How to Read Rhythm: Bass Guitar Basics

How to Read Rhythm: Bass Guitar Basics
More then just another melody instrument the bass guitar is really a rhythm instrument to be coupled with a drum set or a used in place of one. So a important aspect of playing bass is knowing how to read rhythm and understand rhythm of different classics. Let's look at reading rhythm on the bass cleft using notation. So here is a example here is four measures of different rhythms and these are called quarter notes right here. They are filled in that and a line that is going to be a quarter note. Four four here behind the bass clef sign or in front of the bass clef sign indicates four beats per measure. Measure would be broken up on this way so we would count one, two, three, four, one, two, three, four even if we are only playing two beats. So our first measure here would be playing a open A one,two,three,four, try alternating those right hands fingers one and two. One, two, one, two to play one, two, three, four. Here it are the table measure would give you the rhythm that is why the bass clef is very important. So here is the next line these are called half notes where the note is not filled in but they are stem they take out two beats per there playing. So this would be one, two, three, four, so you pluck only once but you count two. So this is twice as long as a quarter note. You can have quarter notes and half notes in conjunction with each other within the same measure. So one, two, three, four, one, two, three, four, or in this combination one, two, three, four. Now you may end this song with a whole note a whole note will have no stem and not be filled in at all. This would count for a four beats. So this would be one, two, three, four so try playing a pattern like this using quarter notes and half notes cause you are going to encounter these in your simple melodies as well as in everyday reading.