Fingerboard Harmony for Bass

adivin · #1 01-17-2010, 03:29 PM

Anyone have any experience with the book, Fingerboard Harmony for Bass by Gary Willis? It is a linear approach to bass, whatever that means. Please share your thoughts on this.

Michael Campbel · #2 01-17-2010, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adivin

Anyone have any experience with the book, Fingerboard Harmony for Bass by Gary Willis? It is a linear approach to bass, whatever that means. Please share your thoughts on this.

I'm just starting with it, with my instructor. Being really new to the bass (1 year only, with no lyrical music background), it's really hard, but really fun so far. My instructor has his own curriculum, but uses this book as part of it, so... I guess that's a thumbs up at least from one professional instructor.

I should note that he uses the book as a basis, and does a *lot* more and different exercises that are based on the book exercises, so one exercise in the book spawns at least 3 or 4 from my instructor.

adivin · #3 01-19-2010, 09:11 AM

I can't believe only one person knows anything about this book?

Spin Doctor · #4 01-19-2010, 09:39 AM

I have this book and work with it from time to time. It starts out with you learning arpeggios over two octaves played at a pretty fast tempo over various key centers. That part can be challenging if you're new to bass. I think it has you learn the fretboard in chunks then teaches to move between sections of the board

The rest of the book, I'm not familiar with enough to speak on, but the ultimate goal is to have you be able to solo in a jazz fusion style, meaning you will (should) be able to move all over the fretboard with some ease. If you're not into that, I'd pass on it, but then again, you can't go wrong knowing your arps...

I'm diggin it, though. I'd say it's worth the price of admission, but it's not an easy book.

deckard · #5 01-19-2010, 11:57 AM

Ditto - this is not an easy book.

Having a teacher who uses it will undoubtedly help a lot.

I am slowly working my way through it, but I find it a tough slog & slow going.

In the end, I know that going through the book will be good for me... but it ain't easy.