How To Play Bass - Learning From Geddy Lee Vol 1: An 80-20 Device Method Book For Bass Guitar

Excellent, delves into the bass playing style of one of rocks most innovative bassists.

I just bought my 3rd 80/20 book (Jamerson, Palladino and Geddy Lee). I have been playing for 40 years, have a music degree and can read well. For those who don't read, there is tabulature and video examples of each exercise. I think this method will actually help this who aren't great readers wespecially because it is all about constructing lines based upon scale degree, not necessarily reading particular notes. If this seems confusing, the books make it clear and are practical and easy to understand.I would suggest the James Jamerson book of Million Dollar Basslines as a starting point for beginners. Both of those books will get you well on your way to being a great bassist faster than any method I've seenI really wish that there had been such a series when I was learning. The books contain many things it took me years to figure out.The biggest difference that the books have made in my playing is that, instead of just mindlessly reading a line, I now analyze every bassline and think of it in a chord tone based notation such as R 3 4 Ch 5 notation. This allows you to play any line, in any key In the past, I would mainly think in this manner when playing jazz, walking basslines; outlining chords. After playing through some of the books I am more INTENTIONAL about how I construct lines and analyze each line I play.I was recently reading a couple of Stevie Wonder tunes and was able to analyze the genius of the lines:Such as "Superstition"R 8 b7 8 10 8 b7 5 b7 8It is also really nice that you can actually email the author of the book and he will answer you. That's amazing.

In this book, Paul shows various notes and rythms that Rush bassist Geddy Lee uses to navigate his way through chord progressions. The goal is not to make you sound like Geddy Lee (although if that's what your looking for it will help you get there). Instead, the idea is to show you the devices Lee uses to make his lines so great and to allow you to incorporate the ones you like best into your own style of playing.Instructive and fun. Another great bass manual from Wolfe.

I have only had a skim through the book and I think it will be a good read and very interesting to learn the development of Geddy Lee's style of playing bass even if you don't try to imitate it.

Paul’s books are great, and his online material (provided with the book) is top notch!