How to Play Bass Guitar: A Beginner's Guide That Actually Works

That weekend, I had no idea where to start with my new bass.

I'd just bought a used bass online and wanted to learn a few songs. I opened YouTube and searched "how to play bass guitar," and suddenly there were dozens of videos: hand position, rhythm, scales, techniques... I had no clue which one to watch first.

"Should I learn hand position first, or just jump into playing songs? How do I pluck the strings? Why does my left hand hurt so much?"

If you're searching "how to play bass guitar," you're probably in the same boat:

• You just got your bass and don't know where to start
• You've tried following videos, but your hands hurt and your rhythm is all over the place
• You want a clear path forward, not random tips scattered everywhere

This guide will walk you through learning bass step-by-step, based on the mistakes I made and what actually worked.

See It in Action: Video Tutorial for Beginner Bass

If you prefer watching someone walk through this on-screen while you follow along, this video pairs perfectly with what we'll cover:

Watch a few minutes, then come back to this article and try the exercises. The combination of seeing and doing will lock the concepts in much faster.

First Things First: Do These 3 Things Before You Play Your First Song

Many people want to jump straight into playing songs, but they end up with bad hand position, pain, and poor tone—and they give up quickly.

Before you play your first song, nail these 3 things:

1. Tune Your Bass: The Most Overlooked First Step

Why it matters:

• If your bass is out of tune, everything you practice is wrong
• Your ears will develop bad pitch memory
• When you play with others, you'll always sound "off"

How to do it:

• Use a phone tuner app or an online tuner
• Standard tuning (4-string bass): E–A–D–G (thickest to thinnest)
• Tune every time before you practice

Personal tip:

A lot of people think "I tuned it yesterday, it should still be fine," but actually:

• Temperature changes can warp the neck
• Playing causes strings to drift out of tune
• New strings go out of tune especially easily

So, spending 30 seconds tuning before every practice session is way more important than you think.

2. Right Hand Position: This Determines Your Tone and Speed Limit

Common mistakes:

• Wrist bent too much, causing pain
• Plucking in the wrong spot, making the tone thin
• Fingers flying everywhere, rhythm unstable

Correct position (fingerstyle):

1. Wrist relaxed, slightly curved

• Not completely straight, not bent at 90 degrees
• Imagine you're "grabbing" something, but very lightly

2. Plucking position: 2–3 cm above the pickup

• Too close to the bridge = tone too hard and thin
• Too close to the neck = tone too soft and muddy
• Above the pickup = balanced tone, works for most situations

3. Use your fingertips, not the pads

• Fingertips have less contact area, clearer tone
• Pads have more contact area, can sound "muddy"

4. After plucking, rest your finger on the next string

• This is called "rest stroke"
• Benefits: more stable tone, steadier rhythm
• Might feel awkward at first, but it's what pro bassists do

Practice method:

• Play just one open string (like the A string), alternating index and middle fingers
• Turn on a metronome at 60 BPM, one note per beat
• Practice for 5 minutes until it feels like "your fingers are working automatically"

3. Left Hand Position: This Determines Whether You Can Play Long and Accurately

Common mistakes:

• Wrist bent too much, causing pain and inaccurate fretting
• Fingers "lying flat" on the fretboard, accidentally touching other strings
• Thumb position wrong, preventing fingers from stretching

Correct position:

1. Wrist slightly forward, but not bent at 90 degrees

• Imagine you're "grabbing" an apple—your wrist has a natural curve
• If your wrist is too bent, fretting will be exhausting

2. Fingers use fingertips to press strings, perpendicular to the fretboard

• Don't use the pads to "lie" on the strings
• Fingertips = clear tone, less likely to touch other strings

3. Thumb behind the neck, roughly between the 1st and 2nd fingers

• Don't "grip" the neck with your thumb
• Thumb is just support, not for "squeezing"

4. Fretting pressure: just enough to make the note clear, don't press too hard

• Many people think "the harder you press, the better," but that's not true
• Too hard = hand pain, notes go sharp, fingers move slowly
• Just right = clear notes, no pain, fingers move fast

Practice method:

• On the A string, use 1st finger on 2nd fret, 2nd finger on 3rd fret, 3rd finger on 4th fret, 4th finger on 5th fret
• Play each note 4 times, then move to the next
• Check: Is the note clear? Does your hand hurt? Are your fingers touching other strings?

