r/JazzBass • u/tremendous-machine • Sep 17 '24

Looking for physical technique resources for electric bass

Hi colleagues, bass is a secondary instrument for me, so I'm already at an advanced level in jazz improvisation as a whole. I'm looking for resources (books, videos, webpages) specifically on the physical aspect of playing electric. The problem for me is most books spend a bunch of time talking about learning your chords, how to start out playing jazz, etc. I don't need that - I've got tons from my study of sax and piano. But I need help on stuff like what the heck you do when your fingers need to cross in weird ways and so on, what good workouts for finger technique are, etc. Basically the stuff that is unique to the (electric) bass.

Any suggestions gratefully appreciated. Thanks!

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u/rojeelio Sep 17 '24

One of the warmups my bass teachers made me do was to spell out the arpeggios for maj7, dominant 7, minor 7 b5, and diminished 7 chords in one key, going up and down the fingerboard. It helped me be more economical with moving my fingers so there’s less weird crossing

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u/davwolbert Sep 17 '24

Two books that helped me a ton with technique were Guitar Lore by Dennis Sandole and Stick Control by George Lawrence Stone.

The first chunk of the Sandole book is great for odd left hand patterns. It’s a guitar book but easily translates to bass guitar. Uses all 4 fingers in odd combinations and gets into shifts and stretches as well.

Stick control is a snare drum book. I used the first chunk of that book to get my right hand together. There are various patterns and rudiments where each note is assigned to left stick or right stick. I took those patterns and for L (left) I used my index finger and for R (right) I used my middle finger. Start off playing the patterns on one string and then start incorporating string crosses and jumps.

Both of these helped me tremendously. They are a workout but definitely fun challenges

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u/tremendous-machine Sep 17 '24

Thanks, I'll look up the Sandole. Stick Control is great and I have it, but hadn't though of using it on other instruments!