Marcos Machado Expands Tao of Bass with Scale Method Book: “Not a Fingering Manual”
Double bass guru Marcos Machado undoubtedly has some of the best technique in the world. He has shared his wisdom in a series of method books called Tao of Bass, and now he’s sharing even more.
Machado has just released a revised edition of Tao of Bass Volume 1, which focuses on left-hand technique. The new edition adds an appendix with new exercises and explanations of the pivot, fan, and Pianistic Cross-Motion techniques. Volume 1 now has over 250 pages to bolster your left hand.
Additionally, he has launched Tao of Bass Volume 2: Scales, Arpeggios, Chromatic Exercises. Dubbed the “Black Book of Scales,” the book is more than a list of fingerings.
“Rather than listing every key and permutation, this volume introduces systems—frameworks designed to enhance musicality, dexterity, and technical clarity,” Machado explains. “Not a fingering manual, this book encourages bassists to explore and adapt, using the material as a guide to develop their own solutions. Inside, you’ll find tools to map the fingerboard with precision and imagination, covering shifting, intervals, modal frameworks, and more.”
With nearly 500 pages of exercises, the book can seem daunting. However, Machado breaks it down into 13 chapters, beginning with “Basics” and “Shifts,” and eventually works up to his systems for scales, modes, and arpeggios.
In this clip, he demonstrates an exercise and then applies it to a piece of repertoire: Glière’s “Tarantella”.
Both volumes of Tao of Bass are available now through Machado’s website in either paperback or digital editions. While they were developed for the double bass, Machado tells us that they can be applied to the electric bass as well. Volume 1 is available for $75 while Volume 2 goes for $99. Machado will be on hand at the International Society of Bassists Convention in Tallahasse, Florida on June 4th for its official release.
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.
