What are the best bass theory and technique books?

[Flatwound Funk]

Hey this is my first post, I have been playing for about a year and a half now. I really want to learn to read sheet music and learn more theory. I already know major, minor, chromatic, and blues scales if that helps. Thanks

[Papa Dangerous]

Theory is theory, its more important to know the right approach/order of what to learn. Simple online research can be a good place to start. Its good that you know those scales, but its different to know scales and to understand them. Scales and chords are good starting point. First, I would suggest learning learning the types of chords. (major, minor, diminished, augmented, and then different types of seventh chords). Now look at the scale, for example the C major scale. It reads C d e F G a b° C (CAPS = major, lower case is minor and ° is diminished) Each letter represents a scale degree. Each scale degree represents the root note of a chord. The root note is the letter/name of chord. First scale degree is C (major) the second is d (minor) the third scale degree is e (minor) and so on. For a major scale, it well ALWAYS be major, minor, minor, major, major, minor, diminished. In order to make harmonic progressions, its important to know the appropriate chords associated with the scale degree.
Understanding this is an important step in beginning theory. It will get much more complicated as you continue, and will be pretty confusing, just take your time, LEARN THE CIRCLE OF FIFTHS, and in time you will just to get it. Good luck on your journey!

[Flatwound Funk]

Thanks man i just look up that circle of fifths and it really helped me understand which major and minor scales go together and why they do.

[A tempo]

There is certainly a lot of info on the Circle of Fifths/Fourths. This is the best site I know of on the subject. Both it and the User's Guide cited on the same page contain mountains of musical wisdom. All the best.

[BassChuck]

Lots of good books on theory and lots of online help too. I suggest you check the Talkbass Wiki for all kinds of great info. And.... as you study theory be sure you understand how it relates to the written notes on the paper. Its good to know theory as it applies to the fretboard, but if you are truely interested in learning to read, make that a part of and a way you learn theory.

On the subject of learning to read, a valueable skill is knowing how to read well enough you can play a bass part the first of second time you go look at it. This is a skill, not a talent... in other words it takes time and practice and the sooner you can get with a performing group that reads charts the faster you'll develop that skill.

[MrLenny1]

Edouard Nanny Classical bass method was one of the best things
I ever did for my playing.

[ThrashtillDeath]

I reccomend Bass Exercises for Dummies, it goes over everthing from modes to squences, to different rythm patterns and much more

[sammyp]

Essential Concepts: Bass Guitar Technique by Alexis Skarevski

it's part of the MI curriculum ...good book for technique and general theory....

[killersdude]

Originally Posted by Papa Dangerous

Theory is theory, its more important to know the right approach/order of what to learn. Simple online research can be a good place to start. Its good that you know those scales, but its different to know scales and to understand them. Scales and chords are good starting point. First, I would suggest learning learning the types of chords. (major, minor, diminished, augmented, and then different types of seventh chords). Now look at the scale, for example the C major scale. It reads C d e F G a b° C (CAPS = major, lower case is minor and ° is diminished) Each letter represents a scale degree. Each scale degree represents the root note of a chord. The root note is the letter/name of chord. First scale degree is C (major) the second is d (minor) the third scale degree is e (minor) and so on. For a major scale, it well ALWAYS be major, minor, minor, major, major, minor, diminished. In order to make harmonic progressions, its important to know the appropriate chords associated with the scale degree.
Understanding this is an important step in beginning theory. It will get much more complicated as you continue, and will be pretty confusing, just take your time, LEARN THE CIRCLE OF FIFTHS, and in time you will just to get it. Good luck on your journey!

It's important to recognize that the Minor 7 b5 chord (degree VII of the major key system) is in fact half-diminished and not truly diminished. Save yourself a lot of time as well by learning the functions of these chords (Tonic, Sub-dominant, and Dominant) and then learn how to utilize proper modal interchange to achieve creative and interesting harmonic progressions. Good luck!

[JTE]

A. Ignore anything that tells you it's about "bass theory". Music is music no matter the instrument or genre, so get a good basic music theory book. I highly recommend "Edly's Music Theory for Practical People" because it covers things in a logical fashion that won't lead to more confusion, it doesn't assume that jazz and/or western classical music is the only music there is, it doesn't assume you know how to read (but makes a good case for understanding the language of music), and includes things from a bass perspective.

B. Search the TB General Instruction forum (much better for these things than the technique section, which is more about physically playing than the mental preparations) for posts by Mambo4 and MalcomAmos (and others). Especially look for the ones that discuss the logical order of learning theor.

C. The first bit of theory to learn is the major scale. You simply must own this- know how it's constructed (W W H W W W H), and what it sounds like. EVERYTHING else that'll ever be useful comes from knowing this inside out. You gotta be able to figure out (note: not have it memorized, but be able to figure out for yourself) the correct notes in any major scale before anything else will make sense.

D. After you know the diatonic major scale, learn the construction of basic chords, out to the 7th. That's major, minor, diminished, augmented, major 7, minor 7, dominant 7, and diminished 7. Again, learn the formulas based on the scale of the root and use your knowledge of the scale to be able to figure out exactly what a G7 chord is.

E. Then go back to the major scale and learn about the harmonized scale (which is what Papa Dangerous alluded to with the cryptic C d e F G a bdim). It's pointless to memorize that the fourth chord is a major 7 if you don't know WHY it is. This study will lead you to recognize that the order of the chords is Imaj7 iimin7 iiimin7 IVMaj7 V7 viimin7 and viimin7b5. But you have to be able to see why this is for yourself so do some pencil and paper time.

F. After you know how the harmonized scale works together, then learn about typical chord progressions- specifically WHY a ii V I defines a major key center, why blues uses a dominant 7 chord for all three chords, etc.

G. Only after all this do modes become in any way useful, and the great thing is that after you know this stuff, modes are also very easy to grasp and utilize. Ignore anyone who suggest simplistic formulas like "Use D dorian for a Dmin7 chord", and run away from the well-intentioned folks who suggest switching modes with each chord change by saying "For a ii V I in C, use D Dorian then G Mixolydian, then C Ionian".

Most important remember that there are only two (and they're related) rules of music theory that are NEVER broken...

A. If it sounds right, it's right.
B. If it sound wrong, it's wrong.

The interesting bit is the definition of "right" and "wrong" in this, but keep those two rules in mind. Theory is NOT about "Do this, don't do that". It's only about "These are things that commonly work and sound good to most people, so you can save yourself a lot of time and energy by learning them."

Have fun with the journey!!!

John