Bass Theory: The Electric Bass Guitar Player’s Guide to Music Theory

by John C. Goodman

As bass players we play accompaniment to songs and so it is essential that we understand songs, song structure, chord function, chord progressions and how chord progressions relate to melody and to basslines.Bass Theory provides an introduction to song structure as well as the basic elements of music theory, the layout of the bass fretboard; the structure of scales; the major, minor, pentatonic and other scales; keys; intervals; chord tones; major and minor chord structure; the Circle of Fifths; modes – and much, much more!Designed with those who do not read music in mind, Bass Theory covers everything you need to know to apply music theory to the electric bass guitar.

Genres: Music

201 pages, Paperback

Published November 22, 2017

Reviews

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

understandable theory

I have played bass guitar for twenty plus years- as in I have owned one and played it every now and then. I took lessons since guitar is my first instrument and I didn’t want to be the “guitarist playing bass.”
I have been intoxicated by the instrument. It has opened my ears and has made me look more into “why” bass does what it does.
Goodman is clear and concise in explaining the basics (no pun intended) of theory and how bass guitar uses it. The reason I gave this three stars is it is not thorough at all. It is light in examples, heavy on the theory. It gives only a few songs as examples… I’d like to see more examples and how theory is applied to them.
That being said it did open my mind to a few things. I’ve played with people and have a general ear for music… with bass I can lock into a rhythm and follow what other people are playing. I’d like to know WHY it works and how to apply it to songs.

[Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

By far the best end-to-end overview of music theory I've read