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Bass Aerobics by Jon Liebman

#41
Spin Doctor said:
I have this book, along with pretty much every bass book ever published that was worth any attention at all, lol. Unfortunately, I never cracked it open once.

My current study obsession is Janek Gwizdala's instructional material. His is the only material I've gone through more than once and I own probably 4 of his books, including his latest which was released a couple weeks ago. If you want to move out of the strictly major scale, diatonic approach to playing, I recommend his material. It's probably intermediate to advanced level, if that matters.
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@Spin Doctor You’ve got some good company in me then! I’ve been meaning to list some of the books I own for sale here but haven’t yet out of fear of how long it’d take me to type it all out. Maybe I should take the photo is worth a thousand words approach....or start a library or something....

I’ve been curious about Janek’s books but find them quite intimidating for some reason. His playing is way over my head musically. One of my goals for 2021 is to make it through the Liebman book....the thump/pluck playing is going to be tough though because I’m such a novice.
 
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#42
Spin Doctor said:
I have this book, along with pretty much every bass book ever published that was worth any attention at all, lol. Unfortunately, I never cracked it open once.

My current study obsession is Janek Gwizdala's instructional material. His is the only material I've gone through more than once and I own probably 4 of his books, including his latest which was released a couple weeks ago. If you want to move out of the strictly major scale, diatonic approach to playing, I recommend his material. It's probably intermediate to advanced level, if that matters.
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How is Janeks new book? I have been eye balling that one?
 
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#43
Rick Penrose said:
How is Janeks new book? I have been eye balling that one?
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It's pretty good. basically it's divided into two parts. There are about 30 exercises you go through in the first section, ideally in all 12 keys and then you learn to apply the info in the second section. It has a lot of videos and backing tracks to help you along.
 
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#45
The few Janek books I own are alright. All The Good Stuff/All The Better Stuff is pretty much what he did with elements of transcriptions or how to develop exercises so I also view them as conceptual books to get you thinking about what you can do rather than telling you what to do. I actually prepared the first edition of All The Good Stuff because he didn't spoon fed you everything in all 12 keys.

The Major/Minor books are pretty good ways or digging deep in scales and understanding the neck. Parts 1 & 2 of the ii V I book are pretty much what the Jeff Berlin stuff is like, rinsing chord tones. Not quite as thorough but still good. The next part is taking that information forward. Then a chaper on the altered scale and playing outside. I'll probably pick up his reading book as more teaching resources at some point as well but I feel with Janek's books most of what he does is on his vlog.

The aerobatics book would be worth it's weight in gold if it didn't have tabs in it. The vast majority of it is an easy read and but there are a few ones where you have to think a little bit. As a reading book it would be great if it didn't have that massive crux holding it down. I strongly suspect the inclusion of tab was a publishers choice to sell more than the authors personal choice.
 
#46
bassfuser said:
Has anyone checked out this book? It's one of the best play along books I've ever owned.

There are 52 "workouts" that are very musical. Jon suggests working through 1 workout a week and after a year you'll be through the book. I'm going at my own pace and I'm currently on workout number 20.

This book really hits chromatics and chord/scales for the first 20 workouts. Great range of styles and he has you playing all over the neck.

There are string crossing workouts from 21-30, some slap excercises from 31-40 with the remainder reviewing concepts from earlier chapters.

I highly reccomend this book. :bassist:
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I will check it out! Quick question: does it come with downloadable mp3 files I can put on my phone?
 
#50
phillipkregg said:
I will check it out! Quick question: does it come with downloadable mp3 files I can put on my phone?
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I checked Soul Fingers and you can definitely download MP3s though you lose the functionality of the online player (see below). I would assume Bass Aerobics is similar in that’s it’s from the same publisher.

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#51
ErikP.Bass said:
I checked Soul Fingers and you can definitely download MP3s though you lose the functionality of the online player (see below). I would assume Bass Aerobics is similar in that’s it’s from the same publisher.

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Nice, thanks!

I'm getting a Darkglass Element headphone amp and I just wanted to be sure I could listen to the examples as I'm playing through that. Actually, I might be able to use the webplayer if I turn off the sleep functionality of the iphone.
 
#52
BrotherMister said:
The aerobatics book would be worth it's weight in gold if it didn't have tabs in it. The vast majority of it is an easy read and but there are a few ones where you have to think a little bit. As a reading book it would be great if it didn't have that massive crux holding it down. I strongly suspect the inclusion of tab was a publishers choice to sell more than the authors personal choice.
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I’m a big proponent of learning to read music, but have to say that I really appreciate it when teachers include accurate fingerings/shifts in their books. I know there is value in the struggle of figuring it out independently, and a lot to lose if real world consideration isn’t given to the tablature, but I know it’s helped me a great deal. Soul Fingers is a perfect example. I’m hoping that Aerobics and Pentatonics are the same. It’s nice that Janek also gave thought to placement within the book as well. YMMV.
 
