Best Walking Bass Instruction Book?

LifeIsBass · #1 10-28-2006, 11:11 PM

Any recommendations? Ed Friedland's? Saw one on Amazon by Jay Hungerford that looked interesting. Something not too basic, please.

**Freddels** · #2 10-29-2006, 06:11 AM

I always recommend Ed Friedland's book and then in conjunction with Bob Magnusson's book. B/w the two, you should be able to do it. The key is not to skip the beginning stuff in Ed's book, it's really important to get the basics and then add as he instructs.

Throckmorten · #3 10-30-2006, 11:26 AM

I've used the Hungerford book and like it a lot. I've had one or two others that frankly did nothing for me.

Hungerford's book is valuable in part becase he includes 20 named and well known standards both with their changes and with suggested lines, which he uses to illustrate some basic techniques. Great practice tunes regardles of what else you make of the book.

His approach is more of a mechanical "how to", and not much theory, though I find as I learn more theory I can go back and pick up more stuff from his book. I'd recommend it, esp if you need to pick up some basics relatively fast.

That said, Ed Freidland's books are very highly thought of by just about every one. I just have not had an opportunity to use them.

Between the two you really can't go wrong.

64jazzbass · #4 10-31-2006, 08:12 AM

I've heard Modern Walking Bass by Mike Richmond is good. Pick up Ron Carter's transcribed bass lines off of "All Bird", one of the Aeborsold recordings, I think it's Volume 6, and study those. There is a wealth of knowledge there.

stretchcat · #5 10-31-2006, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 64jazzbass

Pick up Ron Carter's transcribed bass lines off of "All Bird", one of the Aeborsold recordings, I think it's Volume 6, and study those. There is a wealth of knowledge there.

+1
For $6 I don't think you can do better than this. Also, it would be good to learn the heads to these tunes. I am working on Confirmation right now and it's tough.

Gyoon · #6 10-31-2006, 10:27 AM

There's a book by toronto bassist Mike Downes that I got a lot out of. He does a side-by-side analysis of the styles of Ray Brown, Paul Chambers, Sam Jones, Charlie Haden, Miroslav Vitous (and a few others) over a blues and rhythm changes. He also covers all the different ways to approach a chord tone (ie upper diatonic, lower diatonic, upper chromatic, etc.) I'm not sure if I'm doing a great job of selling this book, but it's something to check out. It's published by Jazz Advance.

Glenn