Has anyone noticed a real lack of recent instructional videos? It seems there was a big influx of them with some big-name bassists between '87 an '93, but they seem very few and far between these days. I've always loved watching them, mostly to see their performances (the only way I can see them play up close). Anyone notice this, or have an idea why?

Bryan,

I've been playing for a few years and have never seen an instructional bass video. I guess I didn't think they'd be worth the $.

Which do you recommend?

Pontz

Bryan,

I've been playing for a few years and have never seen an instructional bass video. I guess I didn't think they'd be worth the $.

Which do you recommend?

Pontz

Well, that depends on if you want them purely for instruction or to see the big names in bass performing-I enjoy both myself.

For instruction, the best tapes I've seen are Michael Manring's "Bass Essentials" video, which shows how to start a practice regime based on left and right hand permutations to built dexterity and accuracy. It's a really great tape once you get the hang of the order of the permutations down. Also, "The Slap Bass Program" by Alexis Sklarevski is probably the best technique-based video ever made for bass. "Modern Electric Bass" with Jaco Pastorius is also a valuable one, if only to see the man play.

There's also a lot of ones that are somewhat low on instructional value but have some great performances, like the Gary Willis one, the Victor Wooten "Super Solo Bass" one, and most of the Bill Dickens ones (there's four).

I also buy most of my tapes used, which saves a lot of money.