Off Topic I want to be a better bass player...

[Resolute]

Lots of good suggestions are written above, just want to add something:

Very important for every bass player is to listen many different music genres and pickup some special bass lines!

So, don't focus to only one, two... music genres, try to listen as much as possible, try to practice than most interesting parts, don't be afraid to pickup some difficult bass lines, what one man can do, the others may for sure!

Of course, the best practice after all is at live performance, so try to play with live band as much as possible!

Listening to different kinds of music really isn't an issue. When most people say they listen "to all kinds" of music, they have no idea what that means. My itunes library makes my wife question my sanity it's so varied.

Of these 3 Friedland books, how would you rank them? Keep in mind I play mostly rock, with some blues and other miscellaneous genres (country, R&B, pop, oldies, reggae). I really want to learn to develop my own bass lines better and learn how to improvise fills and leads here and there. I do love a nice walking bass line, too.

Blues Bass - A Guide to the Essential Styles and Techniques
Building Walking Bass Lines
Building Rock Bass Lines

I can only afford 2 of these right now.

I would like to know this as well... I'm kind of at a loss where to start. I'm thinking blues though.

 

[Resolute]

Hello, I was at the same point 6 months ago...and then I bought the Roy Vogt "Teach Me Bass Guitar" method, and I found that to be great!
Maybe you sould try it...
Teach Me Bass Guitar

ow.. looks interesting but ~$200 is quite a bit more than I have to spend.

 

[Alex001]

Guaranteed...

This book will make you a better bass player - GUARANTEED:

A COMPREHENSIVE CHORD TONE SYSTEM FOR MASTERING THE BASS - Sheet Music - BERLIN J - Sheet Music - Songbook

There is at minimum about a years worth of study in this deceptively thin book. Unfortunately, it is out of print, BUT, you can get copies from Europe. WORTH EVERY PENNY... Do not be intimidated by it's name. Anyone can pick this book up and learn from it. I consider it an essential book for any bass players learning library. If you are just playing root notes with the occasional little walking notes, this book will break you out of that in a hurry. Trust me...

 

[dlb1001]

Of these 3 Friedland books, how would you rank them? Keep in mind I play mostly rock, with some blues and other miscellaneous genres (country, R&B, pop, oldies, reggae). I really want to learn to develop my own bass lines better and learn how to improvise fills and leads here and there. I do love a nice walking bass line, too.

Blues Bass - A Guide to the Essential Styles and Techniques
Building Walking Bass Lines
Building Rock Bass Lines

I can only afford 2 of these right now.

Get the first two books then later on, maybe the third on your list. I have the first book, Blues Bass, and it starts with simple patterns but, as you progress through the book, it will challenge you. Also, you will end learning the blues classics so if you ever decide to go to a jam, you won't be lost, when someone calls out "Killing Floor".

 

[nurnay]

Get the first two books then later on, maybe the third on your list. I have the first book, Blues Bass, and it starts with simple patterns but, as you progress through the book, it will challenge you. Also, you will end learning the blues classics so if you ever decide to go to a jam, you won't be lost, when someone calls out "Killing Floor".

That's kinda what I figured. Thanks! They're on order.

 

[RobertB]

This book will make you a better bass player - GUARANTEED:

if only i had a cassette player anymore.

 

[LawDaddy]

Of these 3 Friedland books, how would you rank them? Keep in mind I play mostly rock, with some blues and other miscellaneous genres (country, R&B, pop, oldies, reggae). I really want to learn to develop my own bass lines better and learn how to improvise fills and leads here and there. I do love a nice walking bass line, too.

Blues Bass - A Guide to the Essential Styles and Techniques
Building Walking Bass Lines
Building Rock Bass Lines

I can only afford 2 of these right now.

I would start with the Blues book, it's so fundamental. After I went through the book, I would play along with Pandora or the Sirius blues channel for hours, that really helped my chops.

I play traditional blues guitar for many Old Blues Dudes. I used it to woodshed bass to be a better band leader. It's simply one of the most useful books I have ever purchased, either for guitar or bass. It's like mentoring with an experienced blues bass player. Highly recommended.

These patterns will get you through any '60s/'70s classic rock set - right up until the '80s rock shift. I don't have the Rock book.

 

[Alex001]

if only i had a cassette player anymore.

Well, technically you can work your way through the book without the cassette. I have to say though that you should listen to the entire cassette at least once. Someone or some service should be able to transfer it to CD no problem (cheap!). Like I said, it's worth its weight in gold.

 

[tkarter]

I say learn from Carol Kaye. She is a great teacher.

tk