Questions tagged [bass-guitar]

For questions about the bass guitar, whether acoustic or electric.

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Wiring two pickups to a single volume pot on a bass guitar

If I wire two pickups to a single volume pot: Will they both work? Will they be wired in series or parallel? I suspect parallel but am hoping someone with more knowledge about this will know for ...
John Belzaguy's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
908 views

How to create bass tabs based of guitar tabs

I have been learning Drawing Board by George Ezra on my Guitar. My friend plays bass but we can't find any tabs, so I was wondering if there is a way to match guitar chords with bass notes? Its a ...
Greg's user avatar
  • 101
3 votes
3 answers
2k views

Is there a mistake in the beginning of September's bassline?

I love focusing on the basslines of the songs I like because I used to play the bass. While listening to September by Earth, Wind & Fire, I noticed that around 0:15 the bass is a bit off. My ...
Alexandre Marcq's user avatar
6 votes
4 answers
526 views

Is there a name for this common bass line?

I've heard this bass line in a number of songs, including Billy Joel's "Piano Man", "One Day More" from Les Miserables, and "Rambling Through the Avenues of Time" by ...
margalo's user avatar
  • 1,047
0 votes
2 answers
138 views

I want to learn bass guitar

I'm a seventh grader and I want to learn how to play bass, and while I already have a guitar I need to learn how to play. I recently got invited to a friend's band because they need a bass player and ...
Anonymous's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
989 views

Reliable or Repairable Ampeg amps

I've had an Ampeg SVT-7Pro for a few years and one of the ICE2A165 chips overheated. Apparently this is a common problem with earlier models of the amp. I took the amp to my repair man and he ...
JacobIRR's user avatar
  • 311
7 votes
1 answer
1k views

Does the Thunderbird actually need special strings?

I just got myself a brand-new Epiphone Thunderbird bass. I tried to get some new strings along with it, but was told it needs special (extra-length) strings due to its fairly big headstock. That seems ...
user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
347 views

Definition: Three ascending half steps as a phrase?

Is there an official definition used to describe a phrase constructed by playing three ascending half steps in quick succession, e.g. for a bass fill? I hear this used by a lot by John Taylor from ...
Jamie Butterworth's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
952 views

Celtic folk music bass technique

Few days ago I joined a Celtic folk music band as a bass player. I've never play that kind of music, but I found it very different to play compared to rock music, especially with the right hand. ...
EdgarAP's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
2k views

Is it common for a 5 string bass to have a high B?

My school jazz band's bass player has a 5 string bass but it is tuned like a guitar with a broken 'E' string, but an octave lower. This means that the highest string is a 'B'. Is this common? I know ...
Slapp45's user avatar
  • 477
1 vote
1 answer
2k views

What did I do wrong with the bridge of bass guitar when restringing?

I had my dad's bass guitar lying around (I play with it, but don't play it, if you know what I mean - I'm a drummer myself). I believe that it is a Stagg B300-SB Standard J. It had been lying unused ...
Bram Vanroy's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
2k views

Why does my bass buzz so much when plugged in

I plug my bass in and it starts buzzing right from the start, it plays, and sounds great, but buzzes...I tried different cords, and even different amps, same results..I plugged another of my basses in,...
John's user avatar
  • 11
1 vote
2 answers
397 views

Do I need some amplifier for my VST instruments Ample Metal Eclipse and Ample Metal Rays to get the tone of Metal?

I want to tune these instruments to get the tone of metal especially metalcore tone. Here is my guitar Ample Metal Eclipse : and here is my bass :
Mohammed Mehdi TBER's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
651 views

Is it OK to just replace the first 4 frets instead of all 24 on an Ibanez SR-300, because the first 4 were the only ones damaged by my negligence?

Ibanez SR-300 4 String bass guitar re-fretIbanez 4-String Bassneck DR-300
Troy Boze's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
170 views

How do I properly support a bass solo as a keyboard player?

As an amateur keyboard player, I am used to comping with (or against) a guitar solo, sometimes staying out of the way, other times harmonizing against it, or even just "responding" to its calls. On ...
Editortoise-Composerpent's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
372 views

Using 3 fingers to mute particularly intense harmonics — is there a better way?

When playing the bass, I'm noticing a lot of hard-to-mute harmonics at certain points. Most of the time I can stop a note by easing off but still applying pressure with my fretting hand, and muting ...
vertexarray's user avatar
1 vote
4 answers
328 views

Sore fretting hand muscle

When I play basic major scale from 8th fret, as I go up the tempo my left hand starts ache. The muscle that is tight is the base of the palm, the one that's used by Karate masters to brake bricks :-) ...
eugen-fried's user avatar
3 votes
8 answers
4k views

Is the main role of the bass guitar to give a pitch to the kick drum?

