I have been a private lessons instructor and director of bass studies programs for decades. Having worked with scores of bassists of all skill levels I have learned from experience the most effective methods for teaching reading, theory and improvisation.
In my first book: SIGHT READING FORTHE CONTEMPORARY BASSIST I present the most effective and efficient techniques for bass players to learn to read written notation.
WHO IS THIS BOOK FOR?
This book is for you if you can already play the bass. Maybe you play in church or in a rock band, or maybe you play in jazz clubs or in folk jams. This book is for you if you’ve spent time developing facility and technique on the instrument and you’re confident in many musical situations.
EXCEPT the reading gig!
Playing by ear and learning songs in advance is great, and some of the best musicians in the world play exclusively by ear. However, what happens if someone puts a chart in front of you with no chord symbols, just written notes!?
If the thought of having to read music on the spot, on the gig, and under pressure makes you nervous, this book is for you.
This book is designed to demystify written music and allow you to confidently read the bass lines that you probably already have the ability to play. This book will be the one book on your shelf that finally lets you access the information locked away in all those other books you have.
The focus of SIGHT READING FOR THE CONTEMPORARY BASSIST is very specific and somewhat narrow.
This book is not a comprehensive music theory course. It is not going to show you all the coolest licks and fills (although there are a bunch of cool licks and fills contained in the exercises). It is not going to teach slap, pick, or thumb muting techniques.
This book IS going to show you the most efficient way to learn how to fluently read music. This process is going to require you to learn some music theory and some specific techniques that all great reading bassists use, but it will not going to spend time on material that you don’t specifically need to get your reading together as quickly as possible.
Chuck Webb's complete method book for bassists who want to learn or improve their reading skills. Over 100 pages of guided exercises, techniques, etudes, real world music charts and stories from a decades long career as a working bassist.
