Suggestions for next Bass Book?

[rydin4lifebass]

I started out on bass a few years ago and my instructor advised me to pick up the Progressive Bass book. We got through part of the book and worked on some songs, etc. but I had to stop lessons due to financial and other personal reasons. Long story short, I just got back to working through the book and wanted to move on to something else. It seemed that the Hal Leonard Bass Method book (Complete books 1-3) would be the way to go, but I was dissapointed upon receiving it. I don't read music so the lack of tabs wasn't helpful. Reading is something I'd like to tackle at some point, but not right now so having to work on both at the same time isn't what I'm looking for right now. Also, the fingering seems to be off from what I was taught in the Progressive book and in lessons. Also, the use of certain terminology and "positions" seems to be different from a lot of what I'm used to. I'm sure it's a great book, but it's just not for me right now. Any suggestions on something to move on to to improve my knowledge of bass scales, patterns, and just general play-ability.

 

[MalcolmAmos]

That Hal Leonard book is by Ed Friedland and anything Ed writes is well worth your time. However, if it is not connecting I found Bass Guitar for Dummies to be a great get started book. Your public library may have a copy, if not Amazon has it in paper or as an E-Book.

And then in addition to that the getting started string in General Instruction should point you into how to use patterns. How to get started? Running your scales up and down the fretboard is a great way of getting our fingers doing what they should be doing. Running scales is a right of passage thing IMO. It will help with any style of music you use.

Next comes running your arpeggios. About 95% of what we end up doing is playing notes of the active chord. Being able to see a chord and our fingers know what to do with that information was a large WOW for me.

Posts number 4, 6 and 14 in the How to get Started string go into detail about patterns and how we can use them to make a bass line.

Four talks about finding your root in first position.
Six gives you the major and natural minor scale notes plus several words on how music thinks.
Fourteen goes into detail about patterns and how to use them.​

The other guys have put a wealth of knowledge into that string. Any time you spend there will be time well spent.

Join the fun.

 

[brianrost]

This might sound stupid but learning to read what is in a basic method book is simple. That's because the music being presented in the book is simple. The sooner you move away from tabs the better off you will be.

Most basic books have a section up front about notation anyway. I learned to read music when I was in first grade, trust me, you can do this.

 

[BassChuck]

Check out the Jeff Berlin series talked about in the forum. Ari Capp has a good method too. Make your next goal learning to read music, you will not regret the effort and so many door will open in terms of learning music and bass. You might even pick up a gig or two.

 

[tzohn]

If OFPF is what you are used to, HLBM starts with the 124 fingering but later OFPF technique is introduced as well and used throughout the book in combination with 124. I think this is great because you stretch your fingers only when it is required so there is less fatigue. I didn't answer your question but I just wanted to point out that HLBM is not only a 124 system.

 

[GastonD]

I agree with the consensus that you need to get used to notation ASAP. Tony Grey's Bass Academy book/DVD pack is great in that regard, as all the notation has fingerings added, albeit without tab, but rather fingers and strings indicated above the notes. Not to mention that the contents is awesome, and a lot of it shown in video as well.

 

[FenderB]

Ariane Cap's "Music Theory for the Bass Player".

 

[mambo4]

I would put my trust in the hal leonard book, based solely on the rep it has garnered here.

Is it unfamiliar and uncomfortable?
Good. Get out of your comfort zone and learn something new.

I suppose you could look for a book that was easier for you.
But would you learn as much?

 

[Green1]

I would take a look at Janek Gwizdalas books "All the Good Stuff" and "All the Better Stuff" Both have standard notation and tab. Good exercises for your fingers and your ears.......plus DVD downloads of examples played at slow and regular speeds.