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#53
ErikP.Bass said:
I’m a big proponent of learning to read music, but have to say that I really appreciate it when teachers include accurate fingerings/shifts in their books. I know there is value in the struggle of figuring it out independently and a lot to lose if real world consideration isn’t given to the tablature but i know it’s helped me a great deal. Soul Fingers is a perfect example. I’m hoping that Aerobics and Pentatonics are the same. It’s nice that Janek also gave thought to placement as well. YMMV.
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Janek has been said about including tabs purely for driving sales before. I'm know it's cropped up with him before. Off the top of my head I think it was mentioned again in the past few years on his podcast/vlog/Q&A's with Chelsea or mentioned that she said if he didn't include it he'd not sell as many. But he is pretty vocal about not using tabs so I always feel when people are saying not to use tab but include them in the books they are being pretty upfront with you about just wanting your money, and sadly contributing to the cycle of people being dependent on it. On one hand I have to live in hope that maybe getting it to the wider audience will draw some people in but realistically I don't think that's how it works, sadly.

The fingering argument crops up a fair bit and I get where it's coming from but I feel it's flawed. Fingering mean fingers, not frets but people seem to think that being told what fret = fingering. A fretted note is just a pitch that can be played with any finger. Writing a fingering above a note is specifying a specific finger to used be on for that note. Being told what fret to play you'd still need to decide on what finger to use where.

Looking at similar string instruments like the violin, viola, cello, double bass, classical guitar etc they have gotten by forever with no tab. It stands to reason that our instrument can do the same. Realistically speaking, bass parts are simple compared to violin acrobatics.

Being shown one way to play something limits us to one way. If a string breaks during a gig? Or you are having to make a bunch of shifts that you don't really need to make? Or you want a different sound out the instrument? I had a double bass teacher make me write out fingerings and then the next week write out a new etc and repeat. The pitches never change where they are on the neck, they've been there forever. So that's fairly elementary knowledge but how you arrive at those pitches is the variable. Those lessons secured my knowledge, confidence and fluidity over the instrument so I can navigate the neck in real time without thinking about it. Wherever my hand is I know what's available and where to shift to that still gives me the most available notes under the hand. Basically I know where everything is at any given time which is why I don't need to look at my neck while I'm sight reading a gig, I can focus on the unknown aspect which is what is in front of me. There is nothing to say using tabs doesn't mean people can't do that, but there is a

That's my personal view on it based on my experience and heavy duty reading gigs. Naturally that is unique to me and other peoples may be completely different so I respect that.
 
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#54
There are pros and cons to both approaches, I suppose, and as you’ve noted there’s no substitute for developing a mastery of fundamentals....right down to something as basic as note location. A lot of problems begin with sidestepping these and I’d certainly never advocate using tab to avoid learning to read.

My point is that there is a physical component of learning our instruments, and more optimal (efficient) ways of execution that are useful to observe given the music in hand and some of the commonalities of our body structures. Tablature can be a useful means in communicating that aspect when used properly....read written thoughtfully.

“Fingering” really isn’t the correct word for what I was hoping to convey; that’s another whole topic entirely. I guess what I’m saying is that reading is where many of these components of learning can collide and exploring each in isolation (even arhythmically) is valuable. I don’t think there’s any harm in having some guidance on the physical aspects, not that they’re in any way written in stone. There is most certainly a TON of tablature that borders on being destructive to ones development....I think this is why it gets such a bad wrap. I wholeheartedly agree with your description of the end game though.....as if there actually is one...:D
 
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#55
So I bought @jonster ’s Bass Aerobics via Apple Books and the integration with the native Books app on iOS is super slick- the audio plays native in the app. Bonus you also can add the audio via the Hal Leonard.com my library code then download the audio and add to your music library as well as print out the book onto normal paper with a little work of screenshot then print (I spend enough time on screens a day as it is). Pretty stoked to commit to nailing a lesson a week. I’m relatively new to bass and most curious to see where I am technically in 52 weeks. So far it’s great. I’ve been working through a few different books but this one, at least the first lesson, feels good.
 
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#57
bassfuser said:
Has anyone checked out this book? It's one of the best play along books I've ever owned.

There are 52 "workouts" that are very musical. Jon suggests working through 1 workout a week and after a year you'll be through the book. I'm going at my own pace and I'm currently on workout number 20.

This book really hits chromatics and chord/scales for the first 20 workouts. Great range of styles and he has you playing all over the neck.

There are string crossing workouts from 21-30, some slap excercises from 31-40 with the remainder reviewing concepts from earlier chapters.
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I highly reccomend this book. :bassist:
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It’s really well structured and covers a lot without feeling too dry.
Doing one workout a week is a solid approach, but even dipping in at your own pace works great. It’s especially good for building consistency and getting comfortable across the whole neck.
 

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