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Bass Beginners Guide

Hey everyone

Here are some details about my new Bass Beginners Guide.  I am super excited about as it is my first publication since forming Greg’s Bass Shed.  Have a read, because if you are a bassist, then this will help you to rapidly improve.

Click here to find out more information.

There is a chapter in there for absolute beginners, if you need it. As you work through the eBook, you will learn about rhythm, groove, reading music, scales, arpeggios, setting up your bass and amp, tone, technique and how to practise.  There is enough in there to keep you busy for some time, but it will help you to progress quickly.

The idea for this eBook was formed a long time ago, and I have poured over 20 years of teaching experience, and professional bass playing experience into it.  I started learning bass after reaching a high level on the piano and trumpet.  This meant that I could learn the bass to a professional level very quickly, as I had knowledge in three keys areas.

These form the backbone of the guide:

Music Theory

Ability to read music

An understanding of how to practise

I would like you give you one of my shorter eBooks resources which can help you all, no matter what level you are at.  It is ten pages long and helps you assess your current playing ability, pick three key areas to work on, and explains how to set up a successful practise routine.  Just follow the link to download this.

Target 3 Key Areas To Quickly Improve & Progress

Below I will answer some key questions from a recent survey I put out.

How long is the Bass Beginners Guide?

The guide is 120 pages long.

How much will the eBook cost?

The eBook will cost $19.99 (USA). 

What differentiates this guide to others?

I have made every effort to make this guide as practical as possible, by getting you playing from the beginning of the first chapter.  I also provide practical examples to illustrate how to apply the techniques in the guide.

You also have the back-up of my YouTube Bass Beginners Series to refer to, which contains many of the same topics, presented in a more condensed way.

Will it be printable?

Yes, it is in PDF form, therefore printable.

Will there be an audio companion?

Yes, there are at least 30 tracks to accompany the guide.  These are free, and a link to them is provided in the eBook.  I think this is a better solution to embedding each track, as this way, you do not have to be online whilst using the guide.

Will it include some online access?

I have included links, at the end of chapters, to bonus practice material on my website.  These are in the form of appendices, which will be updated on an ongoing basis.  There are of course, my YouTube video lessons too.

Would it be user friendly for an older beginner and easy to follow?

Yes, the guide is extremely user friendly and being in PDF form, means you can upload it to any device or print it out.

If there is enough interest, then I will bring out the guide as a book in the future.

Please comment under this article to share your thoughts or any more questions you might have.

Click here to find out more information.

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How To Read A Chord Chart

FROM GREG’S BASS SHED YOUTUBE LESSON NO.27

This sheet is to accompany my video lesson on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/gwVJ4AO8SsI

A chord chart is a guide to the harmony (chord sequence) of a song. It will hopefully give you the ‘geography’ of the song to whether that be verse, chorus, bridge, etc. or an A B A A form for example.

You will come across different versions of chord charts from nicely printed sheets to a few hastily scribbled out chords. Half the skill of reading a chord chart is actually deciphering it, well it is for the bad ones anyway!

In the video lesson, I show you how to read a well printed chart and a more basic handwritten part.

In these chord charts we are given the chords instead of just the written notes. We are also given an idea of the bassline by the written part in the first measure but we then have to use our knowledge of the song, and style, to try to play an appropriate bassline. As there is less information on these charts than a on chart with a full transcription, it is handy to have some prior knowledge of the song if our intention is to play a similar bassline to the original one.

Once you can play the bassline pattern in Measure 1, you can then transfer this same pattern to the A and B7 chord starting on either an A in the root or a B in a root depending on the chord.

Above, in the photo, I have highlighted some of the musical symbols on the chart for you.

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Here is a video lesson to help you read a chord chart

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Pick or Fingerstyle for Bass Playing?

Today I am going to broach the subject of using a pick or plectrum to play the bass guitar. While teaching bass guitar in my home town of Berkhamsted or online at Greg’s Bass Shed, I am often asked this question by my pupils; which is better to play bass with, your fingers or a pick?  Well the simple answer is neither!  

Let me explain why……

First of all I will go back to when I was learning to play bass in the 90’s.   My mates and I use to look down on players who used a pick and we were of the opinion that you could only really groove with your fingers. That was mainly because the bassists in the bands we was listening to at the time, like  Cream, Stone Roses, Weather Report, etc. did not use a pick. Concurrently there was a glut of awful bands out at the time with bass players who only used picks. So that sealed the fate of plectrums for me at the time! I only played finger-style for years.

Then working professionally in shows and with different artists, I started to need to use a pick to get particular sounds. I had to dedicate serious hours to developing this skill so I was proficient enough to groove and sound good with the pick. For example I currently cover for the regular bass player on the show, Everyone Is Talking About Jamie. The music was written by Dan Gillespie Selles from The Feeling. His style is a mix of pop, rock, and groove for this show and most of the songs require me to use a pick.

The key familiar sound of bands like The Jam, The Police, Yes, The Ramones, Green Day, Pink Floyd, and indeed The Beatles would not be the same without pick bass.

