Most used Bass Guitar Scales
Bass guitar scales are of two types namely long scale bass guitars and short scale bass guitars. The basic difference between the two has to do with the size. Due to the difference in size there are other features that change like the tonal quality, number of strings, fret placement and the overall sound of the guitar. You can choose the bass guitar scales based on the comfort level and a very important fact. The important factor is whether your hands are small in length or long in length. Based on this criteria the choice becomes much easier.
How long the bass is from the neck to the nut refers to the scale of the bass and this also determines the vibrating length of the strings. Bass guitar scales determine the length of the strings and based on this the tone that you get changes. If you want a lower pitch you might prefer to use a long scale bass guitar and if you want a higher pitch the ideal choice would be the short scale bass guitar.
34” is the most common scale for the electric bass and it is known as the long scale bass guitars. You will find that most five string guitars length is 35”. You also have the extra long version which 36”. If you are keen about the medium range then it has to be the 33” to 30”. A short scale bass guitar size is 30”.
As the length increase so will the notes that will need to be played on each string get stretched. You will need to have a real nice pair of big hands in order to play the 35” or the 36” and if you have normal hands length and try to play the instrument you will find a lot of discomfort while playing it and hence need to be avoided for people with short hands..
A short scale bass is considered quite ideal for people with small hands and for children. You will be surprised to know that the legend of music Paul McCartney has always preferred playing the small bass guitar. The longer neck models do offer a better tonal quality in comparison to the smaller scale bass guitar.
As the placement of the frets is nearer in case of the short scale bass guitar a number of musicians prefer using it as it helps them have more control over the music they play and they can also play pretty fast. You will really need to stretch quite a bit if you opt for a longer scale bass guitar as there will a lot of uncomfortable movements till the time you get accustomed to playing it.
There are a variety of sizes and shapes that both the short scale bass guitar and the long scale bass guitars are available. You can make your choice based on your individual preference and choice. Knowledge about bass guitar scales will help you determine and buy the best guitar for practice and playing in front of an audience.
Beginners Bass Guitar Lessons
The beginners bass guitar lessons are easy to learn and whether you are playing solo or in a group you will find that these lessons will help you understand the very basics of playing the guitar correctly. There are a number of free guitar lessons that are available online and you can make full use of the information that is so easily available. After you have learned the basics you can start playing the guitar in the most creative and original way you like. You will need to have a strong foundation in order to succeed and this skill is perfected only if you practice well.
The initial beginners bass guitar lessons lays a lot of emphasis on the basics and that is the way it should be and you must also take care that you do not rush through the entire sessions very fast. You will end up finishing the lessons but will lack in the skills and this will be clearly visible when you are playing in front of an audience. Your lack of practice and basics could end up stopping your career as a guitarist even before it starts.
The beginners bass guitar lessons that are available online are usually of an interactive nature and you will get to learn them easily as expert guidance will be readily provided. You will also learn how to pick the guitar and use your fingers to play great music to impress your family and friends. You will also be able to learn about how the chords are structured and how to use the different variations of chording.
You will also be able to learn to alternate speed while playing the guitar and most beginners do manage to build up speed but are unable to sustain the tempo and all these techniques will be learnt from beginners bass guitar lessons. You will learn to slowly increase the tempo and with practice you will learn to do it consistently. Initially try and play at the same speed and as you gain the requisite skills you can either raise the tempo or reduce it depending on the requirement of the song you are playing.
You will need to practice with different strings and different notes. You can start with a particular string and as you gain the skills you can move to the next one. You can also learn to tune your guitar and it is very important that you do it right in order to get the right sound emanating from your guitar.
The way you hold the guitar depends on your comfort level and you will learn to get it right after a couple of attempts. How you place the guitar in relation to your body is important in playing it correctly. You should not feel tense while playing the guitar as this will get reflected while playing. You must make the entire process of learning a fun filled activity.
You can learn all the different techniques of playing the guitar through beginners bass guitar lessons and become a professional in this wonderful art.
What is Short Scale Bass Guitar?
