Bass Book: Bass Gym – 101 Position Exercises for Beginner and Intermediate Players

Press Release

Welcome to the eleventh book in the Bass Gym 101 series, a collection of books for bassists who want to push their playing to the next level. We’ve reached the magic number of 1111 exercises, covering all of the important aspects of bass playing: warm-ups using the finger-per-fret system, arpeggios, pentatonics, all types of scales, odd time signatures, slap bass, plectrum technique and chord playing. This book is a continuation of the book for absolute beginners.

From the author… In writing this book, my intention was to write fun, practical and, above all, inspiring exercises that will guide the student through the various positions on the fretboard. The bass guitar’s fretboard is divided into four zones (or positions, if you prefer): from the open strings to the third fret (1st position), from the third to the sixth fret (2nd position), through the sixth to the ninth fret (3rd position) and finally from the ninth to the twelfth fret (4th position). In the second half of the book you will learn how to combine positions, and by the time you have completed all 101 exercises you should have a very detailed and effective knowledge of the fretboard from the open strings to the twelfth fret – this is the area in which the vast majority of the basslines you know so well from popular songs or musical styles take place.

Inside you will find 101 exercises that will take you through all the positions on the bass in a structured, logical sequence. These exercises will also get you playing in different musical styles, using the most common melodic and rhythmic patterns of popular basslines. Each exercise is written in both standard notation and TAB, and audio files can be downloaded from the Bassline Publishing website.

As the book is primarily aimed at beginner and intermediate players, you won’t find any of the more demanding techniques such as hammer ons, pull offs, trills etc. However, each exercise has been written for a specific playing situation and is immediately applicable to music practice. I’ve paid close attention to melody, clear phrasing and of course playability. Each of these exercises will challenge your attention and memory as you repeat them.

 You’ll find basslines in many styles of music in this book: walking bass, hip hop, pop, rock, punk, ska, metal, progressive styles, various Afro-Cuban grooves, funk, indie, reggae, country and bluegrass, EDM styles, blues, soul and folk.

Bass Gym – 101 Position Exercises for Beginner and Intermediate Players available in the US at Amazon.com and in the UK at basslinepublishing.com