Complete guide to bass guitar sheet music (2023)

A bass guitar may not be as popular as aacoustic or electric guitar, but they are the most important people on the concert stage.

The lowest member of the guitar family, the bass guitar, creates the skeleton of any song. It is a universally accepted fact that the bass guitar adds texture and character to a song unlike any other instrument.

Music genres like metallic music, rock and roll or rock music for that matter will not exist without bass guitarists.

But playing a bass guitar is a challenging task. You have to knowbass guitar notesat their fingertips. So without any delay let's get started with the ultimate guide to bass guitar sheet music for the aspiringmohini daysout there.

Bass Guitar Sheet Music: Everything You Need to Know

The first step towardslearn bass guitarnotes is to learn the names of the fourstricton your bass guitar. This will serve as a reference when working with additional complex basslines.

So let's start by playing the four strings without placing a finger on the fretboard. This is also known asopen position.

What are open string notes on a bass guitar?

Open string notes are the originally tuned onesnotes on an acousticand electric guitar. Similarly, open string notes are also the originally tuned notes on a bass guitar.

The bass guitar sheet music serves as a reference for any bass guitarist. So learn them well.

The notes of the bass guitar areE, A, D and G, increasing upwards as you start from the lowest string.

(Remember, this guide is for 4-string bass guitars, no6-stringto the.)

According to Western music theory, the thickest string (4th) is tuned to the E key, the 3rd string is tuned to the A key, and the other two (2nd and 1st) are tuned to D and G keys respectively.

This is the default tuning for bass guitars unless otherwise noted. For example, the famous bassist from Nirvana,Kristus Novoselic, used to tune his bass guitar half a step down for most of their compositions.

Natural notes on bass strings

Natural notes mean they are neither sharp nor flat. Check out the notation chart below and find out the natural notes.

The diagram below is the written representation of the neck of a bass guitar. As you read above, E, A, D and G are the open string notes. The numbers 1, 2, 3 up to 12 representthe bands.

If you are learning to play a bass guitar, you need to master the notes on the 3rd and 4th strings. You will need them most as a beginner.

Before we go any further, you need to learn the BC and EF rule.

What are the natural notes on the 4th string?

Let's take a look at a simplified notation diagram of the 4th string on a bass guitar.

The first natural note on the 4th string is the F note, and the last natural note is the E. While the F note is on the 1st fret, the E note is on the 12th fret.

Take a look at the picture to understand how the natural tones are a whole step apart, except for E & F and B & C.

Why?

This is because of the BC and EC rule.

Beginning with the F note, the other natural notes on the 4th string are G on the 3rd fret, A on the 5th fret, B on the 7th fret, C on the 8th fret, D on the 10th fret, and finally the E note again on the 12th fret.

What are the natural notes on the 3rd string?

Here is a notation chart of the 3rd string on a bass guitar.

The first natural note on the 3rd string is B and the last is A. The B note is on the 2nd fret, then A is on the 12th fret.

Just like the natural notes of the 4th string, the natural notes of the 3rd string also followBC & EF rule.

Beginning with the B note on the 2nd fret, the other natural notes on the 3rd string are C on the 3rd fret, D on the 5th fret, E on the 7th fret, F on the 8th fret, G on the 10th fret, and A on the 12th fret.

Sharp and flat tones on bass strings

After learning natural notes, it's time to learn about the sharps and flats on bass strings.

Sharp tones are half a step up from the natural tones. These notes are identified by the # symbol on the music sheet.

Flat notes are half a step down from the natural notes. These notes are identified by the 'b' symbol on the music sheet.

As you can see in the picture above, the 2nd fret on the E string is half a step up from the F note; thus, it is F sharp (F#) and the 3rd fret on the E string is the G note, making the semi-descending note G flat (Gb).

Enharmonic notes

First, take a look at the notes on the bass fretboard. For example, the first fret of the G string is both G# and Ab.

So this particular note acts as two different notes regarding their placement on the sheet. These notes are called enharmonic notes.

How to remember bass guitar notes?

