Bass Guitars

Affordable Bass Guitars

Bass guitars generally have four strings and frets - it makes them less complicated for beginners to learn the bass. However, Fender bass guitars can sell for upwards of £400 and there are much cheaper basses on the market that offer a similar style, such as the Electric Gear4music Bass Guitar.

Like a typical Fender bass, this model has frets and four strings, as well as the familiar split coil humbucking pickup. This enables the bass guitar to produce a crisp clear tone with good low end depth, punch and sustain. It is also available as part of the Electric G-4 Bass Guitar & Amp Pack, which includes a practice 15-watt bass amplifier, a guitar lead, spare strings, a pick and a strap - everything needed to start playing right away.

Playing bass guitars

There are three main ways of playing bass guitars - using a pick, plucking with fingers or 'slapping'. Picks are generally used in order to play more quickly, although some musicians simply prefer them to plucking. Slapping is a more advanced technique popularised by the likes of Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers and found commonly in funk music.

Beyond these three, it is possible to use two-handed tapping techniques similar to those used in electric guitar playing. This style is generally used by virtuoso bass guitar players - such as Billy Sheehan - who forego the traditional role of the bass guitar as simply a rhythm section instrument.

As well as trying out different playing techniques, beginners can advance their sound by upgrading to a better bass guitar, amp or using effects pedals, such as a Boss GT-1B Bass Effects Processor.