This is a very good book for beginners, near beginners, and early intermediates looking for basic, fundamental, usable bass lines. All 101 patterns are recorded note-for-note on an electric bass on the companion CD.

The phrase “Latin” refers to any straight-time song with perhaps a bit of syncopation tossed in. For example, “Under the Boardwalk” is a popular song that has a Latin beat. “Blue Bayou” is another. Of course, all of Santana’s material is “Latin.” But the description “Latin” refers to the beat of the music, not necessarily the ethnicity of the song or performer.

It’s probably safe to say that twenty or thirty percent of all popular songs are played to a Latin beat. That is why this book is so valuable. The fundamentals taught here are applicable to thousands of songs.

In addition to the 101 patterns, the book includes a generous amount of supplemental information, such as “How to create variations for chord progressions,” and “Chord progressions for practice.” These lessons enable the student to practice applying the bass lines to typical chords and progressions.

More experienced players might look at “The Latin Bass Book” or “Afro-Cuban Bass Grooves,” which are designed for bassists who have already mastered the fundamentals
Rating: 5 / 5