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6. Using the middle finger of your left hand, lightly touch the E string at the 5th fret
Strike the harmonic and let it ring together with the previous harmonic.
Adjust the tuning head of the D string until the wavering stops.
3. Using the pinkie of your left hand, lightly touch the D string at the 7th fret.
Strike the harmonic and let it ring.
4. Using the middle finger of your left hand, lightly touch the A string at the 5th fret.
Strike the harmonic and let it ring together with the previous harmonic.
Adjust the tuning head of the A string until the wavering stops.
5. Using the pinkie of your left hand, lightly touch the A string at the 7th fret.
Strike the harmonic and let it ring.
6. Using the middle finger of your left hand, lightly touch the E string at the 5th fret.
Strike the harmonic and let it ring together with the previous harmonic.
Adjust the tuning head of the E string until the wavering stops.
Check out Figure 2-22 for the relationships between the harmonics.
The following list gives you the most important harmonics for tuning:
✓ The 7th-fret harmonic on the G string (the thinnest string) is exactly the same note as the 5th-fret harmonic on the D string (the second-skinniest string).
✓ The 7th-fret harmonic on the D string is exactly the same note as the 5th-fret harmonic on the A string (the second-thickest string).
✓ The 7th-fret harmonic on the A string is exactly the same note as the 5th-fret harmonic on the E string (the thickest string).
51
Chapter 2: Gaining the Tools and Skills to Play
Figure 2-22:
The relationships between the harmonics.
Most of the notes that are offered to you as reference pitches (such as from a guitar) are in a higher octave. If you tried to match the higher note exactly, the string you’re tuning would snap and whip around your ears. Comparing notes that are an octave (or two) apart is easier with harmonics.
When you strike a harmonic on a string that isn’t in perfect tune, you can hear a beating or wavering sound. Let the harmonics ring, and slowly turn the tuning head of the string you’re trying to tune. If the wavering gets faster, you’re turning in the wrong direction. If the wavering gets slower, you’re turning in the correct direction. Turn the tuning head until the wavering stops. When the tone is even, your string is in tune. If the wavering gets slower and then speeds up again, you’ve turned the tuning head past the correct pitch. In this case, slowly turn the tuning head in the other direction until the wavering stops.
Playing a Song with Your Bass Guitar
Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time for your very first song! What? Already? You bet! You may not be ready to tour, but you can certainly play along with the
52 Part I: The World According to Bass
song on Track 2. In fact, you can do it with one hand tied behind your back.
All you need to do is play the open strings on your bass . . . and break out some attitude.
Tracks 2 and 3 on the CD are play-alongs of two songs, the first using the open strings and the second using closed strings. I cover both scenarios in detail in the following sections. When you’re comfortable with the songs, eliminate the bass on the recording by panning to one side so you can play along without any help.
Making some noise with the open strings
Let your striking hand become comfortable with the individual strings on your bass. The thickest string, the one closest to your head, is the E string.
Strike it a few times to get a feel for it. Careful! Don’t strike it too hard. You get plenty of sound by striking the strings with a light touch, and quite frankly, the bass sounds at its best with a light touch.
The next string, the second-thickest, is the A string. Same deal here: Strike it a few times until you’re comfortable and it sounds good. Next to the A string is the D string. Go ahead, you know what to do. Finally, the fourth string, the skinny one closest to your feet, is the G string (to bass players it’s more than a fashion statement). Make it sound good and get ready to rock and roll!
When you look at Figure 2-23, you see the letters that correspond to your open strings. Strike the appropriate string, in tempo with the song, each time you see its letter. Listen to Track 2 a few times before playing along.
Closing the strings
Ready for another rousing performance? If you’ve really followed my instruc- tions up to this point and tied one hand behind your back, please untie it now. You need it for this next song.
Looking at the fingerboard of your bass, you see the frets and the dots (inlays) between some of the frets. Find the 3rd fret. In the space between the 2nd and 3rd frets you can see a dot. Press down on the E string with a finger (not the thumb) of your fretting hand in that space so the string is now touching the 3rd (and 2nd) fret. You have just “closed” the E string. Instead of an E, you’re now playing a G. While holding the string in place with your fretting hand, strike the same string with your other hand and listen to the sound.
53
Chapter 2: Gaining the Tools and Skills to Play
Figure 2-23:
Song played on open strings.
Open-String Song
G G G G E
E
E
E
A
A
A
A
D D D D
0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
G G G G E
E
E
E
A
A
A
A
D D D D
0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
A
A
D D G G E
E
A
A
D D G G G G
0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
A
A
D D G G E
E
A
A
D D G G G G
0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
TTRACKRACK 50 2
Find a balance in strength and coordination with both hands. If you don’t press strongly enough with your fretting hand, the string will buzz; if you press too hard, it’ll hurt. If you strike too hard with the other hand, the string will rattle; if you don’t strike it hard enough, you won’t get much sound. Keep experimenting and have fun. Repeat this process with all the strings and get your hands used to what each string feels like.
Use your newfound skill in the song on Track 3. To keep things clear, the song in Figure 2-24 is written descriptively rather than in musical notation. When you see “E string: 3rd fret,” it means that you press the E string to the 3rd fret and strike it evenly in time with the music. When you see “A string: 3rd fret,” you do the same with the A string. Ditto for “D string: 3rd fret” as well as
“G string: 3rd fret.” Only the 3rd fret is being used right now so that you can acquaint yourself with the sound and feel of the closed strings.
54 Part I: The World According to Bass
Figure 2-24:
Song using closed strings.
TTRACKRACK 50 3
Closed-String Song
G string: 3rd Fret
3 3 3 3
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
3 3 3 3
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
3 3 3 3 3 3
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
3 3 3 3 3 3
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
3 3 3 3 E string: 3rd Fret
3 3 3 3
A string: 3rd Fret
3 3 3 3
D string: 3rd Fret
3 3 3 3
G string: 3rd Fret
3 3 3 3 E string: 3rd Fret
3 3 3 3
A string: 3rd Fret
3 3 3 3
D string: 3rd Fret
3 3 3 3
A string: 3rd Fret
G string: 3rd Fret
G string: 3rd Fret
3 3
D string: 3rd Fret
3 3 3 3 E string: 3rd Fret
3 3
A string: 3rd Fret
3 3
D string: 3rd Fret
3 3 3 3 3 3
D string: 3rd Fret
E string: 3rd Fret
G string: 3rd Fret
A string: 3rd Fret
3 3 3 3
G string: 3rd Fret
3 3
3 3
A string: 3rd Fret
3 3
D string: 3rd Fret
3 3 3 3 3 3
You’re now well on your way to being a full-fledged bass player. Congratulations!