Note: this scale is the same pattern as that used in the E blues scale open position scale, but played on the adjacent strings. You'll first need to decide whether you want a long or short scale bass guitar. The scale – or scale length – of an instrument is the distance between the bridge and the nut, and we use it to measure the total playable length of the instrument. The BB435 nails that vintage-modern vibe, and like all great instruments it has a timeless quality, capable of holding its own in any company. Now, Yamaha does a very neat line in pro basses – the BBP35 is an exceptional top-line version of the BB435 that we’d recommend in a heartbeat – but this is an exceptionally priced instrument. Traditionally a bass guitar has four strings, tuned E, A, D, G. However, you can get 5 and even 6 string basses (and more!) that extend your frequency range. Basses with additional strings have a lower bottom string, so a 5-string will usually be tuned B, E, A, D, G, though of course you can pretty much tune it how you want.

The RBBI is 6 week or 6 module intensive course that teaches everything a bass player needs to get up and perform at a blues jam session.The above TAB shows how Pattern 1 from the Blues Scales Bass Patterns section below can be used to play an F blues scale. Fender, realizing this a couple of decades ago, responded with the Japanese-made Aerodyne Jazz Bass, which has just been further refreshed – future-proofed, if you like – with the even more futuristic 2022 Aerodyne Special. You can trust Guitar World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing guitar products so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

You can go beyond simple quarter notes here but remember the blues uses a shuffle feel (see ‘Groove: 6 Examples Of Different Feels’) so make sure you know how to play that. First and foremost, we are musicians, and we want other players to find the right product for them. So we take into careful consideration everything from budget to feature set, ease of use and durability to come up with a list of what we can safely say are the best bass guitars on the market right now. Here at Guitar World, we are experts in our field, with many years of playing and product testing between us. We live and breathe everything guitar related, and we draw on this knowledge and experience of using products in live, recording and rehearsal scenarios when selecting the products for our guides. As to which is better, there is no real right or wrong answer, although people will argue that point. Whatever sounds best to you is best, and that’s the end of it – and we'll have no arguing, thanks. Four-string vs five-string vs six-string Of course it’s not a traditional fretboard layout, so it isn’t for everyone - and people are still getting on just fine with regular frets. Obviously a multiscale bass will take a little getting used to, but it might be worth considering whilst looking for the best bass guitar for you. Do I need to use a separate bass amp?Read more about our rating system, how we choose the gear we feature, and exactly how we testeach product. Related buyer's guides Frankly, the 4003S isn’t everyone’s cup of Lapsang Souchong, but bassists who become smitten will go to the ends of the earth and beyond to buy a good one. Which is just as well, because the 4003S is made in small, seemingly inconsistent batches, which plays havoc with both supply and pricing. So what makes the Mustang so special? Well the 30” short-scale makes for one incredibly accessible little bass. It might feel a little short to some, but if you have recently moved onto bass from guitar this will feel incredible. A long scale bass has a scale length of 34", and the long scale bass is considered to be the industry standard. As a result, you'll have more options when it comes to purchasing a bass. Those used to playing smaller instruments, or just smaller people in general, may prefer a short scale alternative, however.

Here’s a nice little pattern you can use. Since there are no open strings being used here you can actually move the pattern around if you want to play in different keys. Here at MusicRadar, we are experts in our field, with many years of playing, creating and product testing between us. We live and breathe everything music gear related, and we draw on this knowledge and experience of using products in live, recording and rehearsal scenarios when selecting the products for our guides. The blues scale is in fact no more than a slightly modified pentatonic minor scale. By comparing the two scales you’ll notice that the only difference between them is that the blues scale contains an additional note. Below is a comparison of an A pentatonic minor scale and an A blues scale on bass guitar. The additional ‘blue’ notes have been circled.

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Technically, you can use a bass through a guitar amp, however it isn’t recommended. Guitar amps aren’t designed to handle the lower frequencies put out by a bass guitar - you could actually end up causing some real damage to it, so we’d definitely suggest looking at one of the best bass amps in our guide. How we test the best bass guitars