Method Book for Beginner

[Matthew Frazer]

Brand new member and first post to forum. Total newbie to bass. To make things worse, I'm a 60yo, long-time drummer.

I just bought an Ibanez PCBE12MHOPN acoustic bass to learn some things melodic.

I know there are many online resources for learning instruments. I also like, and learn well from, hard copy method books. I'm quite adept at reading drum notation. I've been learning some basic piano skills via a MIDI keyboard and the Simply Piano Ipad App.

Can you recommend one or two classic, beginner, bass method books?

Thank you new friends

 

[Malcolm35]

The Hal Leonard complete bass methods book is a new combination of three Hal Leonard books. Highly recommended. Then Bass Guitar for Dummies. Dummies has patterns I have used for years.

 

[Ed Fuqua]

This is a good one...
Foundation Exercises for Bass by Chuck Sher | Sher Music Co..

 

[Les Fret]

This is a good one...
Foundation Exercises for Bass by Chuck Sher | Sher Music Co..

Looks good! Seems very systematic.

As a teacher I find it hard to find a really good book for beginners.
I have used several method books including the Hall Leonard one. But there is something in way it presents learning the notes that I don’t like. It introduces the sharps and flats too fast before learning the next string and therefore making it confusing for students.

I usually start teaching them technique and simple grooves without using notes. Then after a few weeks or months I will introduce notes. If you start with notes right away it will put some students off or they are to focused on notes that they don’t look at their technique anymore.

 

[Matthew Frazer]

Thank you all for your helpful suggestions. These look great, wish me luck!

 

[Malcolm35]

Thank you all for your helpful suggestions. These look great, wish me luck!

Good luck...

 

[Snarf]

I very strongly recommend The Complete Electric Bass Method by my old teacher, Dave Overthrow. Then get a copy of Simandl for reading and melodic development to use alongside.

 

[SteveC]

The Hal Leonard series is really good.
Any book Ed Friedland had a part of is good.
The Simandl book - though written for upright bass - is really good for reading and melodic playing for electric bass as well.

 

[Malcolm35]

Ditto the remarks about Ed Friedland. Ed has a knack for putting words together, so they make since to us hopeful bassists.

 

[Ed Fuqua]

Ditto the remarks about Ed Friedland. Ed has a knack for putting words together, so they make since to us hopeful bassists.

Sense when?

 

[Malcolm35]

Thanks Ed, good catch.

 

[OldNARDGuy]

Sorry I'm late to the party...
Also a very long time drummer, started bass about 18 months ago at 66 yrs old, with no other musical training.
I've enjoyed StudyBass online ( Andrew Pouska ), plus Hal Leonard's series. I like the way each of them introduce you to simple things while allowing you to start playing something within your beginner's skill set, then add on.