Good books to learn walking bass?

eyvindwa · #1 01-02-2009, 05:17 AM

As the title says, I would like to learn how to play and compose walking bass lines. Are there any good books out there? (Since I am not that strong on reading music notation, one with tabs as well would be preferable.)

Thanks!

robwren · #2 01-02-2009, 06:34 AM

Check out TBs own Todd Johnson. His books/DVD are excellent!!! See his forum and toddjohnsonmusic.com

eyvindwa · #3 01-02-2009, 06:46 AM

Thanks, those do look great!

IrishBassLad · #4 01-02-2009, 06:46 AM

You say that reading music is not your strong point so.....Get a book that has no tab at all.
Say, a book written primarily for Double Bass. You'll have " Tons " of fun learning about positions haha.

Other then that tibet, Im useless to you. Hah

Ed Fuqua · #5 01-02-2009, 08:54 AM

Shameless promotion by BigEgoHead.

Audiophage · #6 01-02-2009, 09:05 AM

I'd suggest looking into anything written for Upright Bass, those guys were arguably the first to walk a bassline, therefore most of the best material is written for that instrument.

ThunderV · #7 01-02-2009, 09:11 AM

You really don't need a book, just download the tab for "Manic Depression" by Jimi Hendrix. That has some good walking in it!

BluesWalker · #8 01-02-2009, 09:18 AM

Ed Friedland has a couple of excellent book/CD instructional combos that are good for self-learning. Start with the basic book and then move to the advanced book.

There is a web site, visionmusic.com, that has an excellent remote learning course for bass. It is run by guitarist/bassist Mark Stefani. The course covers standard head arrangements, walking lines and solos for bass. There are 24 modules and each lesson, a CD and notation/tab of the module material, comes in the mail every 2 weeks. The CD includes recordings of the lesson materail as well as detailed explanations by Mark. HE is available by phone or e-mail to answer questions, and he has a rapid response time.

SuperDuck · #9 01-02-2009, 09:21 AM

I would second NOT getting a book with tabs - no time to enhance your reading skills like the present!

Fred Euqua literally wrote the book on walking. Check out his post above!

(Though this might be a more entertaining read: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Fuq...3526800/?itm=5 )

PaulMacCnj · #10 01-02-2009, 10:13 AM

Check out "The Art of Walking Bass: A Method for Acoustic or Electric Bass" by Bob Magnusson. This book is readily available, Amazon, etc.

MD · #11 01-02-2009, 01:09 PM

http://www.amazon.com/s/qid=12309236...%20bass&page=1

http://aebersold.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?

And, as shameleesly promoted (see link) by Mr. BigEgoHead, his and other books from the people at Sher Music.

The Bob Magnusson book (Amazon) includes tabs.
I wouldn't promote the use of tabs, but if it gets you started, more power to ya. Do yourself a favor though, use the tabs as a tool to wean yourself away from them. Most of the books are written in standard notation.

Bluesy Soul · #12 01-02-2009, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BluesWalker

Ed Friedland has a couple of excellent book/CD instructional combos that are good for self-learning. Start with the basic book and then move to the advanced book.

+1

I always learn valuable things from Ed's books, and they are well-written and easy-to-follow.

His books on walking bass are available from Bassbooks.com: http://www.bassbooks.com/shopping/sh...ch=Yes&sppp=10
(scroll down to Building Walking Bass Lines at the bottom of the page.)

or from Ed (who is a TBer) directly: www.edfriedland.com.

Bluesy Soul

BetterBottomEnd · #13 01-02-2009, 01:59 PM

I'll second Ed Friedlands books as well as Todd Johnson's DVD's.

theshadow2001 · #14 01-03-2009, 01:56 PM

Another one for ED Friedlands building walking bass lines. Good intro book.

Also don't worry about not being able to read. Even just pencilling in the notes on the notation would get you through a walking bass book. Especially since (I'm assuming here) most of them will just have quarter notes or eight notes. So you wouldn't really have to worry about rhythm,

StreamerDavid · #15 01-03-2009, 02:03 PM

I felt the Ed Friedland walking book was more useful for the CD

Toronto Bassist · #16 01-04-2009, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThunderV

You really don't need a book, just download the tab for "Manic Depression" by Jimi Hendrix. That has some good walking in it!

I'm really hoping this is a bad joke.

Anyways, Mike Richmond has a really good book but it seems to be out of print currently. Might be possible to find it used, though.

http://www.amazon.com/Modern-Walking...1079445&sr=1-1

Stumbo · #17 03-04-2009, 02:40 AM

Bass Line Construction: Target Approach
Bass Line Construction: Target Approach
Contributed by TalkBass Member Chris Fitzgerald

Steve Amadeo · #18 03-04-2009, 02:43 AM

Check out www.robgourlay.com for transcriptions of walking lines by Paul Chambers, Sam Jones and Doug Watkins. Excellent material.

Steve

cnltb · #19 03-04-2009, 03:20 AM

I'd say,don't go with a book.
Do your own transcriptions and analyse them.
That seems to me a more thorough way to learn.
It's also cheaper.

ceedj · #20 03-04-2009, 03:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stumbo

Bass Line Construction: Target Approach
Bass Line Construction: Target Approach
Contributed by TalkBass Member Chris Fitzgerald

That's a tremendous introduction there. Wish he'd finish it.