Bass Guitar Beginner Books

What Are The Best Bass Guitar Beginner Books?

IF you’ve just bought a bass or looking to learn bass guitar in a more structured way, then bass guitar beginner books are a great place to start.

While a bass guitar book on it’s own will never take the place of a bass guitar lessons with a bass teacher, there are some great bass books for beginners that will get you off and racing.

Check out our list of bass books that are suitable for beginners and it is an enjoyable way to learn bass guitar by book or pdf.

You’ll be playing beginner bass guitar songs in no time. Bass guitar starter packs usually contain everything you need to start playing straight away

Disclosure: Bear in mind that some of the bass for beginners book links in this post are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a commission. Keep in mind that I link these companies and their products because of their quality and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you.

Summary of Bass Guitar Beginner Books

You can get a quick preview of the bass guitar beginner books featured on this page. We’ll take a deeper look at each book further into the page.

Hal Leonard Bass Method – Complete Edition: Books 1, 2 and 3 Bound Together in One Easy-to-Use Volume!
by Ed Friedland
How to Play Bass Guitar in 14 Days: Daily Bass Lessons for Beginners (Play Guitar in 14 Days) by Michael Mueller
Music Theory for the Bass Player: A Comprehensive and Hands-on Guide to Playing with More Confidence and Freedom by Ariane Cap
Bass Guitar For Dummies, 3rd Edition by Patrick Pfeiffer
Bass Fretboard: Memorize The Fretboard In Less Than 24 Hours: 35+ Tips And Exercises Included by Guitar Head

These bass books for beginners are listed in no particular order, although the Hal Leonard Bass Method by Ed Friedland is an excellent start.

What Are The Best Bass Guitar Beginner Books?

1. Hal Leonard Bass Method

Ed Friedland has written a classic and timeless bass guitar instructional book. The Hal Leonard Bass Method – Complete Edition is designed for anyone just learning to play electric bass. The method described in this book is based on many years of Ed’s experience teaching students of all ages and contains sound teaching ideas to enable students to maintain enthusiasm and develop bass skills quickly.

Having used a variety of instructional materials over the years, the “Hal Leonard Bass Method-Complete Edition” by Ed Friedland stands out as a solid resource for beginners.

Here’s the lowdown from feedback by students who have bought and used the book

Pros:

Comprehensive Learning Tool: This book is effectively three volumes in one complete guide and covers a wide range of fundamental bass techniques. It’s ideal for beginners who need a clear path from simple lines to more complex playing styles.
Audio Support: The included audio tracks are invaluable for students who prefer to listen by ear. Listening to these examples helps clarify the text instructions and provides practical, listen-and-learn opportunities which are essential to grasp musical concepts.
Structured Lessons: The book is well-organized, introducing new concepts gradually, which builds confidence without overwhelming the learner. Each chapter builds logically on the last, reinforcing previous lessons and introducing new skills at a manageable pace.

Cons:

Physical Quality: Some reviewers have noted that the book’s binding could be more rugged. While the spiral binding is practical for laying the book flat during practice, it might not endure long-term wear and tear.
Digital Access Challenges: Accessing the online content can be tricky for some. Although this feature is meant to complement the learning experience, occasional issues with the website can hinder smooth progress.

Despite a few physical and digital access issues, the overall educational value of the “Hal Leonard Bass Method-Complete Edition” makes it a worthwhile investment for beginner bass players.

The methodical approach taken in this book helps demystify the early stages of learning bass, providing a solid foundation on which to build further skills.

2. Bass Fretboard: Memorize The Fretboard In Less Than 24 Hours

Have you been mindlessly memorizing every single note on the Bass fretboard – hoping to finally master it one day? Here’s the right way to do that…

Are you unable to play a bass solo because you don’t know how to navigate the fretboard?

Are you a beginner struggling to memorize every single note on the fretboard?

Have you been told that learning the fretboard takes years of practice?

Well, fret not – we’ve got just the thing for you. A one stop solution to decode the mysterious fretboard forever – in just 24 hours!

The book “Bass Fretboard: Memorize The Fretboard In Less Than 24 Hours” offers an intriguing approach to learning the bass fretboard quickly, using pattern recognition and memory techniques.

Here’s a review based on gathered insights:

Pros:

Efficiency: Promises rapid learning within 24 hours through innovative methods, ideal for those eager to start playing songs and scales quickly.
Supplementary Materials: Includes flash cards and printable sheets, enhancing the learning process.
Community Support: Access to a private community for ongoing support and questions.

