The Couch Potato Bass Workout: Bass Guitar Book

This book meets bass students exactly where they are: in front of a screen with limited time and no excuses. Rather than pretend practice happens in a concert hall, Horne designs exercises that work in real life, with real distractions, and delivers the technical gains anyway. The endorsement from Bass Player magazine confirms what the title promises: solid pedagogy wrapped in permission to practice imperfectly.

Practical and encouraging. Horne strips away the mystique of "serious" practice and replaces it with smart, accessible exercises that fit your actual life. The tone is irreverent but never dismissive; you're building real technique, just without the formality.

Any bassist who practices at home and wants to build speed and strength without treating the couch like a guilty secret. This book works for students of all levels who are ready to stop apologizing for casual practice sessions and start maximizing them.

• Set up your couch seat with proper back support and arm positioning before running through exercises; posture matters even when you're relaxed.
• Start with the finger mechanics drills before tackling the full licks; building extensors and flexors first prevents strain during longer sessions.
• Use a footrest or ottoman to keep your bass at a consistent playing angle, preventing fatigue that makes you quit early.
• Pair exercises with low-volume playing or headphones if your household includes non-musicians; technique work doesn't demand full amp volume.

Recommend this to young students who practice inconsistently at home. The book removes barriers to regular playing and builds habit through incremental, low-stress repetition. It's also valuable for intermediate players in a jazz or rock program who want to strengthen finger independence without adding another formal practice routine.

• Left-hand finger strength and independence (extensors and flexors)
• Speed development in scalar and technical passages
• Right-hand accuracy and consistency
• Ergonomic awareness and injury prevention
• Sustaining focus during short, focused practice sessions