There are some common mistakes that beginner bass players make. Knowing about these will certainly make you a better bassist if you put some effort into improving those mistakes.
Most players simply pick up their bass guitars, play something till they feel like it- and call it a day. Do you really think that would improve your abilities as a bass player? If not, what would be an effective way to practice?
In this short post, I will walk you through some of the traps that bassists fall into, and how you can avoid them. Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
Common Mistakes Beginner Bass Players Make
Listening is Key
Many players think that being a musician is all about playing nice so the audience can hear you- while that is partly true, you also need to be paying attention to the rest of the band and what they are doing.
Personally, I think the single most thing that helped me become a better player was to pay attention to my bandmates- there are lots of things going on at the same time- there is rhythm, dynamics as well as subtle cues from the drummers about the parts. You need to be able to pay attention to all of those as well as keep the audience engaged.
Locking in with the drummer, playing along with the feel, improvising, and feeling the rhythm are all aspects that are super important and will help you become a better musician over time. Many bassists think that since they only play rock music, they can discount other genres of music as the not-important ones. While you certainly can limit yourself to only a particular style of music, doing so will only limit your growth as a diverse player. Like how children develop a sense of language and learn the words being spoken around them, bassists also learn the vocabulary that they are used to listening to daily. If your musical preferences tend more towards jazz, the chords you will want to hear would be the seventh and complex voicings. Since you would be practicing these and would be curious about how to replicate the sound, you would be inclined heavily towards music theory.
However, if you only listen to pop and folk-country, you now have a very limited vocabulary to pull from. Listening to other genres aside from the ones you are familiar with, and listening to other instruments as well, can help you develop an appreciation for that style of music. It’s important to learn from others, but it’s more important to draw inspiration from other players while still maintaining a sense of self. Think about this- I love Andy James, but if I wanted to play everything he has written to date, I would not only be tunnel-minded, but I would suck as a replacement for Andy James, simply because he does some things so good that nobody else will be able to emulate that. I can only learn from him and infuse elements into my own style of playing. If you only learn from tabs, you should also think about exploring other options too. I’m not asking you to read sheet music, but if possible, you should play the original song on repeat, and try to figure out the parts being played. Not only does it help with confidence, but it’s also a fantastic way to work on your ear training. Playing by feel happens after you’ve mastered the scales and have trained your ear to a high degree. It’s not something that just happens, and for this reason, you should always focus on improving your ear and musicality more than simply trying to copy another player you find tabs of.
Not Tuning Before Playing
If there’s one thing that absolutely turns me off during band practice, it’s instruments that are out of tune. It doesn’t take much time to tune a bass guitar, and you can carry a tuner in your pocket or have one clamped on your instrument. Even if you’re on a budget, you could very reasonably afford fantastic clip-on tuners, so there’s really no reason for you to be out of tune. Having your instrument out of tune also messes up your ear, so it’s a good idea to tune your instrument every chance you get.Not Having A Teacher
You may think that you can learn without a teacher, from Youtube videos and online bass lessons. You certainly can!
What I meant to say when I included not having a teacher in the list of mistakes bass guitar players can make is that- having a teacher could eliminate most of the problems that you have in your fretting and picking hand before they even arose. Bass players, just like guitarists and violinists- seem to suffer from a disability called carpal tunnel syndrome. Following proper technique and maintaining a good posture can not only help prevent carpal tunnel and arthritis, but it can also help prevent back pain and other issues. If your fretting hand on the bass fretboard is stiff, you will face muscle cramps and pain, and it’s just not a very good thing to be practicing with. This also limits your potential on the instrument, so if possible- you should check with a teacher to see if your technique is proper. You can also have a friend do this for you, and this will help prevent injuries later and also helps you improve faster on the instrument. The proper position for your left hand thumb is- it should be resting against the mid-back of the neck, away from sight. This is also the classical position for guitar. You also don’t need to put much pressure on your fingers for notes to sound- this can also help with improving speed on the frets.Not Using A Metronome
There are actually some players out there who don’t know what a metronome is- and some refuse to use it because they think it screws up with their internal sense of rhythm. Getting a metronome and practicing with it regularly can help fix major issues with your rhythm and playing. Sure, a metronome is bland and boring- but it’s the single most important thing that will make a huge difference in your playing. Not only can you use a metronome to break down complex songs and bass solos, but you can also use a metronome to learn all about beats and their subdivisions. Getting practice with quarter notes, eighths, sixteenth and tricky triplets is super easy if you get a good metronome like the DB-30C Dr Beat Metronome by Boss. There is something that you should be careful of- if you only stick with playing along to a metronome, you risk sounding too robotic and without the feel, but that shouldn’t be the thing to worry about, at least until you are good at shredding all over the frets. If you need to learn scales and arpeggios, a metronome can be something that will help accelerate your learning pace. The key to playing something good is playing it super slow, and with a metronome, you can slow parts as much as you want- till you are absolutely certain that you have nailed it. Having a metronome will also help gain the trust of your drummer- and the two of you will be able to jam in perfect sync. Being able to keep a beat is an ability every musician needs to master, so you should master using the metronome as well.
