Has it been a dream of yours to one day learn to play bass guitar? Well that day has just arrived. What if I told you it's a lot easier then you think and you could be playing the bass in a matter of days, do you think that's possible? The answer is a definite YES!

If you would like to understand the basics of playing bass then the information in this article will be very helpful to you in kicking off the beat on your way to becoming a bass player.

The basic body structure of the bass consists of the body, neck, nut, headstock, along with the tuning pegs. The body stands out as the large area and is attached to the neck. The slim part of the bass is referred to as the neck.

The neck is where the frets are, however there are some bass guitars with no frets, this is known as a fretless bass. The headstock is at the top of the part of the neck, and on the headstock is where the four tuning pegs are found. The small part between the headstock and neck is known as the nut.

The bass guitar has only four strings although some basses have five or six strings. The name of the strings on a bass are the same as the top four strings on a regular guitar. They are the E, A, D, and G strings. E will be the thickest or heaviest string, while G is the thinnest or lightest string.

Some of the standard terms related to playing the bass are, fretting and plucking. Fretting is performed simply by pressing down on two or more strings and then releasing them at the same time.

The correct way to do this is by simply putting your thumb on the back of the neck with your fingers on the fret board. Plucking differs from fretting because you'll be plucking the strings to get the specific note. Some bass players choose to use a pick, but most will use their fingers.

To start off, pluck the E (thickest) string first without pushing down on the string. This will create the E note. Plucking the A (third) string will create an A note, the 2nd D (string) makes a D note, and the last string makes a G note. Playing a string without touching the frets is call an open note.

When you push a string down onto the fret board, the sound you create will be a higher note then the open note. As you move your fingers closer to the body each note will get higher. As you get better and your fingers get stronger, try bending the string. This creates a different note and will add much more flavor to the sounds you are making.

As you can see, it's not that difficult to learn to play bass. So now that you have the basics, it’s time for you to put it to the test! Put on some music you like and try to play along. Try to find the notes and copy the melody.

Playing the bass is not like being "trained" on the piano. It's all about having fun. Remember, if you don't practice your bass will end up just being a dust collector. So get out there have fun and make some music.