Beginner Guides

Picking a Bass Guitar: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide

A Rickenbacker style bass guitar being played on stage

So, you’re ready to start your bass-playing journey? Awesome! But with so many options out there, picking the right bass guitar can feel overwhelming. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know to choose the perfect beginner bass guitar.

1. Things to Consider When Choosing a Bass

A. Number of Strings: 4, 5, or 6?

  • 4-string bass – The classic choice, easier to play, great for beginners.
  • 5-string bass – Adds a low B string for deeper notes, popular in rock and metal.
  • 6-string bass – Extra range but more challenging for beginners.

For most beginners, a 4-string bass is the best option since it’s easier to learn and widely used across genres.

B. Scale Length: Full-Size vs. Short-Scale

  • Full-scale (34″) – Standard size, common in rock, jazz, and funk.
  • Short-scale (30″) – Smaller, easier to handle, great for smaller hands and beginners (e.g., Fender Mustang Bass).

If you have smaller hands or prefer an easier reach, a short-scale bass might be more comfortable.

C. Active vs. Passive Pickups

  • Passive pickups – Warmer, more organic tone (used in classic basses like the Fender Precision).
  • Active pickups – Require a battery, offer higher output and more EQ control (used in modern basses like the Music Man StingRay).

For beginners, passive basses are simpler and don’t require battery changes.

2. Popular Bass Guitar Types & Their Sound

A. Precision Bass (P-Bass) – Classic & Punchy

  • Famous for its deep, warm, and punchy tone.
  • Used in rock, punk, blues, and funk.
  • Example: Fender Player Precision Bass (great beginner option).

B. Jazz Bass (J-Bass) – Bright & Versatile

  • Known for its clear, bright, and growly tone.
  • More control with two pickups (bridge and neck).
  • Great for slap bass, funk, and jazz.
  • Example: Squier Classic Vibe ’60s Jazz Bass.

C. StingRay & Modern Basses – Aggressive & Powerful

  • Music Man-style basses with punchy, modern tone.
  • Often used in rock, metal, and funk.
  • Example: Sterling by Music Man SUB Ray4 (affordable and high-quality).

3. Best Beginner Bass Guitars (2025)

If you’re just starting, here are some great beginner-friendly basses:

Budget ($200-$400)

Mid-Range ($400-$700)

Higher-End Beginner ($700-$1,000)

Final Tips Before Buying

  • ✔ Try before you buy! If possible, go to a music store and test different basses.
  • ✔ Consider used basses – You can find great deals on second-hand instruments.
  • ✔ Pick what feels right – Comfort and playability matter as much as sound.

Want more beginner tips? Check out our full beginner’s guide hub to bass guitar! 🎸🔥

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Jake Skudder

Jake is an SEO-minded Football, Combat Sports, Gaming and Pro Wrestling writer and successful Editor in Chief. Most importantly, he is a Bass and Guitar player with over 20 years of experience of both. Currently, he is using an Ibanez Talman Bass and Trace Elliot Series 6 715 Bass Amp when playing in his punk band Creature Arcade. Jake has more than ten years of experience covering mixed martial arts, pro wrestling, football and gaming across a number of publications, starting at SEScoops in 2012 under the name Jake Jeremy. His work has also been featured on Sportskeeda, Pro Sports Extra, Wrestling Headlines, NoobFeed, Wrestlingnewsco and Keen Gamer, again under the name Jake Jeremy. Previously, he worked as the Editor in Chief of 24Wrestling, building the site profile with a view to selling the domain, which was accomplished in 2019. Jake was previously the Editor in Chief for Fight Fans, a combat sports and pro wrestling site that was launched in January 2021 and broke into millions of pageviews within the first two years. He previously worked for Snack Media and their GiveMeSport site, creating Evergreen and Trending content that would deliver pageviews via Google as the UFC and MMA SEO Lead. Jake managed to take an area of GiveMeSport that had zero traction on Organic and push it to audiences across the globe. Jake also has a record of long-term video and written interview content with the likes of the Professional Fighters League, ONE and Cage Warriors, working directly with the brands to promote bouts, fighters and special events. Jake also previously worked for the biggest independent wrestling company in the UK, PROGRESS Wrestling, as PR Head and Head of Media across the social channels of the company.

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