound all terrific and sparkly with band new shiny strings but quickly lose their tone after a few days.

Strings – Which brand? What tension?

A brand of strings that suit one guitar may not suit another. The best way to determine which is best for your guitar is through experiment. Some popular brands are Savarez, La Bella, Augustine and D’Addario. If you’re not sure about tension choose normal tension.

Extending string life

1) Bass strings will naturally wear as a result of contact with the fret wires. Before this wear becomes excessive, loosen the string and pull it through the hole at the saddle about a centimeter or so. The idea is to shift the worn section so it appears over the spaces between the frets when you tighten it back up again.

2) Reverse the bass strings when they become worn so that you end up with a fresh section over the sound hole.

3) Use a cloth impregnated with lemon oil before and after playing.

Brighten up dull strings

1) Perspiration on the hands may dull the resonance in the bass strings. If this occurs, loosen the strings and tighten them up again.

2) Another, more radical method is to wipe the tightened string with a cloth soaked in methylated spirits. Lift the string a couple of centimeters at the 12th fret and let it slap back to the finger board. This should loosen and shake some of the gunk out of the strings.

Changing strings

It is always a good idea to change the strings one at a time in order to maintain a constant tension on the neck and bridge. Tune each new string up to concert pitch before removing the next old one.



By: Sal Bonavita

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Best Bass Guitars Reviewed

The bass guitar often works with the drums to dictate the groove for most music genres. Bass guitarists help build groove and keep time. So you want to join “them” groove makers? You want bass guitar lessons, huh? Here we go…

Before you start taking bass guitar lessons, you need to get a bass guitar. You can start with a box guitar but what you’ll be playing won’t be the real thing. So, if you’re serious, get your own bass guitar. You don’t have to get a high end bass guitar. An average bass guitar will do just fine.

The best bass guitar lesson for you will depend on the way you learn best. There are folks who like it when a real person teaches them. If you fall into that category, then get a good bass guitar teacher.

Now, when looking for a bass guitar teacher, don’t settle for a rhythm guitarist who claims he also plays the bass. If he ain’t a bass player, he ain’t a bass player. Get someone who does it for real.

If you have a more down-to-earth budget, hiring a bass player for you lessons might be a little too much for you to handle. For those who fall into this class, just go and get good bass lessons on Video CD’s and DVD’s.

These are great because everything has been systematically thought out and planned. These types of CD’s and DVD’s also come in grades and levels. So, if you’re a beginner, you’ll get all the basics you need with a beginner series. The only downside to this is that you will not get feedback on your progress unless you have someone who can assess you.

If you are more comfortable with the computer, you can get bass guitar lessons as software. The best ones will give you the opportunity of tracking your progress. For me, I prefer these software tutors more than all the other options.

So, there you are. You really have no excuse for not starting your journey into stardom now. All the bass guitar lessons you need are just a click or call away.

By: Bill McRea

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Best Bass Guitars Reviewed

The number one bass guitarist in the world today is John Alec Entwistle, who is also known as the Ox. He was born on October 9, 1944 and unfortunately died on June 27, 2002. He was a man of few words but many notes. He changed the face of the bass guitar and revolutionized the role it now plays in today’s music. John also loved to draw and his art work appears on all his album covers.

The number two bass guitarist in the world is James Jamerson, who was born on January 29, 1938 in Charleston, South Carolina and died on August 2, 1983. He grew up in Detroit, Michigan with his mother and studied music in high school. He had been credited as being a contemporary musical genius by many, even the great Barry Gordon from Motown Records.

The third bass guitarist in the world is Christopher Russell Edward Squire, who was born on March 4, 1948 in London England. He was an original member of the group Yes prior to going out on his own for a solo career. Today he lives in Scotland with his family.

Geddy Lee is the fourth bass guitar player in the world today. He was born on July 29, 1953 in Willowdale, Canada, who is best known for his participation in the group Rush, which he joined in September of 1968. He is an award winning muscian. In fact, he was won the Best Rock Bass six times, is in the Bass Hall of Fame, and has been voted the Best Bass Player.

The fifth bass guitar player in the world today is Jack Bruce, who was born on May 14, 1943. He played with the band Cream. He has been called one of the most skilled bass guitarist of all time due to his unique style and free spirited approach.

The sixth top player of the bass guitar in the world is Larry Graham. Larry was born on August 14, 1946 in Beaumont, Texas. He is a baritone singer, songwriter, and musician. He is best known for being a member of the band Sly and the Family Stone. He has been credited with the invention of the slapping techinique as well.

