The Lost Art of Country Bass

A while back I heard about an Americana / Country band that was looking for an upright bass player. I eventually met the band and jammed with them to see if I would fit in. At the time, I was halfway through the book The Lost Art of Country Bass by Keith Rosier. While jamming with the band I laid down every lick I learned from that book. They said they loved what I was doing and I got the gig. Needless to say, I am big fan of this book.

What Is In The Book?

This book takes you through the evolution of country bass lines from the early days to modern country. It does so by looking at the styles of some of the best bass players and artist to ever record. Some of the styles this book are from Bob Moore, Cedric Rainwater, Glen Worf, Leland Sklar, and more.

Each piece of music in the book has an accompanying recording with a backing band. This allows you to hear and feel the bass line in the proper context.  This is incredibly helpful but the part that surprised me the most about this books were the tips.

Interspersed throughout the book are tips that range from gear, gear setup, how to use the number system, Nashville charts, tone, recommended listening, etc. Basically, the tips give you everything you need to know to be a successful gigging bass player. These tips are worth being in a book on their own. I have referenced them several times since buying this book.

Who Is It For?

Some might be turned off by this book because it focuses on country bass. That would be a mistake. Learning the early days of bass playing gives you more tools in your toolbox. Since modern country is very rock influenced, you will touch on several styles throughout this book. By the time you get to the end of the book you will have looked at walking, 2 feel, rock, latin, and ballad bass lines just to name a few.

This books is also useful for electric and upright players. The author provides tips for both types of players. I went through the book with my upright. I plan to do the same thing with my electric bass in the future.

Summary

This has been one of the best bass books I have used. Reading the notation helps with music reading. The play-along tracks are helpful for getting the right feel. The list of recommended listening is a fun collection of great music to explore. I highly recommend this book.


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Hal Leonard Lost Art Of Country Bass Instruction (Book/Cd)