If you are interested in playing the bass, rest assured it is a relatively straightforward and simple instrument to learn. Fundamentally, you simply need to play your music from the heart, allowing your listeners to enjoy the melody you create.
Following are a few core tips to help beginners get started:
In the Beginning
First, you will want to make a decision concerning the type of sound you hope to express with your bass. Will you play smooth bass or something more rhythmic, wild sounding? The sound you generate will depend largely on the rhythm you use.
The best way to discover your signature sound is to do some personal experiments. For example, you can move the tack backward or forward to see which sounds better: in general, if the bass is ahead, the drums sound far behind while if the bass is behind, the drums sound "burning."
Length of Notes
Generally speaking, short notes sound better than long ones, assuming that the bass part of the audio is pitched. You can edit notes from other parts of the piece to fit them into a totally different phrase altogether; this results in a familiar melody that also has a different cut because it is inserted on a different line.
You may also want to leave some space in bass portions of a given song. Many well-known bass players utilize holes to emphasize a feeling or mood and also to add a sense of pressure into a sound. This effectively leaves the listener hanging in anticipation, only to satisfy that "longing" a few beats down the road.
Watch the Melodies
You would do well to avoid bass melodies that can be difficult to play, making both playing and listening to them less enjoyable. While the bass can really grab the listener's attention (particularly when the rhythm is fast), the trick to making it recognizable is to keep it static until the melody changes.
Similarly to playing the drum, the role of the bass guitar in a song can be repetitive. Because of this, you should break up chords and lines for variety; and it is not a bad idea to utilize simple bass chords to avoid a "train wreck" type of melody.
The Inspiration
The inspiration for playing to suit the bass chords will depend largely on the way a given song is played. You will realize a clearer bass melody if the rest of the notes are kept higher; and you should never hesitate to edit notes for comfort and sound if needed.
A time-honored recommendation is to listen to edited bass chords and your timing. Too much of a good thing can ultimately end up being bad - and an exaggerated bass could actually ruin the whole piece.