Week 1: Only Practice These Two Things—Don't Rush to Play Songs

Many people want to play songs right away, but they end up with:

• Unstable rhythm
• Bad hand position
• Poor tone
• They give up quickly

For the first week, only do these two things:

1. Right Hand: Follow the Metronome, Only Play Open Strings

Goal:

• Right hand can pluck strings steadily and evenly
• Can follow the metronome without rushing or dragging

Practice method:

1. Turn on metronome at 60 BPM

2. Only play the A string (open)

3. Alternate index and middle fingers

4. One note per beat, play 4 beats, then rest 4 beats, repeat

It sounds boring, but this is the foundation for all bassists.

Why it matters:

• If your right hand isn't steady, your rhythm will be all over the place when you play songs
• Many beginners think their playing "sounds wrong" because of their left hand, but it's actually their right hand rhythm that's unstable

Next step:

• After a week, try two notes per beat (eighth notes)
• Still just open strings, but double the speed

2. Left Hand: Simple "Walking" Exercise on One String

Goal:

• Fingers can accurately press the target fret
• Fretting pressure is just right, notes are clear
• Fingers move smoothly, no "stuttering"

Practice method:

1. On the A string, play this sequence:

• 2nd fret (1st finger) → 3rd fret (2nd finger) → 4th fret (3rd finger) → 5th fret (4th finger)
• Then reverse: 5th fret → 4th fret → 3rd fret → 2nd fret

2. Turn on metronome at 60 BPM, one note per beat

3. Check each note:

• Is the note clear? (No buzzing)
• Does your hand hurt? (If yes, your position is wrong)
• Are your fingers touching other strings? (If yes, your fingers aren't perpendicular)

Why it matters:

• This is the simplest "scale walking" exercise
• If you can't play this well, your fingers will "fight" when you play songs

Week 2: Start Playing "Real" Stuff

After building a solid foundation in week 1, week 2 is when you can start playing some "real" music.

1. Play Root Notes: Follow a Simple Song, Only Play Root Notes

What are root notes?

• Root note = the lowest note in a chord
• For example, the root of a C chord is C, the root of a G chord is G

Why start with root notes?

• Root notes are the bass's most important job: supporting the chords
• If you can play root notes steadily, you can already "participate" in a song
• Many pro bassists start with root notes when improvising, then gradually add fills

Practice method:

1. Pick a simple song (like some pop or rock songs)

2. Find the song's root notes (you can search online for "XX song chord progression")

3. Follow the original song, only play when the root note appears

4. Turn on a metronome to make sure your root notes align with the song's kick drum

Example:

If a song's chords are C–Am–F–G, the root notes are:

• C chord → play C (A string 3rd fret)
• Am chord → play A (A string open)
• F chord → play F (E string 1st fret)
• G chord → play G (E string 3rd fret)

Personal tip:

Many people think "only playing root notes is too simple, not interesting," but actually:

• If you can play root notes steadily and accurately, you're already better than 80% of beginners
• Many pro bassists use root notes heavily when recording
• Root notes + steady rhythm = good-sounding bass lines

2. Add a Little "Walking": Add a Passing Note Between Two Root Notes

What is "walking"?

• Between two root notes, use scale notes to "walk" from one to the other
• For example, from C to G, you could play C–D–E–F–G

Why it matters:

• This upgrades you from "only root notes" to "bass lines with melodic feel"
• Many classic bass lines are "root notes + walking"

Practice method:

1. Still that simple song

2. Add one "passing note" between two root notes

3. The passing note can be:

• The next note in the scale (like C→D)
• Or one whole step/half step above or below the root note

Example:

If the chords are C–Am, you could play:

• C (root) → D (passing note) → A (root)

Personal tip:

Don't add too many passing notes at first—one or two is enough.

