Bass Guitar Exercises For Dummies

A staple of almost every genre of music out there, the bass guitar is a fundamental (and fun!) instrument that can now be easily learned by musicians of any experience level with Bass Guitar Exercises For Dummies. Complete with a bonus downloadable content, this book gives bassists a variety of tips and drills to help you strike a chord with any performance (even if it’s only for an audience of one).

This book is an easy how-to that every bass player can appreciate. Bass Guitar Exercises For Dummies:

• Features a wide variety of 300+ exercises and technique-building practice opportunities tailored to bass guitar
• Offers exercises and chords for a variety of genres including funk, rock, blues, and reggae bass patterns
• Shows you proper hand and body posture as well as fingering and hand positions
• Concludes each lesson with a music piece for you to try
• Comes with an audio CD that includes practice pieces to accompany the exercises and drills presented in each section
• Helps you build your strength, endurance, and dexterity when playing bass

Whether you're a beginner bass player or you're looking to give John Paul Jones a run for his money, Bass Guitar Exercises For Dummies is the book for you! Pick up your copy today.


P.S. If you think this book seems familiar, you're probably right. The Dummies team updated the cover and design to give the book a fresh feel, but the content is the same as the previous release of Bass Guitar Exercises For Dummies (9780470647226). The book you see here shouldn't be considered a new or updated product. But if you're in the mood to learn something new, check out some of our other books. We're always writing about new topics!

Foreword xi

Introduction 1

Part 1: Preparing to Practice 5

Chapter 1: Reviewing Practice Fundamentals 7

Chapter 2: Warming Up Your Right and Left Hands 15

Part 2: Scales (Modes) and Chords 29

Chapter 3: Playing Scales (Modes) 31

Chapter 4: Playing Mode Sequences 47

Chapter 5: Working with Arpeggios 69

Chapter 6: Combining Seventh Chords 83

Part 3: Rhythm and the Groove 97

Chapter 7: Building the Groove Skeleton 99

Chapter 8: Accessing the Groove Apex 111

Chapter 9: Setting Up with the Groove Tail 119

Chapter 10: Combining Rhythms 129

Part 4: Turning Exercises into Music 139

Chapter 11: Feeling the Eighth-Note Groove 141

Chapter 12: Working the Sixteenth-Note Groove 151

Chapter 13: Trippin’ on Triplets 161

Part 5: The Part of Tens 167

Chapter 14: Ten Essential Elements of a Great Practice Session 169

Chapter 15: Ten Famous Tunes That Incorporate the Exercises in This Book 173

Part 6: Appendixes 177

Appendix A: How to Use the Website 179

Appendix B: Extended Range Basses and Practice Goals 187

Patrick Pfeiffer is a professional bassist, composer, and music educator. His former students include Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees Adam Clayton (U2) and Alec John Such (Bon Jovi). He is also author of Bass Guitar For Dummies.

• Refine your technique with 300 bass guitar exercises
• Practice tempo, time signature, phrasing, and dynamics
• Apply bass fundamentals to playing a groove

The fun and easy way to lay down a groove

The bass guitar serves as the foundation for almost every popular style of music — from rock to country, jazz to funk. Regardless of your preferred musical style, this hands-on guide provides tips and drills designed to help improve your playing ability. These exercises get you started with bass guitar fundamentals, like playing scales, chords, and arpeggios. Move on to sharpen your skills as you play grooves and melodies in different styles. Whether you're just getting started or an experienced bassist looking to stretch your playing skills, this is the book for you!

Inside…

• Tips for correct hand and body posture
• Methods for getting comfortable with scales
• Hints for developing a complete practice session
• Ways to apply the exercises to making great music
• Workouts for stronger playing