No band would be complete without an impressive bassist to add solid, silky low end. At Sweetwater, you’ll find traditional 4-string basses as well as 5-string bass guitars to fit every playing style and genre imaginable.
Need something that will cut through rock mixes? Check out a Stingray or Precision. A slap bass needs specific pickup placement which P basses or Jazz basses provide perfectly.
4-String Bass
Bass guitars come with various string configurations, with four-string basses being the most commonly seen option. Four strings provide enough notes to cover most musical genres while remaining manageable for bassists in terms of string spacing and neck width. Basses with five or six strings may allow players to explore additional notes without incurring extra finger stretching caused by wide necks.
As a beginner to bass playing, starting with a 4-string bass may be easiest. This will enable you to focus on becoming comfortable with the instrument and learn standard tuning (EADG). A clip-on electronic tuner is another useful way to keep your instrument in tune. These handy devices attach directly to the headstock of the instrument and measure vibrations from its strings that indicate whether they’re flat (low), sharp (high), or in tune. Some bass guitar models even come equipped with built-in tuners for quick tuning!
Professional bassists typically favor 5-string basses, as these provide a more even range of notes and are simpler for them to play in standard tuning. Bassists who play across genres such as rock or jazz may find the extra low strings of a 6-string bass particularly helpful when it comes to covering more musical ground musically.
Also worth taking into account when purchasing a bass guitar is your amount of playing time each week. Due to thicker gauge strings on a 5-string bass needing more frequent tuning than thinner guitar strings, you may require replacement more frequently and factor that cost into your budget when selecting one.
Trying out both 4-string and 5-string basses at your local music store will help you decide the one that feels most natural to you. Next, think about what type of music you enjoy listening to and whether your favorite bassist used either four or five string basses. When it’s time to buy, Reverb offers new and used basses from trusted brands such as Fender, Ibanez and Squier that could help guide your decision process.
5-String Bass
The 5-String Bass guitar offers a distinct tonal range compared to its 4-String counterpart, due to adding the fifth string which opens up an entirely new world of notes to play with and fill out more space in any given song’s mix. Bassists who opt for this style don’t simply intend to detune and djent through shows; instead they seek an original voice which can enhance their music and grow with it.
If you are making the switch from 4-string bass to a 5-string bass, be aware of its learning curve. First step should be finding out where each note on the fretboard can be found – though initially this may prove challenging, this process should only take minutes to learn!
An additional factor when selecting a five string bass is its weight. These basses tend to weigh more due to the additional wood used for longer scale length and added hardware, plus may feature thicker string gauges in order to tighten up that low B string.
No matter your experience level as a bassist, always use a quality electronic tuner when tuning your instrument. These handy little devices attach directly to the headstock of your instrument and detect vibrations within its strings to show whether they are flat (too low), sharp (too high), or in tune. There are various styles available at very reasonable prices.
If you’re in search of an all-purpose 5-string bass guitar, look no further than the Sterling by Music Man Sting Ray 5 TBS. Offering more affordable alternatives to its full-blooded Music Man cousins, this bass is versatile enough for all genres thanks to a single humbucker featuring 2-band EQ capabilities and boasts a lightweight body so that playing won’t add unnecessary weight.
Acoustic Bass
Acoustic bass guitars are special instruments, producing rich and resonant tones without the use of amplifiers or electric connections. Commonly found playing folk music and unplugged jam sessions, but also providing solid low-end support in other musical genres – there are various acoustic bass models available to suit different musical tastes and performance needs. If you’re intrigued by this type of instrument there are various models to explore which will meet all these criteria perfectly.
Consider factors like body size, build quality and sound quality when selecting an acoustic bass guitar. The shape of its body has an impactful sound when playing; durability and resonance depend heavily on wood construction materials used. Tuning stability should also be taken into account, since an unstable tuning bass may quickly become difficult to play. Finally, action should also be considered; too high an action may make pressing strings down against fretboard difficult while too low of an action can cause them to buzz and cause buzzing in its strings.
An ideal acoustic bass will have low action with an ideal string-to-fretboard distance for players of all experience levels, enabling the strings to easily strike the fretboard for clear, balanced tones. Furthermore, such an instrument must feature sturdy construction that makes maintenance straightforward.
For musicians seeking to play acoustic bass at higher volumes, an ideal solution would be an acoustic bass equipped with its own electronic preamp and pickup system. This approach preserves its natural tone while offering ample volume for larger audiences or recording sessions. Lightweight acoustic-electric basses also make traveling and performing easier!
Beginners can find plenty of reasonably-priced acoustic bass guitars at affordable prices. Some models even include tuners to keep your instrument tuned when not practicing at home or rehearsal space. Furthermore, an instrument cable will enable you to connect your bass to sound systems or amplifiers.
Bass Guitar Packages
For your child to make playing bass enjoyable, choosing an effective starter pack should include a bass guitar, strap, carrier, small practice amp and headphones; along with a quality case to protect the instrument.
At most music stores and online, bass kits are readily available for beginners. These packages contain everything needed to start playing bass quickly and easily, including an accompanying teacher guide to teach your child the fundamentals and tune their instrument.
Beginners should opt for a 4-string bass as this standard instrument offers a wider variety of tones to cover various styles. While 5-string basses may offer more defined sounds, they may prove challenging for newcomers.
Considerations should also be made with regards to the neck type and size. Basses come with either bolt-on or neck-through necks, each offering different advantages; bolt-on necks are easier to replace while neck-through models feature wood that spans the entire instrument – some bassists prefer neck-through basses because it provides longer sustain than its counterparts.
Some bass models feature thin or slim necks to make them more suitable for players with smaller hands and facilitate playing fast and agile bass lines that are often required for genres such as jazz or metal music. Furthermore, other bassists may appreciate a compound neck shape, which offers beginners a thinner profile near the nut before gradually thickening towards its peak.
Bass guitars can be played plugged into an amplifier to increase volume and add extra tones, or played acoustically for a more natural sound, making them suitable for folk music or unplugged jam sessions. Larger venues may require using an amp and cabinet combination in order to achieve full, rich tones that can be felt as much as heard.