Trying To Play As Fast As They Can
Most of the time, guitarists are guilty of overplaying and trying to play as fast as they can, but bassists might also share this notion that the faster somebody can play licks, the better they are at their instrument. Technical ability, combined with a dash of creativity is a good recipe for improving your instrument but if you focus solely on the speed and not on your personal style or tone, you will only be losing your time. You can surely sound amazing by playing at insane speeds- but what you should be striving for is to sound amazing while playing slow. Think of bands like The Beatles and Queen- they have mastered the concept of using fast rhythms for something that actually needs it. As bass players, it’s your duty to make sure that you are complimenting the drum parts and laying the foundation for the rhythm and melody on top. You can do this by just following along with the basic changes. You really don’t need to be anything weird unless you have a specific bass solo.
Even if playing fast is something that you are keen to do, playing things at a clean and slow pace will help you master the dexterity and speed in no time at all. Exploring various essential effects pedals can further enhance your tone and allow you to develop a unique personal style that complements the band's sound.
Forgetting To Set Up The Instrument Properly
You may think that you can play your instrument directly after purchasing from a shop but it comes down to way more than that. Each instrument is different, and while it may not matter much to a beginner who has never played any other instrument if you are somebody who is making a switch to a different instrument for some reason, you may have certain preferences.
Things like bridge height (in the case of violin and cello), and fret intonation can make a lot of difference when it comes to getting the best sound possible. It takes just a quick look for a luthier to check if an instrument is set up correctly. Personally, I like to adjust the intonation on my instruments but not everybody is equipped with the tools and knowledge to do so. Beyond basic setup, exploring options like a quality bass preamp can further sculpt your instrument's tone for an even richer sound. You may not want to do that on your own as you can actually screw up your instrument pretty bad. The action- or the height of the strings from the fretboard is something that should always be your first priority when talking about setting up an instrument. Too low, and the playability is fantastic but you may have to deal with fret buzz. Similarly, too high a string action and you risk the frets being too hard to play. Some bass guitars are actually quite well-set-up straight out of the box but if you decided to get a budget bass, chances are- you will need to manually do that by yourself. There are actually many perks of setting up your bass guitar:
- Makes sure the frets are easier to play
- Fixes intonation- instrument stays in tune for longer
- You are playing in tune even when playing on lower frets
- Helps with the bass tone
Mindful Practice
Practice is an essential part of every musician’s life, and whether you’re a beginner or a pro player, you’re always practicing. If you are a beginner, you will be learning your first chords and the basic scale shapes you need to master while the challenges may be more technical and speed-related if you are a fairly intermediate-level player. Scales and arpeggios are great but they can only get you so far when what you need to do is increase your repertoire of songs to play. You should be invested in learning a handful of songs you like- master them, and practice them to the best of your ability.
While you are about to practice, you should have a clear idea of what you are going to work on for the session. Are you going to work on the clean aspect of your playing, musicality, phrasing, or something else? Is there a topic that you find interesting? These can be great ways to ensure that you are constantly improving. Utilizing some of the best mobile apps for practice can significantly enhance your daily routine, offering structured lessons, backing tracks, and metronome functions right on your device. Simply picking up an instrument till you are bored is not practice and won’t get you anywhere. However, effective ways exist to practice bass guitar without a bass, ensuring consistent improvement even when your instrument isn't available. It’s also the time to think about your technique- do you play with just one finger? Guitarists who have transitioned to bass will find bass super easy and will have no troubles alternating between the index and middle fingers on their picking hand but beginners might have issues at first. You should always try to use as many fingers as you can, and improve dexterity gradually. You just need to keep at it consistently, and you will be able to improve at bass in very little time.Final Thoughts
As beginners, every musician started out doing plenty of mistakes. It’s hard to switch between bass guitar chords, it’s hard to get a note to sound clear, and it’s hard to stay in time. But if you keep at it, and try making some time out of your busy schedule to improve at your craft, you will certainly see the fruits of your effort.Frequently Asked Questions
What makes someone a good bass player?
Being a good bass player has a lot to do with being able to keep time and coordinating with other players than just playing a bass line. You also need to have a couple of songs under your belt and have an amiable personality.Why you should date a bass player?
Bass players are usually very patient and have the discipline required to be successful at anything. These guys also make great wedding material as they are dependable and responsible.
How long should I practice bass every day?
You really don’t need to practice for hours every day if your practice session is structured and effective.10 – 15 minutes of daily practice is plenty to improve on the instrument, and if you have time, learning a new song or a scale is also very recommended. While consistent daily practice is vital, many beginners also wonder about the time it takes to learn bass effectively.
Should I Consider a 5-String Bass?
Many beginner bassists start with a standard 4-string instrument, but as their skills develop, they might wonder about expanding their range. While a 4-string bass is versatile for many genres, a 5-string bass offers extended lower notes, opening up new possibilities for heavier music styles or specific melodic lines. This wider sonic palette allows for more creative freedom and can be particularly beneficial for players exploring complex arrangements or aiming to fill out a band's low end more comprehensively. When considering a switch, players should evaluate their musical goals and existing repertoire to determine if the added range and slight adjustment in playing technique align with their progression.