Table of Contents

Foreword xiii
Introduction 1


Part I: Getting Started with the Bass Guitar 7


Chapter 1: The Very Basics of Bass 9


Chapter 2: Gaining the Tools and Skills to Play 21


Chapter 3: Warming Up: Getting Your Hands in Shape to Play
57


Part II: The Bass-ics of Playing 67


Chapter 4: Reading, ?Riting, and Rhythm 69


Chapter 5: Understanding Major and Minor Structures 91


Part III: Making the Moves, Creating the Grooves 127


Chapter 6: Creating the Groove 129


Chapter 7: Going Solo: Playing Solos and Fills 167


Part IV: Using the Correct Accompaniment for Each
Genre 183


Chapter 8: Rock On! Getting Down with the Rock Styles 185


Chapter 9: Swing It! Playing Styles That Rely on the Triplet
Feel 203


Chapter 10: Making It Funky: Playing Hardcore Bass Grooves
221


Chapter 11: Sampling International Flavors: Bass Styles from
Around the World 237


Chapter 12: Playing in Odd Meters: Not Strange, Just Not the
Norm 255


Chapter 13: Groovin? in a Genre: It?s All About
Style! 271


Chapter 14: Eight Degrees of Separation: The Beatles?
Solution 287


Part V: Buying and Caring for Your Bass 307


Chapter 15: Love of a Lifetime or One-Night Stand? Buying the
Right Bass 309


Chapter 16: Getting the Right Gear for Your Bass Guitar 319


Chapter 17: Changing the Strings on Your Bass Guitar 329


Chapter 18: Keeping Your Bass in Shape: Maintenance and Light
Repair 339


Part VI: The Part of Tens 351


Chapter 19: Ten Innovative Bassists You Should Know 353


Chapter 20: Ten Great Rhythm Sections (Bassists and Drummers)
357


Appendix: Audio Tracks and Video Clips 363


Index 377

About the Author

Patrick Pfeiffer is a professional bassist, composer, and bass educator in New York City. Pfeiffers former clients include Adam Clayton of U2, Polygram, Red Ant Records, Arista Records, and other major labels. He has recorded with George Clinton, Phoebe Snow, Jimmy Norman, and many others.