What are short scale bass guitar? Well for your information the scale of the bass is the distance of the bass from the bridge to the nut along the vibrating length of the strings. A typical long scale neck length between the bridge to the nut is 34” and it is the standard size that is used for most electric bass guitars and in the short scale bass guitar the scale is 30”. Musicians whose arm lengths were small were finding it quite difficult to use the long scale and in order to help the manufacturers started manufacturing the short scale bass guitar which over a period of time became very popular.
Bass guitar scales that are extra long are usually up to 36” and these have a higher string tension due to which a more defined tone is available on the lowest string. There have been a number of changes to the short scale bass guitar and you also have the 28” neck which is ideal for individuals who have shorter arms or for children. It is not just people with short arms who prefer the short scale bass guitar but other players who find it very comfortable to use as it is quite light compared to the others. You can also play the guitar much faster in the short scale.
The fret placements that are on the guitar are determined depending on the length of the neck. If it is a long scale neck then the fret placement which are a ratio that is calculated based on the scale length the distance between the frets are longer and if it is a short scale then the distance between frets is shorter. Due to the short distance that the frets are placed in the short scale it makes it much easier to play faster and you can mesmerize your audience by playing very fast.
The tonal quality is another difference that exists between a long scale neck and small scale neck. As the tension of the string at a certain pitch determines the tonal value the longer the neck the better will be the sound. This is particularly true if you are using a five string guitar and due to the longer scale neck you will get an amazing sound from the lowest string.
Bass guitar scales also determine to a large extent the number of strings that should be there on the guitar. A four string guitar will perform very well with a short scale neck where as a five string or a six string guitar is ideal for the long scale neck. The neck is also larger on the six string guitar and if you are blessed with smaller hands you should opt for the short scale neck guitar with four strings.
You can choose the guitar type you want based on your individual needs and requirements and there are musicians who have large hands but prefer playing the short scale neck guitar and vice versa where individuals with shorter hands play the long neck scale guitars. Your knowledge about short scale bass guitar will help you make the right choice.
What Kind of Bass and Guitar Tuner There are
ass and guitar tuner are very important in order to make your music sound good. A badly tuned guitar is not pleasant to hear to and make the best guitar players sound ordinary. It is not very difficult to tune your guitar and you can learn it quite easily. Beginners as well as professionals have to pick up the skill to tune a guitar. There are a wide range of guitar tuners that are available with the different models of guitars. You can buy a wide range of models depending on the price. Let us look at some of the popular models of bass and guitar tuner.
Some of the models that are available are Seiko STX1 Guitar and Bass Clip-on Tuner, Hartke HT12 Digital Chromatic Guitar and Bass Tuner, Ibanez PU10 Guitar and Bass Clip-On Tuner, Ibanez PU20 Large Guitar and Bass Clip-On Tuner, Peterson Virtual Strobe Rackmount Tuner, Planet Waves SOS Bass Guitar Strobe Tuner, Planet Waves PW-CT-09 Universal II Chromatic Tuner, Korg GA-40 Electronic Guitar and Bass Tuner, Korg CA-40 Electronic Chromatic Tuner, Matrix MPU2 Clip-On Tuner Microphone, Korg OT-120 Chromatic Orchestral Tuner, Ibanez RU10 Chromatic Guitar and Bass Jam Tuner, Yamaha YT150 Tuner, Yamaha YT-250 Tuner, Yamaha YT-240 String Instrument Tuner, Qwik Tune QT-9 Guitar Tuner, Qwik Tune Q12E Exogenic Chromatic Tuner and Node Chromatic Strobe Tuner.
