In order not to strike past the strings in front of colleagues in the workshop, a bass guitar should not only be affordable for a beginner, but also not some kind of Chinese no-name. Let's figure out what types of bass guitars exist.
Let's define three classifications.
- By the way it sounds.
- By the number of strings.
- By the construction of the guitar neck.
Bass guitar by sound method
- Acoustic
Sounds due to the body itself, which resonates the sound. No electronics, just old school, just your fingers and four strings.
- Acoustic with sound amplifier
Such as if says about its owner: "This is a master of all fingers - maybe this way, maybe that way." And all because the sound from such guitars can be obtained both with the help of only one body, and with an electronic amplifier. This is the best option for those who are really going to learn to play, and not show off in public. With such an instrument, you can not only make the first timid plucking of the strings, but also reach a new level by connecting the guitar to an amplifier.
- Electric bass guitar
It fully reveals its sound only when connected to a guitar amplifier. Among the people - a combo.
How many strings does a bass guitar have:
- four,
- five,
- six,
- seven.
The four-string bass guitar is the very classic that began the history of the instrument (and its roots are generally in the double bass, but that's another story). The classic on which it is best to start your ascent to the musical Olympus. Because there are fewer strings here, and the technique of playing is easier to develop. And the classics are in fashion, right?
Any increase in the number of bass strings, although it allows you to play in an extended range, affects the neck width and the distance between the strings. At the same time, learning to play a five-, six- or seven-string bass is more difficult than learning to play a classical instrument. You'd better put off buying a guitar like that. Until you are ready to light up the halls, or at least neighbors, with your solo parts.
Guitar neck construction
- Ladovaya
There are usually metal stripes on the guitar fretboard. No, not to make the music heavier, but to help you find tones and semitones. Guitar-yoda or someone will tell you about them at the request "Tutorial on Bass Guitar Online". In the meantime, know: it's called "Lada". And before you is a fret bass guitar.
- Fretless
With her, everything is both easier and more complicated. On the one hand, there are no fretboard inserts. On the other hand, if you have already entered the stage with such an instrument to the advantage, then you have already declared yourself as a master guitarist. Now it's time to tear up the hall! Do not disappoint.
Well, for beginners, it is better to stop at the four-string version with frets. But how will you play without strings? Below is a quick insight into bass strings and how to choose them.
How to choose bass strings
When choosing the strings on which you will play your main hit, keep in mind such concepts as "scale", "string thickness", "string tension". Well, do not forget about the material with the type of winding.
- Scale Is the length of the string from the headstock to the tailpiece on the guitar body. Basses are typically ≈34 ″ (inches). And here it is not necessary here: the author is not lazy! It's just that the string makers made sure that we didn't overflow from inches to centimeters and back. They unified the designations on the packages. There everything-everything-everything in inches and descriptive phrases like "short", "medium", "large".
- Bass String Thickness and Tension affect the saturation of the sound and the amount of effort you put into pressing the string to the fret nut. Classic four-string sets contain strings 0.045-0.105 ″ thick. Or simpler, sizes 45-105.
String tension is described by English epithets: "light", "medium", "heavy". The thicker the string, the deeper and more powerful the sound. But thick strings are harder to press against the frets. So if you're not a Flea from RHCP yet, go for standard sized light strings.
Watch the video on how to customize the bass guitar
What are guitar strings?
In the world of bass players, there are five basic materials from which bass strings are made.
| String materials | For whom are they designed |
| Nickel alloys | For musicians of all genres and levels |
| Pure nickel | For lovers of vintage blues, light rock and pop songs |
| Stainless steel | For rock |
| Copper alloy | Handle light acoustic music |
| Polymer coating | Extends the life of the strings. Their sound differs from manufacturer to manufacturer |
The best choice for your first bass guitar experiences are nickel-alloy or polymer-coated strings.
- The former do not limit the choice of which music to master the technique of playing the bass guitar.
- The latter will survive all your failures.
What is guitar string winding and what is it like
A guitar string consists of a rod on which a metal thread with a certain section is wound. In this regard, there are three types of string winding:
- round, in which a solid thread is wound on a core;
- semicircular, in which the upper half of the thread is removed;
- flat, in which the thread fits as tightly as possible to the rod.
Strings differ only in sound. For example:
- flat-wound bass strings for the loudest and deepest sound;
- semicircular and flat windings help to avoid scratching and sliding of fingers along the strings, due to the flat outer side of the thread. But at first this moment can be omitted.
And since you are almost the lucky owner of an electro-acoustic bass guitar, all that is missing is the amp. Here are some tips for choosing an amplifier.
Bass guitar combo: how to choose
The amplifier boosts the bass sound so neighbors will fully appreciate the depth of the bass. If, of course, you have taken into account three important points when choosing a amp:
- Mini combo boxes sound accordingly, you cannot impress stadiums with them. And neighbors are allowed.
- Try not to use amplifiers for electric guitars, as they work in different frequencies and, at best, simply will not convey the fullness of the sound, or even distort it altogether.
- Feel free to plug in in-store amplifiers to compare the sound of your guitar.
Bonus tip!
To easily join the crowd of bassists and become “your own” as soon as possible, be sure to come up with a juicy and sonorous name for your four-string baby. For example, BB King called his guitar "Lussile", Billy Gibbons called "Miss Pearl Gate", and Eric Clapton called "Fool". The stranger the name is, and the more beautiful the legend around it, the better.
And now go ahead for your first bass guitar, the first applause from the battery and the enthusiastic shouts of the neighbors. Do not believe if they are indignant - in fact, they like it!
Note: "How to choose condoms"
See the review of the YAMAHA TRBX204 bass guitar