Cons:

Ambitious Claims: The promise of mastering the fretboard in such a short time might be overstated for some learners, depending on their prior experience and learning pace.
Digital Dependency: Much of the learning resources are online, which might be a limitation for those preferring traditional learning methods or with inconsistent internet access.

Overall, this book could be a good asset for beginners looking for a fast-track method to understanding their instrument, albeit with realistic expectations about the depth of initial learning.

Bass Fretboard: Memorize The Fretboard In Less Than 24 Hours with 35+ Tips And Exercises Included in paperback form will start your journey to Bass Fretboard mastery.

3. Music Theory for the Bass Player

“Music Theory for the Bass Player” by Ariane Cap is a book highly regarded for its practical approach and comprehensive coverage of music theory from the perspective of a bassist. Here’s my review, drawing from various insights and professional experiences with the material:

Pros:

Comprehensive Scope: The book covers a broad range of topics from the basics of notes and scales to more complex concepts like chord progressions and modes, as detailed in its expansive table of contents (Barnes & Noble).
Practical Exercises: It includes numerous exercises and tests to solidify the theoretical concepts presented, making it highly interactive and beneficial for reinforcing learning.
Accessible to All Levels: Whether a novice without any music theory background or an experienced player, this guide offers valuable insights. It’s structured in a way that supports learning at any stage, making complex theories accessible and engaging.

Cons:

Density of Information: For some beginners, the depth and breadth of information might be overwhelming. The book packs a lot of content into its pages, which could require a slower, more methodical approach to fully grasp all the details.
Requires Commitment: The comprehensive nature of the book means that to get the most out of it, you must be willing to dedicate time and effort, which might be challenging for those looking for quick tips rather than in-depth study.

Overall, “Music Theory for the Bass Player” stands out as a valuable resource for bass players wanting to deepen their understanding of music theory and improve their playing skills. Its hands-on approach, coupled with clear explanations and practical exercises, make it a worthy addition to any musician’s library.

Included with this book are 89 videos that stream from the author’s blog (free).
This is a workbook, so have your bass and a pen ready to fill out the engaging Test Your Understanding questions! This version is revised for typos and to add video flags.

Have you always wanted to learn music theory but felt it was too overwhelming a task? Perhaps all the books seem to be geared toward pianists or classical players?

Do you know lots of songs, but don’t know how the chords are put together or how they work with the melody? If so, this is the book for you!

4. Bass Guitar For Dummies

Whether you’re new to the bass or already well into the groove, Bass Guitar For Dummies gives you the thorough balance of theory and practice that distinguishes the titanic Hall of Famer from the just so-so.

In Bass Guitar For Dummies , Patrick Pfeiffer—who coached U2’s Adam Clayton, among others—is your friendly guide to laying down the low end. Starting from the beginning with what bass and accessories to buy, the book shows you everything from how to hold and position your instrument to how to read music and understand chords.

If you searched for bass guitar for dummies pdf, consider buying this book as it comes with very useful audio and video multimedia files.

You’ll develop your skills step-by-step until you’re confident playing your own solos and fills.

Sharpen skills with instructional audio and video
Discipline your play with exercises
Understand chords, scales, and octaves
Care for your instrument

Having explored numerous evaluations for “Bass Guitar For Dummies” by Patrick Pfeiffer, I believe this guide is highly effective for someone just starting out on bass. The book is known for being particularly user-friendly, which is ideal if you’re new to musical instruments.

Pros:

User-Friendly: It’s designed to be approachable, making complex concepts accessible to beginners.
Versatile Content: Covers a wide range of styles and techniques, making it useful for various musical genres.
Bonus Resources: Comes with an audio CD which is extremely helpful for learning by ear.

Cons:

Breadth Over Depth: While it covers a lot, some suggest that it might not delve deeply into all topics, which could be a limitation if you’re looking to specialize.

Overall, if you’re starting your journey with the bass guitar, this book provides a solid foundation with resources that make learning engaging and practica

Whatever you’re playing—funk, soul, rock, blues, country—the bass is the heart of the band and this bass guitar beginner book will help you to develop your bass skills.

5. How to Play Bass Guitar in 14 Days: Daily Bass Lessons for Beginners

How to Play Bass Guitar in 14 Days: Daily Lessons for Beginners” is designed as a quick-start guide to mastering the bass.

It is presented in an easy-to-follow format and with free audio downloads or streaming, it will help you learn to play bass quickly.

The book simplifies learning with daily structured lessons that cover everything from basic fingerstyle techniques to more complex skills like slap-and-pop.