The other popular models include HardWire HT2 Chromatic Tuner Pedal, Korg DTR-1000 Rackmount Digital Tuner, Korg BA40 Bluegrass Tuner, Korg DT-7 Tuner, Korg AW-2 Clip-On Tuner, Planet Waves PWCT10 Headstock Tuner, Seiko STX1 Clip-On Chromatic Tuner, Sabine STX1100 Chromatic AutoTuner, Intellitouch PT1 Tuner, Marshall MT-1 Guitar and Bass Tuner, Boss TU12EX Chromatic Tuner, Ibanez LU10 Digital Chromatic Tuner, Korg GT120 Chromatic Guitar and Bass Tuner and Qwik Tune QT12 Digital Chromatic Tuner,
Bass and guitar tuner models can be Boss Chromatic Tuner for Brass & Wind Instruments Boss TU-12EX Chromatic Tuner for Guitar & Bass, Boss TU-88 Micro Monitor & Tuner for Guitar & Bass BLACK, Boss TU-88 Micro Monitor & Tuner for Guitar & Bass WHITE, Fender AX12 Chromatic Tuner, DigiTech HardWire Series HT-2 Chromatic Tuner, N-Tune Artist Series On-board Chromatic Electric Guitar Tuner Korg LCA120 Chromatic Tuner with LCD Display, Korg DT7 Digital Chromatic Guitar and Bass Tuner and Korg DTR1000 Digital Chromatic Rackmount Tuner,
The open strings of the guitar from the thickest to the thinnest are E which is the thickest or lowest sounding string and it is also known as the 6th string, A is the 5th string, D is the 4th string, G is the 3rd, B is the 2nd and E the thinnest or the highest is the 1st. You will need to tune your guitar every time you play the guitar. You will be surprised to know that most guitars go out of tune faster than you think. The change in temperatures which is extreme also end up changing the tune of the guitar and you will have to fine tune it then, It is not necessary that you buy very costly bass and guitar tuner in order to get the desired results. A tuner which is moderately priced can also work wonders.
How to Find The Best Used Bass Guitar
Used bass guitars are known by another name and that is Vintage. We normally associate used with broken or repaired things but you will be surprised to know that used also refers to vintage and there is a lot of value attached to it. Vintage symbolizes classic and enduring appeal which lasts for years. In simple words it the excellent quality of a product which people still think of and admire even after years had passed since its last production. Such products in spite of turning old have a value that is truly unique. Vintage Gibson Guitars is one such product whose value and excellence has stood the test of time. A lot of musicians would love to own a vintage guitar. Gibson has been in the music industry from 1890 and has quite a collection of instruments which are unique and truly vintage.
Used bass guitars of branded manufactures are preferred in comparison to other companies as everyone knows that in spite of been old the quality and class that went into making the product what it is remains. A company which more than a century old and still going strong has a number of firsts to its credit and most products of Gibson were the first to be ever made. Other companies over the years have gone and cloned the product but the original remains special in most people’s eyes.
Vintage Gibson Guitars have that aura around them and the fact that the most famous music groups all over the world have used the guitars of the past lends a certain history to it. Beatles which rocked the world of music have an association with it so does Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin who was considered an artist par excellence.
Some of the finest guitars which are considered vintage from Gibson are Firebird I, Super 400, SG Les Paul Standard, J-50, Les Paul Deluxe, ES-300, Corvus I, Johnny Smith guitars, Jumbo, L-1, C-O Classical, and the C-1 Classical. The Gibson guitars have a unique serial number which will enable you to find out approximately which year the guitar was manufactured.
The guitar has over the years transformed itself from a mere instrument which produces sounds when its strings are pulled to an instrument which is loved by the big fraternity of rock and roll lovers. The Gibson guitar has transcended time with its unique creation of guitars and has created a niche character symbolizing class. Used bass guitars which remind one of the era of music that most people remember in a nostalgic manner and these guitars are a reminder of the legends that they loved listening to.
You will find a number of websites that sell used bass guitars in very good quality and you can make your choice based on the model you like and your budget. There are a number of musicians who feel that the kind of music that was made on the old and used guitars is no longer made and you would love to hold the model of guitar which was once used by a legend that you loved so much.
How to Pickup a Good Bass Guitar Pickups
Bass guitar pickups are devices that are primarily used for the purpose of trapping vibrations that are made by guitar strings. The vibrations are captured and these get changed into electronic signals that can be recorded and amplified. So how does the entire process work? The pickups consist of a magnet and a copper wire is coiled abound it. When the vibrations that are caused from the bass strings disturb the magnetic field, which is present in the magnet very small fluctuations start in the copper coil. The fluctuations that are so generated are then transmitted, amplified and translated into the sound that we all to hear. Good bass guitar pickups will make all the difference in the kind of music you play on the guitar.
The pickups come in passive which is also known as multi transducer or magnetic and the other type is passive or piezoelectric and optical. Let us look at each of these bass guitar pickups in detail in order to get a better understanding. The magnetic guitar pickups are from magnet that is permanently enclosed within the thin coils of copper wire and these are ideally placed in the neck or the pickguard where they are connected.
