Instructional
Materials By Ed Friedland
Here
are short explanations of my books (and DVD). They are presented
in the order they were written. You can check out a sample from
each title. If you'd like to buy one, click on the picture
of the book and you will be transported to MusicDispatch.com. They
will gladly ship to your home. |
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R&B Bass Masters
This book profiles 10 of the great early R&B bass masters; James Jamerson, Jerry Jemmott, Chuck Rainey, Duck Dunn, Tommy Cogbill, David Hood, Ronnie Baker, Willie Weeks, George Porter Jr. and Bootsy Collins. There are detailed bios, selected discographies, recommended cuts, gear details, stylistic breakdowns, and transcriptions of classic lines - recorded on CD, and written in notation and tab, with drum parts too! This book is a must have for bassists of all styles, it's a detailed history of the early pioneers of electric bass. Go back to the source!
Sample coming...
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Blues Bass
This book is a style supplement to the Hal Leonard Electric Bass Method. I've put my many years of experience playing the blues scene into a practical guide for the up and coming blues bassist. I discuss blues forms, lines and feels, intros, endings, stops and hits, and include full arrangements of many must-know blues classics like Hideaway, Sweet Home Chicago, Pride and Joy, Tore Down and many more. After you've learned everything in this book, you'll be ready to hit the local blues jam and do it right. A whole world of $50 gigs in smoke filled bars will be yours for the taking.
Sample coming...
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Bass Grooves
Bass Grooves illuminates many aspects of the Time/Groove continuum. There are lots of activities geared toward getting you to internalize rhythm, learn how to use the natural tendencies of the instrument to affect the groove, 25 different styles of groove (written and on CD), tips from some of the groovin'est players in the world, and an essay on the metaphysics of the groove.
Sample coming...
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Building
Walking Bass Lines
Designed
for the beginning player, this is my first, and by far
most popular book. It was written originally as my Masters
Thesis at Cambridge College in 1991. I examined the gaps
in the existing literature, and set out to write a book
that would help people learn the process bassists use
when creating their own bass lines, not just show them
some lines and leave it at that. Also it was the first
walking book of it's kind in that it came with audio
tracks. These days you take for granted that a book comes
with audio, but back then, no one had done this with
walking bass. Based on the feedback I receive from students
all over the world (it's available in Japanese too) this
method seems to work for people. You start by identifying
the target notes of a chord, (root, five and octave)
and then work with different approach notes (chromatic,
scale and dominant) to lead you into the targets. It
explains many other ideas like scalewise motion, chromatic
motion, arpeggiation, targeting other chord tones, and
much more. There are many great feeling jazz tracks to
play with, including 10 full length standard progressions.
Click here for a sample
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Expanding
Walking Bass Lines
The
follow-up to BWBL. It starts out with rhythmic embellishment
- skips, triplets, dead notes and moves into targeting scale
and chromatic notes. You learn about modal playing with a concept
I call "Modal Mapping", playing more outside lines
with implied harmony, and other more advanced topics. It's
a good choice for the player that already has a solid grasp
on the fundamentals. There is also a section that gives you
a chance to practice the essential skill of picking up tunes
by ear. The three "mystery" tunes are on the CD without
any changes written. You have to learn them strictly by ear!
You're not left totally alone, there are many helpful suggestions
to prepare you for this seemingly impossible task. In the real
world, bassists MUST be able to play tunes they don't know
- without music. Sounds scary, and maybe it is at first, but
keep in mind that jazz musicians do this every day. Why not
you?
Click here for a sample.
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Jazz
Bass
This
is a more global approach to jazz playing. In addition to walking
bass lines, you also learn about playing 3/4, latin, ballads,
two feel, performance protocol, intros, endings, and much more.
There are plenty of tracks, as well as 7 full jazz arrangements
with intros, endings, solos (even for the bass player). I use
this book in many of my jazz workshops.
Click here for a sample.
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Bass
Improvisation
The
soloing method that teaches you a variety of improvisational
strategies. Rhythmic and melodic phrasing, vertical development,
chord/scale concept, internal melodies, the language of bebop
and more. There are of course tracks to play with, and all
written examples are performed on the CD as well. The reading
and technical level are challenging.
Click here for a sample.
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Reggae
Bass
This
is a terrific book for those interested in Jamaican music.
Reggae is a whole universe unto itself, an entire musical culture.
This book breaks down the music in chronological order from
the early Ska of the 1960s to Rock Steady, Reggae, Roots, Modern
Ska and Dancehall. Many of the most popular classic "riddims" are
here, written in tab and standard notation. The tracks are
awesome! They feature members past and present of Neon Prophet,
one of the top Reggae bands in the Southwest. (They let me
play on the session, and no... I am NOT the guy on the cover!)
Click here for a sample.
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The
Working Bassist's Toolkit
This
is my first title for Backbeat Books, the book division of
the company that publishes Bass Player Magazine. It's a compilation
of many of my "in the trenches" instructional articles.
Designed to help the career-minded bassist develop the most
critical real world skills needed to succeed. Ear training,
time keeping, faking tunes, playing different styles, thumb/mute
technique, jazz survival tips, playing wedding gigs, reading
chord charts, doubling and more. The included CD has tracks
to play along to as well as an ear training workout, a "style-o-rama" vamp
and the infamous "random modulation torture test".
Click here for a sample.
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Slap
Bass DVD
The
first slap bass instructional to be produced in native DVD
format. Taking full advantage of the navigational convenience
of DVD, this 105 minute video is packed with essential exercises
to develop your chops. Perfect for new slappers, this DVD starts
right at the very beginning. The exercises are expanded into
fun grooves that further work the concepts you've learned.
It progesses into intermediate and advanced techniques, so
this DVD will keep you learning for a long time. There are
several aspects of this program that make it even more valuable
than the rest. Learning how to program your drum machine (and
play grooves that fit), how to create your OWN funk lines with
simple forms, equipment guidance, stylistic nuances of master
slappers Larry Graham, Louis Johnson and Marcus Miller and
much more.
Click here for a sample.
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Building
Rock Bass Lines
Brand
new! Now available, the
rock and roll version of my first book Building Walking Bass
Lines. I use the same basic concept of target and approach
notes to show you how to create your own bass lines in a rock
context. Using the most common rhythms in rock music, you start
learning what notes work with different chords, and how to
find them all over the neck. The first rock bass method that
truly prepares you to go out and join a band. After learning
the contents of this book, you'll be able to show up at band
practice or to the gig and play your own ideas, not just follow
the guitarist's left hand.
Click here for a sample
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Hal Leonard Electric Bass Method Book 1
The completely rewritten method for electric bass! This is the ultimate beginner book. It makes the most basic aspects of bass playing incredibly easy. It starts you out learning the notes string by string, you learn simple rhythms and apply everything with fun tracks to play with. All along the way, you learn useful and important musical information. Coming soon is the companion DVD. The total package is a complete, comprehensive, well organized method that will take you from the very first steps to advanced level.
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Hal Leonard Electric Bass Method Book 2
Book 2 of the method teaches you classic box shape licks, blues lines and how to move them around the fingerboard, major and minor scales and arpeggios, syncopated 8th note rhythms, the shuffle rhythm, and is full of great tracks to play with.
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Hal Leonard Electric Bass Method Book 3
Book 3 gets into 16th note rhythms, 7th chords, pentatonic scales, learning how to play off chord symbols, how to use triads to create bass lines, locking in to the groove and slap bass. Of course, there are lots of great tracks to play with.
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