Billy Sheehan: Advanced Bass: Bass Guitar Book & DVD

This is one of the rare instructional resources that comes directly from a bassist who actually pioneered these techniques rather than someone writing about them secondhand. The DVD format paired with the book means you see Sheehan's hands in motion alongside the notation, which makes the difference between reading about neck bends and pinch harmonics versus understanding how they actually happen.

Sheehan's world is one of precision and control applied to create sounds that shouldn't be possible from a four-string instrument. Learning these techniques opens doors to expressing ideas with a level of articulation and color that traditional bass playing simply cannot match.

Intermediate to advanced bass guitarists ready to expand beyond standard fingerstyle and pick technique. This is for students who have solid reading skills, good technique fundamentals, and the discipline to work through challenging material deliberately rather than casually.

• Start with the fundamentals of hand position and muting before attempting tapping or harmonics. Sheehan's advanced techniques depend on a solid foundation; rushing into the flashy material will create bad habits.
• Use the DVD to watch Sheehan's right-hand technique in detail. Audio alone won't show you the subtle angle and pressure adjustments that make pinch harmonics speak clearly.
• Practice neck bends slowly at first, focusing on intonation and sustain. The goal is not speed but control and musicality; many students default to sloppy bending under pressure.
• Isolate each technique and integrate it into simple bass lines before combining multiple techniques in one passage. Building vocabulary this way sticks better than trying to play show pieces too early.

Assign this as a supplement to students working toward more sophisticated arrangements or original compositions where extended bass techniques enhance the sonic landscape. It also works well for advanced ensembles where the bassist needs specific sounds (like harmonics or tapping patterns) to realize the composer's intent.

• Neck bending with accurate intonation and controlled sustain
• Tapping technique on fretboard and body for percussive and melodic effects
• Pinch harmonics at various positions and string combinations
• Extended range playing and upper-fretboard navigation
• Sight-reading and interpreting advanced notation for unconventional techniques
• Hand independence and muting control required for technical passages