What To Do When Buying A Bass Guitar

The bass guitar is very much like a slightly larger version of an electric guitar, but it usually only has four strings and also has a longer neck and a slightly wider body. Anyone learning to play the bass (or planning to) needs to first understand the instrument's place in a band - IE - what it's main purpose is, and secondly to understand the different techniques employed for the different genres of music played by the band.

Bass playing has some interesting techniques associated with it that also have unusual names. For example, 'slapping' is achieved by (usually) striking the E string (normally the 'bottom' string - IE - the 'widest' one that plays the lowest notes but appears to be the 'uppermost' string when the guitar is strapped on and the strings are viewed) with the thumb towards the neck of the instrument. The thumb is then pulled away quickly. If you listen to any 'funk' music, you will hear this technique being employed quite a lot.

Another of the bass techniques is called popping. This is done by slipping one of the fingers right underneath the string and then pulling it outwards and releasing it so that it pops back. Both of these techniques (slapping and popping) can be used effectively by alternating between one and the other. Obviously, this can be done a lot more quickly than repeatedly doing the one technique with either just the thumb or just the finger.

The main backbone of a band is made up of the bass guitar working closely with the drummer. This section provides the rhythm, the main melody and the basic harmonic foundation for the rest of the band who play chords over the top of this foundation. Obviously, the bassist therefore needs to have particularly good timing. You will normally find more men than women playing the bass, not least because of how thick the strings are, therefore it needs a reasonable amount of finger strength and toughness to be able to play the instrument for very long periods of time without causing injury. It is more likely to be the case if it is a particularly aggressive, rapid style of bass playing required for that type of music.

Also many larger built men find that their finger tip size, hand size and limb length make it much more comfortable and productive for them to choose the bass rather than the electric guitar. Specifically, a rhythm guitarist will quite often only play chords, which require hand dexterity and ideally, thin fingers. So for someone with big 'sausage' fingers, who also might be a little more 'clumsy' than others, the bass is the best solution as they may find normal guitar playing quite frustrating.

Bass guitars can be played using the index and middle finger in alternate 'plucks'. The thumb is often rested on the top of the pick-up nearest the middle in order to support these two fingers while playing. But the bass can also be played with a pick (or plectrum). There is also a pick that is made specifically for the bass which is larger than a typical guitar pick.|Bass guitars are most usually played by using the middle finger plus the index finger to alternatively pluck the strings. The thumb is usually used as a support and is most commonly rested just on top of the pick-up. You can also play the bass guitar with a pick (otherwise known as a plectrum) and there are bass pics manufactured specifically for the bass guitar-these are thicker and more sturdy than the typical electric guitar pick.}

If you are looking to buy a bass guitar on the internet, some good tips are to check that the sender will be using adequate packaging to protect the item in transit. Also, you should view pictures of the guitar closely if it is second-hand in order to try and find any marks or other giveaway signs that the instrument has been mis-treated or dropped, as any damage could affect the quality of the sound produced by it.

As with any online purchase, particularly if it isn't cheap, one should take great care to examine the credentials of the seller (if it's on eBay) or website. Look into their selling history, check their refund policy and look for any other information that will help you to make a safe and satisfying purchase.