In fact, this book is teaching me that there are many contemporary songs that are done in modes of common scales. I didn't even know such a thing existed!

Another thing is that you get a great appreciation for the neck and the note values along it by using this book in practice.

You would have to be able to sight-read for this book though, since tab is not used.

The first few sections - particularly the part on setting up and adjusting your bass - are invaluable, as they offer clear instructions that demystify the fear of 'DIY' on your bass.

The only problem I had was that one of the pages (I think it was p.55) was double-printed, so the page before it was not there. Otherwise, this book is an important investment for players who want to understand the relationships between chords and to develop their ear.

ML


Serious Electric Bass   February 10, 2010
Mark Nelson
Good technique method for electric bass study. This is a book that will provide challenges for players on any level. It is written for the bass player who reads music or desires to learn as it is standard music notation and not tablature.


If bass is your first instrument, stay away   February 6, 2009
G. Stoutenburg (Chicago, IL)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful

This book is supposed to be something of a comprehensive index of everything bass, but unfortunately it is one that lacks an answer key. I do not know how to read music (I've actually learned three times, but I just keep letting it fall out of use), and that being the case this book is absolutely worthless to me. I rated it this way because it is supposed to provide you with everything you need to play-- except how to read the book! Even an appendix of "how to read" music would solve this problem! Although it occasionally provides images of the fretboard akin to tabs (Why not just tabs? I have no idea) that concession fails to make up for its inaccessibility.