6 Bass Tone Fixes (Beginners, Stop Sounding Like a Newb)

You might not even KNOW that your bass tone sucks right now - but you’ll have it fixed by the end of this lesson.

When I was a beginner, I didn’t really even know what bass tone was. I was so focused on learning technique, theory, and playing songs, that I would have had no idea if my tone was any good or not.

In this video, I’m gonna teach you all the stuff I wish someone had taught me in my first year of playing.

First of all, what is tone? I’ll give you a simple functional definition, plus show you some examples of different tones so you can hear for yourself.

Then it’s on to our 6 Bass Tone Fixes. But first I had to throw in Fix #0, because SO many beginners make this mistake with their tuning…

Fixes #1 and #2 are about what you do with your plucking hand, which is where tone starts. (a great bassist can make even crappy gear sound good because they know what to do with their hands)

In Fixes #3 thru 6, I’ll walk you through the gear basics you need to know to fix your bass guitar tone. (and I’ll skip all the stuff you DON’T need to know right now) Once you get your strings, pickups, bass knobs, and amp EQ dialed, you’ll have seriously legit tone on your side.

#basstone #basseq #beginnerbasslessons

[BassBuzz]

I also agree with all the comments that make the point that tone is completely subjective and totally dependent on what it is you’re trying to achieve. My goal with this video was to help >>beginners<< get started with a bass tone that would work for them as they develop their ear to be able to pick tones for the situation.

Thanks for all the feedback, folks. ❤️🎸⚡️

[basscasey]

As someone who's played bass for over 20 years, I appreciate that you use entry-level gear in your instructions. For newer players it can be discouraging when the people trying to teach them are playing $3k bass on 4x10 200watt stack (or more) while the student is playing a $200 Squire on 1x10 50watt combo.

[fahriddrums]

1:22 "Here is two recordings and tell me which one sounds worse"
-Uh ok
* Plays the recordings *
- I think #1 sounds worse
"It was #2, right?"
-Oh...

[cadywelp]

Him: "Hear the difference?"
Me: "No"

[kylec]

Another tip for noobs is, you can’t tell what your tone should be until it’s in a MIX. The sound you love coming from your amp at home probably isn’t what sounds best with your band. Try to make a good rehearsal recording. This truer for bass than for any other instrument.

[HummingHermano]

"How often to change your strings"
Me: *looks inside wallet* "I'll go with old strings."

[Gongasoso]

Tip number 7: get a fuzz pedal.
Tip number 8: get an octaver pedal.
Tip number 9: fire your guitar player and become the Royal Blood of acid rock.

[Rook]

and the sound guy is probably taking a break during the bass solo. that sounded personal

[DrakeBergman]

I'm a guitar player that's been playing for going on 15 years, and stumbled upon your channel a few days ago and have to say that you do this thing right. I love your approach and humor and look forward to clicking on the next video every time one ends. Flawless lessons for a dummy guitarist learning bass fundamentals too!

[Rick-pizn]

just tune your bass every time you play it

[MatDuck]

Thanks for explaining flat / round wound and using PICTURES.

[NitronicZombie]

"Know your knobs" Oh god, my first bass was a Yamaha RBX-374 that had 4-knobs and two active humbuckers. I had no idea what anything did and I went from having five months of practice to playing in a punk band still not knowing what any of the knobs did. My tone sounded like garbage because I never messed with the knobs and instead of slapping the strings I was more or less punching them with my knuckle. Eventually I traded it for a Jazz bass with a broken tuning peg.

[Quonchon]

Don't forget, what may sound shitty on its own might sound good in a mix

[KeyIssues]

Just found your channel! Bought my first bass this week and plan to use your videos to help me get started. Hope you keep posting regularly :)

[TorTheWeirdo]

As someone that grew up playing in concert and marching bands I didn’t even know ppl could play an instrument without tuning. That’s literally step number one 🙃

[briandickinson]

I never used a distortion pedal when I was younger. Now I always have a bit of distortion in my tone. It really helps the bass cut through the mix.

[jaribu]

Those 3 year old strings sounded surprisingly good. For me, string life is the time between when new strings are broken in and when they die.

[dumbr]

*puts on extreme distortion*
"That sounds awful!
Get some tone!"
... Just one name.
Cliff.

[catmoosea]

Josh is such a chill, friendly, welcoming teacher and gives amazing tips that have really improved my playing definitely the best place to learn 👍

[leepat]

good stuff mate! it's as hard for non-beginners to explain all this clearly (as it is so "self-evident") as it is for beginners to imagine it (as it is so "secondary"). keep up the good work!