Tony Levin is the seventh top bass guitar player was born on June 6, 1946 in Boston, Massachusetts. He has played for such great artists as Cher, Pink, Stevie Nicks, and Seal. Tony created the Funk Fingers, which is a device that mimicks the sound of hitting the strings with drumsticks.

The popular and well knownPaul McCartney is the eighth top bass guitar player of all time. Paul was born on June 18, 1942 in Liverpool, England. He gained worldwide fame as a member of the legendary group the Beatles, but Paul was an excellent bass guitar player.

The ninth top bass guitarist is Louis Johnson, who was born on April 15, 1955 in Los Angeles, California. He is best known for his work on the Thriller album with Michael Jackson. He was nicknamed, “Thunder Thumbs,” for his distinctive style by his peers. His bass slapping technique was unique and very well known.

Flea, Michael Peter Balzary, is the tenth top bass guitar player was born on October 16, 1962 in Burwood, Melborne, Australia. He is a founding member of the band Red Hot Chili Peppers. He is known best for his aggressive slapping technique. I am sure history will bring us many more excellent and talented bass guitar players, but will you be on this list?



By: Or Keynan

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Best Bass Guitars Reviewed

Life is full of chances and choices. It is up to you as to which of these will you take and which you will simply ignore. But if your choice is how to play a guitar, then it is a chance that is surely hard to resist. And when guitar is concerned, the best choice is the bass guitar.

It is said that it is already a bit difficult to learn bass guitar since it is no longer used that much these days. But even with this situation, a lot of individuals still want to learn how to play it. In case you belong to this group, you would discover that if you only care to look, there are really a lot of sources where you can get lessons.

Just in any other kind of instruments, mastering the bass will also take time before you can perfect the craft. For you to learn bass guitar faster than you can ever imagine, it will be nice if you can read the following facts about lessons regarding the bass.

• It is a common misconception by some guitarists that they can shift easily from another kind of guitar to the bass. It could be possible but is certainly not applicable to all. Individual differences is the main reason why this is so. If you only observe, you notice that the strings in a bass have more spaces, creating deeper sounds than any other types of guitars.

• Never expect that you can learn one instrument in just one night. If you want to be really adept in playing bass, it is advisable to start with those chords which have notes that are closer to each other. Be familiar first with the basics so that you can move on to the next level which is slightly more difficult. The fundamentals will let you learn bass guitar fast.

• During your spare time, it will also be good if you will bother to watch someone play the instrument bass. It can either be in real or you can also watch those videos so that you can see how to play it with your own two eyes. To watch with the ***** eyes is better than to read about it.

• Busy individuals will find online bass guitar lessons very helpful. Online lessons will allow you to learn bass guitar on your own time. Even if you are in the conference room or in your office, you can possibly be learning how to play the instrument. As long as there is an internet connection.

By: Stella H. Hawkins

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Best Bass Guitars Reviewed

A guitar tab is a system of notations, letters, symbols and other visual representations – instead of the traditional musical notation. Guitar tabs give directions to the player as to how to play a musical piece through a diagram of strings of the guitar.

Tablature consists of a diagram of strings of the guitar with finger positions indicated by numbers corresponding to the appropriate frets and sometimes with the numerical representations of the fingers. Guitar tabs are very important for those who are enthusiasts and are keen on learning new tunes and technicalities of guitar and especially those songs which have extensive guitar uses, both plucking and other types of fingering as well as lead parts.

A bass guitar is slightly different in shape from other guitars (rhythm guitar, classical guitar, Hawaiian guitar, etc.) A bass guitar is used for complementing and filling up the sound in an orchestration or a band and it goes in tune and rhythm with the drums and percussion. A bass guitar’s neck or fret board is much longer than the fret boards of any other guitars and it has four strings called the bass strings.

Nowadays tablatures, guitar tabs in particular, have vertical lines which represent the strings of the guitar (no matter what kind of guitar it is) horizontal lines for the frets, and dots signifying the position of the figures. In the case of a bass guitar there will only be four horizontal lines signifying the four strings of the bass guitar. A bass guitar can never be played with a spectrum (an object used to strum the strings of the guitar). Instead, it is played with figures just by plucking. Therefore, a bass guitar tablature is different from those of the rhythm or the classical guitars.

By: Thomas Morva

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Best Bass Guitars Available