The Everything Bass Guitar Book

Book excerpt: Be a star on the bass guitar! The bass guitar is an essential instrument in the "big three" styles of music: rock, jazz, and Latin. If you want to learn to play what's often called the heart of a band, you can do it with The Everything Bass Guitar Book with CD. You'll get an introduction to music theory, learn about common bass lines and patterns, and discover how the bass can be used as a solo instrument. Written by two accomplished musicians, this step-by-step guide outlines the basics of playing this versatile instrument, including: Where to find the right equipment--from a bass to an amp and accessories How to read notation and tablature Hand and finger techniques Improvisational methods and ensemble skills By following the easy-to-understand instructions and special audio lessons on CD, you'll learn how to play the bass in no time at all!