Customer Reviews

Bass Secrets: Where Today's Bass Stylists Get to the Bottom Line (Guitar Presents)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The learning of any great craft requires instruction from a master. In this case, 4 masters of the bass sit down and give you bite-sized lessons. My one gripe is that it is fairly short-Guitar magazine should have included some more columns-but each column is worth learning from.
The most important note I can make is that Bass Secrets will NOT-trust me here-be any replacement for comprehensive instruction. Some of its lessons are foundational, like the modal learning exercises, but most introduce new playing concepts. What this book can be is a great rut-breaker and source of inspiration; its tips can help you view an old line or technique in a different light. If you treat the book as the new-idea generator which it was intended to be, I guarantee that this book will stretch you in some, if not many, ways...unless you have been fortunate enough to have personally studied under Billy, Stu, Randy, and Tony!

This book is incredible. It's a compilation of tips from 4 bass masters: Billy Sheehan, Randy Coven, Stu Hamm, and Tony Franklin. Though the articles are short, they cover everything from playing chords to tapping to growing as a bassist.

The neat thing about this book is that it does not tell you how you must play; rather, it shows you the trick or technique and then encourages you to make it your own. It is for the serious intermediate to advanced player who really wants to spice up their sound. I highly recommend it!

The book is a compilation of one page articles written by the listed individuals, there is no collaborative content in it. It is good, especially the lesson pages, there are some pages that are philosophical and somewhat esoteric, but overall the content is good. It would be nice to have a CD of the music and tablature, and there is no option to get one.

The learning of any great craft requires instruction from a master. In this case, 4 masters of the bass sit down and give you bite-sized lessons. My one gripe is that it is fairly short-Guitar magazine should have included some more columns-but each column is worth learning from.
The most important note I can make is that Bass Secrets will NOT-trust me here-be any replacement for comprehensive instruction. Some of its lessons are foundational, like the modal learning exercises, but most introduce new playing concepts. What this book can be is a great rut-breaker and source of inspiration; its tips can help you view an old line or technique in a different light. If you treat the book as the new-idea generator which it was intended to be, I guarantee that this book will stretch you in some, if not many, ways...unless you have been fortunate enough to have personally studied under Billy, Stu, Randy, and Tony!