Bass Fretboard Chart

If you're picking up the bass guitar for the first time, a bass fretboard chart might be just what you need to keep the beat. These handy learning tools lay things out in nice, neat format. This can be ideal when reading music seems more like reading a foreign language.

In a nutshell, a fretboard chart tells you which notes sit where on the fretboard of your bass. These charts are often used for beginning students to help them familiarize themselves with the instrument. Fretboard charts have one "line" for each string on the bass, and as you progress from left to right down that line, you'll see the note that is created when you pluck the string while pressing each string to a particular fret. This is an incredibly useful tool to have at hand when you're picking up your instrument for the first time, especially since bass players have to focus almost exclusively on picking out notes instead of chords. As a beginning player, you could be just a fretboard chart away from playing your first song.

For a good look at a bass fretboard chart, check out the article at LoveToKnow.

Of course, as wonderful as these fretboard guides may be, you have to be careful not to become overly reliant on them as a new player. Your job is to memorize the chart so that you can play without it, not to become so dependent on it that you have to tape it at your feet if you want to perform live. Fretboard charts are study guides only, so make sure your end game is to get off the chart and move on to knowing where the notes are by memorization. That way it will soon become second nature. In fact, even though you can easily find finished charts, most people recommend getting some blank charts and filling them out yourself over and over so that the notes and their positions begin to sink in.

When you're looking for fretboard charts, remember that you'll need to find one that matches your bass. Although most beginners start with the standard four string bass, if you happen to have a five or six string bass, remember you'll need a fretboard chart that covers that kind of instrument.

The Internet is filled with websites where you can find all of your bass chart needs. The following links are all good places to start.

• Study Bass: Need fretboard charts in different tunings? This website has a DIY chart section that lets you fill out and print your own chart. This site may not be quite the right one for the complete novice since you have to know which notes to fill in, but this tool can be handy as you experiment more with your instrument.

• I Learn Music: This site has charts that come with or without the sharp and flat notes so you can further practice your memorization.

• Guitar Noise: There are no frills on this website, but it sets out the basic bass fretboard chart in a simple, straightforward way.

• Guitar and Bass: For the six-stringers out there, this website has all of the resources you need.

• Free Download: If you like your learning a little more high tech, this site has tons of great free software to download that will walk you though all the things you need to know about your bass, including the fretboard chart.

Now that you know what a fretboard chart for a bass guitar is, as well as where to find one and how to use it, it's time to get one for yourself and get to work!

• Bass Guitar Wallpaper
• Famous Bass Guitar Players
• Ibanez Electric Guitars

• Basic Guitar Chord Charts
• Printable Guitar Chord Charts
• How to Read Guitar Sheet Music
• Bass Guitar Note Charts
• Guitar Amplifier Kits

• Lyrics and Guitar Chords of Besame Mucho
• Christian Bass Tabs
• Basic Guitar Chord Charts
• Downloadable Guitar Chord Chart
• Hotel California Chords