Confused

[inpulsearts]

I've just started out learning to play 4 string bass guitar after having spent some time with the 6 string electric guitar. I don't have any bass experience yet, other than really practicing some basic scale tabs.

I did purchase a really good "how to" video course, but the one thing I am still unclear of is just exactly how to play a bass chord. My understanding is a bass chord is simply much like a guitar chord, except it's always played arpeggio style?

So does that mean that, like for instance, if the guitar player plays a simple D chord...with the notes of open D, fretted A, D, and F# I should play the same notes on the bass arpeggio style?

[fearceol]

Yes. You are on the right track. The difference between a guitarist and a bassist is that the bassist plays chords one note at a time for the most part, and the guitarist plays the notes all at once. Here is a great site that explains chords ( among lots of other things) in an easy to understand way.

About Bass Chord Patterns

[inpulsearts]

Thank you, and thanks for the link.

[mambo4]

Fearcol is pretty much spot on. Bass lines are melodies that use the chord tones as a frame work, so the common use of and bass "chord charts" is simply as reference to learn the relative locations of the chord tones and how they lay on the fretboard.

that said, you can strum full chords on the bass if that's what the music calls for -there's no rule against it. typically they have to be voiced carefully, using open voicign and fewer notes, as simply playing a guitar chord on the bass usually sounds quite muddy.

[inpulsearts]

Like strumming two notes together? I've seen sheet music that more or less hints at that...

[MalcolmAmos]

Originally Posted by inpulsearts

So does that mean that, like for instance, if the guitar player plays a simple D chord...with the notes of open D, fretted A, D, and F# I should play the same notes on the bass arpeggio style?

You can, however, our job is to lay down the groove and call attention to the next chord. Sometime playing just root notes of the chord let the groove develop, sometime playing a complete chord tone (R-3-5-b7) will be called for.

I do know that my groove developed from roots then grew to R-5-R-5 then the 8 came into my World, i.e. R-5-8-5.

Then the 3 and 7 worked it's way into my world. 3 for major chords, b3 for minor chords. The 7 for maj7 chords and the b7 for dominant seventh and minor sevenths. http://www.smithfowler.org/music/Chord_Formulas.htm

Roots, fives, eights and the correct 3 and 7 will play a lot of bass. Trick is to decide how many of those chord tones will be needed for the groove. Really how many notes can I use before the music goes off and leaves me.

Case in point...... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4x0u...eature=related

I bet you can keep up using just root notes right now. Give it a try.
Two weeks from now R-5-R-5 or R-5-8-5 is possible.
Full chord tone are a couple of months away, I'm being optimistic. Am7 = R-b3-5-b7, D7 = R-3-5-b7 getting all that in before the music goes off and leaves you takes some doing.....
But, we have to start somewhere. Start with just roots see where it takes you.

Have fun.