Beginning Bass for Adults: Bass Guitar Book & CD

Overthrow designed this book specifically for adults returning to music, which means every page respects your time and musical maturity. The inclusion of blues, rock, reggae, and funk alongside technique work like slap and pop keeps the learning engaging and immediately applicable, while the pairing of standard notation with TAB removes a major barrier for self-taught players.

Approachable and purposeful. The writing feels like a patient mentor showing you the ropes without talking down to you, and the blend of blues grooves, rock pocket playing, and funk pocket techniques makes it feel productive immediately. You're not wading through abstract theory; you're learning actual songs and styles people listen to.

Adult beginners picking up bass for the first time or returning after years away from music. Whether you're learning independently or working with a private instructor, this book meets you where you are with clear examples, practical styles, and measured progression.

• Work through the recorded examples slowly at first, pausing the CD to practice each phrase in isolation before attempting to play along with the full demonstration.
• Pay close attention to the photographs and diagrams when learning slap and pop technique; positioning and finger angle are everything, and visual reference matters more than description alone.
• Choose one musical style (blues, rock, reggae, or funk) and master its fundamental bass lines before mixing styles, so the rhythmic and harmonic feel of each becomes muscle memory.
• Use the TAB alongside standard notation consistently, even if you already read well; this dual reinforcement accelerates fingerboard familiarity and builds confidence on the instrument.

Adult community music programs can use this as a core curriculum for a beginner bass class, especially one serving students who want to play in blues or rock ensembles. Private instructors can assign sections selectively to supplement group lessons or to accelerate self-directed learners.

• Reading standard notation and TAB notation on bass
• Playing major and minor scales across the neck
• Constructing and executing blues, rock, reggae, and funk bass lines
• Slap and pop technique fundamentals
• Understanding bass lines in groove and harmonic contexts