Double Bass Upright Bass Books suggestion?

[ChinWa]

I'm thinking to buy a book to study some technique (maybe more thumb position exercises), walking bass line and solo idea. Which one do you guys recommend, "Evolving Bassist by Rafus Reid" or "the Jazz Bass book by John Goldsby"?

I think I would only buy one book to stick on first.

 

[Adam Booker]

Both serve different purposes, in my opinion. Reid's a lot more technique and walking heavy. Goldsby's is more about the tradition. Both are required reading for any serious student. Buy both. And also get either Petracchi's Simplified Higher Technique or Machado's Tao of Bass Vol. 1.

 

[Tom Lane]

Both. They're not expensive for their content. Goldsby's got a great book on arco too. And Mike Downe's book is another must-have, IMO.

 

[Don Kasper]

FYI - There is no Thumb Position study or mention in Rufus' book. (At least in my ancient copy.)
Thanks.

 

[Jim Dombrowski]

Rufus does have a follow-up book titled "Evolving Upward - Bass Book II" that covers thumb position studies.

 

[ChinWa]

FYI - There is no Thumb Position study or mention in Rufus' book. (At least in my ancient copy.)
Thanks.

Thanks Don, I think I would get both then

Rufus does have a follow-up book titled "Evolving Upward - Bass Book II" that covers thumb position studies.

Oh, I never see that book, is it good?

 

[Jim Dombrowski]

Very similar to the original book in style and approach. Only 44 pages.

 

[james condino]

Walking Bassics by our own Ed Fuqua.

Walking Bassics: Ed Fuqua, Chuck Sher: 9781883217501: Amazon.com: Books

 

[lurk]

Two books that have been great for me are Ron Carter's Building Jazz Bass Lines, a deceptively simple masterpiece from the master, and The Improvised Melodic Line, by Mike Longo, which is for all musicians, bassists included.

 

[Adam Booker]

Also, since nobody else said it:

Get a teacher if you haven't already.

And:
Transcribe every line PC plays from the Miles Davis Prestige albums (Workin', Relaxin', etc.)

 

[ChinWa]

Also, since nobody else said it:

Get a teacher if you haven't already.

And:
Transcribe every line PC plays from the Miles Davis Prestige albums (Workin', Relaxin', etc.)

Thanks Adam, I do have a double bass teacher right now, but I'm moving back to Hong Kong soon. I don't know can I find a good teacher teaching me more advanced technique or not, that's why I wanna find some materials to teach myself

 

[John Goldsby]

I would suggest Michael Moore's book for jazz thumb position:

Melodic Playing in the Thumb Position

Michael's walking and technique book is also great:

Michael Moore Bass Method

 

[Adam Booker]

I would suggest Michael Moore's book for jazz thumb position:

Melodic Playing in the Thumb Position

Michael's walking and technique book is also great:

Michael Moore Bass Method

I haven't seen those. Thanks, John!

 

[Ed Fuqua]

Thanks Adam, I do have a double bass teacher right now, but I'm moving back to Hong Kong soon. I don't know can I find a good teacher teaching me more advanced technique or not, that's why I wanna find some materials to teach myself

Does Pete Scherr still live in HK?

 

[ChinWa]

Does Pete Scherr still live in HK?

I thinks he is not living in HK anymore

 

[ChinWa]

I have a friend he gave me the Jazz Bass Book by John Goldsby since he don't use anymore, but the CD inside was broken. Does anyone have the soft copy of that CD can send it to me?

 

[Jeff Bonny]

It doesn't really matter where you start because you probably need them all. Access to the written thoughts and approaches of masters isn't something you want to squander. I started with Chuck Sher in 1974. Rufus Reid, Ray Brown and Ludwig Streicher followed very shortly. I just passed the majority of my collection along to a friend who teaches and it was around twenty books including everything mentioned here so far except for Mike Longo which I will be checking out as soon as I can.

Goldsby's Jazz Bass is one I kept because it's a more a history than a method. Evolving as an historian of the instrument is important to understanding it and I'll never be done with that.

 

[John Goldsby]

Aww shucks, Jeff

I feel that a book written by a good bass player is a valuable lesson into their way of playing—almost like a private lesson where everything is laid out with (hopefully) clear instructions and notation. I spent a lot of time with those books you mention, including the Streicher volumes.

There are quite a few bass players who I wish would have written books, because I'm curious to hear how they would describe their approach.

It was very generous of you to pass along your library of material to your teacher friend. I'm still hoarding all of my books

 

[ReiPsaeg]

I have both books. They're excellent, and full of invaluable information for bass players of any level. Don't choose, get them both.

 

[Jeff Bonny]

You SHOULD hoard reference material pertinent to your profession John! Eventually we all have to write our own book (be it on paper or just developing a focused personal approach) and you ain't getting there without standing on the shoulders of giants. But playing music hasn't been my primary source of income for twenty years and when my tendinitis got too chronic to practice the double bass anymore I felt it was time to pass that stuff along. I draft and design rigging systems now and won't be parting with my library of design, rigging and material reference volumes any time soon.

Steve Swallow and Red Mitchell are players I've often wished had written books. I love Michael Moore's playing and was excited to get his books. I have to admit though I found them daunting because somehow they seem to exude a "go big or go home" deep level of commitment that other's didn't scare me with in quite the same way. But I think I did hear his playing differently after working through parts of them and understanding better how he got to where he is.