As you will learn in Chapter 2, tuning refers to the tensioning of the strings to specific pitches. Probably the most highly regarded accessory you can invest in, although optional, is an electronic tuner. Often battery powered, these relatively inexpensive devices can save a player, especially a beginner, from serious frustration.

Tuning a bass is never easy. Due to the low frequency content of a bass's sound, it can be very difficult to hear or to discern the exact pitch of a bass. Luckily for the electric bass player, you can plug it into the tuner, read the meter, and match up the pitch of the string to be exactly in tune. Make sure to choose a tuner that is suited for the electric bass — some only work for the higher-pitched electric guitar!

Effects, whether they are pedals or more elaborate outboard gear, make up the least crucial aspect of what you may need to get started. Often, a bass player may not need any at all. The sound of a well-made and maintained electric bass played through a good-quality amp is often all you really need. Nevertheless, some players, with justification, prefer to augment this basic sound with effects.

Effects can range widely in how they may modify or change your sound. Probably the most popular effect for electric bass is a compressor. Whether purchased in pedal form or as a rackmountable module, this effect reduces the dynamic peaks of a performance and can help the bass find a better fit within the ensemble. An equalizer is also a fairly common addition. Also known as an EQ, equalizer units can help sculpt the particular tone you desire by boosting or cutting certain tonal frequencies. Delay, modulation, and reverb effects are less common on the bass but have been known to be employed to very creative ends. Effects are an extension of your creativity and can help expand and broaden your artistic possibilities.