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

So far I'm pretty much just reading this like a text book. I'm looking forward to going back through it with both hands on my guitar and a metronome on the table.It's technical information about art, and the only thing more mind boggling to me than trying to learn this stuff is the thought of trying to explain it to someone like me who is pretty fresh to the theories behind the notes and timings, so I doff my cap to the author thrice - she does a great job of doing just that.Do I find myself re-reading some sections with a WTF look on my face? Sure! But like I said it's really technical stuff from a whole other world. Fortunately, the author seems to know that novices like me are in the audience and she is patient.Being the novice that I am, I couldn't imagine what this book is like for a pro, could be boring as heck, but I don't think so, and I'm a smart guy. It is chock full of juicy nuggets, many of which I probably won't even see the first time through. I look forward to going through it several more times in the coming decades to mine more nuggets.The best part is that she gives practical tips and exercises from the get-go that really do teach music theory. The price was worth what I paid for it just for the first couple of chapters and my new knowledge of the importance of learning and understanding the scales on the fret board. She literally made me a better player in the first three chapters.Two thumbs way up!

My brother James "Jae-E" Earley is a 50 million plus selling platinum music producer, songwriter/composer, lyricist, arranger, music engineer and touring MD. He is also a multi-instrumentalist and bass player. Having been in bands with Slash and Tom Morello, James knows great musicians when he meets them. By coincidence, he taught Flea how to bass slap. In his teens, and throughout his 20s...he was mentored by music legends such as Mary Wells...the First Lady of Motown, Cecil Womack, Billy Preston, Foster & McElroy, Clydie King, Bob Dylan and Jimmy Iovine--the latter of which, being the most successful music executive in history. As a music producer/songwriter...James has worked with industry luminaries of all genres including En Vogue, David Bowie, Marlon Jackson, Pete Escovedo, Juan Escovedo, Leslie Ann Jones, E-40, MC Hammer, Robin Zander of Cheap Trick, Marky Mark (Mark Wahlberg), Donnie Wahlberg, Sylvester Stallone ("Rocky V" Soundtrack) and many more. Wishing to refresh his bass skills, James sought out classically trained bassist and pianist Ariane Cap. After one lesson, he was completely blown away by her techniques and musicianship. James was especially impressed by her bass drill exercises...whereby a bassist is tasked with identifying each note on the fretboard...so he/she will know where the notes are in advance. This technique, makes your bass playing flow. By lesson 4, my brother advised me that he was being schooled by a genius instructor--and why not, Cap was trained by iconic bassist Victor Wooten...among others? In fact, James was so impressed...he personally recommended Ariane Cap for membership in NARAS--the Grammy organization. At NARAS/the Grammys...Cap is lauded by her peers...and numerous top music magazines have heralded her similarly. Cap's reputation is beyond reproach among professional/elite musicians. With her musical instruction book series...now a reality, she has the opportunity to reach the masses. There are 2 kinds of students, those who do...and those who do not. As Yoda said, "There is no try!" An impatient and novice musician may evade proper instruction--due to his/her unwillingness to put in the necessary work...whilst blaming an instructor or required study materials--but as it has been said, the teacher will arrive...when the student is ready. The question is, are you ready to experience professional excellence in your bass playing? Are you ready to go to the next level of bass mastery? If the answer is yes, then buy this book...and put in the work--"It's brilliant!"

Recently I decided to pick up my bass and get my chops in order again after a hiatus. I bought this book because it was the only music theory book for the bass that looked like it hit the mark, and man did I hit the jackpot! I ended up buying Ari's Wall Chart, and then signing up for her 20 week course (with lifetime access) because her materials, teaching method, and style are so effective and accessible - but not at all boring even for someone like me who has a some musical experience... She starts at the beginning and lays it all out clearly so you don't need to be able to read music or tab to "get it" and does it in a clear entertaining manner. This book is worth every penny and you won't regret the purchase if you want to learn how to play the bass well and understand what you are playing better.UPDATE: after ONE year this program has taken me from not being what i consider a musician at all (even after years of lessons on piano, guitar and classical guitar, and even a college level music theory class, and then bass lessons with a well known local musician, i was a lesson memorizer) to being the bassist for an originals band writing my own bass lines!! The only reason someone would say this program is not excellent is because they didn't actually do the work.

I used this book, along with Gorenberg's Music Theory for Bass Players to finally learn theory after playing lead guitar and bass in bar bands for 40 years. I'd work thru a chapter in Cap's text then go thru the same material in Gorenberg to round it out, playing thru all the exercises in both and taking the written quizes. It really has clicked. Opened things up for as I try to get better at jazz on both instruments.Well thought out. Great videos to go with each chapter.