As an alternative to magnetic pickups the piezoelectric pickups are used and these are fitted with buffer amplifiers so that full frequency responses are not lost. The biggest advantage of this pickup is that they do not pick unnecessary fields like hums and feedback. And due to this the sound that is produced when you play the guitar is truly unique.
When you use the multi transducer pickup you are assured of a different output emanating from each guitar string. The optical guitar pickups use LED light sources that give off light beams and these are intercepted by the strings and you will get the desired sound. If you are looking at a wide range of sounds then it would be better if you opt for a piezoelectric pickup in comparison to the others.
A good bass guitar pickup is very vital for the sound of the guitar and if you choose a sub standard pickup it is bound to get reflected in the music coming from the guitar. Both beginners and professionals are aware of the fact and are normally very careful while choosing the pickups.
The two good pickup designs that are available based on the number of coils is single coil pickups and double coil hum buckers. In the single coil pickups there is just one coil that is attached to the magnet and this enables you to get a clear sound. A major disadvantage of using the single coil is that any kind of external noise that is generated usually in the form of radio waves, computer monitors and fluorescent lighting can result in a buzzing sound and is picked up by the guitar while playing. The double coil hum buckers are good when compared to the single coil pickups. As stated earlier a good bass guitar pickups will enhance your playing skills.
What are Bass Guitar Kits?
If you are guitar enthusiast you will how important a bass guitar kit is to you playing the guitar comfortably. If you are beginner you would love to own a kit which will help create the ideal platform for you to practice and perform. So what constitutes a guitar kit? The bass guitar kit usually consist of guitar chord, guitar strings, guitar strap, guitar amplifier, guitar picks, guitar tuner, guitar case or gig bag and guitar stand. In order to help the beginners there are also CDs and DVDs that train them in the various techniques of playing the guitar.
All the famous brands of bass guitar models have kits to accompany. Let us look at the bass guitar kits in detail. The guitar case and gig bag has to be sturdy and has to be strong enough to support the weight of the guitar that you wish to carry. It is a protective cover that is used to protect your investment which in this case happens to be the guitar. Some gig bags have a side pocket where you can keep all the accessories and this makes it very convenient. The gig bags also have protective foam on the inside that will help protect your precious guitar from any accidental fall.
You will need to take care of your guitar by polishing it at frequent intervals and this will help to keep it in prime condition. The bass guitar kits will also include the polish that is needed for the purpose of keeping it in great condition. There are also a number of replacement parts that also form part of the bass guitar kit.
The replacement parts include bridges and tailpieces, customizing parts, knobs, machine heads, pick guards, pick up covers, pick up mounting rings, plates, strap buttons, nuts, fret ware, truss rod covers, toggle switches and pots. The strings affect the overall quality of the sound that emanates from the guitar and this need to be in prime condition if you want the music you make to sound good.
The straps that you use to carry the guitar have to be of good material so that they do not cause any sort of discomfort to you. You can have brushed leather, soft leather, and custom leather as part of the straps.
The pickups are also a very important bass guitar kits and there are different types of pickups available to suit your individual needs and requirements. Tuners and Metronomes are also kits that are very useful to both beginners and professionals. There are different models of each of this kits and it is suit the various models of guitars that are available.
Yamaha guitars has the Gigmaker Bass series in which along with the guitar you have the 20 watt bass amplifier, gig bag, chromatic tuner, instructional DVD, strap, extra strings and extra pickups. Most of the famous brands have these all complete packages and these are very beneficial both to the beginners and the professionals as well. The bass guitar kits are a very important part of the guitar package and will help you perform even better.
What is a Bass Guitar Package?
Bass guitar package is the best as these packs include the guitar, amp, gig bag and guitar case, strings, strap and other useful accessories that will make playing the guitar and protecting your valuable musical instrument quite easy. There are a number of bass guitar packages that are available in the market based on the different models of guitars. Depending on your budget and your requirement you can decide on the package that best fulfills your needs. Let us look at some of the different packages that are available and the accessories that form part of it.
