Tag Archives: beginning bass

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Drop D Tuning (Alternate)

This article will explain the purpose or drop d tuning and how you can tune your bass to drop D.

Why?

Lots of metal bands have already proven that drop D tuning just sounds “heavier” than E standard. It’s also easier to play powerchords on the guitar in drop D.

What is It?

Drop D is simply lowering the open note of the thickest string from E to D.

How?

There are two easy ways to do this. First, get out your chromatic tuner and just keep turning until you get a perfect D pitch. The second way is faster but less accurate. Play the second skinniest string that is also tuned to D. As you play the E and D string, start to tune down the pitch of the E string to you can hear that they are both playing D. Most of the time this is how I achieve drop D.

Things To Keep in Mind:

Usually, the lower the tuning of the string, the more you will have to retune it. Also keep in mind that every once in a blue moon you may accidentally snap a string by tuning it too hard. That’s only happened to me 2-3 times in my bass playing career.

Hopefully this article helped out your metal bass playing. Go find a tab that utilizes drop D tuning to practice!

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5 Things You Need to Play Bass Guitar

Five products are extremely important for playing bass guitar, especially for beginning bass players who want to improve their skills quickly.

The Appropriate Bass

Having the right bass guitar is important for every bass player. Make sure you pick the right bass for your style of playing.

Punk and alternative rock suits itself to a P Bass with plenty of hard picking. Jazz players often find a J Bass to be very  suiting for more contemporary style. It all depends on you!

An Amplifier

You have to get heard somehow. I recommend that you start off with a small combo amp until you are ready to make a larger investment in a bigger combo or half stack amplifier.

I have three types of amplifiers- a 45 watt combo, 300 watt half stack, and a pair of studio monitors I can use on the go. They are awesome and are really good for my style.

A Training Program

Whether you learn best by reading this blog, or others, or going to a professional teacher, all that matters is that it fits your style. I took lessons from a bass player in my area for 3 years, and it was perfect for me while I was starting out.

Some Goals

You should have some goals in order to keep yourself motivated and always moving forward as a bass player. Some good examples are: join a band, play some shows, go on tour, and release a full length CDs.

Patience

Having the correct bass attitude and mindset is critical in life and bass playing. Remember that the best bass players in the world also practice several hours every day, for many years. Don’t get discouraged and don’t quit!

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Hammer-on’s and Pull-off’s

Understanding and utilizing hammer-on’s and pull-off’s is critical for expanding your skills as a bass player.

Hammer-on: Where you have start by playing a note “lower” on the fretboard and then pressing down firmly with your left hand on a higher fret, without playing the second note with your hand.

The tab below is an example of a hammer-on. Notes that follow a “h” are hammered-on, notes with no preceding “h” are played by the right hand. Same goes for “p” and pull-offs.

hammer on bass tab

Pull-off: The opposite of a hammer-on, where you are fretting a higher note and then “pull-off” the fret while holding a lower fret (or an open string.)

pull off bass tab

Hammer-on’s and pull-off’s are often found in bass guitar tabs and can help you play the riff with the exact same technique that the original player used.

Try out these tabs to practice hammer-on’s and pull-off’s.

custom bass tab

 

major scale bass hammer on pull off

This technique becomes easier the more you practice it. Don’t get discouraged and take some breaks if your want to or your hand is sore.

Any questions or comments should be left below!

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How To Play Slap Bass: Part 2

Check this out first: How To Play Slap Bass: Part 1. So now that you know what slapping is, how do you do it?

Use the side of your thumb to strike the thickest string (E). Your thumb should make contact on the side of the knuckle and it should make a thumping noise. This takes lots of practice, just getting it to sound right.

Once you are comfortable with the E string, move up to the second-thickest string (A). I remember this part being very hard when I was initially learning slap bass. Don’t get discouraged, and continue practicing. After you can slap the E and A string, try the D and the G (G is the thinnest string).

Now, it’s time to build up your technique. Play the tab below and let the strings ring out. When you slap one string, it shouldn’t “mute” the others! It is important to establish dexterity and accuracy. No sloppy playing allowed.

slap bass guitar tab

Next, try this tab out. It uses octaves, like many popular slap bass riffs.

slap bass octaves riff

Awesome. Now, continue practicing and try learning some different songs that have slapping in them, or write your own material. You’re well on your way to becoming a well-rounded bass player. Keep practicing.

Any questions? Comments? Let me know below!