The lowest pitched and thickest string is an E. It is sometimes referred to as the fourth string. Your first task is to play that string open. This means that you will play the string without depressing it on the fretboard with the left hand. When doing so, remember to use good technique when plucking or picking the string. Also, when plucking, always draw and release the string as described in Chapter 2.

It's important to strive for a good sound and tone when playing any instrument. When playing notes on a bass, try to make them sound round, full, and pleasant. By following good technical advice and listening critically to the sounds you are making, you can make subtle adjustments and gradually improve your tone until you sound like a pro.

After you've familiarized yourself with the open E string, you are now ready to play the first fret, which is F. F is found on fret one; it is the fret nearest the nut on the neck of the E string. Place the index finger of the left hand over and slightly behind the first fret and press the string down using your fingertip. Make sure to keep your fingers and hand in a rounded position with your left-hand thumb making a rounded clamp on the back of the neck. Next, pluck the note with your right hand. After this, try playing G on the third fret of the E string. To depress the string, use finger three — the ring finger — of your left hand.

The notes E, F, and G are found on the staff in Figure 4-1. They are played as whole notes.

Make sure to hold each note for four counts. At this stage, speed is not important. What is important is making sure the correct note is played and held for four, nearly clock-steady, counts. Timing is everything in music. So play steady and even, not necessarily fast.

Next, try playing quarter notes on the E string (see Figure 4-2). You may let the last note ring, hence the use of a whole note at the end of the phrase.

Quarter notes get only one count. Because quarter notes inherently move more quickly, make sure to choose a comfortable tempo (probably fairly slow) to play the exercise. Once you've mastered Figure 4-2, try an exercise that uses mixed note values. This means that the number of counts each note gets becomes mixed up. This is shown in Figure 4-3. Here you will use quarter and half notes until the end where two whole notes tell you to let the final note ring out.

Figure 4-1. E, F, and G notes on the E string

Figure 4-2. Quarter notes on the E string

Figure 4-3. Mixed note values

Music educators can't emphasize enough the importance of making sure that each note is getting the precise amount of steady counts — no more or less than is indicated. At this stage, playing the right notes in the right time, with decent tone, is a grade A no matter how slow your tempo.

In the next section, Figures 4-4 through 4-12 follow the same approach you used on the E string so that you can learn about the white notes (not sharped or flatted) on the instrument. However, this time you will be working off of the A, D, and G strings.

Additionally, Figures 4-4 through 4-12 will help you build your knowledge of the fretboard, the bass clef, and rhythms. Further, they will help build some technique. In these figures and for the rest of the chapter, always use fingers one, two, and three on frets one, two, and three respectively. The only exception to this is when you play the G string.