Must have bass books

[mingusitis]

What are two or three bass books that you would say profoundly changed your style of playing or just made you a better player? This can include any genre and can include anything from a straight method book to straight sheet music...

 

[MrLenny1]

Nanny Classical DB method book.
Although it is a DB method book I play BG.
Great book to get your fingering straight.

 

[Clef_de_fa]

This :

http://www.amazon.com/60-Melodic-Etudes-John-Patitucci/dp/0825857058

This :

http://www.amazon.com/Grooves-Electric-Bass-Essential-Musicians/dp/0793589258

and going to college strongly modify my style and approach to music.

 

[Stick_Player]

Standing in the Shadows of Motown - James Jamerson

The Beatles Complete Scores - Paul McCartney

Ray Brown Bass Method - Ray Brown

New Method for the Double Bass - Franz Simandl

These can get you started.

 

[PrietoBass]

Ed's the man...

Start with his bass method 1-2-3, and the walking lines book.

 

[davrip]

Ed's the man...

Start with his bass method 1-2-3, and the walking lines book.

+1.
"Blues bass" and "Bass grooves " are also in my library and
are excellent.

 

[fearceol]

http://www.shermusic.com/new/1883217636.shtml

"Foundation Exercises for Bass" is a great all round book. Covers almost everything and has an interesting approach.

 

[caligula]

For me it was
Chuck Sher: "The Improvisor's Bass Method"
and probably
Alexis Sklarevski: "Bass Playing Technique."

Everything by Ed Friedland that I have seen so far is great and I really, really like Rocco's bass video.

 

[iovar]

Jazz Bass - Ed Friedland.

Simply, the awesomest bass book I ever got.

Also, +1 to everything else by Ed.

 

[JEBassman]

The Carol Kaye "Electric Bass Lines" series

"The Evolving Bassist" by Rufus Reid http://www.amazon.com/The-Evolving-Bassist-Rufus-Reid/dp/0967601509

Jamey Aebersold bass line transcription books http://www.jazzbooks.com/

Thumbs up to the other suggestions as well, including Ed Friedland's books and the Franz Simandl double bass method.

 

[Melamel]

Hi - i am a long time reader but newer poster here. I had a good musical background and a fair bit of understand of playing the bass prior to reading these, but learned so much from Victor Wooten's The Music Lesson and from Standing in the Shadows of Motown by Dr. Licks. Although I listened to some Motown while growing up in the 70's I had no appreciation for the Funk Brothers or James Jamerson until reading that book a couple of years ago. I saw the movie after that and actually emailed the author and got a nice reply. Probably spent $100 on Motown music after reading the book.

I don't think these books would help beginners, though, although maybe I'm wrong about Victor's book. I think you would have to have some experience.

 

[longjourneyhome]

What are two or three bass books that you would say profoundly changed your style of playing or just made you a better player? This can include any genre and can include anything from a straight method book to straight sheet music...

Chuck Sher: Improviser's Bass Method
Ed Friedland: Building Walking Basslines
Jeff Berlin: Comprehensive Chord Tone System - I stumbled across this book early on, when I didn't know about Cycle of 5ths, and it was an huge eye/ear opener for me.

 

[stratovani]

My very first bass book was 101 Bass Tips: Stuff All the Pros Know and Use by Gary Willis. Chock full of useful information of all kinds, from music to gigs to equipment, and so on. Highly recommend it.

 

[Thomas Kievit]

I would say ''Serious Electric Bass'' by Joel Di Bartolo

A book that contains 272 (!) pages full of scales, arpeggio's and chords. Melodic, harmonic, minor, major, diminished etc. etc. So a must have for a bass player Works for 4, 5 and 6 string basses.

 

[Mister_argentum]

A couple of more advanced but really nice books

Anthony Vitti "fingerstyle funk 1 and 2" (Rocco Prestia video on fingerstyle funk is worth checking)

"Slap it!" by Tony Oppenheim

"Le Step" (A French book, not more available) by Jean-Luc Gastaldello, this book is rather unique.

 

[Grangur]

BluesBass, The complete Method by Jon Liebman (complete with CD)
Published by Bass Builders

It has 74 tracks including solos etc

 

[jbailes]

I'd like to throw in the Jaco Pastorius Bass Method by Ray Petersen (one of Jaco's students in Ft. Lauderdale).

 

[jonster]

BluesBass, The complete Method by Jon Liebman (complete with CD)
Published by Bass Builders

It has 74 tracks including solos etc

Thanks, Grangur! Below is the link, for those who are interested. BTW, it's published by Hal Leonard (Bass Builders is a Hal Leonard series).

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Jhengsman]

When I first started The Complete Idiot's Guide To Bass Guitar by David Hodge. And the Hal Leonard Bass Method Blues Bass supplement by Ed Friedland.

After playing in a band for a year or so.
Afro-Cuban Grooves For Bass and Drum, Funkifying The Clave by Lincoln Goines and Robby Ameen.
Blues and R&B Bass Techniques by Jerry Jemmott.
And The Music Lesson by Victor L. Wooten

 

[1dreday]

eadg4