Joe Hubbard Authors Book on Functional Harmony

Joe Hubbard: Functional Harmonic ConceptsTop bassist and bass teacher Joe Hubbard (also a No Treble contributor) has released the book, Functional Harmonic Concepts.

Hubbard is known for his recording work with artists such as Mose Allison, George Benson and Dave Garabaldi and his instruction (The Who’s current bassist, the prolific Pino Palladino, was one of his students).

According to Hubbard, the 120-page book will help players understand major/minor tonal systems and learn more about chord constructions and relationships to both diatonic and non-diatonic harmony, as well as become grounded in the fundamentals of functional harmony. Ear-training drills (30 minutes of MP3 files) and learning a jazz repertoire (15 standards are harmonically analyzed) are also part of the package. Each chapter includes etudes and exercises, written with notation and TAB.

“I know that you might be saying that you already understand a little theory about harmony, but it’s really how deep you know these things that makes the difference on the bandstand,” Hubbard said.

Here’s a little bit more related to the book:

Functional Harmonic Concepts is available from the book’s website.

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  1. James

    I’m a big fan of Joe Hubbard and his teaching method but buying a book without seeing samples of what’s inside makes it a big mystery…

  2. barryabass

    I recommend taking his online course. The videos definitely put more explanation around each chapter.

  3. Basya

    Really great book!!! And great companion book for Mr. Hubbard’s Bassment course!

  4. Mike_DaDoo

    I only write songs with dysfunctional harmony.

  5. Fernando Yokota

    Hey! Can I find this book in Germany? In English would be ok.

  6. Mark

    I’m working through it now. Great book.