| Dorfmeister,
I've written five bass books for Hal Leonard, which you might find helpful.
Funk Bass, my first book, is devoted exclusively to slapping.
Funk/Fusion Bass, my second book, focuses on finger-style funk. It will be good for a new bass player, as it contains loads of basic exercises involving scale and arpeggio studies, string crossings, etc., as well as entire chapters devoted to grooving and soloing. You won't be able to play everything in the book right away, but the step-by-step approach will give you something to shoot for.
Rock Bass and Blues Bass are my third and fourth books, respectively.
My newest book, scheduled to be released at the January 2009 NAMM show, is called BASS GROOVES: THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION. It contains just about every style you'll ever need, including blues, jazz, rock, funk/R&B, reggae, country, latin and much more.
Will Lee, who wrote the foreword, called it "the most important book since Standing in the Shadows of Motown." It's also endorsed by Stuart Hamm, Brian Bromberg, Steve Bailey, Alexis Sklarevsky, Benny Rietveld and many others.
Let me know if I can be of any help. Best of luck to you!
Jon Liebman | 
