As to the book itself then briefly:
Why I compiled this book
First published in 1990 Head to Head was
one of the biggest if not the biggest selling bass guitar tutor book in the UK
at the time. It also sold many additional copies worldwide.
Recently revised and updated it is designed for all bass players, from beginners to those professionals familiar with techniques such as slapping, double-thumbing, right hand damping, pick playing, finger picking and popping. The idea behind the exercises is to promote strength fluidity of playing and stamina – a kind of aerobics for bass. Mark King, Chris Squire, Jaco Pastorius, Victor Wooten and the boys show the effortless flashy brilliance that comes from correct fingering over the fretboard and constant strengthening of the muscles using exercises similar to those in this book. These will prevent any stiffness and loss of ‘feel’ due to dragging through tiredness. Exercises will also prevent speeding into changes – choruses, or that ‘good bit’ that wows punters at a gig – know what I mean? Sure you do. Timing faults also come when changing from slap to fingering mid-riff, and I aim to cure that too!
I have used Mark King’s bass lines as
examples for many of the exercises however this book is not to help you play
like him, me or any of the others mentioned, but solely to help you play like
you……better.
What is in it:
Over 200 exercises, more than 100
with full TAB, many with left and right hand fingering, featuring riffs by Mark King of Level
42 and warm-up exercises used by many of the world’s best bass
players.These can all be played with fingers, a pick, slap or your thumb.
Enjoy!
Published by Speedbird K-K Publications
email: speedbirdkk@gmail.com
Steve Kemp King,
still a working musician
— nothing more, nothing less.