I was reading how the drum and bass are related in a band. Especially the kick. I think it's the main drum part the bass is listening to (?). My understanding is that the bass is giving the kick a ...
user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
2k views

Is it OK to have a missing ground wire in bass guitar output jack?

I was fixing some bad connection in a bass guitar output jack and realized that there seems to be no ground wire. Not sure because it's my first time but a short research seems to indicate that it is ...
rodrigo nomada's user avatar
12 votes
8 answers
3k views

What is the best way to go about re-learning an instrument?

I used to play the electric bass, for about 8 years. I got quite good at it. By the end of my period of playing, I was playing pretty decent stuff, jazz, funk, finger style, slap etc. I had gotten to ...
Henry's user avatar
  • 129
1 vote
1 answer
3k views

Adjusting a double (side by side) truss rod?

There is a lot of advice and plenty of tutorials on the web for adjusting single truss rods. I can't find a lot about adjusting double (side by side) truss rods (not to be confused with a double or ...
Tim Burnett - Bassist's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
156 views

Do all guitars eventually require a neck reset?

String tension contributes to creep in the wood of a guitar neck over time. I have heard that a neck reset is an eventual necessity for acoustic guitars even if they are meticulously cared for. Is it ...
Tim Burnett - Bassist's user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
869 views

Why is my bass eating up 9 volt batteries like candy?

My Ibanez Soundgear SG6 is eating through brand-new 9v batteries in a matter of days... I've been testing it for a couple weeks now. I'll replace the battery (right out of the package,) and after 2 to ...
Tim Burnett - Bassist's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
1k views

DiMarzio Bass Pickups

I was planning on upgrading my bass pickups with a set of DiMarzio DP123, they have however 4 wires per pickup. Could anyone please tell me, which wires need to be connected where in the following ...
Roman Stadler's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
246 views

Translate muted bass string from tablature to staff notation

I am arranging a piece for a choir, and as a starting point for the bass I am looking at bass-guitar tabs. I figured out how to translate the tabs to staff notation, except muted strings. I do not ...
Fliegenfriedhof's user avatar
6 votes
6 answers
523 views

Bass - describe attacking one note in one or more bars

Is there an official musical term for attacking a single note in one or more bars? This is for bass guitar but there might be a more general term used when playing this style with other instruments. ...
Jamie Butterworth's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
564 views

How to Choose the Best Alternate Tuning

This is essentially a generalized version of this question for fingerstyle guitar, and I'm surprised I can't find it on this website: how do I find the most optimal alternate tuning for a guitar/bass(/...
Dekkadeci's user avatar
  • 13.8k
11 votes
5 answers
7k views

Why can't I hear fret buzz through the amp?

I could hear the fret buzz when playing bass unplugged. But once plugged through the amp. I could not hear the fret buzz anymore. Why are pickups not picking up the fret buzz? Or do I have to crank ...
user506602's user avatar
8 votes
5 answers
2k views

What is the technical explanation of the note "A♭" in a F7 chord in the key of C?

I am practicing some blues bass lines and there is a chord progression of C7 | F7 | C7. The notes played during the F7 chord are (the bass plays one per beat): F A A♭ D, followed by the notes G ...
random guy's user avatar
2 votes
6 answers
660 views

Is a bass line the same as a bass progression?

In alot of songs there's a chord progression. Say we have a 4 chord progression. Each chord can correspond to a note the bass plays. So now the bass is playing a 4 note progression. Is that called a ...
user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
80 views

Exercise to stabilize my timing when pulling "fast" quarter-notes in right hand

I'm looking for some kind of exercise I can do to stabilize my timing and groove when playing "fast" quarter notes? Background: I'm a self-taught piano player. I also have some experience in playing ...
Olli's user avatar
  • 1,191
3 votes
4 answers
5k views

What are the most common causes of hand cramps on bass?

There are several questions about getting hand cramps while playing guitar, but I didn't find one on bass. My left hand cramped up midway through the gig last night. I have another gig that's twice ...
Duston's user avatar
  • 835
4 votes
5 answers
592 views

Relative positions on electric to string bass?

