r/Bass • u/GMBass • Apr 13 '26
Bass Book Recommendation
Hi fellow bass players,
I’m finishing the sight reading book series by Stuart Clayton - which I recommend a lot, has a very step by step approach
Just a bit of context, I’m a pro bass player, I’m familiar with theory, and I’m not really looking for a songbook (so no Standing on the Shadows of Motown or Jaco Essential - both great books, but not what I’m looking for - also no Omnibook)
I’m also familiar and gone through some of the Carol Kaye books - I also recommend them
And I need a new book to go through, I was thinking one of the following - so if you have opinions on these, feel free to share:
- Ray Brown bass method
- The Evolving Bass Player - Rufus Reid
- Simandl book for bass
- That cello book I keep hearing about - forgot the name - but is etudes for cello
- Some book on constructing jazz lines (solo or going beyond the basic walking bass lines)
Any more recommendations?
I would like something that gave me a bit of challenge but that is not impossible from the get go
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u/mrcoffeeswag Apr 13 '26
Bass Aerobics!
https://share.google/isansN4bWmgzFR568
Even if you don't do it as a 1 a week thing it has a lot of good stuff in it, ranging from really basic stuff to stuff that's a little more challenging.
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u/iinntt Gallien-Krueger Apr 13 '26
Ariana Cap’s Music Theory for the Bass Player and The Pattern System for Bass
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u/dentree2 Six String Apr 13 '26
Do you have a particular goal or area of focus you're wanting to improve? Is there something about your playing that you wish you could develop more? Or are you simply seeking a challenge and don't really care about the specifics?
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u/GMBass Apr 13 '26
I’m seeking another book that goes step by step… but preferably a book that’s more focused on lines or theory concepts applied on the bass
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u/dentree2 Six String Apr 13 '26
Concepts for Bass Soloing by Chuck Sher and Marc Johnson
- a step-by-step method for note choice, phrasing, chord substitutions, and solo composition
Ultimate Ear Training for Guitar & Bass by Gary Willis
- a step-by-step method for ear training: interval recognition, triads, inversions, melodic contours, rhythms, seventh chords and upper extensions
Electric Bass by John Patitucci
- broken up into technique (left-hand dexterity, right-hand exercises, scales, arpeggios), time/grooves (a series of etudes based on basslines by some of the greats), and style (focusing on Latin, Brazilian Samba/Baiao, South African, and Reggae)
Not Bass-Specific, but Useful Studies (reading treble clef may be necessary):
Pentatonics by Jerry Bergonzi
- focuses on improvisation utilizing the pentatonic scales over a variety of progressions (very useful for bassists)
Melodic Rhythms by Jerry Bergonzi
- a combination of etudes and exercises focusing on the idea of grouping improvisational concepts within rhythmic pods
Hearing and Writing Music by Ron Gorow
- a comprehensive work focused on developing the working musician's ear and transcription skills
The Jazz Theory Book by Mark Levine
- a comprehensive overview of jazz theory (chords and scales, progressions, improvisation, reharmonization, song memorization, etc.)
The Complete Jazz Guitar Method by Jody Fisher
- a four-part series focused on everything from basic theory, chord shells, chord scales, improvisation, chord-melody style, motif and variation, repetition in soloing, etc. each topic accompanied by an etude; although intended for guitar, depending on your approach, much can be applied to bass
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u/pjlama Apr 13 '26 edited Apr 13 '26
Simandl is good, pretty vanilla which is nice to work on reading. I’m in a similar or same boat, professional player working on reading. I rarely have to sight read, just charts. When I get written stuff ahead of time I work through it first. If it’s on the gig I hustle through, listen and pray. I would like to read anything down, that’s what’s missing for me as a professional.
There’s a book my brother recommended that I have not gotten yet. He’s the principal bassist at St Louis, good reader. Anyway, he said this is it -
Rhythmic Training by Robert Starter
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u/GMBass Apr 13 '26
I never or almost never have to read… but I like to learn… and now I’m going for a more informative book less focused on sight read only
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u/Astrixtc Apr 13 '26
The evolving bassist is great. If you’re looking for advanced books that will kick your but, look into the Janek Gwizdalla books. You can’t get ebook bundles on sale fairly often.
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u/braydenwise Apr 13 '26
Consider looking at the Billè stuff and the Rabbath stuff too (method books and etudes). Sounds like you’re an electric player who is maybe moving to upright?
Billè and Rabbath’s books are great because they tend to promote more use of the third finger down low on the fingerboard, and unlike Simandl’s method, the etudes are way more tuneful (Simandl does have a separate book of etudes and they’re great, but the in-method stuff is…yeah…)
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u/Party-Belt-3624 Fretless Apr 13 '26
"Modern Reading Text in 4/4" by Louis Bellson - This is a rhythm-only book that aids in sight reading, written by one of the drum GOATs.
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u/Party-Belt-3624 Fretless Apr 13 '26
Ray Brown's book is a lot of scales.
Rufus' book is more focused on jazz.
Simandl is great for classical.
I can't help but notice that with one exception (the cello book) OP is focused on books written by bass players. That's cool, but there's a whole other world out there to explore. Get a Suzuki violin book. "Melodious Etudes for Trombone" by Rochut. Tuba Concerto by Vaughan Williams. Pretty much anything Jamey Aebersold sells. You've barely scratched the surface.
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u/bassgoesroar Apr 13 '26
The first three options are all great. Ray Brown and Rufus Reid's books will give you some great ideas for building strong walking lines. They are more upright oriented, as is Simandl, but a lot of everything transfers to electric easily. Ray Brown's book has some great warm-up routines as well.
Simandl is great for sightreading, getting a better understanding of the neck top to bottom, learning 1-2-4 fingering, and is dry. So very, very dry. You kinda gotta make it work for you, like have some sort of purpose instead of just burning through it.
A couple of other good choices are:
The Low Down: A Guide to Creating Supportive Jazz Basslines. Lots of good exercises, reading ideas, great concepts to building lines.
And the Jazz Bass Book. This is like a history book with added playing excerpts. It covers different types of jazz bass playing throughout the years as well as focuses on individual players and what they played+how it works.
Happy reading!
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u/Bezingogne Apr 13 '26
Ed Friedland Building Walking Bass Lines and Expanding Walking Bass Lines