How to Play String Bass
Start by making sure your bass is the correct height for you., With the bass standing upright, rest the back-right edge of the bass on your left inner hip or pelvis area., Place your left thumb on the back of the neck, a few inches from the scroll...
Step-by-Step Guide
-
Step 1: Start by making sure your bass is the correct height for you.
Adjust the end pin length.
Test this by playing G on the E-string
- your finger should be level with your eyes. , Gently place your left knee on the back of the bass.
Your feet should be in an "L" shape with your left foot parallel with the back of the bass., Keep your palm off of the neck, and let your fingers form a "claw" shape, hovering over the strings, with only flat fingertips touching the strings. (like squeezing a ball between fingertip and thumb), You can use a tuning fork or an electric tuner, or use tuning harmonics (explained elsewhere).
The lowest (thickest) string is E, then A, D, and G., Classical music primarily uses the bow, while jazz, bluegrass, and other contemporary styles use pizzicato primarily.
To pluck the bass properly, align your index finger pointing downward, pulling the string away with as much of your finger (from tip to middle knuckle) as possible.
Proper bowing technique starts with a proper grip for your style of bow, and a relaxed body and hand.
Keep the bow perpendicular to the strings, halfway between the bridge and fingerboard.
The feeling should be of pulling the sound from the string rather than pressing down on the string, although significant pressure is required for clear sound., If you lay the rest of your fingers down, you naturally rest in first position.
That is F# on your first finger, G on your second (middle) finger, and G# under your pinky.
Work with these intervals until you get them in tune.,, Half position begins a half step lower in tone than First position on all strings., -
Step 2: With the bass standing upright
-
Step 3: rest the back-right edge of the bass on your left inner hip or pelvis area.
-
Step 4: Place your left thumb on the back of the neck
-
Step 5: a few inches from the scroll
-
Step 6: Keep your left elbow up
-
Step 7: parallel to the floor.
-
Step 8: Make sure the strings are in tune.
-
Step 9: The strings can be sounded in two main ways: Using a bow (arco) or plucked (pizzicato).
-
Step 10: Find an F# on the lowest string by hearing a Major 2nd interval from the open string (meaning 2 half steps).
-
Step 11: Move to the other strings in the same position
-
Step 12: and get those notes in tune as well.On the A string
-
Step 13: index:B middle:C pinky:C#On D string
-
Step 14: index:E middle:F pinky:F#On the G string
-
Step 15: index:A middle: B-flat pinky:B
-
Step 16: By this time
-
Step 17: you can work on 1/2 position (F
-
Step 18: G on the E string) and shifting between these first two positions.
-
Step 19: Work your way up the fingerboard
-
Step 20: learning all the finger positions and their corresponding notes.
Detailed Guide
Adjust the end pin length.
Test this by playing G on the E-string
- your finger should be level with your eyes. , Gently place your left knee on the back of the bass.
Your feet should be in an "L" shape with your left foot parallel with the back of the bass., Keep your palm off of the neck, and let your fingers form a "claw" shape, hovering over the strings, with only flat fingertips touching the strings. (like squeezing a ball between fingertip and thumb), You can use a tuning fork or an electric tuner, or use tuning harmonics (explained elsewhere).
The lowest (thickest) string is E, then A, D, and G., Classical music primarily uses the bow, while jazz, bluegrass, and other contemporary styles use pizzicato primarily.
To pluck the bass properly, align your index finger pointing downward, pulling the string away with as much of your finger (from tip to middle knuckle) as possible.
Proper bowing technique starts with a proper grip for your style of bow, and a relaxed body and hand.
Keep the bow perpendicular to the strings, halfway between the bridge and fingerboard.
The feeling should be of pulling the sound from the string rather than pressing down on the string, although significant pressure is required for clear sound., If you lay the rest of your fingers down, you naturally rest in first position.
That is F# on your first finger, G on your second (middle) finger, and G# under your pinky.
Work with these intervals until you get them in tune.,, Half position begins a half step lower in tone than First position on all strings.,
About the Author
Janet Rivera
Specializes in breaking down complex organization topics into simple steps.
Rate This Guide
How helpful was this guide? Click to rate: