Learning Bass Guitar Chords

One of the first things that any aspiring bass guitar player needs to do is begin learning bass guitar chords. Much like regular guitar notes or chords, practicing bass guitar chords is a quick way to not only learn the instrument but to learn more of the theoretical background behind playing your bass. Once you have begun learning bass guitar chords, you'll find playing songs comes easier, and you can begin moving forward in your playing.

Before you can begin to learn chords, you must learn the notes of each string on your instrument. There are only four strings on a standard bass guitar, although there are also five and six string models. Standard tuning of these four strings is E, A, D and G (E is the thickest string and G is the thinnest). Much like the notes on a regular guitar, the further down the neck you get, the higher the notes become. A note is simply played by placing a finger on one of the frets and playing that string. A combination of two or more notes is called a chord.

The first thing to do when learning bass chords is to learn how a chord is constructed. When you look at a chord chart, you simply place your fingers on the frets where they belong and strum all of the strings that are needed to play the chord. Common bass guitar chords include:

• F
• G
• A
• F#

The following diagram show how to play each of these chords.

These chords are very common in popular music. The best way to begin learning more bass guitar chords is to get a chord chart and strum along.

Looking for a bass guitar chord chart? You can find them at the following websites:

You can access these charts online:

• Studybass
• Gootar
• Mamimusic

Or you can always buy these charts below:

• Basic Bass Guitar Chord Chart
• Bass Guitar Chords

If you have been trying to learn bass chords, here are a few tips to make the process easier for you:

• Many guitar players think that transferring over to the bass guitar will be easy for them. For most players, this is not the case. The bass guitar has more space between the strings and deeper sounds. If you are switching over from the guitar to the bass, remember that practicing is the only way playing will become easier.
• If you are having a lot of trouble playing chords on the bass, try to play chords where the notes are closer together. For example, playing C or D Minor 7 can be easier than trying to play Db major 7. Try to find the chords that are easiest for you to learn.
• Often, bass players find it easier to play chords lower on the neck than to play chords higher up. If you kfind you have difficulty playing chords, try lower chords such as D or E to see if you find it easier.
• Never underestimate the value of watching someone else. There are numerous videos on YouTube that show bass guitar players. If you are having trouble, watch a few of these videos to see what those players are doing that you are not.
• Once you feel up to it, playing a few tabs can be a great tool to help you quickly improve your skills. Try to find a song that you are already familiar with so that you do not have to waste time trying to get used to the song's tune.

If you have been trying to learn to play the bass, you've probably thought about playing a few chords. Many players feel intimidated by bass guitar chords because they think they are so different from typical guitar chords. However, there is no reason to worry. With practice, every part of learning the bass guitar can be made simple. Don't give up, and you will get to the playing level you are aiming for!

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