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The bass guitar is an essential instrument in most musical genres, having been a crucial part of popular music for decades. As a result, it has gained a large and varied following. Despite this, the bass guitar is underrated when compared to the lead and rhythm guitar, often being omitted from discussions of popular instruments. However, its importance in music should not be overlooked, and the positive benefits of playing bass guitar are numerous.

First off, learning to play bass can be an incredibly rewarding experience due to the fact that the instrument is relatively easy to pick up. As opposed to the lead and rhythm guitar, bass does not require a great deal of dexterity. This means that while even the most novice musicians can find themselves able to pick up an electric bass and jam along to their favourite songs with a reasonable degree of accuracy, there is still room for immense skill development when it comes to the instrument. Unlike the guitar, basses generally have fewer strings, scales and fretboards, allowing a greater sense of playability while also allowing more creative exploration.

Another great aspect of bass guitar is the role it plays when it comes to accompanying other instruments. Playing the bass correctly can be likened to the art of lock-groove playing, wherein a bass player is able to lay a particular harmonic framework on which the other instruments can rest comfortably. Not only does this make for tight and danceable music, it also gives the musician a sense of precise control and a directorship over the whole ensemble.

Finally, there's the fact that playing the bass can be great fun. Upright bass, electric bass guitars, and fretless bass guitars all offer the musician an opportunity to delve into entirely different playstyles. Moreover, much of the music that relies heavily on bass is also incredibly enjoyable to play, ranging from classic rock to reggae, funk, motown and beyond. Not only does this add to the experience, but it gives the musician an invaluable grounding in a number of musical genres - a knowledge that can easily be adapted and transferred when it comes to composition and improvisation.

In all, the bass guitar is a versatile and truly underrated instrument. Its ability to provide the foundation on which entire musical ensembles can rest, as well as its relative ease of playing, make it a rewarding and enjoyable experience. Learning bass guitar is an excellent way to gain all sorts of musical knowledge, and a great way to get stuck into various genres and styles of playing.