Scott's Bass Lessons - review for those curious

[SteveCS]

Can't I solve that by just playing continuous root 64th notes on each measure?

??

 

[OldSchoolFlats]

??

Just joking...
...no rests to worry about!

 

[SteveCS]

Just joking...
...no rests to worry about!

Indeed

I was thinking how here, with an undamped snare drum, all of A, B, and C sound pretty much the same, but on the bass...

 

[Billyzoom]

Thanks for your review. It seems pretty right on based on my experience, as I signed up only a month or so ago. It feels a little exhausting to have to search for the topics, I'm not wild about how the site is laid out, and I'm a little annoyed sometimes at the talking and want them to just get to the point and demonstrate. But I haven't given it the time I should...then again, if it were better laid out for me and I'd been able to easily find what I was looking for when I tried, I'd likely be using it more.

 

[electricGstring]

I've gotten a lot out of SBL... I know there's no shortage of detractors here but for me, at my current level, I've found SBL very useful. For someone who has been playing a lot longer than I have or is a natural at it, maybe it wouldn't be any benefit to them but for folks that aren't naturals or are just getting into playing bass, I think it's been worth the money I spent. That said, I did get in before the recent price increase.

 

[Beff Juckley]

That said, I did get in before the recent price increase.

I think I'll go for a year long subscription, then drop it. I just think a large bank of resources at my disposal would be super helpful for me, though I'm not into all the fluff on the site.

 

[wazzel]

Thanks for the summary. I have been using the free lessons and like them. The way he presents material works with the way I think and I do not mind the banter. Have been on the fence about the paid option. Not being up front about the pricing is a big issue for me.

 

[johnalekna]

I'm a member of SBL and find it really helps my playing. I signed up for the additional cost Technique Accelerator, and have found my playing has improved drastically over the last 6 months. There's obviously no substitute for one on one teaching, but at typical hourly teaching rates of $A80-90 (at least for the strings teachers I know) the fee for SBL is very small in comparison. Things have improved on the site (Players Path etc) since the first review was posted 2 years ago. They have a 14 day free trial so there's nothing to lose by checking it out.

 

[Rick Penrose]

I wrote the best books down in the OP, following the review but to embellish/repeat:

The Jazz Bass Line Book by Mike Downes - if you want to be part of a functional rhythm section in a jazz setting, this book is a great tool. It has side by side comparison of different players playing the same changes, great perspective. Covers literally all rhythmic, melodic and harmonic devices usable for the jazz bassist. My favourite book for learning walking bass line construction.

'The Evolving Bassist' by Rufus Reid. Great for jazz study. Covers improv, bass line construction and fingerboard navigation. A must have.

'Improviser's Bass Method', 'Concepts for Bass Soloing' both by Chuck Sher. I like how musical the examples are.

'Improvisers Path' by Damien Erskine, helps with progressive learning, and great for working out a practice routine.

'Hot Dog Dinners', 'Just ASIP', 'Scales from Rhythm and Outer Space... Aka Tetra Cocktails', all by Felix Pastorius. Interesting books, to say the least. Very little instruction (almost none), leaving you to decide how it will teach you. Hot Dog dinners is the more mainstream content of the three(its arpeggios). The other two feature Slonimsky-like patterns with mindful articulation markings. Basically a launchpad for weird patterns.

Any Janek Gwizdala book, but I specifically like his ii V i book and his Jazz vocab books. The write-ups are simple and unpretentious, and the material is learned progressively. The books are often available in package deals or sale prices. They come with video examples. Great for students.

Jeff Berlin's Chord Tone system. Great for learning patterns and fingerboard navigation. No fluffly write ups or instructions, just information. Covers the most common chord qualities on the bass. Tab included to illustrate positioning.

A Bass clef version of the Bach Cello Suites. A valuable resource for bass players, you will learn dextrous left and right hand work. Familiarizes yourself with melodic shapes, chord and key changes and position playing. The lack of articulation markings lets one interpret the music, as well as makes for great analyzing. Open your ears to Bach, its good.

'Slap It' by Tony Oppenheim - a classic book for learning slap, but is also a great source for sight reading practice. Perfect for those who struggle reading syncopated lines, it helped me for sure.

'Standing in the Shadows of Motown' - transcriptions of a few of Jamerson's parts. Great for reading, and emulation. Every bass player should have this book.

'Latin Bass Book' by Oscar Stagnaro. Too many of us are not familiar with Afro-Cuban, Carribbean and Brazilian rhythms. Get it. Play along tracks included.

'The Jazz Theory Book' by Mark Levin - the most in depth on the subject I've come across, get it.

Bass Grimoire - its a book of scales, their modes and compatible chord qualities for each. A simple and great resource.

There are more, but once you have a decent understanding of harmonic theory, transcribing your favourite music and analyzing it will be your most valuable teacher.

I love this list! All great material. I would also suggest another resource 'Joe Hubbard'. He has lots of videos on youtube,books, and lessons. Flys a little below the radar but is a really solid resource.

 

[ryco]

I have trubble learning from online videos. I'm old and have been through A LOT of books and series pre-interweb and find it difficult watching video lessons.
Excluding the old '90s Louie Johnson slap video = that was GOLDEN - funny - wore that VHS sucka out!! "People ask me how I do that....... I don't know!" classic!

Looking at the course lessons offered up Mark from talkingbass.com comes across very straightforward with A LOT of good solid info and not a lot of extraneous chit-chat. Really moves along with a very orderly presentation.

Enjoyed Mark Talkingbass YouTube interviews with Jeff Berlin, altho Jeff is truly a rambler. Good player, nonetheless. peace.

 

[Richierich313]

I've been playing bass for about 6ish years, and violin for about 17. I've never learned how to properly read music, or any basic music/bass theory. I somehow managed to play in a jazz band for about 4 years without really understanding how to play a major scale. Just used my ear and said "ya that sounds about right". I can learn/play/write some more complex things just by ear mostly due to my long history in violin, but never really know why or what I'm playing. Would SBL be good for someone who is intermediate in skill but is wanting to learn foundational bass theory like scales and how to read a [staff edit - completely mask profanity. ~Mod] fret board? Trying to find somthing that will help me get a strong understanding of chords, scales, and keys so I can start building more complex and intricate bass lines