My StudyBass
Songbook Recommendations
Throughout the StudyBass lessons, I reference songs that are transcribed in these books. Here's an example in case you're not familiar with the StudyBass approach. If you're working through the lessons, you should definitely pick up a few of these so you can practice some of the songs and get the most out of the lessons.
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Bass Tab White Pages
I've been recommending this book for years because of its wide variety of excellent basslines. Most of these are very good transcriptions. Some appear in other books. Basslines in this book are referenced more than any other book on StudyBass. It will be a useful tool on your StudyBass journey.
The Beatles - Complete Scores
A score is a special notation format which shows all of the parts. You might think you only want the bass part, but it's very insightful to learn how the bass works with all of the other parts--drums, guitar, piano, vocals, etc. Endless learning in this. Very tiny print!
Rock Bass Bible
This book contains many great basslines from Queen, Cream, Heart, Kansas, The Beatles, Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, The Who, The Police and many others.
R&B Bass Bible
Another excellent collection with many classic R&B hits. There are a lot of James Jamerson basslines which overlap with (the real bass bible--Standing in the Shadows of Motown). Similarly, there are many Duck Dunn lines overlapping what's in Soul Fingers. Still, there are great lines by Tommy Cogbill, David Hood and others.
Standing in the Shadows of Motown
Motown studio bassist James Jamerson is one of the most important electric bassists in history. His basslines influenced countless others. Many of these basslines are quite advanced. Within them, you will learn nearly everything there is to know about bass notes and rhythms.
Pop Rock Bass Bible
A very good collection of great basslines. Many of these are from the late 70s, 80s and 90s--The Police, Sheryl Crow, Elton John, Van Morrison, ZZ Top, Queen, Journey, Cheap Trick, The Cure, Lenny Kravitz, Chic and other greats.
The Beatles, 1967-1970
Rarely do you get to see a famous bass player's development like you do with Paul McCartney. His early work hinted at where he would go. This book has many of the amazing melodic basslines he is known for. There is so much to learn in these basslines. Highly recommended.
Soul Fingers
An excellent book of basslines by bass legend Donald "Duck" Dunn. You've heard him on countless recordings and maybe seen him in the movie The Blues Brothers. His lines are not too difficult to play, are excellent and make for great learning.
The Beatles, 1962-1966
Paul McCartney is one of the most influential bass players of all-time. When The Beatles were signed, they had just lost their bass player and Paul was given the job. Paul's early basslines here are perfect, musical lines which aren't too technical or complicated. Great when you're beginning to play bass.
The Funkmasters
James Brown is one of the most important musicians of the past century. The architect of soul, funk and hip-hop, Brown brought many musicians (bassists) to the world stage. In this book, learn the bass parts, but also see (maybe learn?) the guitar and drum parts. This book is full of history, too. Top pick.
Hard Rock Bass Bible
A great collection of heavier rock songs with great rock basslines from bands like Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Van Halen, Mötley Crüe, Aerosmith and more.
Led Zeppelin - Bass TAB Anthology
21 key Led Zeppelin basslines spanning their whole history chosen by John Paul Jones himself. You won't be a complete rock bassist without learning these lines. Jones is an absolute master and major influence on bass players everywhere. Books for each individual album also exist.
Bob Marley Bass Collection
Reggae is a very bass-forward style of music. With all of the other instruments leaving a lot of space, the bass shines through. Aston Barrett is the reggae bass master. He knows exactly how to construct memorable, powerful basslines. Few bass players can make you dance to and sing the bassline at the same time like "Family Man" can.
The Real Book - Bass Clef
This "fakebook" (a collection of song melodies and chords) is a must-have for all jazz musicians. This book contains many of the most often played jazz standards. Jazz musicians are expected to know most of these songs by heart. Here you can learn a lot about chord progressions, melodies, practice reading music, and the jazz repertoire.
The Best of The Police
Sting's basslines are known for their space and eloquence. Don't be fooled that they are "simple"—they are quite sophisticated. These are great lines many beginner bassists can learn to play easily. Highly recommended!
