Top 10 Tips

PROUDLY WRITTEN BY PRO-BASS GUITARIST, HUGH RICHARDSON

Quick Guide

Learn The Bass Guitar

Find A Good Bass Guitar Teacher

A good teacher is the most valuable thing in the world. They can spot

your weaknesses but most importantly, show you how to improve

them. By having guitar lessons, they will help you become the best

bass player possible.

Feeling nervous about your next gig? They’ve been there and can help you.

Not sure what to play at your next audition? They can suggest some great pieces which display your talents as a bass player.

Want to find an interesting new challenge? They’ll show you what to look at.

Do you like the way they explain things to you?

Do you have a good personal connection with them?

Do they make you inspired to learn?

Do you always look forward to your next lesson with them?

Are you in awe of them as a bass player?

If you answered yes to most or all of these questions, then you’ve found

a good teacher. A good teacher doesn’t just teach you how to play a bass

line. They will inspire you to become a brilliant bass player; one who loves

their guitar lessons, one who loved playing bass lines and improvising

around the root note and one who will help you with your bass playing for

years to come.

P.S. There are a load of teachers in our Ted’s List VIP Facebook Group. So

feel free to apply for membership (no cost…)

Playing The Bass Guitar | www.teds-list.com

Though they may seem mundane at times, doing finger exercises –

even for a few minutes each day – will make you a much better bass

guitar player.

All good bass guitarists need to be able to get the most out of their

hands and this means having a few weaknesses and technical blind

spots as possible.

Think of finger exercises as being similar to general conditioning that

athletes do.

Yes, you’re unlikely to ever play a piece of music that is a finger

exercises from start to finish but that would be to miss the point of

the exercises entirely. They are there to give you a general level of

ability that you can then apply to the music you play.

Just as taking a 30-minute jog each day will give you a decent level of

general fitness, adding 10 minutes of finger exercises to your practice

routine each day will make your playing smooth and consistent.

Something all bass guitar players should strive for.

Finger Exercises

Playing The Bass Guitar | www.teds-list.com

Whilst you may think that it’s okay to balance your sheet music over

your crossed leg as you sit down to practice your beloved bass guitar,

you’ll start to think differently once playing aches and pains set in.

And what could’ve avoided those aches?

Getting a decent music stand.

A decent music stand means no more awful posture when playing

and trying to balance sheet music on your knee.

But it also means you can have your music where you can best see,

you can spread out multiple sheets so you don’t have awkward page

turns and a good music stand is something you can easily take to a

lesson, band practice or performance.

Personally, I always think it’s worth getting something that’s well built

and that will last a long time. We recommend the Eastar Folding

Sheet Music Stand EMS-1 as it also comes with a carry bag, a clip

(for playing outdoors) and a light!.

Get A Music Stand

Playing The Bass Guitar | www.teds-list.com

Learning an instrument like the bass guitar is a lot like going

exploring. It only truly feels like it’s been worth it when you find

something new.

However, to find new things you have to look in new places, listen

to new things and speak to new people.

A great way to do this is by engaging with the electric guitar

community via a regular magazine, online forum or YouTube

channel.

A magazine, for example, will have new columns for you to read

each month and many of the writers give out small weekly lessons

complete with new exercises to try and music to listen to.

And a good YouTube channel will post new videos each week for

you to work through. We have a dedicated Ted’s List YouTube

Bass Guitar playlist that you might find interesting.

Learning new things will broaden your horizons and keep you

motivated to improve.

Always Learn Something New

Playing The Bass Guitar | www.teds-list.com

Simply put, learning the bass guitar will be ten times more enjoyable

if you’re learning the music that inspired you to pick up the bass to

begin with.

This isn’t something that’s just aimed at beginners either.

Many professionals – jazz musicians in particular – will dedicate

a large part of their practice time to learning music that inspires

them.

If all you do is play endless scales and arpeggios then it can feel a

little soulless and you’ll likely feel that you’re not getting anywhere

(although they are important – so if you need help on them, check

out our Bass Guitar Technique article…).

However, if you can pick up the bass after a hard day at school

or work and relax for the evening by playing through your favorite

songs then you’ll associate playing the bass guitar with fun and

enjoyment.

And this feeling will always keep you coming back to the bass guitar

for more.

Learn Music That You Love

Playing The Bass Guitar | www.teds-list.com

For electric bass players an amplifier – even if it’s just a small one – is

an absolute must.

The electric bass guitar isn’t an acoustic instrument and won’t make

much noise on its own. An amplifier will amplify the sound of your

bass so that you can clearly hear yourself when you play.

Now a good amplifier doesn’t have to cost the earth. In fact, defining

“good” varies very much from player to player.

Try to find an amp that suits your own unique musical needs.

If you just play at home for your own amusement, then look at getting

a small practice amp. It won’t make much noise or take up much

room in your home but it will provide you with all the volume you

need to hear yourself. This 35W Electric Bass Amp by Gear4music

is an excellent example of an amp that has more power than the ‘big

brands’ for the same price.

