Friday 17 December 2010

Acoustic Bass Guitar: Setting the Rhythm

By Cary Yelder


Somebody once said that you seldom give thought to the bass player because they are not as showy or as noticeable as the lead guitarist. But the bass guitar -- whether it be electric or acoustic -- is very critical in a band, with the lower bass notes serving as the structure for the song and a trusty partner of the drums in setting the rhythms.

To many folks who aren't into guitars or playing guitars, an acoustic bass guitar and a standard acoustic guitar seems similar. Upon better examination, however, its hollow body is slightly bigger and its neck is wider. Similarly, the fingerboard is thicker with 20 frets, in contrast to the standard one which has only 19 frets. Usually, a bass guitar has only 4 strings though obviously, there are numerous variants such as the 6 string acoustic bass guitar and the Mexican 12 string acoustic bass referred to as bajo sexto. The pitch for these four strings are tuned identically to the double bass. These pitches, in turn, are one octave lower than the lowest four strings of a typical 6-string guitar, particularly E-A-D-G. When it involves guitars, another essential element to think of is the strings.The strings of bass guitars are made of metal, and are available in roundwound, flatwound, groundwound, or halfwound types. Other guitars have distinctive coverings, like plastic or tapewound.

Finally, unlike a regular 6-string guitar, it is tough to hear the notes being performed on an acoustic bass guitar. An amplifier is necessary for a bass guitar to be heard appropriately so these guitars usually come with pickups.

Naturally, when buying an 6 string acoustic bass guitar, one must be meticulous enough a lot like purchasing a standard 6-string. Admittedly though, in comparison to a 6-string guitar, locating a good bass would be more challenging because it is simply not as widely used.

One great way of beginning is by looking at numerous brand names of bass guitars that are offered. One good company that is noted for its bass guitars is C.F. Martin & Company. The B series Martin Acoustic Bass Guitar is popular among the masses. However, for beginners, the expensive price is very unattractive. Fortunately, reasonably priced bass guitars with the latest electronic features are being released by the company. Another good place to look at offered acoustic basses are guitar review internet sites, which offer recommendations from professionals and amateurs alike.

For some of the elites and expert musicians, a bass guitar is not only for playing but also for collecting as a passion. For instance, some of the Martin acoustic bass guitars, such as the Limited Edition SWB Sting Signature Model and the Limited Edition B-28KV Klaus Voorman Signature Model, are tremendously wanted by collectors. Both new and used bass guitars may even be seen for sale in Ebay.

It is most ideal to personally check out the local music retailer to try out the various bass guitars that are for sale. As most musicians are wont to say, both the player and the musical instrument should select each other. So as to get the hang of the bass guitar, one can always try the free bass lessons found online. Through the easy step-by-step courses offered, one can simply discover the basics.

Since it has fewer strings, many individuals have a tendency to consider that it is easier to study to play bass than a standard guitar. For starters, a novice player should learn the proper way to handle a bass since the tabs are varied. There are also a number of skills that should be perfected, like the application of a plectrum, plucking, slapping, popping, tapping, or thumping. An acoustic bass guitar is a fun instrument to play with when one has already mastered its different techniques.




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