The Hal Leonard Bass Method thread

[EddiePlaysBass]

Well, I haven't got as far as I'd like to. I'm taking it slow, but due to some new hires at work, a lot of my time and energy is spent on teaching and not on studying.

Today I got to Gee Whiz ... And got completely stuck. Granted, I was using a different bass so perhaps the sound difference threw me off, too. But I just couldn't make it sound "musical", and I seem to be misreading the notes.

So I stopped there. Gonna see if tomorrow I'll continue, or if I will pick up the ukelele for a bit. One more week of training the new kids and I'm back to my regular schedule, which will free up more time for bass (and the gym, god I miss the gym).

I'll report back in a few weeks!

 

[Bass]

Be sure to pay close attention to the sharps and flats. Remember that the sharp in the 7th measure applies to both the first and second F.

And I would tend to agree that the F in the third measure maybe sounds a little odd.

 

[EddiePlaysBass]

Be sure to pay close attention to the sharps and flats. Remember that the sharp in the 7th measure applies to both the first and second F.

And I would tend to agree that the F in the third measure maybe sounds a little odd.

Between the closet attention to the flats (thanks for that!!!) And the realization that I was playing Bb while reading B ( ) today's 30 minutes really paid off!

I honestly feel like I am learning a lot more than "just" sight-reading. More focus on note length, rhythm, groove, and the logic of the bass lines. Makes me wonder why I never bothered to actually open the first copy I had of this book ....

 

[R&B]

Checking in after a long absence. I went through the first two books with guidance from my bass teacher about 11-12 years ago. Learned to sight read simple stuff. Never made it to volume 3 because I got recruited to play with a group.

Once I started playing each week at church, I learned to work from lead sheets (treble clef notation, chord symbols and lyrics) or chord sheets (lyrics and chord symbols only). Sadly, sight-reading has taken a back seat to learning songs on the fly, listening carefully to the other musicians, and doing some (responsible) improvisation. That’s life in a band.

Main things to be a valued band member: be on time, in tune, and most of all, humble. You’ll go a long way with roots, and some fifths, done precisely. A walk here and there. No need to be Rocco Prestia.

The basic musical theory that Ed teaches has mostly stuck. I recommend the Method to anyone who asks.

 

[bbaaddggeerr]

so, I finished Book 1. except for "Three Play" - I can play that to a metronome, but I can't for the life of me lock into the drums on the track.

it took me two months to the day, doing about an hour's practise per day. I play guitar too, but not terribly well & had been messing about with the bass for a few months beforehand too, including some sightreading, so I definitely wasn't a complete newbie. if anyone wants a sightreading resource, then I found this quite good:



I think I've really improved, particularly with counting time rather than just playing by feel. there' still plenty of work to do on holding a solid groove & consistency of plucking though.

I'm going to take a break before moving on to Book 2. I want to learn some more songs - I did look at some YT videos of Rocksmith, but I think the "notation" would give me a seizure, so I think I'll stick with tab/notation.

I like the book a lot & the play-along tracks really make it for me. the only minor things that I'd change would be to add the bpm to the notation, & some of the tracks don't repeat, even where the notation shows a repeat, which makes them a bit short.

 

[edfriedland]

Hey everybody, just checking in again to say hi, and thank you for all of the enthusiastic support of this work. I feel very proud of the method, it represents a lot of time and thought on my part, and it is heartening to see so many people using it, and getting better.

 

[bbaaddggeerr]

Hey everybody, just checking in again to say hi, and thank you for all of the enthusiastic support of this work. I feel very proud of the method, it represents a lot of time and thought on my part, and it is heartening to see so many people using it, and getting better.

must have taken a while to come up with some of those puns too,

 

[edfriedland]

must have taken a while to come up with some of those puns too,

Actually, no, bad puns seem to flow out of me like water from a jug!

 

[EddiePlaysBass]

I just arrived at the "Three Play" track, but decided to leave it for next session. Wanted to check in again to share my progress. Which is sloowww. But I only average about an hour per week, usually in two 30min sessions. Still, there is definite progress! And the songs are fun. That helps.

Hey everybody, just checking in again to say hi, and thank you for all of the enthusiastic support of this work. I feel very proud of the method, it represents a lot of time and thought on my part, and it is heartening to see so many people using it, and getting better.

Hi Ed! Longtime fan, here

Actually, no, bad puns seem to flow out of me like water from a jug!

Love those puns

 

[OllieVT]

Hello Ed and everyone. I dabbled with the book a little when I started learning last summer and then intermittently messed around on Songsterr for six months without goals or focus. This year I've started having monthly in-person lessons and coincidentally, and happily, this is the teacher's preferred book.

I'm currently in the Third Position section and the end of Book 1 is in sight. Having read through the whole thread in little bursts over the last week I'm a bit daunted by the "final exam" vibe of the final few Book 1 exercises. But I'm also massively encouraged by reading about everyone's progress (and enjoyment).

A couple of weeks ago I got a phone app that teaches the fingerboard, and that's been a great help. I'm a way off automatic, but that aspect is coming much more easily now. I had some piano lessons as a kid and even though the staff reading does not seem to have stuck, a surprising amount of other bits of theory have, and that's coming in useful.

My goal (set by me, not the teacher---he just wants me to keep working at a sensible pace that means I'm getting it) is to have Book 1 "mastered" by our next lesson at the start of April, where that means I can play everything at least mostly right the first time and then actually right the second at any speed from 45bpm to ~100. Sometimes really slow seems harder than fast.

