Beginner Bass Practice Plan: Your First 4 Weeks, 15 Minutes a Day
Quick answer
Do 15 minutes a day: 2 minutes tuning, 5 minutes plucking with a metronome, 5 minutes on one bass line, 3 minutes playing along with a song. Keep the tempo slow. On bass, steady timing matters more than speed or fancy notes.
Your daily 15 minutes
| Minutes | What to do |
|---|---|
| 2 | Tune with the bass tuner: E A D G, thickest to thinnest. |
| 5 | Alternate index and middle fingers on one open string, one note per click of the metronome. |
| 5 | This week's skill (below). |
| 3 | Play root notes along with a slow song you like. |
Week by week
Week 1: Pluck and count
- Rest your thumb on the pickup or the E string.
- Pluck each open string four times, alternating fingers, at a slow tempo such as 60 BPM.
- Count out loud: 1, 2, 3, 4.
Week 2: Mute the noise
- After each note, let the next finger land on the string to stop it ringing.
- Rest your fretting-hand fingers lightly across the strings you are not playing.
- Goal: only the note you want sounds.
Week 3: Fretted notes
- Use one finger per fret across frets 1-4, pressing just behind the fret.
- Play frets 1-2-3-4 on each string, one note per click.
- If a note buzzes, press a little closer to the fret, not harder.
Week 4: Your first bass lines
- Play the root note of each chord in a simple song: the note the chord is named after.
- Play it on beats 1, 2, 3 and 4, then try just beats 1 and 3.
- Raise the metronome 5 BPM only when it feels easy.
Signs you are on track
- You can keep four even notes per click for a minute without speeding up.
- Open strings stop when you want them to.
- You can find the note E, A, D or G on any string's open position without looking it up.
Next: read bass tab, learn the fretboard notes and play easy bass songs. Want a guided course to follow instead? Compare options in best online bass lessons, including TalkingBass vs BassBuzz. Still need gear? See beginner bass gear.
Safety notes
- Stop and rest if your hand, wrist or forearm aches; tension is the usual cause.
- Keep amp and headphone volume low to protect your hearing.
FAQ
How long should a beginner practise bass?
Fifteen to twenty minutes a day is a good start. Short daily practice builds timing and finger strength better than one long weekly session.
Should I use a pick or fingers?
Either is fine. Most beginner courses start with two-finger plucking, which this plan uses.
What tempo should I practise at?
Slow enough that every note is even, often 60 BPM to start. Speed comes from playing cleanly, not from rushing.
Sources checked
- FretCompare bass tuner and metronome (free tools) (checked Oct 22, 2026): fretcompare.com/tools/
Not hands-on testing: FretCompare explains standard technique in its own words and links official pages for prices and terms.