Are there any books you recommend?

Roller Rob · #1 09-11-2010, 07:58 AM

First let me say that I discovered you through your basscast and I'm wondering when your next one is coming out. You've really inspired me with your bass playing and have really turned me on to improvisational jazz.

I'm wondering if there are any good method books for bass you would recommend to me that will help me get from where I am to where you're at.

janekbass · #2 09-13-2010, 08:00 PM

I've never used any method books for bass ever, and I don't really know anything about them....

I used a piano book called the Hanon Virtuoso Pianist and adapted it for bass to work on my technique. It's been a great thing to go back to whenever I'm working on maintaining my technique.

Janek

Roller Rob · #3 09-14-2010, 03:12 AM

Janek,

Thanks for your response! This is interesting, because I've found very little of use in any of the books I've looked through. I've learned most of the exercises I've used right here on the internet (on this site and studybass.com - kudos for the people who develop these sites). I do recall you mentioning Hanon on one of your podcasts. I certainly remember the Hanon exercises from when I took piano lessons years ago. I spent some time practicing this method for the bass and found it useful. I got up to excercise five, but then switched from a four to a five string bass and found myself starting from scratch again since I can go two octaves in the key of C now. I've since been refocused on scales, but I mean to return to the Hanon eventually.

Is there any particular way that you play the exercises? On my five string, I start on the low C on the B string and go up two octaves and back down. Did you find it useful playing all 60 of the exercises, or are there certain exercises that were of particular value? Do you practice the exercises in any other keys than just C? Any tips you can give me would be awesome!

I've only been playing bass for ten months now, and I'm glad there are musicians out there like you who help get the rest of us fired up to learn this great instrument! I'm looking forward to your upcoming album and next podcast.

janekbass · #4 09-14-2010, 02:07 PM

I just took a few of the hanon exercises and worked them all over the instrument. I used to work with a metronome in the beginning to get myself disciplined at working on things slowly, but I've since left the metronome behind and work on time without it.

Janek

funkybass · #5 09-18-2010, 08:37 PM

Just for curiosity, what kinds of things did you practice?

janekbass · #6 09-19-2010, 11:31 AM

I worked on a lot of material from the hanon book as far as getting basic technique together. Then I did, and still do, just work on things that I really like the sound of or don't fully understand. It's easy to work on things that you understand, but when you start to push the envelope and look for things that really challenge you, that's when the learning really kicks up to a new level I think.

Janek