Since the invention of the guitar, bass players have come up with innovative ways to memorize notes. Like acoustic guitar players and other instrumentalists, they also have fun mnemonics and silly techniques.

Let me tell you the most effective ways to memorize bass guitar notes. Follow them and you'll never forget a note.

Use Mnemonics to remember notes EADG

Begin with the open string notes: EADG.

If you can remember EADG notes, you are half way there. To do so, use popular mnemonics. Some of them are listed below. Choose the one you like.

Eddie ate dynamite. Goodbye.

Elvis has always dug well.

Every apple dies green

Eat a dog, God.

Usethe notation scheme

Remember how we learned the periodic table in school? Yes, it is the best way to remember anything and everything. From preschoolers learning alphabets to bass guitarists memorizing sheet music; it works best.

Go above and find the notation chart in the "Natural Notes" section. Print it out or draw the table, but be sure to make several copies. Then paste the copies in different places.

You can be as stupid as sticking it on the bathroom wall. Reason, let us admit; this is where our brain works the most. Don't forget to put copies in your practice room/study and bedroom.

Always say the notes out loud while practicing. And repeat them before going to bed and after getting up.

Learn Fret-by-Fret

The notes are a lot for a beginner. So go regret for regret. For example, learn the notes of band 1, then only go to band 2.

Trying to learn them all at once will confuse and scare you. Therefore, be patient with yourself. Go one fret at a time and you'll be mastering the notes of the bass guitar in no time.

If you have another technique to learn the notes, please share with us in the comments section.

Frequently asked questions

What are the 4 notes on bass guitar?

A bass guitar consists of four strings: E, A, D, G. They are also called bass strings.

The notes on the bass can be found by counting the frets from the bottom of the neck to where you want your finger to go. 1 2 3 4 (E), 5 6 7 8 (A), 9 10 11 12 (D), 13 14 15 16 (G).

Is the bass guitar easier to learn?

It depends on your skill level and bass guitar playing style. However, if you are new to the instrument or not familiar with how to play the strings, the bass might be a better option. Bass guitars have a lower action than guitars, making them easier for beginners to play. They are also cheaper and produce a softer tone than electric guitars.

One downside to basses is that they generally don't produce as much volume as electric guitars do. You may need to use headphones while practicing or performing to hear the notes correctly. In addition, beginners often have difficulty coordinating both hands when plucking the strings simultaneously.

Can you play chords on the bass?

Bass guitar chords can be tricky to play, but with a little practice they can become second nature. The best way to start is by learning the ABCs: A, B, C#/D#, E. Once you're comfortable with these basic chords, you can move on to more complicated arrangements such as Em or Dm7.

Conclusion

Learning the notes of the bass guitar is not one of the most exciting guitar lessons, but a primary one. If you go through the above list, you will quickly learn the notes.

Dear readers, remembering and recognizing the notes on the bass guitar may seem very simple. But getting your fingers to learn their locations so you can reach them without thinking is harder than you might expect.

It will require hours of practice and time. Be honest with your daily practice and you'll be playing bass guitar like an expert in no time.

The notes on the bass can be found by counting the frets from the bottom of the neck to where you want your finger to go. 1 2 3 4 (E), 5 6 7 8 (A), 9 10 11 12 (D), 13 14 15 16 (G)." } },{ "@type": "Question", "name": "Is the bass guitar easier to learn?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "It depends on your skill level and bass guitar playing style. However, if you are new to the instrument or not familiar with how to play the strings, the bass might be a better option. Bass guitars have a lower action than guitars, making them easier for beginners to play. They are also cheaper and produce a softer tone than electric guitars.

One downside to basses is that they generally don't produce as much volume as electric guitars do. You may need to use headphones while practicing or performing to hear the notes correctly. In addition, beginners often have difficulty coordinating both hands when plucking the strings together at the same time." } },{ "@type": "Question", "name": "Can you play chords on the bass?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Bass guitar chords can be tricky to play, but with a little practice they can become second nature. The best way to start is by learning the ABCs: A, B, C#/D#, E. Once you're comfortable with these basic chords, you can move on to more complicated arrangements such as Em or Dm7." } } ]}