Massive big-up to Ed Friedland's bass method

[bigboy_78]

That's why in Book 3 of the method, I talk about how to construct bass lines from chord symbols. It's what we have to do much of the time - but by Book 3, you're already reading 16th notes!

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JUst picked up book 3, based on the reco the series is getting in here. I am another happy customer.

16th notes were my main area of weakness, well 16th note rests to be exact, and the 3rd book is really helping me out.

Seems to be well paced, with a good mixture of notation only & tablature included exercises.

Each exercise is just that little bit to hard, but close enough to know that with a little practice it will be in reach. This keeps the motivation and the improvment up.

One of the better books I've seen. If you're planning on teaching yourself, or have one of those teachers that are happy to take your money and watch you teach yourself, I'd be looking at these books pretty closely.

 

[velalv]

Hi folks

I have been working on this method from day 1 and practice everyday with it. I also use the pop line supplements to the method. They go hand it hand quite well.

I feel like slow and steady wins the race. I practice each exercise until I play them perfectly and cleanly at least 5 times consecutively. That is my own definition of mastery, and I typically am pretty hard on myself.

Having said that, I feel like quite the loser compared to you guys.
I play about an hour a night, play in my church band.

After a year and a half of learning and allowing GAS to get the best of me once in getting a bass well above my
Station in bassdom, I am on the last lesson of book 2, shuffle rhythms and just mastered Rhiannon and Summer of 69. I have every intention of completing the method and all three books.

I have enjoyed it. I think, assuming Ed is still checking out the thread, that there are two minor improvements I would recommend.

First, I think I would give a bit more guidance on practicing scales. The lessons introducing me to scales took forever to get through, and while lessons on triads built upon previous lessons, the book did not impress for me the utter importance of scales. As I have progressed I find myself having used talkbass and the PAC man scale method. I would recommend a couple of extra exercises that refer to scales later in the method as a way to keep it fresh and interesting.

Second, I would have loved to see a couple of Latin music, maybe salsa music, examples interspersed. Ed does a great job of varying genres, and i recognize plenty of folks here ma not care for it.

I would live to hear others experience coming along. I have a lot of friends who tell me that I have very good technique for
Someone who has played 14 months, and spent the first two playing righty instead of lefty like I do now.

 

[velalv]

Ed's book has a LOT to do with that since I travel on work too often to keep regular lessons, and have only taken two lessons anyhow.

 

[edfriedland]

First, I think I would give a bit more guidance on practicing scales. The lessons introducing me to scales took forever to get through, and while lessons on triads built upon previous lessons, the book did not impress for me the utter importance of scales. As I have progressed I find myself having used talkbass and the PAC man scale method. I would recommend a couple of extra exercises that refer to scales later in the method as a way to keep it fresh and interesting.

Second, I would have loved to see a couple of Latin music, maybe salsa music, examples interspersed. Ed does a great job of varying genres, and i recognize plenty of folks here ma not care for it.

Perfectly good suggestions, however the book has been in print for years and is not going to be updated... so sorry, but your suggestions are not going to be implemented.

Obviously scales are important to know, and there are lots of practical applications for them... but I guess I didn't utilize that very much.

 

[funkybass]

Perfectly good suggestions, however the book has been in print for years and is not going to be updated... so sorry, but your suggestions are not going to be implemented.

Obviously scales are important to know, and there are lots of practical applications for them... but I guess I didn't utilize that very much.

Plus the book isn't meant to be a end all method. I think it's fine as is.

 

[germ_77]

I think one of my very big attractions to finding thisbook so easy to go through is because it doesn't dwell heavily on scales, modes, etc.

I know they are needed but those were the things that really put me off learning theory all these years. After been eased into them like this I understand how to use them better than I ever did when everything was dumped on me so quickly.

 

[Kevin Ellis]

I was just thinking the exact same thing. The simplicity is what makes this such a great book !

I think one of my very big attractions to finding thisbook so easy to go through is because it doesn't dwell heavily on scales, modes, etc.

I know they are needed but those were the things that really put me off learning theory all these years. After been eased into them like this I understand how to use them better than I ever did when everything was dumped on me so quickly.