How to Play Upright Bass Instructional Book

Learn how to play the Upright Bass with this easy to follow instructional book and audio CD. Andy Howald will teach the absolute basics of this instrument which is also known as a Bass Violin, Double Bass, Standup Bass, Contrabass, String Bass, or Acoustic Bass. Learn the beginning concepts and techniques that every bassist needs to know.
Upright Bass Primer Book and Audio CD by Andy Howald is an instructional book that focuses on the beginning player and emphasizes proper playing technique. The book will guide the student through learning parts of the bass, proper playing position, tuning the bass, right and left hand technique, marking the positions, how to read tablature, playing notes, how to play with other instruments, and will also teach several songs. The book focuses on playing in a folk or bluegrass style and will teach the beginner how to play several bluegrass standards. Receive a $2 discount when you buy the Book and DVD. $14.95

Upright Bass Primer Contents:

  • Parts of the Bass
  • Playing Condition
  • Holding the Bass
  • Right Hand Position
  • Tuning
  • Left Hand Technique
  • Finger Placement
  • Fingering Positions
  • Marking Positions
  • Tablature
  • Playing Notes
  • Chords
  • Muting
  • Playing Songs
  • Practice Tips

Featured Songs:

  • Tom Dooley
  • 3 Chord Song
  • Going Down That Road
  • Soldier's Joy
  • Nine Pound Hammer
  • Sitting On Top of the World
  • He's Got the Whole World
  • Dark Hollow
  • Going Down that Road Version 2
  • Bass Walks
  • Pretty Polly
  • Reuben's Train
  • John Hardy
  • Cryin Holy
  • Little Maggie
  • Pallet on Your Floor
  • Wabash Cannonball
  • Way Downtown
From wikipedia:

"The string bass is the most commonly-used bass instrument in bluegrass music and is almost always plucked, though some modern bluegrass bassists have also used a bow. The bluegrass bassist is part of the rhythm section, and is responsible for keeping a steady beat, whether fast, slow, in 4/4 time, 2/4 or 3/4 time. The Englehardt or Kay brands of plywood laminate basses have long been popular choices for bluegrass bassists. Most bluegrass bassists use the 3/4 size bass, but the full and 5/8 size basses are also used.

Early pre-bluegrass music was often accompanied by the cello, which was bowed as often as plucked. Some contemporary bluegrass bands favor the electric bass in an effort to avoid transporting a very large yet delicate instrument on road trips and tours, but it has a different musical quality than the plucked upright bass. The upright bass' slower attack and its percussive, woody tone gives a more "earthy" or "natural" sound than an electric bass, particularly when gut strings are used.

Common rhythms in bluegrass bass playing involve (with some exceptions) plucking on beats 1 and 3 in 4/4 time; beats 1 and 2 in 2/4 time, and on the downbeat in 3/4 time (waltz time). Bluegrass bass lines are usually simple, typically staying on the root and fifth of each chord throughout most of a song. There are two main exceptions to this "rule". Bluegrass bassists often do a diatonic "walkup" or "walkdown" in which they play every beat of a bar for one or two bars, typically when there is a chord change. In addition, if a bass player is given a solo, they may play a walking bass line with a note on every beat or play a pentatonic scale-influenced bassline."