Too many passing notes = sounds messy, loses the bass's "support" role.

A Little-Known Technique: Use "Mutes" to Make Your Bass Lines Groove

This is something many tutorials don't cover, but pro bassists use it all the time.

What are mutes?

• Lightly touch the string with your left hand (without pressing to a fret), then pluck with your right hand
• Produces a short "thud" sound with no clear pitch

Why it matters:

• Mutes add rhythm and make bass lines groove
• Many funk, R&B, and pop bass lines use mutes heavily
• If you only play "pitched notes," your bass lines will sound "flat"

How to practice:

1. Lightly touch the A string with your left hand (don't press to a fret)

2. Pluck with your right hand, producing a "thud" sound

3. Turn on metronome, one mute per beat, play 4 mutes

4. Then try: root note + mute + root note + mute

Example:

A|--0--x--0--x--|

• 0 = root note (A string open)
• x = mute

Personal tip:

Many people think "mutes are too simple, not a real technique," but actually:

• Mutes are one of the most commonly used techniques by pro bassists
• If you can use mutes well, your bass lines will instantly sound "professional"
• Mutes + root notes + steady rhythm = good-sounding bass lines

Common Problems: Why Does My Playing Sound Wrong?

Problem 1: Unstable Rhythm

Symptoms:

• Sounds like you're rushing or dragging
• Doesn't match the original song

Causes:

• Right hand plucking isn't stable
• Not practicing with a metronome

Solution:

• Go back to week 1 practice: only open strings, follow the metronome
• Don't rush to play songs—build the foundation first

Problem 2: Hand Pain

Symptoms:

• Left wrist hurts
• Fretting fingers hurt

Causes:

• Wrist bent too much
• Fretting too hard

Solution:

• Check left hand position: Is your wrist too bent? Are you fretting too hard?
• If your hand hurts, stop immediately and adjust your position
• Don't "push through the pain"—that creates bad habits

Problem 3: Poor Tone

Symptoms:

• Sounds thin or muddy
• No "bass feel"

Causes:

• Right hand plucking position wrong
• Left hand fretting not clear

Solution:

• Check right hand plucking position: Is it 2–3 cm above the pickup?
• Check left hand fretting: Are you using fingertips? Are the notes clear?

Summary: How to Play Bass Guitar—It's Really These 4 Steps

Break down "learning bass" into actionable steps:

1. First things: Tune + Hand Position

• Tune before every practice session
• Right hand: wrist relaxed, use fingertips, rest on next string after plucking
• Left hand: wrist slightly forward, use fingertips, fretting pressure just right

2. Week 1: Only Practice Basics

• Right hand: follow metronome, only open strings
• Left hand: simple "walking" exercise on one string
• Don't rush to play songs

3. Week 2: Start Playing "Real" Stuff

• Play root notes: follow a simple song, only root notes
• Add a little "walking": add one passing note between two root notes

4. Advanced Technique: Use Mutes to Add Groove

• Mutes are one of the most commonly used techniques by pro bassists
• Mutes + root notes + steady rhythm = good-sounding bass lines

If you want to start right now:

• Today: Tune your bass, check hand position, only play open strings for 10 minutes
• This week: 20 minutes daily, half right hand (open strings + metronome), half left hand (walking exercise on one string)
• Next week: Pick a simple song, only play root notes, then gradually add passing notes
• After a month: You should be able to play root notes for a few simple songs steadily, and know "where I still need to practice"

Bass isn't hard to learn, but it takes patience.

Many people give up because they "want to do everything at once," but actually:

• Build the foundation first (hand position + rhythm)
• Then gradually add things (root notes → passing notes → techniques)
• Make each step solid, and you'll play bass well