Well… it all depends

By Jon Liebman
September 5, 2024

Do you think it’s easy to play bass?

After all, there are only 4 strings. 

Usually, you’re only playing one note at a time. 

And there’s so much less to think about than if you were playing, say, a piano or a guitar.

Well, at least two of those things are (kind of) true, but even then, only partially.

What about holding down a good time feel? Or a great time feel?

How about locking in with the drummer? Setting the foundation for the band? And making the music feel good?

Even something as “simple” as a basic “1-5” pattern deserves your full attention. Are you playing it clean? Are you putting those notes just where they belong, with the right amount of aggression? And are you doing it consistently?

And I haven’t even mentioned muting unwanted notes, and paying just as much – if not more – attention to your note releases as your attacks.

I’m not trying to scare you away. I just want to remind you not to gloss over the so-called “easy” stuff.

Remember: Every note is important.

Take a look at this week’s video and watch as I demonstrate a few examples. As always, there are some actionable takeaways you can start incorporating into your playing right away, totally at your own pace.

Be sure to leave a comment below, sharing your experience. Maybe you’ll try something that hadn’t occurred to you before that’ll make a big difference in your playing. I’d love to hear your story.

Let’s play bass!

Jon