How to Play Bass Guitar for Newbie Lesson 5 : Understanding Rhythm

Practice Lessons

Start by practicing finding the root, fifth, sixth and octave notes for all of the various chords that you might be playing. Try to recognize the patterns that emerge so that you can automatically identify them without using this guide.
Practice each of the bass patterns discussed above by moving back and forth between each of the notes in the pattern. Experiment with playing them in different orders as well.
Listen to music with a prominent bass line and try to listen exclusively to the notes that the bass player is using to form the bass pattern.

Lesson 5 : Understanding Rhythm

Other than providing the melodic foundation for the band, a bassist's other main function is to help establish and support the beat or rhythm of the music. Together, the bassist and the drummer form the "Rhythm Section" of the band, meaning that they are responsible for creating the rhythmic foundation that the music is built upon.


The importance of rhythm in music cannot be overstated. Rhythm is what lets you know when to tap your feet, nod your head, or clap along with the music. Rhythm is what makes you want to dance, tells you how to dance, and helps you feel the music (rather than just hear it). And while you may have heard that rhythm is something that certain people are born with and other people aren't, this is far from the truth. With a little practice and a good feel for music, anyone can learn how to develop good rhythm and use it to improve their playing. Here are some things that you can do, as a bass player, to help understand and develop your sense of rhythm :

Listen to Music

You probably already do it every day, but listening to music is one of the easiest and most enjoyable ways to help develop your sense of rhythm. But instead of just passively listening to a song, try to concentrate specifically on the beat of the music and how the bass is being used to establish the rhythm.

1. Try to listen to music that has a strong and steady rhythmic pulse. Genre's such as Rock, Funk and Soul usually have a solid rhythmic basis to them, so they are always a good place to start. At first, avoid music with complex rhythms (i.e. Bebop Jazz, Salsa, or Polyrhythmic African Drumming), as they may be harder to figure out. However, depending on your personal learning style, and experience with music in your lifetime, listening to any music that appeals to you will help you as you focus on developing rhythm.
2. Whether it's tapping your feet, clapping your hands, or just bobbing your head, try to follow the beat and the rhythm of the music with some sort of physical movement. The more practice that your body has at following rhythm, the better equipped it will be to carry that over into your bass playing.
3. Once you feel that you've gotten the rhythm of a specific song down, try turning the song off and see if you can continue to tap out or clap the rhythm at the same tempo. After 30 seconds or so, turn the song back on to see if you were able to duplicate the original rhythm.

Use a Metronome

One of the most important tools that any musician can use to help develop their sense of rhythm is a Metronome. A metronome is a small electronic device that emits a steady audible pulse (usually a clicking sound) at a specific tempo or speed. Musicians will then use the accurate tempo of the metronome to keep time while they practice playing scales, songs, or anything else that might require a steady beat. Here are a few tips for finding and making the most of your metronome :

1. Buy a Metronome
2. If you don't feel like going out and buying an electronic metronome, there are a number of free online metronomes that you can use instead.
3. Start practicing with your metronome by putting your bass down and just clapping along with the beats. If you can still hear the clicking sound of the metronome as you clap along with it, then you are out of rhythm. Since the sound of your clap should drown out the click of the metronome (when you are on the beat), practice this exercise until you can't hear the click of the metronome at all.
4. Count along with the beats of the metronome: One-Two-Three-Four-One-Two-Three-Four. While not all rhythms will have four beats in them, this is the most basic time signature in music and a good place for beginners to start.
5. Start practicing with your metronome set to a relatively slow speed (60 Beats Per Minute) and increase the tempo gradually as you become more confident.
Play With Other People

While this may not be the best idea when you're just starting out, playing music with other people (especially drummers) is one of the best ways to develop your sense of rhythm. Because musical collaboration requires you to pay attention to the rhythm of your fellow players, it can help you become more aware of the ways in which musicians must work together to create a solid rhythm.

1. When playing with a group of musicians, pay closest attention to what the drummer is doing when figuring out the rhythm. Since he/she is the other half of the rhythm section, the interaction between you and the drummer is crucial.
2. If you've never played with other musicians before, it can often be a tough transition to make. Try to be patient with other people and realize that you will need to learn how to play with them rather than the other way around.
3. If you aren't confident enough to play with other people yet, your metronome can act as a surrogate drummer.