Hey everyone. So I've been playing bass for about four and a half years now. I feel like I've learned a lot on my own, but now I feel like I'm at a stand-still and I haven't really learned anything new in a while. Now I'm looking for a good instructional DVD/book that will teach me some new techniques. Does anyone have any good suggestions? Thanks! -Ryan
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Looking for a good instructional DVD
- Thread starter seven ate nine.
- Start date
The Bass Bible by Paul Westwood is an excellent tool for moving forward and getting aqainted with different playing styles and genres. My teacher had me pick it up as an adjunct to our lessons and we were both so impressed by it that half of my lessons now involve this book. It comes with two CD's that provide great examples of the exercises in the book.
I am watching with interest. The 'technique' and 'music instructio' forums here on talk bass provide an amazing wealth of valuable info including links to online video's. I would recomend you stop by and check it out!
For all round instruction including technique you could check out this : [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
I have not used it, but it seems to get good reviews here on TB.
For technique itself, I would recommend this (slap is not covered ). : http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_tr...nson+bass+technique&_sacat=See-All-Categories
I have not used it, but it seems to get good reviews here on TB.
For technique itself, I would recommend this (slap is not covered ). : http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_tr...nson+bass+technique&_sacat=See-All-Categories
I HIGHLY suggest Victor Wooten's new DVD, Groove Workshop.
I've never liked his style much, it seemed too flashy too me. But this DVD just teaches you things about music that no other person teaches. 99% of the material online is showing you how to fret, how to pick, how to fix bad habits, how to play scales, chords and modes.
Nobody actually teaches you to MAKE MUSIC. Get it!
Here's a preview on YouTube:
I've never liked his style much, it seemed too flashy too me. But this DVD just teaches you things about music that no other person teaches. 99% of the material online is showing you how to fret, how to pick, how to fix bad habits, how to play scales, chords and modes.
Nobody actually teaches you to MAKE MUSIC. Get it!
Here's a preview on YouTube:
Sounds good, but I'm wondering how much of the two DVDs is taken up with his solo performances and duets with Anthony Wellington ? I can watch his performances anytime on You Tube. It is the instruction that I am interested in.
Have you worked with any legit method books? proper fingering? Learning the neck in a linear way?
The best thing I did for my playing when I started to get serious was get a good teacher. Thanks to John Repucci.
Edouard Nanny Classic Bass method. It easily applies to electric bass.
The best thing I did for my playing when I started to get serious was get a good teacher. Thanks to John Repucci.
Edouard Nanny Classic Bass method. It easily applies to electric bass.
I agree about that, that preview doesn't do the DVD justice. Out of the ~5 hours total, there is at least ~4 hours of actual instructions and just conversation about ideas and approaches to music. Well worth the gold coins, imo.
I've never really used any method books. When I started playing I could already read music and had a pretty good ear, so I just taught myself. Which is why I really want one now! So I can learn new stuff and work out some kinks and bad habits that I may have developed by teaching myself. I'll look that one up. Thanks. And thanks to everyone else, as well.
The teach me bass guitar course by Roy Vogt is 10 dvds, probably close to 20 hours of instruction and is very well done, worth checking out 
I'll shill for 6-stringer Todd Johnson's "Technique Builders" DVD - of the books & DVDs I've purchased, this one is Best of Breed imho as far as being strictly about technique.
More than any other single source, Todd's DVD really helped my technique a LOT.
Todd covers string crossing, finger independence, floating thumb (if you're interested), raking, warming up, etc., etc., etc. Both right and left hands - but he is not a slapper, so don't expect any of that.
Although he plays 6-string almost exclusively, on this DVD he uses a 4-stringer and demonstrates all the exercises on that. And you don't have to know how to read music, although it *now* comes with a book if you want it... I *think* you can order the DVD with or w/o the book.
I've had mine for quite a while now and I still refer back to it every once in a while to keep honing my technique.
Todd has a forum here on TB, so you could hop over there and ask him about it.
JMHO/YMMV
More than any other single source, Todd's DVD really helped my technique a LOT.
Todd covers string crossing, finger independence, floating thumb (if you're interested), raking, warming up, etc., etc., etc. Both right and left hands - but he is not a slapper, so don't expect any of that.
Although he plays 6-string almost exclusively, on this DVD he uses a 4-stringer and demonstrates all the exercises on that. And you don't have to know how to read music, although it *now* comes with a book if you want it... I *think* you can order the DVD with or w/o the book.
I've had mine for quite a while now and I still refer back to it every once in a while to keep honing my technique.
Todd has a forum here on TB, so you could hop over there and ask him about it.
JMHO/YMMV
Are you certain that "some new techniques" is really what you need now? How about some new ideas? A really great video for the latter is The Bass Guitar of Jack Casady. He and Jorma Kaukonen do somewhat-abridged versions of a handful of Hot Tuna songs, and after each go back through the song section by section and "break it down," with Jack explaining (sometimes with Jorma's help) what he is doing and why, how he's responding to things Jorma is playing, and so forth. Stuff like when he decides to move from an upper down to a lower register or vice-versa, when to play more melodically and when to play it straight, stuff like that. There are plenty of cool little technique bits scattered about, but that isn't really the point. Plus, Jack's dry sense of humor makes the whole thing vastly entertaining. I can watch it over and over and pick up new ideas every time. Just a thought....
Subscribed! 
I just went ahead and ordered the Wooten DVD, thanks for the great review of it. I swear I have done every teaching that leaked onto youtube from him, and had always considered the dvd, but figured the same thing
Also anyone know of a good dvd or book about tapping technique, ideas and maybe the theory behind it?
I just went ahead and ordered the Wooten DVD, thanks for the great review of it. I swear I have done every teaching that leaked onto youtube from him, and had always considered the dvd, but figured the same thing
Also anyone know of a good dvd or book about tapping technique, ideas and maybe the theory behind it?
There's one by Stu Hamm in which he goes over his tapping technique. I don't know the name of it but it has bits and pieces of it on YouTube.
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Link for "The Bass Guitar of Jack Casady":
Link Removed
This page is at the publisher's site (Homespun Tapes), and there's a short sample video there with a few snippets to give you an idea of what it's like. I see that they're also offering it as a download there for a few bucks less if you want to burn your own DVD. You might be able to find the DVD cheaper elsewhere too, so shop around.
