Marek Bero Publishes “Bass Gym: 101 Position Exercises”
Marek Bero is back with a new set of exercises in his Bass Gym 101 series. The eleventh book in the line focuses on position exercises with a progressive series of lessons to get you all over the fingerboard.
“In writing this book, my intention was to write fun, practical, and, above all, inspiring exercises that will guide the student through the various positions on the fretboard,” Bero explains. “The bass guitar’s fretboard is divided into four zones (or positions, if you prefer): from the open strings to the third fret (1st position), from the third to the sixth fret (2nd position), through the sixth to the ninth fret (3rd position) and finally from the ninth to the twelfth fret (4th position). In the second half of the book you will learn how to combine positions, and by the time you have completed all 101 exercises you should have a very detailed and effective knowledge of the fretboard from the open strings to the twelfth fret – this is the area in which the vast majority of the basslines you know so well from popular songs or musical styles take place.”
The exercises, written in standard notation and TAB, are designed to help you play a variety of musical styles, including walking bass, hip hop, pop, rock, punk, ska, metal, Afro-Cuban, funk, reggae, country, and more.
“As the book is primarily aimed at beginner and intermediate players, you won’t find any of the more demanding techniques such as hammer ons, pull offs, trills etc,” the author adds. “However, each exercise has been written for a specific playing situation and is immediately applicable to music practice. I’ve paid close attention to melody, clear phrasing and of course playability. Each of these exercises will challenge your attention and memory as you repeat them.”
Bass Gym: 101 Position Exercises is now available on paperback through Amazon.
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
