Since t50s, pop music has featured electric bass guitars, largely replacing the upright, acoustic version. Many jazz players also play with electric instruments. The bass is an essential part of any rhythm section and players must practice to improve, as well as any other instrument. There are many tuition aids to learning and advancing on the bass, including books, CDs and DVDs. There are various playing styles, including slapping, popping, and tapping.
Listening to the great exponents of the electric bass guitar is also an inspiration to a beginner. Famous and respected bass players in the rock world include Paul McCartney (The Beatles), Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Roger Waters (Pink Floyd), and John Entwistle (The Who). Other genres use the bass, such as country, blues and R&B.
Books on the market are helpful to players of all abilities. Serious Electric Bass: The Bass Player’s Complete Guide to Scales and Chords by Joel Di Bartolo is for someone who wants to do serious practice on their Major Scales, Harmonic and Melodic Minor Scales and Whole Tone and Diminished Symmetrical Scales. Other technical books on the electric bass guitar include The Art of Walking Bass: A Method for Acoustic or Electric Bass with CD by Bob Magnusson, and Expanding Walking Bass Lines by Mussorgsky Modest and Ed Friedland.
The late Jaco Pastorius was an internationally known jazz and jazz-funk player, best known as a member of the band, Weather Report. He was voted ‘Greatest Bass Player Who Ever Lived’ by Bass Guitar magazine. His instrument of choice was usually a Fender Fretless Jazz Bass. He has the credentials therefore, to write a very good bass tuition book and he did this with Jaco Pastorius Modern Electric Bass.
For players who want to have an in depth insight into playing the electric bass guitar for country music, there is The Lost Art of Country Bass: an Inside Look at Country Bass for Electric and Upright Players by Keith Rosier. There are lessons following the style of various country artists, including the legendary Hank Williams. The book is accompanied by a CD containing 33 songs.
Fans of the history of the instrument will enjoy Electric Guitars and Basses: a Photographic History by George Gruhn and Walter Carter. The authors trace the history back to 1935, outlining the technical development of guitars, basses and amplifiers. The book is beautifully illustrated with over 500 color photographs.
DVDs are helpful too in explaining and demonstrating various techniques and effects. Rick Danko’s Electric Bass Techniques is one such DVD. Another is Mastering Electric Bass by David Gross, followed by his second edition. David Overthrow presents the complete Electric Bass Method for Beginning Blues Bass.
So, there is a lot of material for the beginner onwards. Starting out doesn’t have to be expensive. Buying a used bass and amplifier for a first instrument to practice on will be more than adequate. The key to being a good electric bass player is hard work and dedication.
No related posts.
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.