Bass Gym - 101 Basslines for Beginners

This book is the sixth in a series written by UK bassist Marek Bero. The Bass Gym books are written to help you develop your playing skills and understanding of theory simultaneously, whilst inspiring your creativity as well.


In this latest addition to Bass Gym 101 series of books, you will find everything that you need to know in order to become a solid and desirable bass player in the shortest time possible. In order to be able to produce a good sound on the bass, you need to understand its role and function in different musical styles, as well as master the basic playing techniques. Your tone, groove and taste in creating the basslines will have a significant effect on the music. Together with the drums, you form the backbone of the band: you are the driving force of the song and you create the necessary bridge between rhythm, harmony and melody.


After many years of study, practice and live experience playing the bass guitar, the author of this book has created an all-in-one guide for those who are just starting out or those who have only been playing for a short time. This book is also a useful source of information for guitarists who are switching to bass. The goal is to help the reader master the basics of playing, and to understand the role of the bass.


The book covers the following topics:

Essential basics – description of the instrument, how to hold it, buying your first bass & equipment
Navigating the fingerboard
Tuning the bass
Instrument setup
The function of the bass in music
Rhythm studies
Basic left & right-hand techniques
How to play better – 20 tips from professionals


Basslines – eight notes pulse, basic kick drum patterns, blues, shuffle, rock & metal, drop D, salsa & clave, funk & hip hop, bluegrass & country, reggae, ska & punk, walking bass
How to create a solid bassline
Overview of major & minor chords
How to choose the right amp & cabinet
Complete guide to bass strings selection
How to record the bass
Sources for further studies



All of the exercises in this book include tablature and recommended fingerings. MP3 files are available to download from the Free Stuff page on the Bassline Publishing website.