Bass Guitar Accessories And Gear
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Starting a new instrument is a form of investment. In order to get yourself off the ground the right way, just like any other investment, there are a few things that you are going to need to complete the whole “package.”
The bass guitar is no different in this respect than a car or a house. A car needs gas and oil, and a house needs furniture, heat, electricity, and many other things. In life, nothing is a one time and your done deal.
In this article, we’ll talk about the different types of bass guitar accessories and gear and whether or not they are necessities.
So Many to Choose From, Where to Start?
First up are the basics; straps, picks, tuners, and cables. Straps and picks are both optional, but a strap can be a necessity if you want to play live, whereas a pick isn’t necessary at all if you want to play slap bass or finger style bass.
Tuners are a necessity if you like playing. Even if you do not want to change tuning or experiment with sharps, flats, or dropped tunings, a tuner is the only way that you will be able to (a) play along to a song and have it sound proper, (b) play in a band and be able to use harmonies or simply play with other people, and (c) help to train your ear without doing all of the work an ear training course will require from you.
A cable will only be necessary if you want to play the electric bass, and even then only if you choose to play live.
Useful Gear But Not Necessary Mandatory
Next up is the second tier of bass guitar accessories and gear; the just about necessary, but not quite necessary tier. This includes amplifiers, strap locks, and locking tuners.
Amps are only necessary if you are gigging or plan on jamming with friends. Otherwise, there isn’t much actual need to broadcast what you are playing.
Strap locks are a great tool to keep your bass guitar from having any nasty spills if your strap breaks (which is rare, but does actually happen). Also, if you plan on spinning your guitar around like a showman, then you better grab a pair of strap locks to prevent heartbreak.
Locking tuners, while their name sounds great, don’t do much besides keep your strings from slipping. This doesn’t necessarily mean that they will help you to stay in tune any better (they simply clamp the strings), but they can possibly help.
Accessories That Will Help Enhance Your Sound
Our last tier is the unnecessary tier; pedals, effects, and anything flashy that doesn’t help your guitar work beyond a showmanship level.
Wah pedals, distortion pedals, chorus pedals, lights, stickers—these are all extras. While you may think you can’t solo without your wah, you may find that a little bit of practice will do you a whole lot better than immediately grabbing for your wah pedal.
In the end, you know what you need and you know what you want. The difference is whether or not you are able to draw the line between them. Good luck!
Articles on Bass Guitar Accessories And Equipment:
#1 – Differences Between 4 And 5 String Bass Guitars
While both types of guitars offer their own set of benefits, the main difference between a 4 string bass and a 5 string bass really lies in their range of notes that they can cover.
#2 – Tips And Insider Advice to Picking an Amplifier That is Suitable for Your Needs
Selecting and buying a bass amp isn’t a walk in the park. No matter what the advertisements say, one shoe doesn’t fit all. The key to choosing is to find one that fits your style of playing and the types of tone you want to achieve.
#3 – Introduction to the Fretless Bass And What They Are
Fretless bass guitars represent a totally different world in bass playing in terms of possibilities. Without frets, your playing will sound more fluid and you can have more control on your note pitching. That could work both ways for and against you depending on your expertise.
#4 – Do You Really Need Effects Pedals And What’s Best For You?
Often times, playing the best guitar can get monotonous when we stick with the same tone all the time. For more advanced players who want to experiment, bass guitar effects pedals can help you create all kinds of sounds.
#5 – How to Use Chorus Effects For a Different Dimension in Your Playing
If you want to add more depth and achieve a huge tone in your sound, one of the best ways to do this is by using a chorus pedal. Check out this article for tips to use the effect properly.
#6 – When And How to Correctly Apply Distortion to Your Music
Bass distortion is an effect pedal that can be a good thing or a total disaster when used wrongly. In this article, we will share with you the tips to use distortion correctly instead of making a mess with unnecessary noises.
#7 – How to Use Wah Wah Pedals to Inject Life In a Song
One of the most popular bass effects pedals that I love is the Wah Wah pedal. If you want to give your tone a new spruce of life, this is a great accessory to get. In this article, I will you ways to explore and find your own sounds.
#8 – Choosing an Appropriate Strap For Your Guitar
A guitar strap for your bass is one of the accessories that any bassist will require. Regardless of playing the bass standing or sitting down, it will help safe guard your instrument from slipping and falling during usage.
#9 – Should I Get a Soft Gig Bag or Hard Casing for Storage?
In this article, we will discuss some of the advantages and disadvantages of getting a hard case and soft gig bag to store your guitar. Find out which one suits you better before you make a purchase.
Check Out The Perfect Learning Tool For Bassists of All Skill Levels
JamPlay offers the best online bass instructions on the Internet. With hundreds of professionally recorded lessons, Jamplay is the ideal place to learn the basics and improve your bass playing skills. With great teachers and carefully planned lesson structures, I guarantee you will be able to take your bass playing to a higher level in no time.
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