Music Theory for the Bass Player: A Comprehensive and Hands-on Guide to Playing with More Confidence and Freedom

by Ariane Cap

Overview

Music Theory for the Bass Player

Comes with 89 videos that are viewable online.

Have you always wanted to learn music theory but felt it was too overwhelming a task? Perhaps all the books seem to be geared toward pianists or classical players? Do you know lots of songs, but don’t know how the chords are put together or how they work with the melody? If so, this is the book for you!

Starting with intervals as music’s basic building blocks, you will explore scales and their modes, chords and the basics of harmony. Packed with fretboard diagrams, musical examples and exercises, more than 180 pages of vital information are peppered with mind-bending quizzes, effective mnemonics, and compelling learning approaches. Extensive and detailed photo demonstrations show why relaxed posture and optimized fingering are vital for good tone, timing and chops. You can even work your way through the book without being able to read music!

Music Theory for the Bass Player is a comprehensive and immediately applicable guide to making you a well-grounded groover, informed bandmate and all-around more creative musician. This is the definitive resource for the enthusiastic bassist!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780996727600
Publisher:	CapCat Music Media, INC
Publication date:	08/25/2015
Pages:	186
Sales rank:	246,987
Product dimensions:	10.80(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.50(d)

Table of Contents

CONTENTS
Introduction: The Main Purpose of This Book
Who This Book Is For, How to Use This Book
Chapter 1 - Basics: How Notes Work, Learn the Notes
Chapter 2 - How the Bass is organIzed, Up and Down, Test Your Understanding #1, The Range of the Bass, The Note-Finder Exercise, Test Your Understanding #2, Name-a-Dot, The One-Finger-Per-Fret Position
Chapter 3 - Intervals: Basics on Intervals, Test Your Understanding #3, The Prime and the Unison, The Second, The Third, The Fourth, The Fifth, The Sixth, The Seventh, The Octave, The Tritone, Interval Inversions, Compound Intervals, Test Your Understanding #4
Chapter 4 - Major Scale PrImer: Building Any Major Scale, Test Your Understanding #5, Preparation for the Cycle of Fifths
Chapter 5 - Triad Primer for the Bassist: Introduction to Triads, The Major Triad, The Minor Triad, The Diminished Triad, The Augmented Triad, Bass Specific Challenges of Triads, Diatonic Triads, Chord Functions, Triads Across the Fretboard, Triad Table Summary, Triad Inversions, Sus Chords, Poly Chords, Slash Chords, Test Your Understanding #6
Chapter 6 - Four-Note Chords: Introduction to Four-Note Chords, Four-Note-Chords with a Perfect Fifth, Four-Note-Chords with a Diminished or Augmented Fifth, Diatonic-Four-Note Chords, The Dominant Seventh Chord, Inversions of Four-Note Chords, Extensions, Alterations and Other Four-Note Chords, Test Your Understanding #7
Chapter 7 - Minor Scale Primer: Creating the Minor Scale, Relative Minor, Parallel Minor, The Problem of the Minor Dominant, Correct Naming, Test Your Understanding #8
Chapter 8 - The Cycle of fifths for the Bass Player: Must-Know for the Bassist, Decoding the Cycle, The Cycle as a Practice Tool, Using the Cycle to Find Sharps or Flats of a Key, Using the Cycle to Find the Key, What Key Is This Piece of Music In? Test Your Understanding #9, The "Diatonic Cycle" Versus the "Chromatic Cycle"
Chapter 9 - Primer on Modes: What Are Modes? The Modes, Sounds of Modes, The Concept of Modal Versus Diatonic, Test Your Understanding #10
Chapter 10 - Pentatonic Primer, Introduction to Pentatonics, Major Pentatonic Scale, Minor Pentatonic Scale, Fingerings, How to Practice These Patterns (Primer), G Major Pentatonic Patterns, E Minor Pentatonic Patterns, Pentatonic Patterns in All Keys, "Groove and Fill" Exercise, (Basic) Blues Scales, Test Your Understanding #11
Chapter 11 - The Blues: Introduction to the Blues, The Form, Harmonic Property of the Blues, Chords of a Blues Progression, "Blue Notes", Test Your Understanding #12
Chapter 12 - Technique Basics: Introduction, Ergonomics and Health, Great Technique for Great Tone and Groove, Posture, The Left Hand, The Right Hand, Left Hand/Right Hand Coordination, General Tips for Fingering, Exercises for Shifts, Practicing Using the Principles of Rotating Attention (PORA), Changing Ingrained Habits, Closing Remark on Technique: When the Music Moves You
Chapter13 - Musicality
Appendix: Reading "SOS", Practice Tips, Answers to the Test Your Understanding QuestionsResources and Links, Pattern Paper and Blank Sheet Music, Glossary, About the Author

Editorial Reviews

I met Ariane a few years back and since our meeting I've only used her for all my bass tracks. Her inventive style, expertise, and time are exceptional. I suggest that everyone look at her book and listen to her playing. She underscores the true meaning of "foundation with style and groove".
Keith Olsen
Grammy award-winning Producer (Journey, Foreigner)

I've read a lot of books about how to play the bass, and I've read lots of books about music theory, but this was the first book I've read that covers music theory from the perspective of a bass player. Ariane teaches you to be a musician fist, and a bass player second, which is how it should be. The book is appropriate for all levels, even the absolute beginner with no prior musical experience. Experienced bassists will learn new ways to understand how music works, and how the bass fits in with the rest of the band.
Dan Callaway
Bassist

Ariane Cap has given us a remarkably comprehensive and accessible work suitable for bassists and all musicians who play with bassists. In chapter 13, entitled "Technique Basics" she begins by stating: " Be mindful that learning proper technique is as much about the mechanics of the body and bass as it is about building consciousness of what you do and how you do it." From my medical and musical viewpoint, it is a marvelous rarity when a master musician simultaneously addresses ergonomics, instrumental mechanics, and the substance of creating beautiful musical lines. Ariane has succeeded mightily.
Robert E. Markison, MD
Hand Surgeon, Musician
Clinical Professor of Surgery, UCSF School of Medicine
Co-founder, UCSF Health Program for Performing Artists

Music made with grace, ease, and proper alignment sounds more beautiful! Ariane's chapter on posture contains information vital to the health of your body and hence, the body of your music. As a somatic educator with a 30 year practice, I've seen disharmony and imbalance due to teaching techniques that lack this kind of instruction. Ariane's approach can save you from pain and physical therapy! Highly recommended. Play on!
Alison Post
Somatic Practitioner, Craniosacral Therapist
Author of "Unwinding the Belly"

The clear, well-designed chapter on technique incorporates ergonomically sound playing methods, good posture and careful positioning of the hands to reduce muscle effort and musculoskeletal strain while playing the bass."
Kathy Bender, BCIA, SF, CEAS
Nationally Certified Biofeedback Practitioner

From the Publisher