Best beginner/intermediate bass method book?

bassandbeyond · #1 01-01-2009, 10:04 PM

It's great that there are so many instructional books on the market these days, but as a teacher, I have yet to find a single comprehensive introductory method book that I can unconditionally recommend to my students.

I'm looking specifically for a book which would progress from beginning to intermediate level, and cover technique, reading, basic theory including chords and scales, improvisation, and perhaps provide analysis of sample bass lines in several styles of music.

I've seen books which cover some of these topics thoroughly, and other books which contain information that I disagree with, but I still haven't run across a single volume that covers all of it in a way that I can really endorse. I certainly haven't seen everything that's out there, so please let me know your favorites. Thanks!

daffy · #2 01-01-2009, 10:36 PM

Hal Leonard Bass Method Complete, written by Ed Friedland. You can also get it as three separate books.

THE best graded method for bass I have found.

Ed is an incredible instructor and writes very well.

HaVIC5 · #3 01-01-2009, 10:51 PM

Second for Ed Friedland's method. I really hope that his book eventually becomes the industry standard the same way Simandl is for upright because it covers everything in a highly logical and exceptionally clear way. I use it in my teaching, and I highly recommend it.

**RedsFan75** · #4 01-02-2009, 04:20 AM

Add my vote in for Ed's method book. Very well laid out and progresses through it very well

I don't recall specific bass lines, but it does give you bass lines that are "in the style of", and a wide variety of song styles.

Example at the end of book one you play a Stones-like line. Sounds very Stones, but not a specific song perse.

BigMac5 · #5 01-02-2009, 04:31 AM

+1 on the Ed's method book. In addition I also recommend "Bass Fitness - An Exercising Handbook" and "Simplified Sight-Reading for Bass" by Josquin des Pres.

bassandbeyond · #6 01-02-2009, 05:39 PM

Well, it seems to be unanimous!

I've skimmed through some of Ed's books before, but I'll have to check his stuff out more thoroughly. Thanks for the suggestions. Another older book that I was fairly pleased with was Laurence Canty's "How to play bass guitar". Has anyone else used it?

cb56 · #7 01-02-2009, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daffy

Hal Leonard Bass Method Complete, written by Ed Friedland. You can also get it as three separate books.

THE best graded method for bass I have found.

Ed is an incredible instructor and writes very well.

yep, it's a good one. I hope sometime Ed will come out with Vols. 4,5,6,7... etc and get into more intermediate and advance stuff. But Vols. 1-3 are definately worth getting.

rickm · #8 01-02-2009, 06:56 PM

I am currently in the Hal Leonard Bass Method book 2 of 3 by Ed Friedland. You can get it as a complete book, but my teacher gets them individually with the CD's.
I have looked through some other books, but these are excellent for beginners to intermediate players. They work especially well when combined with a live instructor like I am doing.

jonster · #9 01-08-2009, 03:30 PM

I agree, you won't go wrong with anything by Ed Friedland. You might also want to check out my second book, Funk/Fusion Bass, published by Hal Leonard. It's a good workout with loads of finger exercises, scales, arpeggios, string crossings, etc., as well as entire chapters devoted to finger-style grooving and soloing. Contact me any time if you have questions. Thanks!

Jon Liebman

BigMac5 · #10 01-08-2009, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonster

I agree, you won't go wrong with anything by Ed Friedland. You might also want to check out my second book, Funk/Fusion Bass, published by Hal Leonard. It's a good workout with loads of finger exercises, scales, arpeggios, string crossings, etc., as well as entire chapters devoted to finger-style grooving and soloing. Contact me any time if you have questions. Thanks!

Jon Liebman

I just ordered Blues Bass from amazon.

jonster · #11 01-09-2009, 08:44 AM

Thank you, BigMac5!

Please let me know what you think. I'll welcome your comments (good or bad) and will be happy to answer any questions, clarify anything you're not sure of or help in any way.

Jon Liebman

BigMac5 · #12 01-12-2009, 11:26 AM

^^^Will do.

jeroenmaesen · #13 01-12-2009, 03:18 PM

Bass Logic by bill edwards and steve hodson.

its the bass version of fretboard logic (check ik out also). i bought it a couple of months ago on amazon, and it has opened my eyes.. The book gives a very good look at how to play and learn scales and chords. it might not be the easiest to understand, but once you've got it, it stays there.

cheers!
Jerre

bassandbeyond · #14 01-14-2009, 10:40 AM

Thanks for the suggestions. I will check out these books. It's getting to the point where I am seriously considering writing my own book, but I want to thoroughly survey the market of available books first.

Has nobody else used "How to Play Bass Guitar"? It's a shame that book is not better known.

Methodis · #15 01-14-2009, 10:26 PM

Liebman is your next book really scheduled for this year? :O

http://www.amazon.com/Bass-Grooves-C...1997102&sr=8-5

jonster · #16 01-14-2009, 10:39 PM

Actually, it's scheduled for this WEEK. It's being released at the NAMM show, January 15, 2009. Thanks for asking!

Jon Liebman

Methodis · #17 01-14-2009, 11:39 PM

Wow :O Will pick up then :O

furygirl · #18 01-21-2009, 05:22 PM

i'm new to this forum and to playing bass and i just had to say that i am using the hal leonard bass method by ed friedland. it is comprehensive and i do not feel overwhelmed by it.

so far so good...although, i am not that far into it yet!!

bottomzone · #19 01-21-2009, 06:16 PM

Bass Guitar for Dummies is an excellent book/CD-don't let the title fool you!!!!!

A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!

mrjameskent · #20 01-23-2009, 07:58 AM

+1 for the Hal Leonard book. I've decided to get up an hour earlier each morning, and have found I generally get through 2 pages in 45mins, practising all the bits at different speeds, and then running through everything on the page at once a few times at the end of the session.

Might not be that speedy but I'm determined to learn to read music and not tab, and this pace allows me to really learn something completely new to me.

And its fun going to work knowing I've learnt something new!