The Complete Idiot's Guide to Playing Bass Guitar: Get Into the Groove the Easy Way! [With CD]

This books is somewhat different that the Dummies' one -- a little more in depth when it comes to theory, but if you want to study and master the bass guitar seriously, you can't go past it. Frankly, I recommend getting this one and the Dummies' one. The only two books on learning bass guitar you'll ever need. And with the CDs, you'll be able to practice those riffs for hours on end.

I apologize for the long review but it corresponds to how intense the experience was. I'm 40 and have learned to play guitar in the last 4 years and a half, mostly through David's lessons on Guitar Noise. I had no previous musical education as such before these four years. I decided to read the book as a way to expand my knowledge of both the guitar and bass. I used to be a drummer, so rhythm -although new in writing- is not new to me itself. That's my only advantage against somebody totally new to learning music. I'm a good example of not talented musician who can finally express himself musically, since I like music a lot and have played with several bands over the years, but couldn't compose or interpret songs with just drums, which I only started playing semi-ok after many years . I had always thought i was unable to understand any other instrument aside from the drums. Please don't read my review as if I'm saying you need a lot of experience in order to read this book. It's actually the other way around. You are going to become a much better musician after going through this book. How I did it just introduces "slow-learning me", and I'm positive David's book would be a highly interesting way to get started from scratch and getting an incredibly firm foundation along the way. As with every good reading, you're not going to get away with this book or other of David's lessons with your eyes closed if you're a novice. Just as you won't get away with your musical education that quickly unless you're really talented. In which case you don't need this book. If you have been a musically gifted person from birth onwards, you don't need this. If you need to be taught (as is usually the case and where the idiot in the title sort of makes sense), Hodge's book is close to having a parent or a really good friend go along with you in the learning process. But then again, you couldn't possibly be looking for a book like this, being that talented , would you? So if you're one of us idiots in the book's title, hang on there and rewards will be ripped. This is a learner's feast. In my case, this book has been a complement to David's online guitar lessons. I must confess that (strange as it may sound) I haven't used the book for playing the bass yet. It's taken me some four months to read the whole book minding the musical notation, and I can finally read both guitar and bass staves. As I said I wanted to read the book to improve my understanding of music in general as applied to bass (and guitar). I had a few notions about the treble cleff from learning the guitar with David's lessons but had until now thoroughly ignored the F-staff. Very poorly, but I can read music in both cleffs now and find my way through written music (tab is also included here and I started using it as a crutch, but I thought I should go beyond this time). At the same time I read Dave's, I have been learning to actually play the bass over another not particularly good

Mr. Hodge has accomplished no mean feat - he has written an eminently readable and playable book on both the "hows" and "whys" of bass guitar. Beginners will find everything they need to start comfortably and move forward as far as their willingness to practice - this book will take you more than a little deep into the outfield if you have the legs. Intermediate (even advanced) players should not be put off by the title - there is enough substance and theory here to assist players at any level. Worth noting is that, in addition to the usual notes and tablature, there is plenty of text as well (a nice change for a music book) and it's all put to good use. Mr. Hodge anticipates questions very well, and his conversational writing style translates superbly to learning an instrument. The accompanying CD is well-produced, well-integrated, and great fun to play along with. I am finding the Bass Guide as enjoyable as it is useful - very highly recommended!

David is just the man to write this book. If you've read his articles on GuitarNoise.com, showing his deep love and understanding of music and his ability and desire to teach, you'll see what I mean. One notable sign of David's empathy with students is how he responds to requests for help. In his work with GuitarNoise.com, he has answered his emails from players of all levels. You should not depend on a book's author answering your direct emails, but it's at least reassuring to know that David is an ongoing presence on the web. This book covers a lot of ground -- material valued at well beyond the book's price. We go from the basics of music, buying a bass, up to jazz rhythms, arpeggios, slapping, and other distinctive bass sounds. I believe players of different skill levels would get a lot from this book, from total beginners to intermediates. There's that much material in the book. There's a good bit of stuff on soloing. This includes several jam tracks on the CD. But the best part about the bits on soloing is David's approach: he gives you lots of ideas. Use arpeggios here, just root notes there, vary the rhythm, etc. It's a pretty big book, and it's notated in standard notation and tablature. You should be able to prop it up on a music stand pretty easily. The sidebars are useful and inspirational. "Don't get down on yourself for not being a prodigy!" And there are bits on celeb bass players from different genres. Topics include * Buying * Tuning * Reading notation * Scales * Arpeggios * Chords * Key centers * Chord progressions * Modes * Jamming * Technique: slurs, hammers, pulls, slides, slaps * Riffs * Genres: blues, r & b, jazz, rock * Adjustments and repairs This book is a great value, and sure to be a long lasting resource that bassists of all levels will turn to constantly. Not just for the methods used to play bass, but the reasons to play.