Book on the Blues

KOW613 · #1 04-29-2007, 08:35 PM

Hey yall, anyone have any suggestions for a instruction book on blues bass?

(I would really like if it had a CD)

Also, if anyone can suggest just a book on general theory, in terms of scales, modes and how to use them. If it were geared toward the bass that would be amazing.

Thanks all for your help.

smidgley · #2 04-29-2007, 10:28 PM

Blues Bass by Ed Friedland

::::BASSIST:::: · #3 04-29-2007, 10:30 PM

A great, easy to understand book is "Bass Guitar For Dummies". Lots of good info. From theory to buying an amp/bass... dont think they have much in the way of blues theory though. Umm.. it has a disc as well.

fearceol · #4 04-30-2007, 04:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VEGANBASS

A great, easy to understand book is "Bass Guitar For Dummies". Lots of good info. From theory to buying an amp/bass... dont think they have much in the way of blues theory though. Umm.. it has a disc as well.

+ 1

I've worked my way through three quarters of this book. It only touches on blues though, but explains scales, modes chords, ect in a simple readable way. I particularly liked the section on "walking bass lines" which is closely related to blues. The book is a good foundation for learning the instrument IMO.

Mark Perry · #5 04-30-2007, 04:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smidgley

Blues Bass by Ed Friedland

A big +1 there. As well as blues lines, forms and progressions it goes through blues standards (Hoochie coochie man, the thrill is gone, killing floor etc.), as well as intros, endings, turnarounds etc.
For theory i'd reccomend (the book i learned from): glenn Letches' bass for beginners:
http://www.amazon.com/Bass-Beginners...7928828&sr=1-3
Covers the major scale, cycle of fifths, ear training, chord theory, modes and other scales.

daffy · #6 05-04-2007, 05:15 PM

+1 on Ed's book - it is brilliant.

Another fantastic book is Keith Rosier's "Jump and Blues Bass".

I also checked out Jon Liebman's Blues Bass - don't bother

jonster · #7 01-08-2009, 03:47 PM

Ed Friedland's books are great. You might also check out my Blues Bass book, published by Hal Leonard. Even though Daffy (above) didn't like it, it's one of my best sellers. Check it out and let me know what you think. Thanks!

Jon Liebman

daffy · #8 01-11-2009, 02:35 AM

Sorry Jon!

Really this is just a single reply to three very similar posts - I'm not trying to bag you everywhere, I promise! If there had just been one forum on blues bass instruction books I would have only written one reply.

I have three of Jon's books - Funk, Funk/Fusion and Blues bass, as well as a *ton* of books by other authors. I can only talk from my own personal experience using all the resources at my disposal to improve in any way I can. Other people will most likely have varying opinions.

Jon, great to see you on the forum - if you ever want to beat me up about my impressions of your books then I would be honored to receive a PM and we can do it a little more privately!

jonster · #9 01-11-2009, 11:24 AM

Daffy,

We're all bass brothers and sisters, so no need for me to beat you up (yet, anyway)! This forum is stuff is really cool. I think I'm hooked.

Thanks for buying my books. (What? No ROCK BASS?)

Your friend and Bass Brother,

Jon Liebman

Winterpegbass · #10 01-11-2009, 01:37 PM

I picked up Jon Liebman's Blues Bass about a year ago and found it quite helpful. When I picked up the Led Zeppelin I & II book six months ago, I was able to sight read the transcriptions of "You shook me" and "I can't quit you babe" without any difficulty and they reminded me of the exercises in the Blues Bass book. Does anyone have a suggestion for a book with complete and accurate transcriptions of blues standards/songs?

daffy · #11 01-11-2009, 05:05 PM

One of the difficulties with blues is that it's rarely played the same way twice, so you're not going to get 'accurate' transcriptions - well, they'll be accurate but only to the specific version of the song.

Having said that, there are standard blues songs that are almost always played with the same chord changes and turn arounds, and you would be expected to improvise bass lines over the top of them. I've never come across a 'Real Book' for blues, but that's the sort of thing you can expect.

Ed Friedland's book includes a bunch of these standards and analyses their structure. Keith Rosier also has many very good transcriptions in his book.