So my advice is to develop playing both finger-style and pick playing. That way you have a choice of either style to use and therefore have a greater flexibility with your sound.

Happy picking!

See you in my next blog

Greg

gregsbassshed.com

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This is a side-by-side comparison of a J-Bass and a P-Bass. I play the same funk groove on both basses with different pickup settings too. The J-Bass is a Suhr and is an awesome bass. The P-Bass is a Lakland with Bare Knuckle Pickups which really work well on that bass.

There is a free PDF of the Funk groove, also with TAB. Follow the link in the video description on YouTube and I will email that to you. I’d love to hear what you think of the basses and whether you have a preference.

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Want to learn more about Pentatonics? Here is a lesson showing 5 Bass Riffs that all use Pentatonics. They are from classic basslines and are clearly explained.

Follow the link in the video description to download the free supporting PDF which includes TAB.

You may also want to look at my lesson on Essential Scales For Bass which is also at Greg’s Bass Shed on YouTube. Come and have a look around, there are loads of lessons on there. If you subscribe you will be notified of my weekly new lesson uploads. Enjoy!

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It’s out! Link in my Bio... #39queen #johndeacon #gregsbassshed #bassguitar #onlinebasslessons #backingtrackbass #bareknucklepickups #wudtone https://www.instagram.com/p/BtVrz4JnYlK/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=chmtuhzjzn5e

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A post shared by Greg Hagger: Helping you learn bass guitar (@gregsbassshed)

‘39 by Queen Transcription & Play-through Video out this Friday at Greg’s Bass Shed on YouTube. Link in my Bio. Subscribe now to get notified of this & all my new videos as they come out #39queen #johndeacon #gregsbassshed #bassguitar #onlinebasslessons #backingtrackbass #bareknucklepickups #wudtone https://www.instagram.com/p/BtQmanvnkzX/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1xo9uwescr143

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Learn 5 Easy Bass Riffs in 10 Minutes. This is an easy bass lesson where I show you how to play 5 bass riffs with closeup demonstrators. A free PDF also comes with the lesson. Enjoy!

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Take A Walk On The Wild Side by Lou Reed. There is something really interesting about this bassline. Watch and find out some good trivia to share over the Christmas dinner table! Here is a lesson to learn the iconic bassline with me demonstrating it as well.

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We played the whole soundtrack from ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ at the Albert Hall, London. Here is my Vlog about the day. I’m the bass player so it’s from a bassist perspective. Enjoy!

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Do you play bass? Do you want to play a Christmas song?! In fact it’s pretty easy, do you want to get festive and play a Christmas song even if you don’t play bass?! Or just watch my bass guitar video lesson and laugh 😂

Here’s the bassline transcribed and broken down in easy stages for you to learn. It even comes with a free PDF. Check it out!

Peace and love and Christmas cheer(it’s not too early is it?!)

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New video from the Bassline Breakdown Series. This week it’s ‘Come As You Are’ by Nirvana - another classic Kris Novoselic bassline. Learn to play it in easy steps. Download the free PDF from the description link and get your plectrum out! Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/pE7TNurLq8A

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I run an online bass educational channel on YouTube. Check it out, it might help. New video released every Friday. Enjoy!

New Double Bassit

Any advice to help, I also play the cello

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Check out my bass educational channel on YouTube. Might help you start learning bass. New video lessons going up every Friday. Good luck 🙂

hey bassist friends

Do any of you have any tips for learning how to play?

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Want to learn the bassline from Nirvana’s Lithium? Get your pick out and check out the video. Easy steps in this bass lesson with a free PDF. Just follow the link in the video description.

Enjoy from Greg’s Bass Shed

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To read music or not to read music?  That is the question....

So do you need to know how to read music to have a career playing guitar? Well the short answer is yes!  Although there are some uber-talented players who have succeeded in having a professional career without being able to read music, there are few and far between.  Super talented players such as Eddie Van Halen ,Eric Clapton, Elvis Presley, Robert Johnson, Mike Mondesir, Dave Grohl, Slash, Jimi Hemdrix could not read music. The difference between them and you and I are if we wanted to work professionally, in all likelihood we would be working for different artists, on different projects and in a range of different musical scenarios.  This is where the ability to read music seriously enhances your chances of working.  This week I have played in four West End shows, Hamilton, Book of Mormon, Everyone Is Talking About Jamie, and Kinky Boots. I have also been preparing charts (written music sheets) for a gig next week with Toyah Wilcox alongside improving my double bass playing.  This would not have been possible without being able to read music.  I simply would not be able to remember all of the four shows and learn new material fast enough to keep up with the work.  As a bass teacher in Berkhamsted I obviously need to read music to teach my lessons and support my pupils.  

But it is also very important to be able to ‘play by ear’.  This is the skill of being able to listen to some music and then play it on your guitar.  Another skill that is entirely necessary to reach a high level on your instrument. Each of these two skillsets are equally important parts of the bigger picture of an accomplished musician.  

If you would like help beginning to learn music or need help improving then I can help you with this as part of your lesson.  Anyone can learn with the right direction and a little bit of hard work!

See you next week.

Greg