I'm new to the bass guitar...... got some beginner questions?

Question

I'm starting to play the bass guitar. I haven't played an instrument before but can read tab decently. I've got three questions:

1- What are the main symbols I need to know on the tab (I mean for example that dash / and vibrate string and that kind of thing. Could you please list the main symbols and explain about them.

2. It says tune to Eb, Db etc. I know those are the names of the strings but how do I tune it to that? is that just a regular tuning or not, explain please

3. I read about some programs where it the program will hear you play the guitar through your computer speakers and it will give feedback and show the notes your supposed to play and stuff, I was wondering if there's one where you can play songs for free... and its for the bass......

Thanks Alot

Answer 1

What they sad for the 1&2 question

3- I would recommend Guitar Pro 5 over Guitar Pro 6 (personal experience) but it wont hurt to have them both cause sometimes (but very rarely) the tabs don't work with GP5 !

Answer 2

I don't learn by tab but use it in GP6 to tab stuff out for friends so know a little of it.



1. As a beginner doing easier material you're not going to need to worry about most of the symbols you may have seen in guitar tab. About all you may need are slides and hammer on/pull off. Slide is a sloping line from one note to another, usually accompanied by the letters "sl". Hammer on / pull off is an arc over a pair of notes with an H if the pair is a rising tone or P over it if it's a decending tone. Vibrato is a wavy line for the duration of a note. Since I haven't seen a bass with a whammy bar since the 80s and few players used them I seriously doubt you'll see "bar" next to a wavy line in a bass tab. Another is the "m" or "pm" for palm mute, where you rest your right palm on the strings at the bridge to make the notes muffled and short.



2. Eb, Db, etc. aren't the names of strings. They are the pitches to tune the low string to to meet a certain detuned pitch. Normally it's E. So if you see Eb you tune down a half step. Sometimes you detune the whole guitar down, sometimes it's only the low string and the others stay at concert pitch. You need a chromatic tuner or if you're using something like a Guitar Port it has one.



3. I don't know if there's anything out there to do what you want but there are some things out there that are pretty powerful. I use Guitar Pro 6 for tabbing stuff out for friends. I have a Fender Princeton Chorus from over 20 years ago but just play bass through a Guitar Port and a good set of computer speakers with a sub.



I wouldn't worry so much about tab. Train your ear. Just sit down with some easy stuff and work out the notes yourself by ear. That way you can pick up anything you want to learn, not only what's tabbed.

Answer 3

1/ Not really possible to help you here. Just search the internet for "tab explained" and print out what you want.



2/ You should tune (lowest to highest) EADG. This is standard tuning and you need to learn to play in this tuning and get used to it before you try any others. Use a guitar tuner. Plug in your bass and tune up to the note. Tuners should have instructions, if not anyone who plays guitar or bass can show you.



3/ I wouldn't be wanting to get side-tracked with fancy programs etc. You simply need to learn how to play the bass, simply. Try to get a beginners' book with a CD. It WILL be difficult and it WILL take time - that's normal. Once you can play a bit, playing with someone else is a great thing to do.



Good Luck

Answer 4

I think you should get a cheap electric guitar (not bass) and take lessons for a year to see if you like it. Plus if you can play 6 string, you can play bass. I started with a washburn x-series (a good sounding, cheap electric) and now i bought a Gibson SG!!!