While not great for gigs, there are a lot of cheap bass guitar amps out there that will work great for home and practice use. Let’s take a look at some of the best value bass amps on the market right now, and help you decide which one of these amps would be right for you. Here are the best bass amps under $100. [Read more…]
How To Nail Your First Show As A Bassist
December 2, 2014 by Leave a Comment
First shows can be rough. Not only do you have no idea what to expect, but nerves are likely running crazy and you’re stressed out about how the performance will turn out. This is totally normal and perfectly fine, but you’ll still want to play the best show as possible. Let’s go over some things to know before, during, and after your performance and see if we can relieve some of that pressure! [Read more…]
Should You Take Bass Lessons?
November 24, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Should you take bass lessons? This question is asked by both beginners and experienced bass players alike. While beginners are looking to excel as quickly as possible, experienced players are looking for that extra bit of knowledge that will make them even better than they already are.
The truth is, bass lessons are not for everyone. Let’s take a look at some hypothetical situations to help decide if bass lessons are right for you. [Read more…]
How Many Strings Should Your First Bass Have?
November 18, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Choosing your first bass guitar can be tough. After all, there are so many choices to be made. In this article, we’re only going to focus on one important choice – the number of screens.
Many bassists (beginner and otherwise) have a hard time choosing how many strings their next bass guitar should have. There are so many options available – from the standard 4-string, all the way up to 12 strings or more. For most people (especially those choosing their first bass), it’s usually a tough choice between 4, or 5 strings.
So, should your first bass have 4 or 5 strings?
Let’s take some time now to help you decide. [Read more…]
Pick vs Pluck – Fingers or Pick When Playing Bass?
November 14, 2014 by Leave a Comment
It’s been an endless debate. Pick or pluck. Fingers or pick. It seems that no matter what you choose, the opposite group will lash out at you.
“Picks are for beginners!” the pluckers would shout. “You can play easier with a pick. so you’d be a fool not to” the pickers would say in response. These two groups have been arguing against each other for years, and it never really amounts to anything.
It’s kind of funny, because both groups are wrong. So which should you actually use? When you’re playing bass guitar, should you use your fingers or a pick? [Read more…]
Is It Safe To Buy A Bass Guitar On eBay?
November 10, 2014 by Leave a Comment
eBay can be a great way to snatch a deal, but it runs the risk of coming with a huge cost.
eBay has been a resource for musicians to buy and sell their instruments for years now, with thousands of transactions taking place each day. This is great for us musicians – sellers can sell their old gear to buy new stuff, and buyers can hopefully snatch a deal at a discounted price. However, transactions don’t always go that smoothly, especially when handling something as fragile as a bass guitar. [Read more…]
How Long Should You Practice Playing Bass Each Day?
November 10, 2014 by Leave a Comment
You’ve probably already invested a lot of money into your bass and your equipment, so I’m willing to bet you’re looking to invest your time into making yourself as good of a player as possible.
You may find yourself asking, “how long should I practice the bass guitar each day before I’m successful?” The truth is, the answer varies.
First of all, it’s important to define what you consider ‘successful’, because this will mean a completely different thing to two different people. If you’re aiming to become the next Paul McCartney, you’re obviously going to have to put in a heck of a lot more work than if you’re just looking to be able to play your favorite song. Words like ‘successful’ ‘good’ and ‘expert’ all are relative and you couldn’t possibly give a set time to reach a certain level.
This is especially true because we all learn at different rates. People who are already great musicians will pick up and master the bass more quickly and easily than someone who is playing bass as their first instrument. Of course, I’m sure you already knew that. But that doesn’t really answer the question – so how much time should you spend playing bass each day? [Read more…]
If You Actually Care About The Bass, Good News!
November 6, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Have you ever tried getting a new band together? It’s not easy. Many people are forced to turn to websites such as Craigslist or Bandmix to find local musicians, and it doesn’t always turn out well.
9/10 times you’ll find people aren’t serious about the music. They want to ‘play band’ rather than play in a band. They overestimate their abilities, and if you can actually get them to meet up with you it’s a huge letdown.
Fortunately for you, this is especially true with bassists. This means that if you actually care about your instrument (I’m assuming you do, since you’re on this site!) you’re at a real advantage. [Read more…]
Epiphone Viola Bass Guitar Review
October 30, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Being a Paul McCartney fan, it should come as no surprise that I’m a huge fan of violin/viola basses. It’s fair to say I’m not the only one. After all, why would so many companies produce their own versions if they weren’t popular?
The first bass I ever purchased myself was the Epiphone Viola. Having played with it for hundreds of hours now, I feel like I’m entitled to fairly review it. Here is my review on the Epiphone Viola bass guitar. [Read more…]
5 Benfits Of Playing Bass Guitar
October 29, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Should you play bass or guitar? Choosing a new instrument to play can be tough, especially if you’re a beginner who doesn’t have the time or money to test out a bunch of different options. While each and every instrument has its pros and cons, the benefits of playing bass guitar often go unnoticed by many beginner musicians.
While many believe that guitarists are the only band members to shine, the fact of the matter is that playing bass guitar in a band has a lot of hidden benefits too. Here are some reasons to learn to play this beautiful instrument [Read more…]
