History and Information
The bass guitar or electric bass was developed in the mid-20th century, as a combination of the traditional stand up bass and the electric guitar. It has the same tuning and sound as a stand up bass, but the playing technique is more similar to the guitar. When you learn how to play electric bass, a whole world of music will open up to you, including jazz, rock, blues, funk, soul, and numerous other genres of popular music.
When to Start
Students can start bass guitar lessons as young as age 8, depending on a student’s dexterity and fine motor skills. Some students will begin on the guitar or upright bass and then add or switch over to the electric bass later. Most instructors will incorporate reading music into their lessons, so students should know at least some reading and counting fundamentals.
Getting a Guitar
There are many brands and models of bass guitars available for rent or purchase. For very young students, you may want to consider renting instruments for two reasons: 1) they will most likely grow out of instruments quickly and 2) they may lose interest (although we hope they don’t!). Most stores provide repair services for instruments that they rent out. We can give you recommendations for places near you to buy or rent your electric bass. Please contact us, and be sure to include your location!
Books and Supplies
Your instructor can tell you which books and supplies are appropriate. Most books and many supplies, including strings and cases, are available online. We can recommend stores near you where you can purchase supplies and music for your bass guitar, if you prefer to do so in person. Please contact us, and again, remember to tell us where you live!
**Feel free to contact us with any questions you may have. We can help provide you with additional resources.**