 

[OllieVT]

Into those last few of Book 1 now and seeing what people mean about how they put together everything learned so far. Shifty is fine but I'm really struggling with Shift-Crazy Blues, even at slow speeds. I'm enjoying Stones-y and doing much better with it than Shift-Crazy Blues despite much less time spent. It still has a little way to go before I'm happy with the level I've reached on it, but it's getting close. Just a matter of more polish. I haven't touched Etude Brute yet.

 

[OllieVT]

I had a quick go at Etude Brute. It didn't make sense from a regular pedagogical perspective, but if Mr Friedland* is going to use puns so readily then I'm damn well starting this today rather than tomorrow as a way to join in (or fight back). It's going to be a challenge, but a fun one I hope.


* He is currently Mr Friedland in this house. If there's a bit of a drop off in intensity in Book 2, or if I just get better, then he can be Ed again.

 

[EddiePlaysBass]

I am slowly working towards the end of the first book. One thing has become abundantly clear: I need a bit more work on eight note rhythms. So will focus a bit more on those exercises - I catch myself "feeling it" rather than reading it.

Not sure if I want to continue into book two straight away. I could use a bit of a shift in focus for a while, just to mix things up. At the same time I am contemplating buying the accompanying books, to practice my reading skills. Has anyone taken this route, i.e. finish a book, then work on the song book that goes with it; and then onwards to book two to repeat the cycle?

Just loaded a good deal of blues (and Iron Maiden) into my Tascam. The former for ear practice, the latter cos I bought a bass anthology book 20 years ago and it's time I learned more than one song! Plus, it may give me something to read

 

[Wannabebass]

I am slowly working towards the end of the first book. One thing has become abundantly clear: I need a bit more work on eight note rhythms. So will focus a bit more on those exercises - I catch myself "feeling it" rather than reading it.

Not sure if I want to continue into book two straight away. I could use a bit of a shift in focus for a while, just to mix things up. At the same time I am contemplating buying the accompanying books, to practice my reading skills. Has anyone taken this route, i.e. finish a book, then work on the song book that goes with it; and then onwards to book two to repeat the cycle?

Just loaded a good deal of blues (and Iron Maiden) into my Tascam. The former for ear practice, the latter cos I bought a bass anthology book 20 years ago and it's time I learned more than one song! Plus, it may give me something to read

Well, if you're asking "has anyone bought more books and learning materials before finishing the one I'm currently working on"...well I can answer with a resounding YES!
Not the worst habit to have, but not the best either...that's me!
Cheers
Andy

 

[Bass]

...I am contemplating buying the accompanying books, to practice my reading skills. Has anyone taken this route, i.e. finish a book, then work on the song book that goes with it; and then onwards to book two to repeat the cycle?

I am working through the song books at the same time as the method book. Concepts in the song books are somewhat parallel to the method book. In this way, the song books re-enforce the material in the method book, and demonstrate lessons in the context of a song.

For example, the method book starts with whole notes and half notes, and the first song has only whole notes and half notes. Quarter notes are then introduced, and the next song has quarter notes. A song that demonstrates syncopation arrives at about the same time as syncopation appears in the method book.

It seems to me that if the song book is done after the method book, a person might not necessarily correlate the lesson with the example in the song.

 

[LetItGrowTone]

Excuse me, but when you two say "song books", do you mean the "Easy Pop Bass Lines" books?

 

[EddiePlaysBass]

Not the worst habit to have, but not the best either...

I hear you, Andy! I actually have the same habit... And a much too large collection of music books for bass. For the ukelele, I have managed to hold back. Somewhat. Compared to bass, anyway...

I am working through the song books at the same time as the method book. Concepts in the song books are somewhat parallel to the method book. In this way, the song books re-enforce the material in the method book, and demonstrate lessons in the context of a song.

Oh this is interesting intel!! I have to admit I wasn't aware that the correlation runs this deep! This may mean going over some concepts again once I get the song book(s).

Excuse me, but when you two say "song books", do you mean the "Easy Pop Bass Lines" books?

Good question. I believe so, but would appreciate if someone can remind us of the exact titles.

 

[LetItGrowTone]

@EddiePlaysBass, you mentioned "the accompanying books" and "the song book that goes with it". Did you mean Easy Pop Bass Lines, More Easy Pop Bass Lines, and Even More Easy Pop Bass Lines?

EDIT: Oh, you don't own them yet. I see. So we're asking @Bass.
I do own them, but am wondering if you're talking about the same thing.

 

[EddiePlaysBass]

@EddiePlaysBass, you mentioned "the accompanying books" and "the song book that goes with it". Did you mean Easy Pop Bass Lines, More Easy Pop Bass Lines, and Even More Easy Pop Bass Lines?

EDIT: Oh, you don't own them yet. I see. So we're asking @Bass.
I do own them, but am wondering if you're talking about the same thing.

I am indeed wondering the same thing, @LetItGrowTone

 

[Bass]

...you mentioned "the accompanying books" and "the song book that goes with it". Did you mean Easy Pop Bass Lines, More Easy Pop Bass Lines, and Even More Easy Pop Bass Lines?...So we're asking @Bass. ...wondering if you're talking about the same thing.

Hi all, yes we're talking about the same thing, Easy Pop Bass Lines.

I'm just finishing up method Book 2, but only made it halfway through More Easy Pop Bass Lines. I was a little slow learning the songs, for me they are a bit challenging.

The songs are a good selection for me, most of the music is enjoyable. A couple of songs are actually recorded a half step flat, so a person has to recognize when to tune down.