TJ1 Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 Does anyone know if this is a Good book to learn from? Any opinions gratefully received. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DWootton90 Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 I started it just after Christmas and currently halfway through book 2, make sure you get the spiral-bound version with audio access. I'm finding it great, it forces you to read notation from the start and has no tab so that's been a massive benefit and opened up a whole new world for me. Key parts of what I've gone through so far are notes on the first 7 positions of the fretboard, different time signatures, major/minor scales, major/minor triads, rests etc and I've found it brilliant. I record each exercise in Logic to listen to what I could have done better and what I need to improve on. I'd definitely recommend it, not so much in it regarding technique but that comes naturally playing through the exercises. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xzodar Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 I’d second the comments above. I started using the same book and found it really useful with all of the play along exercises. Definitely try for the version which is books 1, 2 and 3 bound together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 I used the Hal Leonard books many years ago and learned loads. The newer editions are updated by Ed Friedland whose other books I also found useful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 2 hours ago, TJ1 said: Does anyone know if this is a Good book to learn from?... An emphatic, unequivocal, 'Yes'..! I recommend the spiral-bound Complete Edition, which lays flat. I have many bass, guitar, piano and drum methods; the Hal Leonard ranks as best of bunch in its approach and completeness. Buy with confidence; it's not even expensive..! Complete Edition, Spiral-bound, Amazon ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coilte Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 Another vote for this book. I agree with getting the spiral bound three volume edition. Great book. 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd80 Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 Yes, yes and yes! I'm another owner and fan. It's really helped my learning too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doddy Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 Possibly the best beginners book available. It will get you learning the notes, scales, arpeggios, reading, slap, and puts it all together in a musical way with playalong tracks. I use it all the time for teaching. Plus it's spiral bound and sits flat on a stand. Bonus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WingedWords Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 I've dabbled with the bass for many years, but with time on my hands in the past months, one of my main projects has been to do some proper work on it from the beginning. Since last April I've been working through Ed Friedland's 3 part Hal Leonard method fairly slowly and methodically alongside his Blues bass book. It's improving my note and rhythm reading no end: I'm really enjoying it and love the online audio too - a highly recommended package. I'm planning to move on to his Building Walking Basslines books in due course. I bought them about 20 years ago and never got beyond about page 10. I like his "Bass Whisperer" YouTube channel too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil_T Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 Book 1 is great but I found the treatment of key signatures in book 2 a bit superficial and I'd be interested to know if anyone has learnt to sight read using only this book. I baled out after book 1 and have started the Talking Bass sight reading course instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 2 minutes ago, Phil_T said: Book 1 is great but I found the treatment of key signatures in book 2 a bit superficial and I'd be interested to know if anyone has learnt to sight read using only this book. I baled out after book 1 and have started the Talking Bass sight reading course instead. We all have our own ways of assimilating stuff; this (The Hal Leonard way...) is a pretty decent approach for many, and, at its price point, considering the rest of the info in there, is a 'no-brainer', in my view. Yes, there are other methods; the sight reading courses start at around 60€, I think..? Good value too, if the Leonard method didn't click, but as a 'starter', I'd go with the book for a first shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doddy Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 1 hour ago, Phil_T said: Book 1 is great but I found the treatment of key signatures in book 2 a bit superficial and I'd be interested to know if anyone has learnt to sight read using only this book. I baled out after book 1 and have started the Talking Bass sight reading course instead. I guess it depends where you are in your abilities when you get the book. If a beginner works their through that book, by the end they should be able to read to a certain level. If you can already play and you pick the book up, it's tempting to skip over the 'easy' stuff and miss things. If you wanted a book to learn to read, there are other books I'd recommend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil_T Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 1 minute ago, Doddy said: I guess it depends where you are in your abilities when you get the book. If a beginner works their through that book, by the end they should be able to read to a certain level. If you can already play and you pick the book up, it's tempting to skip over the 'easy' stuff and miss things. If you wanted a book to learn to read, there are other books I'd recommend. Yes, to be fair I was trying use it purely to learn to sight read and that's not the primary focus of the book. Having said that, it does a good job but I just needed a more gentle introduction to reading in key because I found that aspect quite challenging Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doddy Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 35 minutes ago, Phil_T said: Yes, to be fair I was trying use it purely to learn to sight read and that's not the primary focus of the book. Having said that, it does a good job but I just needed a more gentle introduction to reading in key because I found that aspect quite challenging If you just want a book on reading, I'd look at either the Jeff Berlin one, or Janek Gwizdala's. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 23 minutes ago, Doddy said: If you just want a book on reading, I'd look at either the Jeff Berlin one, or Janek Gwizdala's. For exercise' in reading, I found this to be worth a visit ... Alfred Kalfass 'Soul Essentials'... It's not (and not intended to be...) a tutorial, but a series of 500 riffs and patterns, for practicing one's skills. Good value, I found. I found it through his ( @alfred...) announcement on this very Forum... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DWootton90 Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 3 hours ago, Dad3353 said: For exercise' in reading, I found this to be worth a visit ... Alfred Kalfass 'Soul Essentials'... It's not (and not intended to be...) a tutorial, but a series of 500 riffs and patterns, for practicing one's skills. Good value, I found. I found it through his ( @alfred...) announcement on this very Forum... This looks interesting to use in my practice routine once I've finished the Bass Method books, I assume it doesn't include any audio? I find it useful to hear the bassline first, helps avoid any mistakes... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 12 minutes ago, DWootton90 said: This looks interesting to use in my practice routine once I've finished the Bass Method books, I assume it doesn't include any audio? I find it useful to hear the bassline first, helps avoid any mistakes... No audio, and pieces of very varied difficulty, but, with simple diligence, there'll be no mistakes (or if there are, they're just 'fluffed' notes...). In all, can't go wrong, really. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saul Panzer Posted February 3, 2021 Share Posted February 3, 2021 I haven't read that specific book, I was impressed with their Reggae Bass book and the downloadable backing tracks that came with it. They seem to have a good selection of books and resources judging by that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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