Bass Guitar for Dummies with CD (Audio) (For Dummies)

Imagine your favorite music without bass. It doesn't work, does it? The bass is the heartbeat of the music, the foundation of the groove, and the glue that holds together all the different instruments. You can feel the vibrations of the low notes – sometimes subtle and caressing, sometimes literally earthshaking – as they propel the song. The bass is the heart. So leave center stage to the other musicians – you have more important work to do. The limelight may be cool, but bassists rule!

You can find everything you need to dominate the bass in Bass Guitar For Dummies – whether you're a beginner picking up a bass for the first time or an experienced player looking for way to improve. And you won't drown in complicated music theory, either; this easy-to-understand reference gives you just enough music theory to get you on your way.

Bass Guitar For Dummies includes the following topics and more:

• Exploring the anatomy of a bass guitar
• Getting started: Holding your bass, positioning your hands, and striking notes
• Reading bass notation and understanding chords, scales, and octaves
• Creating a groove and playing solos and fills
• Examining different bass-playing styles, from rock and funk to blues and reggae
• Caring for your bass: Cleaning, changing strings, and so on
• Buying your own bass and accessories
• Top Ten lists on bassists you should know about

Bass Guitar For Dummies also comes with a CD that includes audio clips of all the examples in the book.

So put away the air bass guitar and get yourself the real thing. With the help of Bass Guitar For Dummies, you'll be groovin' in your own band in no time!

Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

—Adam Clayton, Bass Player, U2

Play rock, blues, jazz, country, new wave, and Latin

Get ready to rock and roll on the bass — even if you can’t read music!

Want to play bass? This instrumental guide shows you how, with expert advice in everything from choosing your bass to playing basic scales to improvising lead solos. You’ll discover how to tune your bass and keep it in great shape, as well as left- and right-hand techniques, timing tips, and in-depth examples in various musical styles.

All this on the audio CD

• Author demonstrates the rhythms so you can hear how it’s done
• Exercises help you master grooves and reproduce the sound
• Hear sample rhythms played with a real drummer
• Put your fretting skills to the test

Part I: The World According to Bass.

Chapter 1: Bass Bass-ics: What Is the Meaning of Bass?

Chapter 2: Getting the Tools and Skills to Play.

Chapter 3: Reading, ’Riting, and Rhythm.

Part II: The Bass-ics of Playing.

Chapter 4: Warming Up: Getting Your Hands in Shape to Play.

Chapter 5: Understanding Major and Minor Structures.

Part III: Making the Moves, Creating the Grooves.

Chapter 6: Expanding the Range: Going for the Second Octave.

Chapter 7: Creating the Groove.

Chapter 8: Going Solo: Playing Solos and Fills.

Part IV: Using the Correct Accompaniment for Each Style.

Chapter 9: Rock On! Getting Down with the Rock Styles.

Chapter 10: Swing It! Playing Styles That Rely on the Triplet Feel.

Chapter 11: Making It Funky: Playing Hardcore Bass Grooves.

Chapter 12: Sampling International Flavors: Bass Styles from Around the World.

Chapter 13: Playing in Odd Meters: Not Strange, Just Not the Norm.

Part V: Taking Care of the One You Love: TLC for Your Bass Guitar.

Chapter 14: Changing the Strings on Your Bass Guitar.

Chapter 15: Keeping Your Bass in Shape: Maintenance and Light Repair.

Part VI: A Buyer’s Guide: The Where and How of Buying a Bass.

Chapter 16: Love of a Lifetime or One-Night Stand?: Buying the Right Bass.

Chapter 17: Getting the Right Gear for Your Bass Guitar.

Part VII: The Part of Tens.

Chapter 18: Ten Innovative Bassists You Should Know.

Chapter 19: Ten Great Rhythm Sections (Bassists and Drummers).

Part VIII: Appendixes.

Appendix A: How to Use the CD.

Appendix B: Really Useful Pages.

Index.