I started playing the electric bass, also known as the bass guitar, about seven years ago. There are few things that I have enjoyed as much in life as playing this instrument. I had played a few instruments before in my life, but this is different. Other instruments I have played, like the piano or classical guitar, play a certain role in a band. That role mostly has to do with the melody of a song. The drums, on the other hand, to a large extent dictate the rhythm of a song. In other words, that element of music that you can easily tap your foot to.
Now apart from melody and rhythm, there is another element in music that is very important. That element is harmony. Harmony is the element of music that has to do with the way that notes sound together or how they relate to each other when they are played consecutively within a short space of time.
I am currently taking free online lessons at www.studybass.com. I like the approach there as it prioritises making you into a musician/artist first. In other words, the actual instrument of the electric bass then simply becomes a tool by which you express your musical creativity. Check it out if you are a budding bass player!