Some of the popular bass guitar package include Dean Vendetta Guitar & Amp Pack Metallic Black, Dean Vendetta Guitar & Amp Pack Metallic Red, Squier Stop Dreaming Start Playing Affinity HSS Strat Guitar Package, Dean Evo XM Electric Guitar Pack Trans Black, Epiphone Les Paul Special II Pro Electric Guitar Package, Dean Evo XM Electric Guitar Pack Satin Natural, Silvertone Guitars SSL3 Electric Guitar Package, Epiphone Emily the Strange G310 Electric Guitar with Gigbag and Strap, Ibanez IJX30 Jumpstart Electric Guitar Metalpak Black Night, Epiphone Marcus Henderson Apparition Guitar Hero Package Midnight Ebony, Silvertone Guitars SS11 Electric Guitar and Amp Package, Epiphone Les Paul Special II Players Pack and Epiphone Les Paul Special II Performance Pack.
The gig bag and guitar case protect the guitar from any sort of serious damage even in case of a fall and some of the popular models that have these accessories as part of the package are ESP LTD M10 Electric Guitar Package, Behringer GPK844 Electric Guitar Package, Ibanez IJX40 Jumpstart Electric Guitar Package, Squier Stop Dreaming, Start Playing SE Special Strat Electric Guitar Package, Epiphone Les Paul Junior Electric Guitar and All Access Amp Pack, Squier Stop Dreaming, Start Playing Affinity Strat Electric Guitar Package, Squier Stop Dreaming Start Playing Affinity Strat HSS Electric Guitar Package with G-DEC, Fender SE Special Strat with Squier SP-10 Amp Value Pack Black, Fender SE Special Strat with Squier SP-10 Amp Value Pack Arctic White, Fender SE Special Strat with Squier SP-10 Amp Value Pack Brown Sunburst, Fender Affinity Special Strat and Frontman 15G Amp Value Pack Black, Fender Affinity Special Strat and Frontman 15G Amp Value Pack Metallic Blue, Silvertone SS10 Citation Electric Guitar Package, Fender Affinity Strat HSS and Bullet 150 DSP Amp Value Pack Black,
Strings and straps are very useful when you are performing and some of the popular bass guitar package that have these are Fender Affinity Special Strat and Frontman 15G Amp Value Pack Metallic Red, Silvertone SS11 Revolver Electric Guitar Package, Fender Affinity Strat HSS and Bullet 150 DSP Amp Value Pack Metallic Blue, Fender Starcaster Strat Rock Band Electric Guitar and Frontman 25R Combo Amp Value Pack ¹, Peavey Raptor Electric Guitar Stage Pack Black, Fender Left-Handed Standard Strat Electric Guitar Pack, B.C. Rich Red Bevel Warlock Electric Guitar and Amp Pack Black With Red, Rogue Rocketeer HSS Electric Guitar Value Pack Black, Fender Starcaster Strat Rock Band Electric Guitar Value Pack Black Rosewood Fretboard¹, Epiphone EM-2 Prophecy Custom FX Electric Guitar with Floyd Rose and All Access Amp Pack and Behringer iAXE393 USB Electric Guitar
Most of the big manufacturers of guitars have their own bass guitar package and these include Yamaha GigMaker EG Electric Guitar Pack Black, Yamaha GigMaker EG Electric Guitar Pack Metallic Dark Blue, Ibanez IJX20 Jumpstart Electric Guitar Package, Ibanez IJX40 Electric Guitar Jumpstart Package METALLIC RED, Peavey Vypyr Stage Pack Electric Guitar Package
Guild Bass Guitar Secrets
Guild bass guitars company was started in the year 1952 and has over the years retained its position as one of the most popular choices of guitars all over the world. They had a phenomenal growth in the fifties and sixties and were often credited to have made the best possible jazz guitars during that point of time.
A testimony to their huge popularity was that many music legends of that time like Johnny Smith, Duane Eddy, Roy Orbison, John Lee Hooker, Merle Travis, Paul Simon, Keith Richards, Dave Davies, George Benson, Buddy Guy, Howlin’ Wolf, Richie Havens, Bonnie Raitt, Steve Miller, Eric Clapton, Muddy Waters, Doc Watson, Ry Cooder, George Strait all preferred using this guitars.
