Buying a musical instrument for the first time is not an easy task. It requires great patience, extensive research and careful check on important features especially with elaborate instruments like the electric bass guitar. There are styles to consider, body composition, and tone requirements depending on the genre of music you intend to play.

For novices, it's recommended to buy a guitar that meets the basic requirements instead of complex model guitars. The primary consideration is the type of bass guitar to purchase. The world's most common are the Fender bass guitar types: the Precision Bass and the Jazz Bass. The Precision Bass (P-Bass), designed by Leo Fender in 1951, became the first mass-produced electric guitar. It is popularly used by blues, rhythm and rock bassists for its hard-edged sound and articulated fundamental tones. P-Bass are usually made of alder and swamp ash, and is easy to spot with its split-coil humbucking pickup.

The Jazz Bass, or "J-bass," is the second Fender bass guitar model. Its rich and bright tones produce various midrange sound from "jazzy" to "folky." Looking at a J-bass, one would notice that its neck is narrower than the P-bass and has two single coil pickups to cancel external noises out. The difference between J-Bass and P-Bass pickups are distinct, but many bassists nowadays choose the combination of a "J" pickup at the bridge and a "P" pickup at the neck. This kind of Fender bass guitar is the usual recommended type for new users.

Concerns about the number of guitar strings also plague the minds of new guitar buyers. The standard is the one with four strings tuned EADG. The five strings provides extended lower range and often used in metal and contemporary rock, while the six-stringed bass guitars, although less common, are used for additional low "B" string and high "C" string. New guitar players are encouraged to buy four-string bass guitars because it covers the usual notes required.

The scale length of a regular Fender bass guitar, 34" scale, remains to be a global standard and this is recommended for new guitarists. However, the number of guitar strings and the hand size of the guitarist matter, as well. Ideal for small hands are four-string bass guitars with either 30" or 32" scale length, while larger hands might require 35", 35.5" or 36" scale lengths. Meanwhile, a 5-string guitar requires 35" scale to hit that low B string perfectly; but since a four-string bass is recommended for newbies, a 35" scale is not really a necessity.

Frets are the metal wires up that run along the neck of the bass beneath the strings. Many first time buyers wonder if its best to be guitars with frets or without frets. The difference between the two is that fretted bass guitars allows for the reach of high harmonics while fretless guitars produce a more warm tone. Bass guitars without frets have to be played accurately to produce that good sound, and it requires a trained and skilled "musical ear." As such, fretted guitars fit beginners and inexperienced bassists more.

There are more important factors to consider when buying bass guitars. Some of them includes feeling the weight of the guitar, the balance and fit of it against your body, the range of tones and its overall look. Don't target guitars that are still out of you league. Keep it simple. Your first guitar should not intimidate you - instead, it should inspire and help you to grow as a good guitar player.

Learn more and browse dozens of Fender bass guitars and hundreds of other bass guitars at The Guitar Center.