Instant Bass: Play Right Now! (Berklee Methods) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)First, my background:I am a performer (bass trombone and electric bass) and an instructor.I am also a composer and arranger.My undergraduate degree is in Music Education (Masters in Music Composition); and the majority of my Air Force career was spent in the field of Education and Training.

I "collect" bass guitar method books, always searching for that "perfect" book for the beginning, intermediate, or advanced bassist.My approach to teaching bass to beginners is (1) for the student to play (and create) "real" bass lines as soon as possible, and (2) achieve a balance in emphasis on playing by ear and reading music.

"Instant Bass: Play Right Now!" satisfies both these requirements and is my method book of choice for beginners.The book has a very short preface regarding the usual "basics" (equipment, names of the strings, hand position, etc.), but quickly has the student playing along with the band on the accompanying CD and -- more importantly -- making up his/her own bass lines.In my personal experience using this book, I have never had a case where, by the end of the first lesson, the student was unable to achieve that goal (along with bass and hand position, and finger coordination exercises).

The book is well-organized and very user-friendly.It leads the student progressively through a variety of musical styles, from rock and pop, to folk, country, blues (sort of), Caribbean, funk and hip-hop.The bass examples provided on the CD start with the easiest of bass lines (the whole note) and become progressively more challenging (but never daunting!).Because the provided examples can be deceptively easy, many beginners will want to rush through them.However, the real value of the book is in providing the student the opportunity to create his/her own bass lines.In that respect, it is wise to use this book in conjunction with an experienced instructor who can suggest and demonstrate to the student how the provided examples can be altered (or entirely abandoned!) to create more interesting bass lines.

The book is relatively short (33 pages, 10 lessons), and should take the average student 2-3 months to complete (assuming he/she takes a lesson per week under the guidance of an instructor.Once the student has completed the book, they are ready for a superb intermediate method book: "Get Your Band Together: Bass" -- also from Berklee Press.

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Product Description:
Learn to play the bass instantly with this revolutionary method! Author Danny Morris has included a wealth of solid bass lines, tips on playing and locking in with a drummer, and strategies to help you understand the bass and develop your own bass lines. The accompanying CD lets you jam with a band in a variety of musical styles.

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