Mel Bay

Author: Jay Hungerford
Format: Book with Audio Online
Instrumentation: Bass Guitar
Level: Beginning-Intermediate

The bass has been called "the most important instrument in any band." The bass player must create interesting lines under the chord changes, keep the "time flow" or "pulse" steady, and keep the form of the song together. This book is designed to help bassists create beginning to advanced walking patterns (smooth-sounding lines) that can be used in jazz, blues, R&B, gospel, Latin and country music. By explaining the basics of intervals, chords, and scales the author builds a framework for understanding bass line patterns. Then the book presents one- and two-measure patterns that can be used in playing the blues, rhythm changes, the II-V-I progression, and 20 popular jazz standards.

The book is written in standard notation with chord symbols. The audio gives you the opportunity to play with one of the finest rhythm sections around. It is in stereo, with the bass and drums on the left and piano and drums on the right. Since the examples in the book are presented both with sample bass lines and as chord progressions only, you can either follow along with the bass or practice your own lines with the audio as your accompaniment. Access to online audio included.