Led Zeppelin - II Platinum Bass Guitar
Usually a band's sophomore album is not as great as their first. They're on their first tour for their first album and have little time to write and record. Well, Led Zeppelin didn't have that problem. This album has killer song after killer song and the basslines to match. There is a lot to learn here.
Funk Bass Bible
This is a great collection of funk tunes covering many eras, bands, bassists and common funk techniques.
Led Zeppelin - Untitled (IV) Platinum Bass Guitar
Led Zeppelin IV has many of their most famous songs. Those songs, of course, wouldn't be so famous without John Paul Jones' masterful basslines. I highly recommend every rock bass player learns and studies these basslines!
The Best of Jack Bruce
Rock bass pioneer, Jack Bruce, brought his cello, double bass and jazz background to a newer instrument on the scene—the electric bass. Bruce set a high standard for all bassists in the early years of the electric bass. You will recognize his music from the band Cream. Dig deeper. He is amazing and must be studied.
Nirvana – The Bass Guitar Collection
Nirvana is the most iconic rock band of the 1990s. Krist Novoselic's basslines are classic and do exactly what you're learning to do—support the music's rhythm and harmony. This is a great collection of rock basslines. Beginners can get a good start from learning these great basslines.
Queen The Bass Guitar Collection
John Deacon has created some of the world's most memorable basslines. They are well worth studying. This book is a great collection of Queen basslines and solid transcriptions.
Rush The Spirit of Radio
Geddy Lee has written some of the greatest rock basslines of all-time. If you know Rush, you already know. If you don't know Rush, get acquainted. Listen to 2112 and Moving Pictures to get started. Then, start learning and studying Geddy's basslines!
Bass Virtuosos
This is a great collection of many very challenging basslines by some of the greatest electric bass players of all-time: Jaco Pastorius, Stanley Clarke, Victor Wooten, Rocco Prestia, Les Claypool, and many others. Warm up your hands first!
Led Zeppelin - I Platinum Bass Guitar
Led Zeppelin's first album—one of the greatest rock albums of all time—has some incredible bass playing and musical arrangements. John Paul Jones improvises a lot so there is a lot to analyze, break down and study. Don't simply memorize. Study why he chose those notes and rhythms.
Red Hot Chili Peppers Greatest Hits
In my teaching of thousands of private students, Flea is the bass player who has inspired the most people to start playing bass. It's no surprise; he's got it all—groove, technique, sweet melodic basslines, you name it and he does it. This is a great collection of his most well-known basslines.
The Best of Yes for Bass
If you love progressive rock, you love Chris Squire. This is a great collection of Yes songs, good transcriptions and these songs aren't found in many other bass transcription books.
Best of Bass Tab
This is a fun collection of more modern basslines rather than classics from the 60s-90s you'll often find in bass songbooks.
Jimi Hendrix Bass Tab Collection
Jimi Hendrix reshaped the world with his guitar playing, and bassists Noel Redding and Billy Cox helped create many legendary rock compositions. Every rock bassist needs to learn these basslines.
Led Zeppelin - III Platinum Bass Guitar
Led Zeppelin III is another rock bass masterpiece with a variety feels, rhythms and tempos.
Iron Maiden - Bass Anthology
Steve Harris is a rock bass god. Known for his galloping rhythms and blistering riffs, these basslines are a great workout and fun to play.
Led Zeppelin - Houses of the Holy Platinum Bass Guitar
This album has some real bass classics: The Song Remains the Same, The Rain Song, The Crunge, and The Ocean.
Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti Platinum Bass Guitar
These John Paul Jones basslines are a great rock bass workout. As with all of his lines, there's a lot to learn here.
Sly & the Family Stone for Bass
Some of the greatest funk ever made. Sly Stone was a visionary, and Larry Graham and Rustee Allen were funk bass pioneers. There's a lot to learn here, and few of these bassline transcriptions show up in other bass books.
The Essential Jaco Pastorius
Jaco Pastorius is often cited as the best bass player of all-time. His music explored the limits of the bass and has inspired millions. Many of these lines are quite difficult. These are good transcriptions and fingerings.
The Real Book II - Bass Clef
Volume II is like Volume I — melodies and chords to dozens of jazz standards. This volume has many blues heads ("head" is jazz slang for melody). Again, these fakebooks have years of learning material.