Bass

To learn more about the core bass models, tonewoods and features, check out our expansive Bass Guitar Buyer’s Guide.

In general, beginning bass guitarists should choose a four-string electric model manufactured by a brand recognized for quality craftsmanship (see below). Several brands offer affordable, all-inclusive starter packs featuring an electric bass guitar, an amplifier and essential accessories.

We also recommend stopping by your neighborhood Music & Arts to play-test different basses with help from our expert associates. Comfort is essential, so it’s helpful to find out firsthand how a particular bass feels to hold and fret.

Trusted brands for bass guitars include Fender, Squier, Yamaha, Ibanez, Jackson, Sire, Ernie Ball Music Man, Sterling by Music Man, Epiphone, Gibson, ESP, Höfner, Lakland, Reverend and Schecter — all of which are available through Music & Arts.

These two iconic models of bass guitar were introduced by Fender in the 1950s and early ’60s, and became the templates for countless other electric bass models by competing brands.

Introduced in 1951, the Precision bass, or P-Bass, has featured various electronic configurations, though the best-known is a two-piece split-coil humbucker pickup. It features a wide, meaty neck and, since 1954, a contoured body resembling Fender’s Stratocaster guitar. The Precision bass is renowned for its strong fundamental tone and substantial feel, providing a powerful foundation for rock, blues and other styles.

The Fender Jazz Bass, or J-Bass, first appeared in 1960, with an ergonomic “offset waist” design inspired by Fender’s Jazzmaster guitar. The Jazz Bass has most often featured two single-coil pickups, and its neck differs in shape and feel from the Precision bass: It’s thinner and tapers more dramatically than the P bass’ neck, becoming especially narrow near the nut. Many players find this neck more conducive to fast runs and chordal work.

The Jazz Bass is known for its clarity, brightness and punchiness across the tonal spectrum, including the midrange and upper register. This quality, coupled with its fluid playability, has made it a staple of jazz fusion, R&B and other styles. It’s also a prime choice for “slap” technique.

The bass guitar and the guitar are very different instruments requiring unique skill sets and serving distinct roles. To begin, the standard bass guitar is considerably longer and larger than a standard electric guitar, with four thicker strings compared to the guitar’s thinner six strings. The bass guitar has a much longer neck and scale length: For Fender instruments, for example, the bass scale length is 34 inches while the guitar scale length is 25.5 inches. Bass and guitar pickups are also very different in design. Bass pickups most often have a wider magnetic field to accommodate lower-frequency vibrations and thicker strings, while guitar pickups are optimized to capture higher frequencies as well.

The bass guitar is by and large a foundational instrument, grounding the harmony and rhythm of an ensemble. Bassists will generally play more single notes than chords, locking in with the drummer to anchor the band in a supportive role out of the spotlight. While there are thrilling soloists on the bass guitar and players adept at chords, the standard guitar is far more widely recognized for soloing and chordal harmony.

In some ways, yes; in other ways, no. The bass guitar features thicker strings that are more physically challenging to fret than standard electric guitar strings. It’s also a larger, longer instrument, creating a hurdle for some young learners and other musicians of smaller stature. Players concerned with the instrument’s physicality should check out short-scale bass guitars, which can be easier to play for beginners and musicians already adept on guitar.

On the other hand, playing bass guitar in styles like rock and pop typically involves a focus on single-note bass lines rather than more complex chording. Due to the bass’ foundational nature, there is also less pressure on bassists to play technically dazzling leads. There are many demanding elements to being a bass player, but they tend to be far less flashy, which is why musicians with selfless, collaborative personalities often make excellent bassists. A great bass player focuses on outlining the song’s harmony in interesting ways while developing a natural, flowing sense of musical time in close coordination with the drummer.

Absolutely. Provided that the student is large enough to properly hold the instrument, the bass is a perfect instrument for beginners that will help them learn the fundamentals of music and playing in a group. Because of their role as the group’s anchor, bass players develop a firm grasp of harmony, rhythm, dynamics and song form.

To start, you’ll need an amplifier and a cable. Read our in-depth buyer’s guide to learn about the various amp options available. One of the main decisions you’ll need to make is whether to purchase a combo amp, which includes both the amplifier “head” and the speaker (or speakers) in one unit, or buy the head and speaker cabinet as individual components. The combo option is often more cost-effective and can be more convenient, especially if the amp is smaller; most beginners will start with a combo amp. Purchasing the head and cabinet separately offers more flexibility. For example, you’ll be able to use a larger cabinet when you need more volume for a particular performance. You can also mix and match heads and cabs to better personalize your tone. To further shape your sound, explore electronic effects designed for bass.

It’s also helpful to have a selection of core accessories on hand, including a case or gig bag, strap, picks, extra strings and cleaning/maintenance supplies. Other essential general music accessories include a tuner, music stand and metronome.

Bass starter packs, which include a bass, amp and accessories, are a great way for beginners to discover the instrument.

Yes! Music & Arts offers generous financing options on bass guitar purchases, so you can start playing today and pay on a schedule that fits your life and budget. To learn more, visit our Financing page.