My Best Bass Book Recommendations for Developing Your Reading Skills!!!

So here are my Best Bass Book Recommendations for Developing Your Reading Skills! Also included are 7 great Tips to use when working on your reading in your practice routine.
SUGGESTED TEXTS for STUDENTS.
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“Standing in the Shadows of Motown” book is good for the Jamerson lines-some of them are very challenging ( in particular tunes like: Home Cooking, How Long Has This Evening Train Been Gone )
amzn.to/3OOkrxK
Classical cello repertoire can be great- the single best cello book might be this one by Dotzauer-most fo these studies fit right on the bass- note- you should attempt them an octave higher than written if you want to be playing in the cello register...
113 Studies for Cello amzn.to/3FdlZhO
And of course, Bach’s famous Book of 6 Cello Suites:
amzn.to/3FdnyfG
Walking bass
Also ANY book with transcriptions of 1/4 note walking bass lines is going to be a good resource :
Ron Carter’s Building Jazz bass Lines for example amzn.to/3XM8MUj
-These next three are also good for jazz vocabulary and concepts.
I HIGHLY recommend and personally use these next three:
Charlie Parker for Bass Clef (Intermediate/Advanced) amzn.to/3XHcs9W
Chord Studies for Electric Bass amzn.to/3gFphBb
Bob Mintzer Jazz & Funk Etudes for Bass Clef amzn.to/3EGBMEc
And.. For Rhythmic Studies ( everything is written for just snare -I.e. one pitch)
Louis Bellson Modern Reading Text in 4/4 amzn.to/3F83NoL

[@fyokota]

Great suggestions. The principle how reading music works is not hard to understand, but it takes some practice until you can make the written music sound immediately on the instrument. What I observe on my students is that adults that already can play but not read feel very frustrated because it doesn't sound how they can sound, while kids that learn how to read since day one have no problem with that, because they develop their technique and musicality together with reading skills. I would suggest for adults that can play the instrument and want to get better at reading is joining some kind of orchestra, like a local big band or wind orchestra. That's a big motivation to keep practicing. And don't wait until you feel ready.

[@erikkrijnen17]

Anthony Vitti’s ‘Sightreading Funk Rhythms’ is awesome too.

[@rufusbass]

ooh good call.. Yes, I have seen this...!

[@lawlorphotos]

Great video Rufus. I have most of these books gathering dust, a nice reminder to dig them out and put them to use.

[@ebensf]

Thank you so much for the recommendations.

[@DarrylMiglio]

Your Mintzer breakdown was my introduction to you and your excellent teaching and techniques. I've been learning the Bach cello suites and that had given me a great insight into the neck and fingering.

[@rufusbass]

Thanks Darryl!!

[@filippocancellotti9828]

Thank you very much for this video! I was looking for books like these for a while of time and I had not found anything until I found your great video!

[@rufusbass]

Glad it was helpful-those are some amazing books...

[@martywylde5910]

A Parker Omnibook session would be great please Rufus

[@balbino4]

Hello, Rufus! I am from Brazil. I love your bass classes. Thank you very much!

[@rufusbass]

Thankyou Balbino- I appreciate that!

[@Bass599]

Truly fantastic video! I've been struggling to find some good books and now I have too many to choose from haha! Great video!

[@rufusbass]

My pleasure William

[@forresthale9529]

I don’t remember how I heard about Dotzauer, but I love the challenge of that book. I appreciate you doing this video, in the same way I like your tips on filter pedals. I would like to see more on Parker!

[@rufusbass]

Yes- am planning on that-plus I have a new BeBop rhythm changes composition I am publishing soon too

[@christopherbrown5278]

Solid recommendations! On the Bach - I have a lovely version of the G major - transposed to C major in Bass clef where it sits perfectly on electric and upright.

[@rufusbass]

NICE!!

[@ralphmanak]

Thanks for this, Rufus. The closing tips r e a l l y can leverage practice time. Please do a separate video on the Parker Omnibook when you can. Revisiting your process and deciphering penciled in notes will be fun and instructive.

[@rufusbass]

Hey Ralph- thanks-def. on the cards!

[@wanmorgan]

Great video thanks Rufus..

[@rufusbass]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@timothysedgwick3133]

I too had a few lessons with Jeff Berlin years ago who suggested I work out of the Chord Studies for Trombone book. I found a copy at a used book store and worked out of it for several years. Great study of chord tones and approach notes. Thanks for the other recommendations. I'll check them out.

[@rufusbass]

My pleasure- I still want to find an old original of the Trombone one..Mine fell apart!

[@franklintorres1440]

GREAT STUFF

[@rufusbass]

Thanks!!

[@maxmustermann-hx3fx]

Hopefully I can take bass lessons again after I finished my bachelor in CS. Right now I am only playing in a Band Workshop which is fun but in terms of theory and technique it does not help too much. But of course playing with other people is really fun as well. In the mean time I hope some books can teach me more especially about music theory.

[@rufusbass]

yes indeed Max! I'll be posting new videos every week or two so check 'em out and when you're ready, you can always reach out regarding lessons!

[@ErixSamson]

All those are really great, but may I recommend Stuart Clayton's Bass Guitarist Guide to Reading Music? Very good for beginners.

[@marcelodelpaggio7469]

Rufus!!! hw do you thing abaout the clasical Hal Crock "how to imprivise ".....its my favorite.I agree to the ones you show in the viedeo and got it all of them. Let me know your oppinion abaut Hal crock book.Hugs from Buenos Aires ARG

[@izethewise]

Rufus, as a pro bassist, have you had much need to know treble clef?

[@rufusbass]

Sometimes yes-doubling a melody line etc. Or a riff that someone ( a gtr player ) has written who doesnt read bass clef...It happens occasionally.

[@justinmills556]

What would be the first book you would recommend for someone (me) who has used a lot of beginners books but feels the steps after beginners are too quick. Most books I feel are “here’s the basics” but then don’t have a gradual incline but just throw you into stuff that’s way above the basics.

[@rufusbass]

Try the Dotzauer beginner level cello books? Or possibly early chapters in Simandl Method.. Also those Aebersold books of Ron Carter walking bass lines are quite a lot of 1/4 note stuff- so those are rhythmically not too hard-plus you get too study some class walking lines.

[@justinmills556]

@@rufusbass thanks. I find if there’s not enough different beginners stuff I end up memorising and not reading after a while. Now go ride your MTB.