Best Blues Bass study book

jschwalls · #1 10-13-2010, 08:22 AM

I have a student that wants to buy a blues bass study book.. I was wondering what was the best one out there for a intermediate level student...

The fact that he came to me and wants to continue studying it on his own is awesome and I want to make sure he gets the right book..

thanks guys !!

HeadyVan Halen · #2 10-13-2010, 08:29 AM

SRV's 'In Step' or 'Couldn't Stand the Weather'....those are pretty good

Fergie Fulton · #3 10-13-2010, 08:32 AM

Two great ones spring to mind

Jump and blues bass book

http://www.overstock.com/Books-Movie...tml?cid=133635

Blues bass

http://www.awesomebooks.com/book/978...gn=products_uk

Also get the Chess complete box set or Willie Dixons Blues Dixonary box set of CDs to accompany the info being offered....it all ties together nice.

hdracer · #4 10-13-2010, 08:34 AM

The Mel Bay's Blues Bass Method books from the School of Blues by Frank DeRose 1 & 2 are really good. The helped me a lot.

raymondl3 · #5 10-13-2010, 09:05 AM

http://www.bassbooks.com/shopping/sh...=144&cat=BLUES

The Mel Bay's Complete Bass Method looks good, but I've never looked closely at it.

mcrracer · #6 10-13-2010, 09:30 AM

As an old time Blues bass player, my opinion is you don't learn Blues from no book! Teach them a few of the basic 12 bar patterns and send that boy (or girl) to some Blues joints to listen and watch what the old timers do. Or at least listen to some real Blues on recordings. Do a search on this site as there have been several threads discussing good Blues to listen to. Send them up here on a weekend trip to Chicago. They will get some of the best exposure that they could ever get of some real down home Blues from some of the living legends. I would hope you have some spots local to you also. Blues is more of a feeling that most music. I have seen more players than I can count who know the patterns but can't really play the Blues to save their lives. Get em started right. I get excited when I see younger people who desire to learn the Blues cause the old guys are dying off. Every year it seems like we lose somebody else right here in Chicago.

jschwalls · #7 10-13-2010, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcrracer

As an old time Blues bass player, my opinion is you don't learn Blues from no book! Teach them a few of the basic 12 bar patterns and send that boy (or girl) to some Blues joints to listen and watch what the old timers do. Or at least listen to some real Blues on recordings. Do a search on this site as there have been several threads discussing good Blues to listen to. Send them up here on a weekend trip to Chicago. They will get some of the best exposure that they could ever get of some real down home Blues from some of the living legends. I would hope you have some spots local to you also. Blues is more of a feeling that most music. I have seen more players than I can count who know the patterns but can't really play the Blues to save their lives. Get em started right. I get excited when I see younger people who desire to learn the Blues cause the old guys are dying off. Every year it seems like we lose somebody else right here in Chicago.

he is 14 years old... and has no way to get into clubs.... and just wants to learn more patterns and different feels....

We "jam" for about half the lesson, just to give him an idea of what its like to play with drummer (drum machine) and guitar ( bassist faking guitar ) lol..
he just really wants more exposure... keep the suggestions coming.. and thanks guys.

raymondl3 · #8 10-13-2010, 11:30 AM

Some of the "stand alone" and other music minus cds are very helpful. Transcribing bass lines from notable songs is an excellent way to go too.

funkybass · #9 10-13-2010, 11:51 AM

I really like Jon Liebmans blues bass book.

kreider204 · #10 10-13-2010, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hdracer

The Mel Bay's Blues Bass Method books from the School of Blues by Frank DeRose 1 & 2 are really good. The helped me a lot.

+1

C.Linton · #11 10-13-2010, 12:06 PM

+1 on the Hal Leonard Blues Bass Method by Ed Friedland.

dmrogers · #12 10-13-2010, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fergie Fulton

Jump 'n' Blues Bass
http://www.overstock.com/Books-Movie...tml?cid=133635

+1
This is a VERY good book. I highly recommend it.

Bluesy Soul · #13 10-13-2010, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C.Linton

+1 on the Hal Leonard Blues Bass Method by Ed Friedland.

+1. I've played blues for many years. I agree that there is no substitute for playing and listening, of course. There is also no single book that covers the genre completely.

I own several blues bass books, most acquired because they included a pattern or a song I wanted to know more about at the time. Of these several books, I think Ed Friedland's has easily the best single coverage of the blues and it's fundamental theory and repertoire. It includes a helpful CD. Ed does rely more heavily on Chicago-style songs than other types; but I'd guess that's what most readers want. In fact, it includes many blues standards that a student is likely to encounter when first approaching the blues. If I was teaching blues bass, I'd start with a good book for conveying theory and Ed's book.

I don't remember who first said it, but there is a saying (paraphrased): "Study the blues. Learn the fundamentals and repertoire. Practice hard and play with feeling. Soon someone may offer you an opportunity to play long hours in dingy clubs for $50 a night."

Mike Dimin · #14 10-13-2010, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funkybass

I really like Jon Liebmans blues bass book.

+1

Mike Dimin · #15 10-13-2010, 12:46 PM

Although not quite Blues, there is a great book called, "What Duck Done" transcriptions and analysis of Duck Dunn's bass Lines. Here is a link:

http://www.bassisbodacious.com/

varunkapahi · #16 10-13-2010, 01:33 PM

blues bass by ed friedland! hal leonard publishing.

CapnSev · #17 10-13-2010, 01:39 PM

The Hal Leonard "Jerry Jemmot Blues and R&B" bass book taught me a lot of cool tricks and styles that I love to rip off: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/boo...-9780793581146

whitedk57 · #18 10-13-2010, 01:42 PM

+1 Blues Bass by Ed Friedland (Hal Leonard)

(plus he's on this forum

)

hdracer · #19 10-13-2010, 01:42 PM

I just remembered a real good one.
Mel Bay's 101 Blues Patterns for bass.
It is just patterns.

Fergie Fulton · #20 10-13-2010, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcrracer

As an old time Blues bass player, my opinion is you don't learn Blues from no book! Teach them a few of the basic 12 bar patterns and send that boy (or girl) to some Blues joints to listen and watch what the old timers do. Or at least listen to some real Blues on recordings. Do a search on this site as there have been several threads discussing good Blues to listen to. Send them up here on a weekend trip to Chicago. They will get some of the best exposure that they could ever get of some real down home Blues from some of the living legends. I would hope you have some spots local to you also. Blues is more of a feeling that most music. I have seen more players than I can count who know the patterns but can't really play the Blues to save their lives. Get em started right. I get excited when I see younger people who desire to learn the Blues cause the old guys are dying off. Every year it seems like we lose somebody else right here in Chicago.

I totally agree...but....why waste time when you can read what to do and play, learn it then apply it?

This idea that you have to learn blues by using your ears only i find in a modern day learning culture to be slow and tedious if you do not know what you are supposed to be listening out for.

So use the books to teach you these points, it makes the understanding of what you will do easier. Consider them "maps" to help you find your way about.