Bass guitar is one of many stringed instruments played using a pick or thumb or fingers. This device is much like an electric guitar, in terms of appearance and construction, although it has a longer scale length and neck. It may use six, five, eight, or four strings, but four is most common. Many different methods of playing bass guitar are used.

Bass is used in many different styles of music. As a result of this, there are different sounds that can be produced, including blues, metal, pop, reggae, jazz, country, rock and punk rock. Genres such as funk, Latin and fusion also incorporate this instrument. Overall, the basslines are expected to range depending on the musician, but the role of a bassist is similar in all types of music: anchoring the harmony framework as well as a laying down the main beat.

To play this device well, one must know the parts of the device. Be acquainted with the structure. The bass is a string instrument and it does have strings that produce sound using vibrations. Standard bass includes E, A, G and D strings, each one offering a different note.

Frets are metal strips that run from top to bottom, separating the instrument into sections. The strings and frets together make a type of grid. By placing a finger on a string between frets a note is played. Fingers high up on the fret produce a high sound. To make the music played louder, use amplification. This will pick up sounds from the instrument and amplify them. Other instrument parts: headstock, tuning pegs, body, pick-ups, body and neck.

It is important to know how to hold the instrument properly. Developing bad positions can lead to chronic shoulder and back problems. It can also ruin overall technique.

Whether standing or sitting, a guitar strap is recommended. This gives the shoulders and back the weight to carry, freeing up the hands. Be sure that the strap places the instrument in a comfortable position on the chest. Posture is important. Stand or sit up straight and avoid slouching or bending. Right-handed players should hold the device in a way that the headstock is located to the left and vice versa for left-handed individuals.

Slap and pop method, also called thumbstyle, is associated with the funk genre. It uses percussive sounds and tones that are achieved through thumping, striking or slapping a string using the thumb and then snapping strings with the middle or index fingers. Using the pick, or plectrum, is a way to achieve more speed. It may also be used as a personal preference. Pick use is often linked to punk rock and rock genres, although they are used in other types of music as well. These devices vary in their material and size.

Palm-muting is another technique. In this method, the outer portion of the picking hand palm is rested on the bridge while picking is done and then used to mute the strings, or shorten the amount of sustain. Fretting is also used to produce a variety of effects, including trills, vibrato, and glissando. With two-handed tapping styles striking of the string is done against the fret or fretboard to make sounds. Many different methods of playing bass guitar can be learned and used.