It’s well-regarded for the accompanying play-along audio tracks that enhance practice sessions.

Pros:

Structured Lessons – Straightforward daily lessons for progressive learning.
All Styles – Comprehensive coverage of fundamental bass techniques.
Play-along tracks for an interactive learning experience.

Cons:

Moves Fast – The fast-paced structure may be challenging for absolute beginners without prior musical knowledge.

This book is ideal for new bass players eager to get a fast start.

Michael Mueller has written an easy-to-follow beginning bass book methodically designed to teach you all the essential rhythms, scales, and techniques you’ll need to start playing your favorite songs!

Michael Mueller is an author, editor, and musician living in the Nashville area.

Why Bass Guitar Beginner Books?

Bass guitar beginner books assist students in understanding everything there is to know about the Bass Guitar. You should learn how to hold the guitar, the number of strings that it has, and how to read the music, to name a few. Many people looking at playing the bass guitar are very new to it. This is why bass guitar beginner books take the approach of you knowing nothing. You might be ahead of some of those that have never read any music in their lives, which is okay. You can skip that portion of the book and yet still get a lot of value out of it.

Bass guitar beginner books are an excellent way to learn a new instrument at your pace. There aren’t any lessons to make, and you don’t have to keep up with a pace that someone else sets. This is important for those that are self-driven but also have busy lives. Learning something new can be fun at any age, and having the right book to learn from can really help.

FAQs About Bass Guitar Beginner Books

There is some FAQ regarding the books and bass guitars in general.

What to learn on Bass?

While many people have an idea of how bass guitars work, they are not sure what they will learn from the books. You will learn the technique, music theory, get fretboard knowledge, learn songs, learn the feel/timing and improve your skills over time.

Is bass guitar harder to learn than the electric guitar?

Some people think that because there are only four strings on the bass, it would be easier than the six-string counterpart, but that isn’t the case. You still need to learn the technique, how to read music, and the rhythm.

How much time should I devote to practicing?

You can start with as little as 20 – 30 minutes a day. You should practice 2-3 hours a day if you are really serious about learning the instrument at a faster pace and getting all of the health and well-being benefits of playing an instrument. Practice regularly, depending on how much time you have to devote to it. Most of all, enjoy playing the bass. IT’s better to practice regularly with say, several shorter practice sessions, than one longer session on the weekend, for example.

Do I need to have an amp to play bass guitar?

No, you actually don’t have to have one if you are simply learning and playing for yourself. You can use guitar headphones, or even your computer can act as an amp. You can also find a small bathroom with good acoustics to practice in. This is a great way to learn bass guitar without disrupting the neighborhood.

Can you actually teach yourself bass guitar?

Of course! You will be playing bass guitar in no time with any of these books, especially if you practice. However, it is up to you to put in the time and effort needed to learn. Learning from bass guitar beginner books takes discipline and self-motivation. If that isn’t you, you might want to consider bass guitar lessons in-person to keep you accountable.

If you want to learn how to play an instrument, why not the bass guitar? Take a look at the various books and snippets to find an author you can relate to. This will allow you to have fun and learn at the same time.

Conclusion

If you are just getting started on the bass guitar and you want to get by without spending too much, then start with a solid general bass method book. Keep in mind though, that each new book / author has something different to teach you and will have a different teaching style.

Sometimes a bass guitar lessons for beginners pdf will help to get you started, but there is a genuine value to owning your own copy of one of these bass guitar beginner books. It’s nice to put it up on a music stand while you practice beginner bass guitar notes and exercises and because you paid some money for it, you’ll most likely value it more.

This will inspire you to practice from your bass guitar beginner books and you’ll be on your way to starting your collection of the best bass guitar books.

Generally, there is no wrong or right way to teach – there is just the best way that works for you. So, I’d recommend trying a few different bass guitar beginner books. Each book will contribute something to your bass journey and will provide good reference material in the future as your bass playing develops. They will also help you to play beginner bass guitar songs for extra enjoyment.

Good luck and have fun!

Search Bassic Training

🎸 "Struggling to Find Notes on Your Bass?"

Download Free Bass Guitar Fretboard Cheat Sheet

Bass Guitar Reviews

5-Lightweight-Bass-Guitars-for-Beginners-Reviewed

Share With Your Friends

About Bassic Training

Welcome to Bassic Training. I’m Jeremy, a professional bass guitarist from Australia. Our goal is to help you fast-track your progress and learn correct bass guitar technique and musicianship.