| What's Bass Grooves About? | | | | stand. I don't know why Music Publishers won't |
| Jon Liebman is the author of several highly respected | | | | publish books that are meant for working bass |
| bass tuitional books covering various styles of bass | | | | players in spiral bound format - or give us the option |
| guitar. His latest book - subtitled 'the ultimate | | | | to have that, even if it costs extra. If you use a |
| collection' - is a collection of riffs, licks and grooves in | | | | book with this kind of binding a lot you'll end up |
| various styles. | | | | damaging the spine and the book will fall apart. I have |
| The grooves are collected into various sub-styles. | | | | a number of books in my library where this has |
| Those styles are: | | | | happened - and yet my copy of Standing In The |
| (i) Blues | | | | Shadows of Motown (which is spiral bound) and I |
| (ii) Jazz | | | | have had for nearly 20 years is still in really good |
| (iii) Rock | | | | condition. |
| (iv) Funk/R&B | | | | The second area the book could be improved is in |
| (v) Reggae | | | | some guidance for beginners. Most beginners won't |
| (vi) Country | | | | know how to take these grooves and adapt them |
| (vii) Latin | | | | to different keys. Or how to adapt them to different |
| (viii) Other Grooves (gospel, hip hop, disco, etc) | | | | chord progressions. |
| The author's aim is to provide you with a source | | | | Or different styles of music. A detailed tutorial on |
| book for licks and grooves in different styles that | | | | how to do that would have been an excellent |
| you can master and add to your bass playing 'idea' | | | | feature. |
| book. These are practical licks that you can in | | | | The third area where the book could be improved is |
| working situations - ranging from jams, working | | | | with the CD. Some of the grooves will be too fast |
| bands and original bands. | | | | for beginners to play along too. The provision of |
| How Is It Presented? | | | | backing tracks at say three different tempo levels |
| Bass Grooves is 96 pages long and published by Hal | | | | would have made the grooves far more useful for |
| Leonard. Hal Leonard have pretty high production | | | | many beginners. |
| standards, so the printing is very clear and very | | | | Review Summary |
| readable. All of the musical examples are presented in | | | | Although I've pointed out some areas where this |
| notation and bass tab. | | | | book could be improved I have to be realistic and |
| Additionally there is a CD that accompanies the book | | | | probably the first and third areas I pointed out would |
| that has all of the licks recorded on it so that you | | | | probably substantially increase the cost and decrease |
| can hear how the bass licks sound. The bass is | | | | the profit margins. So there's little likelihood of that |
| panned to one channel, so it's very easy to pan your | | | | ever happening, at the end of the day it's the |
| stereo and then play along with the drums and the | | | | Publisher who sets the rules on these kind of |
| chordal backing (guitar). | | | | decisions. |
| Production standards on the CD are also really good - | | | | This is a very good book though - and I highly |
| the CD sounds good and the separation of the | | | | recommend it. Working through each groove will give |
| instruments is precise, so the CD really does work as | | | | you a vocabulary of ideas that will really help develop |
| something you can practice along with. | | | | your playing. Additionally I'd recommend that you |
| What Topics Are Covered? | | | | learn to read music if you can't - these examples are |
| The different areas of bass grooves that are | | | | provided in all keys so they are good reading practice |
| covered were summarized briefly above. Most styles | | | | too. You can never have enough 'good stuff' to sight |
| of music are covered here - even if only briefly. | | | | read. If you only buy the book for that you'll get |
| How Could This Book Be Better | | | | your money's worth. |
| There are some areas that would make a good back | | | | I'd rate this book at 4 and a half stars. (The half star |
| outstanding in my opinion. | | | | deduction is for the binding - I loathe solid bound |
| Firstly - and a pet peeve of mine - the book has a | | | | music books!). This is a good addition to the library of |
| hard binding. This means it won't lie flat on your music | | | | any one who wants to learn how to play bass. |