| The typical modern Electric Bass Guitar comes in one | | | | Tuning the Bass |
| of three types; the classic four strings, five strings or | | | | Getting the Electric Bass Guitar in tune is quite easy. |
| six strings. Just so you know, there are Electric | | | | You can use the assistance of a guitar player. If you |
| Basses with more than six strings which are usually | | | | do, have the guitar player play the G note on the third |
| custom made Basses played by Bass afficionados, so | | | | fret of the sixth string (this is the biggest string on the |
| to speak. The difference between these Basses are | | | | guitar.) |
| the number of strings, obviously, the size of the neck | | | | The next option is to use a keyboard and tune from |
| (the very long section of the Electric Bass Guitar...more | | | | the low note to the high note. On the four string Bass |
| strings usually require wider necks.), the tonal range | | | | this would be E-A-D-G; on the five string Bass this |
| and of course the costs. | | | | would be B-E-A-D-G; on the six string Bass this would |
| For the purpose of this article, we will be taking a look | | | | be B-E-A-D-G-C. There are other ways to tune the |
| at the three most common types of the Electric Bass | | | | Bass such as using a tuning fork or other electronic |
| Guitar. The four string Electric Bass Guitar plays in the | | | | tuning aid. Also, the more proficient you become with |
| range of E-A-D-G with E being the fourth string and | | | | the Electric Bass Guitar you will learn how to tune by |
| the G being the first. The five string Electric Bass | | | | ear. A great website to checkout is which offers a lot |
| Guitar extends the lower end of the classic four string | | | | of technical assistance for both Bass and Guitar |
| Electric Bass from E-A-D-G to a low B-E-A-D-G with | | | | players. I recommend bookmarking this site for future |
| B being the fifth string and G being the first. The six | | | | reference. |
| strings Electric Bass Guitar has a sixth string that plays | | | | And now...the fun part...jammin'. |
| in the upper register and extends the range of the four | | | | Reggae Bass |
| and five string Electric Bass Guitar from B-E-A-D-G to | | | | Now that your Bass Guitar is in tune, it's time to do |
| B-E-A-D-G-C with B being the sixth string and C being | | | | some jammin' reggae style. |
| the first. This type of Bass is the choice of Bass | | | | Reggae music is characterized by a heavy drum and |
| soloists. | | | | bass rhythm. The bass can be played on or around |
| Bass Parts | | | | the drum beat. By this I mean to let the Kick Drum be |
| The Head is the section of the Electric Bass Guitar | | | | your guide, try to build a bass rhythm around it. One |
| where you will find the Tuning Keys/Machines which | | | | way to get an Idea is to listen to a few reggae tunes |
| are, usually, arrayed in different positions which | | | | and get a feel for the rhythm. The popular website |
| corresponds to the number of strings a Bass has. | | | | youtube has plenty of videos on reggae bass playing, |
| The Nut is located between the Head stock and the | | | | so check it out. |
| Neck. This acts as a guide for the strings as they run | | | | The Bass of choice to play reggae is usually the |
| along the fingerboard to the individual tuning machines. | | | | Fender Jazz Bass Guitar for its fat bottom end. Of |
| If you damage the Nut it is a pain to get repaired or | | | | course, you can use whatever Bass you choose. |
| replaced, though this rarely ever happens. | | | | The right hand (plucking hand) positioning is important |
| The Neck is the long section of the Electric Bass | | | | when playing a reggae rhythm. The notes are played |
| Guitar which comprises the finger board and frets. | | | | on top of the lower end of the neck at just about the |
| There are short scale and long scale versions of the | | | | last three frets. The result of this approach is a |
| Neck. | | | | consistently fat low end. |
| The Body is the section of the Bass which holds the | | | | Now you are ready to go jam your heart out to some |
| Pickups, the Tone controls, and the Bridge. | | | | wick'd reggae beats. |