Hal Leonard bass method... advise?

Soverntear · #1 10-11-2009, 08:24 PM

so my wonderful gf bought me this because i felt i was hitting a wall with my playing. Needless to say even just the "notes on the E string section" been a huge help im starting to remember all that grade school music reading.

so now im left wondering if im going over things too much. basically ill go over one section a day (only been 1 day on it thus far) and make sure that i can play it 5 times perfectly before moving on to the next notation exercise in that section. im also going 60 bpm to start then moving to 80 and again to 100.

I really want to absorb as much as i can form this book seeing as how the first 5 pages have taught me more about bass then i learned on my own thus far. any tips on ways to run with this method? also what books would you suggest for after im done? I really want to be able to read music and have at least grade 5 music theory. so far im thinking about getting the following hal books: Easy bass lines 1-3, bass scale and arpeggio finders, music theory for bassist and funk bass. as for other books. Slap it with out question is a must and im thinking the Beatles complete score.

PaulNYC · #2 10-11-2009, 08:54 PM

Anything by Ed Friedland is great. I am currently working on his walking bass lines book.

Soverntear · #3 10-11-2009, 09:16 PM

yeah he does have a great way of teaching.i can only imagine how awesome his in person lessons would be

daid_ghoti · #4 10-14-2009, 08:40 PM

Hey first time poster here. Liking the site.

I'm starting on the Hal leonard method also and I have also been making sure to play a song 5 times perfectly before moving on. I really like the jazz pieces. As far as technique is concerned none of it so far has been very challenging but I love that I'm learning how to read bass clef. Reading has been a challenge but very fun and engaging. I'm actually dissapointed that the later books include tabs because now I'll have to cover them up so I can practice sight reading.

The only problem I've had is that it is suggesting a 3 finger method and having to shift positions after 3 frets. Coming from 6 years of "one finger per fret" on the guitar has made this too frustrating so I'm ignoring it and sticking to the 4 finger method.

Also, the book does not give any explanation to why you are playing what you're playing. So what I started doing today is writing down the chord progressions using their numbers ( I, ii, V, etc), writing down the notes contained in each chord, and then slowly examining the notes chosen to be played under the chords. It's something I've never done on the gutiar. It takes quite a while and I don't really know exactly what I'm looking for...but I hope It will all makes sense one day.

PaulNYC · #5 10-14-2009, 08:43 PM

The books start adding chords etc. in book three.

fbrown627 · #6 10-14-2009, 10:32 PM

I'm a newbie looking to start learning and was thinking of using the Hal Leonard books/CD/DVD. I also found studybass.com that seem good.

Comments on either one?

thudstaff23 · #7 10-14-2009, 10:40 PM

I think any good bass instructor would recommend the Hal Leonard series. Especially for exactly what your doing -- concentrating, and really memorizing reading music in the bass clef. Mixing that type of exercise every day wouldn't hurt anyone.

I think it helps develop a pure tone as well.

Billnc · #8 10-15-2009, 07:45 AM

I'm confused, I've looked up Hal Leonard Bass Method by Google search. It said by Ed Friedland, but it was the Hal Leonard book by Dan Dean. Is there one by Ed? I've seen his Jazz books etc. I'm looking for a method book that does not have tabs (this is a must, tabs in a sight reading book are a deal breaker for me). Ed's books that I have seen and own tab free.

PaulNYC · #9 10-15-2009, 08:17 AM

this book

Billnc · #10 10-15-2009, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulNYC

this book

If you go to the book to look inside the Dan Dean book keeps coming up.

PaulNYC · #11 10-15-2009, 08:56 AM

if you look at the cover on the Amazon preview, it is a different book that is written by Dan Dean. I own the book that was linked to, and what is shipped is the Ed Friedland book.

Billnc · #12 10-15-2009, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulNYC

if you look at the cover on the Amazon preview, it is a different book that is written by Dan Dean. I own the book that was linked to, and what is shipped is the Ed Friedland book.

