An electric bass guitar usually has four strings which are tuned to the same pitch as the double bass, or in some cases the strings are simply tuned to be one octave lower than the lowest four strings of a standard guitar.
For the last fifty years, the electric bass guitar has been the instrument of choice for producing the bass notes in most popular music, causing a dramatic decline in the popularity of the double bass for such music. The electric bass guitar has proven to be a very popular instrument, not only for use within popular music, but as an instrument in itself, often used for solo performances. In particular, jazz, funk and rock styles often feature an electric bass guitar solo, or prominent performance within a piece.
It was actually back in the 1930s that the electric bass guitar was born, with Paul Tutmarc's invention - originally referred to as a fiddle. It comprised of four bass strings, had a body and a fret board - and was played horizontally. Named an electronic bass fiddle it proved to be very popular, and because its manner of playing was more similar to that of a guitar, it meant that it was easier to pick up by guitarists than a fiddle would have been for them.
Although Tutmarc's fiddle marked the dawn of the electric bass guitar, it took about twenty years for the idea to take hold, and be developed by Leo Fender before it became a popular instrument. Fender created the Precision Bass, and took the rough form of a Telecaster with a single coil pickup. With four steel strings the instrument became popular with many well known bands and groups of the fifties, and it was at this point that the bass guitar became popular worldwide.
Following closely behind Fender was Gibson, whose bass guitars were generally smaller then fender's, and incorporated a humbucker pickup rather than the single coils. Gibson's most famous creation was the Thunderbird with a 34 inch scale, and duel humbucking pickups located halfway between the neck of the guitar and the bridge - a more usual position.
Today, electric bass guitars can be bought in a range of styles and shapes, although still generally larger than the standard electric guitars. For complete flexibility, however, you could always consider a duel neck guitar - with one being a bass, and the other a standard six string guitar!
Victor Epand is an expert consultant for guitars, drums, keyboards, sheet music, guitar tab, and home theater audio. You can find the best marketplace at these sites for electric bass guitar, bass guitar, sheet music, guitar.
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Yesterday I got a set of these strings. My Fiancée got them for me which was so nice of her!
I got home and put them straight on my bass. I had no choice of getting new strings as I had snapped my E string (even though I thought it was like impossible to brake a E string on a bass haha).
These string are amazing! The tone between these and my old strings is incredible. My old strings where over a year old though! But even when they were new they didn't sound like these. Currently they are a bit 'Tinny' and to bright for my liking but I'm sure after a few weeks they will be great. They also have like red string at the top where they wind round the tuners which I like alot.
I didn’t get these because they are Flea Signature strings. All though I am a huge Red Hot Chilli Peppers fan. I got them because I had tried the two other makes in the shop and wanted something new. They also happened to be the cheapest. But that’s also not why I got them.
Features:
Cost: £18.99 (could of properly got them cheaper online but I needed them quickly)
I will update you on how I get on with them soon. I’m sure once they lose there new string brightness and I get back to college next week and start using them all day long they will be a whole different animal.
Tom Boyd
Recomended Reading : Snow (RHCP) Lesson
Update 16/4/07 : Today I had chance to use these strings properly at rehearsal. They have defiantly settled down a bit now with the new string brightness fading a warmer tone taking its place.
www.wheatdesign.com/bassbook/ Bass lessons split into three 'books'
http://www.guitarnoise.com/bass.php Bass for beginners lessons
Song: Snow ((hey Oh)) ( Verse)
Artist: The Red Hot Chilli Peppers
Level: Beginner (But fun to play for all)
As suggested in a comment I will do a lesson on how to play thing song by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. – Click Here to view the comment
If you’re new to bass don’t worry about the theory bits for now. I will cover those in detail in future lessons and then you can come back and understand it.
Ok this song starts with two riffs (Parts).
This is being played while the guitar plays a G#m Chord for one bar.
Ok Here is the second Riff:
This is played over the bar two while the guitar plays a B Chord.
Ok that’s the basics of the verses done. Some variations of the riff are played in places but to start with we won’t worry about it. Just practise these slowly. Really slowly, just one note slowly followed by the next. Get it perfect so every note rings clearly. One you can do that play it more like the song ( 1st note- rest – then the three note run) once you can do this practise switching between the two riffs smoothly. Now play the recording of the song and play along. Focus on staying in time with the record.
Well I hope this has helped someone out there. If you liked this lesson or have a question send me a comment!