Guild bass guitars had only three models in those initial days and these were F-30 Aragon, F-40 Valencia and F-50 Navarre. These models were introduced in the year 1954 and by 1963 other famous models such as D-40 Bluegrass Jubilee and D-50 Bluegrass Special were launched. The D-55 which is also a very popular model was introduced in the year 1968. The six string and 12 string guild bass guitars were a rage at that point of time and many considered them matchless.
It was the days of the Woodstock festival of music and Richie Havens who many consider as one of the biggest legends of music who mesmerized audiences all over the world used the guild bass guitar. After years of popularity the company did encounter some problems along the way but like a phoenix rising out of the ashes restructured itself and came back to occupy a position as one of the leading manufacturers of guitars.
In the year 1995 Guild was acquired by Fender Musical Corporation and this added a new chapter in the company’s growth.
The various models of the guild bass guitars are F-50, F-50 with D-Tar pick up system, F-50R, F-50R with D-Tar pick up system, F-30 Aragon, F-30 Aragon with D-Tar pick up system, F-40 Valencia, F-40 Valencia with D-Tar pick up system, F-47M, F-47M with D-Tar pick up system, F-47R, F-47R with D-Tar pick up system, F-412, F-412 with D-Tar pick up system, F-512 and F-512 with D-Tar pick up system. Each one of these models has a unique feature and this makes the sound totally distinct.
If you start looking at the music stars who have used the guild bass guitar over the years it would like a who’s who of the music world. Prepared to get surprised when you read the list of great artists all over the world who have used this wonderful guitar and this list includes greats like Bryan Adams, John Baez, Richard Barone, Brendan Benson, George Benson, Steven Page, Eric Clapton, Sheryl Crow, Brian May, Paul Simon, Buddy Guy, Johnny Cash, Phil Lesh, Peter Tork, Bruce Springsten, Leslie Feist, John Denver, Nick Drake, Barry Gibb, Johnny Smith, Mississippi John Hurt Scott Mathews, Tommy Smothers and many others. The guild bass guitars have held their own all these years through fine craftsmanship and excellent sound quality.
Yamaha Bass Guitar History
Yamaha bass guitar history dates back to more than a century. It is a product manufactured by a company which has been in the business of musical instruments since 1887. Yamaha Corporation has been one of the leading manufacturers of guitars all over the world and apart from a number of musical instruments that they make; their guitars are rated as been among the finest both in quality and durability. They started making the guitars in the year 1942 and there have been many innovations that have been attributed to the company since then in manufacturing the guitar.
The first electric guitar that was manufactured by Yamaha was in the year 1966 in Japan and since then there have been many changes to the design. A number of legends in the music world have used and are continuing to use the Yamaha bass guitar due to its distinct sound. The company was also among the first to introduce the guitar kits which become a very popular choice for most beginners. It gave them the ideal chance to practice and perfect their skills.
It is not just the beginners who are fond of the Yamaha guitar but also professional musicians who love its design and quality of sound produced. Any musician, who has started his training on a Yamaha guitar, would probably never use another brand.
The association of Yamaha bass guitar with the legends of music started around the 1970s and has continued till date. Legends like Paul McCartney noticed the broad bass technology that was introduced by the company in 1977 and due to its warm tone quickly started using it to perfection.
There were many greats like Michael Anthony, John Denver, John Lennon, Bob Marley, Brian May, Jimmy Page, Carlos Santana, Bob Seger, Billy Sheehan, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen and James Taylor who have used the Yamaha guitar and have loved the experience it provides.
A very important innovation of the Yamaha guitar and which has made it so famous is the introduction of the dovetail neck joint. It is supposed to provide the best neck to guitar body contact and as the neck joint is made of timber it is said to absorb the vibrations that make the sound so much better.
There are different kinds of timber that are blended to produce one piece of Yamaha bass guitar and it is the blend of the finest wood that world its magic on the sound quality and durability of the guitar. The lacquer that is used in the guitar is of the best quality and Yamaha has worked very closely with the people who supply lacquer to its guitar in order to ensure that the quality of the guitar is the best among all brands.
The Yamaha Company has also believed in working closely with the musicians who use its instruments and any suggestions that are given by these professionals have been included in the design of the Yamaha bass guitar. The design of the guitar is done in such a wonderful way that it produces one of the most balanced sounds that emanates from a guitar.