Sorry, I'm just trying to get an idea of Ed's book, if you click on Ed's cover it goes to Dan's book, Ed's site doesn't give a synopsis of the book, I know Ed is a great teacher, I'd just like to get a handle on the book and can't find much. First off does he use tabs in the book? Is it structured in any way like Rufus Ried's or the Simandl? Does it cover sight reading extensively? Thanks for your help!

electracoyote · #13 10-15-2009, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soverntear

so my wonderful gf bought me this because i felt i was hitting a wall with my playing.

The accompanying Pop Bass Lines three-book series is a great supplement to the Hal Leonard Method books. A fun selection of classic rock and blues tunes with very good backup tracks on CD. Apply those new-found reading skills to a real-world application. I use all of these with my students.

fbrown627 · #14 10-15-2009, 10:55 AM

Go to Hal Leonard's website:

http://www.halleonard.com/search/sea...HD&subsiteid=7

Billnc · #15 10-15-2009, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fbrown627

Go to Hal Leonard's website:

http://www.halleonard.com/search/sea...HD&subsiteid=7

Again the synopsis is so brief, is it reading intensive and are there tabs? I'm presently searching teaching methods for reading or that include lots of reading, and goes through all the keys. I've been through all the sales pitch stuff for the book and will not be able to look at a hard copy of the book within a week or so.

electracoyote · #16 10-15-2009, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billnc

Again the synopsis is so brief, is it reading intensive and are there tabs? I'm presently searching teaching methods for reading or that include lots of reading, and goes through all the keys. I've been through all the sales pitch stuff for the book and will not be able to look at a hard copy of the book within a week or so.

I am holding a copy of the Hal Leonard Bass Method Complete Edition (Contains Books 1, 2, and 3) (Friedland) in my hands. It is very light on TAB, which is really only used briefly in the "Introducing TAB" and "Triads" sections. The majority of the book forces you to use standard notation. I use it with my students for that very reason.

The accompanying Pop Bass Lines three-book series is also standard notation only, no TAB. Great reinforcement of concepts in real-world pop songs.

Billnc · #17 10-15-2009, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by electracoyote

I am holding a copy of the Hal Leonard Bass Method Complete Edition (Contains Books 1, 2, and 3) (Friedland) in my hands. It is very light on TAB, which is really only used briefly in the "Introducing TAB" and "Triads" sections. The majority of the book forces you to use standard notation. I use it with my students for that very reason.

The accompanying Pop Bass Lines three-book series is also standard notation only, no TAB. Great reinforcement of concepts in real-world pop songs.

Thank you! That sounds like a winner to me, appreciate the help!

somedumbguy · #18 10-15-2009, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daid_ghoti

Hey first time poster here. Liking the site.

Also, the book does not give any explanation to why you are playing what you're playing. So what I started doing today is writing down the chord progressions using their numbers ( I, ii, V, etc), writing down the notes contained in each chord, and then slowly examining the notes chosen to be played under the chords. It's something I've never done on the gutiar. It takes quite a while and I don't really know exactly what I'm looking for...but I hope It will all makes sense one day.

It will. This is one of the smartest things posted here that I've read. I did this same thing and most of my friends and fellow musicians are surprised that I had no formal training/lessons yet still have a more advanced music theory knowledge than any musician I have played with (in a band setting (not orchestral)).

I tried to find music with an awesome bassline and a simple guitar riff and I made it a point to study how and why they do what they do.

Also, try to focus on where they dissonance my result rhythmically. You might find that in many jazz songs dissonance in the bass is found on the 4 and resolved on the one. That is just an example, but studying where the dissonance lies can be vital to creating your own basslines in the future.

MichaelScott · #19 10-15-2009, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulNYC

Anything by Ed Friedland is great. I am currently working on his walking bass lines book.

+1 to this. I am currently working on this book by Ed. I've made huge progress.

fbrown627 · #20 10-15-2009, 04:52 PM

Has anyone used the DVD that goes along with the Hal Leonard book? Good to get or a waste of time?