This may seem an odd request, but I can't figure any way to find this out with out having both in my possession. I am a bassist primarily, & have been for 45 years or so. I play electric & ...
Tetsujin's user avatar
  • 27.6k
4 votes
1 answer
61 views

Query - Running two ampeg 8ohm cabs with different Wattages

Now I've tried to get my head around ohms etc and I thiiiiiiink i understand but I want to double check because I'm feeling pretty thick today and getting in a muddle. I have a markbass TTE500. It's ...
devil rides out's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
2k views

Big amp at min volume vs. little amp at high volume?

Tim's answer at Can playing an amp at minimum volumes (<1%) be harmful to it? states that playing a large amp quietly is safe, but that the sound quality is often disappointing. Is the poor sound ...
Rob Caplan's user avatar
12 votes
8 answers
85k views

Can I play a electric guitar through a bass amplifier?

I am a bassist and I am looking for an electric guitar, but I don’t want to buy another amplifier. Can I play the guitar through the bass amplifier?
Kristin Larocque's user avatar
3 votes
4 answers
204 views

My hand hurts after finger-stretching exercises. What can I do about that?

I recently started playing the Bass, and my teacher gave me an exercise to practice stretching my fingers: put my pointer finger on the 5.fret and my pinkie finger on the 8.fret. My problem is that ...
Flogie's user avatar
  • 143
2 votes
0 answers
268 views

Need help identifying Korean-made bass

I am a work buddy who is in wants to sell a bass that he bought while stationed in Korea. Unfortunately there are no brand markings on it, and I have been unable to identify it by its body or ...
Funky D's user avatar
  • 29
1 vote
4 answers
260 views

How Do I Adjust The Strings On My Electric Bass?

I have an electric bass that I've been playing for a while now, and the action is very low. Although this can be nice and useful for slapping, it often makes the strings buzz, which is especially not ...
Parzival's user avatar
  • 113
4 votes
4 answers
4k views

How to play electric guitar and bass as a duet

Summary: I play electric guitar. My partner plays bass. What is the theory behind playing together as a duet and making it work musically. Please could someone point me to a good resource? I have ...
Jamie Butterworth's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
987 views

Bass is picking up hum - did I damage the pickup?

I have this cheap copy of a 50s Precision Bass, which came with an ugly pickguard. So I made a new pickguard, and in the process of fitting it to the bass, I scraped off the protection tape on the ...
Richard Metzler's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
513 views

Electric bass suddenly not transmitting any output

I play on a Carvin 5 string bass with active pickups. The other day while I was playing, my sound became suddenly very quiet and heavily distorted, until it eventually faded completely. I initially ...
Chief Thunderfingers's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
342 views

How to write a Swing Rhythm using tabs?

I'm tabbing out a song on bass, which consists partly of a swing rhythm. I'm wondering how to properly convey a swing rhythm (or more generally, triplets) using tabs. Here is the part as I've written ...
Henk's user avatar
  • 21
10 votes
5 answers
2k views

Where do the natural harmonics fall on the bass guitar?

Do harmonics work the same on bass guitar as is the case with a regular guitar (Natural harmonics at the 7th and 12th frets) or is it different on the bass?
Neil Meyer's user avatar
  • 14.8k
11 votes
3 answers
5k views

Where should I put my thumb when playing bass guitar?

I just started playing bass guitar one month ago and my bass teacher told me that I should rest my thumb on the pickup. The problem with that is that my thumb slips off the pickup when I play. I find ...
Flogie's user avatar
  • 143
1 vote
4 answers
2k views

Bass line for blues in B minor

What are the notes of a generic bass line for a blues in B minor? Should one just play the notes of a B minor chord?
John Mercer's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
136 views

What are some of the considerations for putting electric guitar strings on a bass?

After watching the linked video it came clear that putting regular strings on a bass has some groovy effects, Im just curious as to how bass pickups are going to work with strings that operate on ...
Neil Meyer's user avatar
  • 14.8k
2 votes
0 answers
99 views

Any good source, book, ebook on learning/practicing bass fills? [closed]

Hey Bass players and/or musicians, I am reallly in need of improving my bass fill playing, so I am in need of all sorts of suggestions where to gain knowledge and more practice from? Any website, ...
shwz's user avatar
  • 121
9 votes
2 answers
371 views

Rendering 8va and 8vb with Abc notation?

I'm writing up a sheet of music for bass guitar in Abc notation and I'm getting irritated by having to type so many commas to place the notes in the range of the bass. Is there any way to set the ...
luser droog's user avatar
  • 15.1k
4 votes
1 answer
467 views

Fret markers on guitar necks

Given that classical guitar fretboards sometimes have no marker dots, why do virtually all other guitars have them? I guess the basic 5, 7 and 12 fret markers correspond to the first few harmonic ...
Tim's user avatar
  • 190k