Bass books for learning to read/theory

[ped]

Yo,

I want to start reading music/learning about scales and so forth as at the moment I haven't looked at that sort of thing for a long time. I haven't really felt the need and just enjoyed playing and grooving but thought I would find a good book that I could really get stuck into and learn the theory - perhaps even teach some lessons at my school.

My friend has Bass Guitar for Dummies, is that good? What else is there? I am not after technique books or anything like that (bass guitar for dummies seems to spend a fair chunk on this) but assume I know nothing about the theory, what should I read?

Cheers
ped

[ped]

P.s I am not looking for books that teach licks or different styles.

[RichValentine]

From what I remember from when I used to play, I think this might have everything you are after.

[url="http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/016181/details.html"]http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/016181/details.html[/url]

but as for reading music, like everything else it is just practice. You might want to get Standing In The Shadows Of Motown and work your way through that as it is in notation only.

[ped]

Hmm that looks quite advanced to me... I really have no idea about theory and not really a jazzer either (though I am sure the book would be helpful nonetheless)

Ideally looking for something linking specifically to the bass guitar and written for 5 year olds

Cheers
ped

[EssentialTension]

Introductory and very friendly (or so I thought):

[url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Inside-Music-Musicians-Composition-Improvisation/dp/0879305711/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1231714560&sr=1-2"]Dave Stewart, Inside the Music[/url]

[url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Musicians-Guide-Reading-Writing-Music/dp/0879305703/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1231714560&sr=1-1"]Dave Stewart, The Musician's Guide to Reading and Writing Music[/url]

Neither are specific to bass but it's all relevant to any instrument and there is some stuff on bass.

Edited January 11, 2009 by EssentialTension

[Bass-ic]

Hi Ped.
Blimey, i thought you could read!

For scales you could try the 'Beginning bass scales' by Peter Pickow.
For teaching your self to read and to sight read, try simplified sight reading for bass. You could probably throw away the first half of the book, but it gets interesting after that.

bass guitar for dummies is a great book. It was the first one i bought when i started playing again. It has some good stuff in it, and yeas it does licks although i have to say they are limited. The problem with this otherwise great book, is that every example is also listed in TAB, which is far easier to follow. So although i thought it was a great book to start, i really dont refer to it so much any more.

I have just found a really good tutor, who is doing the same with me. simple reading skills. It can be painful, as i get frustrated with it, after all, i can read bass clef, but i have no idea how to relate it to the instrument right now. My tuutoris good, simple stuff to start with.

I have been a pro brass player, but i stopped playing years ago, learning to learn again is great.
Enjoy.

Matt

Edited January 12, 2009 by Absolute-beginner

[TKenrick]

I used [url="http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/018656/details.html"]'Simplified Sight Reading for Bass'[/url] when I was starting out with reading and found it really helpful.

It's also a good idea to work on the two aspects of reading (rhythm and pitch) separately, for rhythm I use the [url="http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/034904/details.html"]Bellson book[/url] and I've recently started using Gary Willis' [url="http://garywillis.com/pages/lessons/read.html"]'Extreme Sight Reading'[/url] on his website for pitch stuff.

On the theory side, the [url="http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/011274/details.html"]AB Guide to Music Theory[/url] is a good reference book that starts from the basics, the only downside is that the presentation is all a bit stale and it doesn't involve relating theory to the bass.

hope this helps,

Tom

[KennysFord]

Hi Ped,
The one that Nick Carey recommends is "Music reading for bass,the complete guide" by Wendi Hrehovcsik.
It's in the Hal Leonard series.I have it and it's very good.There's some very good rhythm reading stuff in there as well.

[BTGAndy]

TKenrick has the right idea, try doing rhythms and pitch separately. Modern Reading in 4/4 is great for the rhythms and just work on your scales round the circle of fifths for the pitch stuff. When you want to bring them together pick up some music, easy trombone music is surprisingly good to get started on.

[nig]

Hi, When I taught, I used the trinity rock school books, they are in grades, run tab and notes side by side, run short pieces that you can then play with a cd, its dearest deardrie cartwright and crew from the tv prog, if anyone remembers it, but it builds up nicely book by book.

[iamthewalrus]

[quote name='kennyrodg' post='377397' date='Jan 12 2009, 09:35 AM']Hi Ped,
The one that Nick Carey recommends is "Music reading for bass,the complete guide" by Wendi Hrehovcsik.
It's in the Hal Leonard series.I have it and it's very good.There's some very good rhythm reading stuff in there as well.
[/quote]

+1 to this post. This is the book I'm using at the moment in conjunction with some of the stuff my teacher gives me.

Cheers,
iamthewalrus.