Get An Amplifier

If you play regularly in a band and are to buy something that will give you

enough volume at your next rehearsal or gig, but that you can also use at

home as your practice amp; then try out the Ampeg BA-115 V2 – it has

the perfect weight to power combination, making it portable, but just loud

enough for your gigs!

Lastly, if you’re looking for THE amp that you’ll only use in live performance,

and you want to look cool, there is no better than the world famous Fender

Rumble.

Playing The Bass Guitar | www.teds-list.com

If you want to play well then you’ll need to practice well. And if you

want to practice well then you’ll need to know what to practice.

A well-structured practice routine will give you guidance and focus

during those valuable practice hours.

It will also make sure you don’t waste your time trying to figure out

what to practice, checking Facebook or just generally wasting time.

It’s often a good idea to allocate a certain amount of time to each

thing you need to practice within your routine.

The more you need to work on something – scales for example –

then the more time you should allocate it.

If you’re unsure about how to structure your time well or how to

come up with a good practice routine then speak to your teacher,

or read our dedicated article on ‘How To Practice The Bass Guitar‘.

Structure Your Practice Routine

Playing The Bass Guitar | www.teds-list.com

This is quite a contentious point for many bass players. There’s a large

movement in the bass community that says “real bass guitar players

don’t use a pick” and it’s important that we take time to acknowledge

this point of view for what it really is.

Total nonsense.

Whilst playing with a pick isn’t as common for bass players as using

the fingers, pick technique is still a vital sound that great bass players

can draw on and that they really need to know.

If you disagree then chat to legendary session bassist Carol Kaye.

She played on over 10,000 records using a pick. And if you think that

number is bolstered by loads of unknown records or radio jingles then

you’re wrong.

If a pick worked for her when she recorded “Good Vibrations” for The

Beach Boys then it will certainly work for you too!

Learn Fingerstyle & Plectrum Technique

It’s worth always stocking up on extra plectrums because no matter

how carefully you keep track of them, sooner or later your plectrums will

go missing. But the good news is they are cheap. I love this particular

plectrum, it comes in a pack of 48 and it’s cheap!

Neither of these techniques is better than the other. They are just different

but both equally important.

Trying to say you should do one or the other is like saying “should I buy a

new car that has an engine or wheels?”.

The reality is they are both important and you need both for the car to

work!

Why should your bass guitar playing be any different?

Playing The Bass Guitar | www.teds-list.com

This might sound like a contrary point. Especially after I’ve spent

large portions of this article stressing the importance of scales,

chords, arpeggios and the like. But don’t get me wrong. I’m not

trying to say those things are bad.

What I’m saying is they’re stepping stones to something bigger.

To be able to play actual pieces of music.

Learning to play songs in a group is ultimately the destination where

many, if not all, aspiring musicians want to end up.

Playing actual songs with others gives you a new and challenging

context to put yourself in. It’s a much harder test of your mettle but

it’s also one that is far more rewarding in the long run.

You’ll learn the most by having this performance-based context to

apply your hard-earned knowledge gained from hours of practice

and you’ll have a great time entertaining your friends with the great

songs you can play.

Learn Music!

Playing The Bass Guitar | www.teds-list.com

When you play an instrument like the bass it’s almost inevitable

that, sooner or later, you’ll be asked to join a band. And if that

happens, you really should say yes.

Why is it so inevitable? Simply put, there aren’t many bass players.

Far more people chose popular instruments like drums, guitar or

vocals.

But this is where it actually pays to be a bass guitar player.

Sure your instrument isn’t seen to be as “cool”, as popular or

difficult as the guitar (by the way no professional musician of any

instrument thinks any of that is true about the bass) but if you

practice hard and put the time in you’ll soon have twice or three

times as many gig offers as any guitarist out there because you’ll

be a valuable commodity that’s in short supply.

This means you’ll get far more live performance experience in half

the time. This will boost your confidence and your skills in a way

that simply practicing at home never could.

Play With Other Musicians

Playing The Bass Guitar | www.teds-list.com

Hugh Richardson

Author

Hugh Richardson is a bass player and writer currently based

in London, UK.

Recently, he has been busy playing on West End shows and

tours including Bat Out Of Hell The Musical, Kinky Boots and

Priscilla. When he’s not performing, he is probably teaching or

spending time perfecting his table tennis game!

Playing The Bass Guitar | www.teds-list.com

I’m Robert, and I’m lucky to have been a professional musician since the age

of 16.  But if my name is Robert, why is my website called Ted’s List?!?

In 2015 I became a Dad. Teddy entered the world and has since gone on

to love music as much as I do.  Music is my life and passion, touring the

world as a conductor and pianist, performing with the most amazing talents

on this planet. But how could I help Teddy’s friends and parents with their

musical education?  Ted’s List is the answer.

So here I am… Sharing my story, knowledge and passion, in the hope it

inspires you to commit to music in some form.  If I could get one ‘result’

from this site, it is getting you to take ACTION. All with the hope that you

have music wrapped around you like I’ve done my whole life… It’s what I call

my ‘Musical Duvet’. 

I really do hope you find the content on my blog helpful. I’m sure it will save

you time and money in finding the very best of what you need, for the lowest

possible price. And most importantly of all – I hope it inspires you in your

music-making.