Song book recommendations?

[The Hansenator]

Can you all recommend any good beginner/intermediate song books? Something that has like "standards" that every bass player might be expected to know?

I did get a couple of the Easy Pop Bass lines from Hal Leonard but they're a little frustrating because I've come to realize those are simplified versions whose accuracy I question. I also picked up the First 50 Songs You Should Play on Bass but it's also a little frustrating because it's only in tab so I find it hard to follow.

So I'm wondering if you have any recommendations, or am I worrying too much and should just work with what I have?

 

[Malcolm35]

No, you need to work on songs you already know the melody and songs you would like to learn. Yes, you do need some sheet music to get started. Something to provide a structure for you to follow. I've always had good luck asking Google to call up songs I would like to play.

Using these search words:
chords, name of the song - gets you fake chord sheet music.
Lead sheet, name of the song - gets you the treble clef plus what fake chord gave you, i.e. chord name and lyric words.

Chords, amazing grace. Misc Praise Songs - Amazing Grace (Chords) As the chords come quickly try just roots to the beat.
Lead sheet, cannon in D... Canon in D - Sheet Music | FreeWheelinGuitar.com You can change as fast, or as slow as you like.

If it looks too hard call up something else.

 

[FatStringer52]

Which genre?

Go to bassbooks.com and look under the Categories section. Find something that you are interested in and check out the sample pages and see if it is what you are looking for.

 

[GastonD]

What kind of standards are you looking for? Jazz, party/wedding stuff..?
In the former case, look for The Real Easy Book from Sher Music; in the latter case, you may want to check out Bass Tab White Pages.

 

[The Hansenator]

Thanks for the replies.

I'm not sure of a particular genre, kind of rock/blues/jazz/funk type stuff that's fun to play and at an appropriate level. I know that's not very well defined but I've spent most of my time so far working out of lesson books and would like to start learning more songs. I also don't have a list of particular songs I've been wanting to learn so a song book would also give a list to go through.

 

[Malcolm35]

Check out Amazon.com. Most of the books let you see the songs that are inside.