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The practice workbook for the mastery of the 4, 5, and 6-string electric bass guitar
For
all levels
THIRD EDITION (REVISION 2) OUT NOW!
INTRODUCTION
The term “Riyaz” comes from India where it means the all-embracing
art of practice, with all its associated ritual, discipline, teacher-mentorship
and sheer hard work. There are countless stories about the superhuman dedication
and energy put into Indian musicians’ practice regimes in order to achieve
virtuosic levels of artistry.
Bass Riyaz takes a wholistic approach to the development of craft on the electric
bass guitar. It is necessary and part of the course of this book to touch on
the philosophical, psychological, and physical aspects necessary to master
oneself and one’s instrument. I hope that Bass Riyaz serves not only
as a reference book kept on your bookshelf, but as a workbook that is a companion
in your practice room every day.
The broad
range of topics contained herein are relevant to musicians of any instrument,
and so I encourage non-bassists to dig into these concepts and see if the meaning
of “Riyaz” comes through to them also.
ABOUT
"BASS RIYAZ"
Eight years
in the making, this book is the culmination of years of teaching at University
and also from my private studio. Begun in India and inspired from the rigours
of studying Indian music, this book is 289 pages long. Over 87 pages
of musical examples and dozens of illustrations and photographs support the text.
The book is professionally laser-printed in black and white, and spiral
bound with front and back covers.
REVIEWS
" Jonathan
Dimond has put a lot of thought into this book. He covers a lot of ground
practically and conceptually, and presents it all
in a very organized fashion."
Reviewed
by John Patitucci.
(January, 2006)
"In
a world completely lacking decent educational materials based on the subject
of the
electric bass, this workbook is a welcome present for
anyone wishing to improve their skills as a bassist. While reading through
the 18 chapter, 289 page book, I couldn’t help wonder how long it must
have taken Jonathan to put it together. A little research gave me my answer:
eight years. It covers conventional subjects such as warming up and chord/scale
relationships but also dives into other subjects that you will not find anywhere
else. You will find a chapter dedicated to polyrhythms, paying special attention
to the "Yati," an Indian polyrhythmic technique. Other chapters of
interest focus on various topics such as motivic development, ear training,
microtonal notation and natural and artificial harmonics. From basic subjects
such using a metronome and performance pointers to complex ones such as syncopation
and polyrhythms, this workbook is something you can use for years and years
regardless of your current playing level. Filled with examples, photos and
transcriptions, it is very well worth the price. No subject has been left uncovered."
Reviewed by Chris
Juergensen, Director of Education – Tokyo School
of Music, Abiku
Records recording artist. (September, 2005)
"I looked at your book and was thoroughly impressed with this
vast body of well researched work. This work is certainly a great addition
to the knowledge base of the modern bassist."
Reviewed
by Kai Eckhardt. (July 2006)
"Those of you who know me, know that I have been a long-time “bass book geek”. I have an exhaustive collection of some of the best (concept, user-friendly, real lessons) bass books that have been published over the past 25 years. Having said this… I have finally found Bass Riyaz, written by the incredibly visionary bassist/multi-instrumentalist Jonathan Dimond. Jonathan gently guides the music student through the potentially dangerous musical maze beyond Western Music into the fertile environment ofrealWorld Music! By following his caring guidance the student will learn the importance of counting methods used in Indian Classical music and how to apply them to deep, cyclical grooves. Within a week of studying this book, it had become my momentary favorite – toppling the hierarchy of several books I have faithfully studied for YEARS! This is deep learning, folks! Very few music books (let alone bass books) are written as well asBass Riyaz! I found myself drawn into the lessons almost immediately, and I continue to enjoy my time in this cool and peaceful learning place.
If
you, as an ever-seeking music student, need to locate the next important
juncture in your development… I strongly recommend Bass Riyaz.
I contend this book is the “next greatest thing” in learning
a deeper meaning of groove! Check out Jonathan at this website!"
Reviewed
by Brent-Anthony
Johnson. (June 2007)
HOW
TO PURCHASE "BASS RIYAZ"
This
book is now available for purchase. The cost is $44.95 US,
or $57 AUD, plus postage
and handling. There are three ways to purchase: You can pay by check,
credit card via PayPal,
or visit a store that stocks
my book.
BASSICS MAGAZINE FEATURES BASS RIYAZ
 |
I am honored to appear in the latest edition of Bassics magazine in the USA. A track from my latest CD appears on the accompanying CD alongside the music of Chick Corea, Marc Johnson and Jaco Pastorius. Also, excerpts from Bass Riyaz are in the magazine. |
NEW BOOK BASED ON BASS RIYAZ
 |
I have just released a new book. "Articulations for Bass" is built around one chapter of my greater book "Bass Riyaz", and serves as an affordable introduction to this parent book. It is available
in print form and electronic download via |
EXCERPTS
FOR PREVIEW
I have some excerpts
available for on-line preview, below. Click on each chapter hyperlink
to view a 2-page spread from the start of each chapter.
(Click BACK
on your
browser to return to this page.) Alternatively, you can preview
them all at once. (This is a larger file - about 2.5MB).
All the files are in PDF format.
If you don't have Acrobat Reader, click here: 
EXCERPTS FOR PREVIEW
Quick Preview of all chapters (2.5MB)
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 - Introduction
• Acknowledgments • About the author
Chapter 2 - WarmingUp
• Tuning up • Creating the sound • Bass posture • Basic hand position • Right hand
warm up • Left hand warm up • Left hand-Right hand synchronization
• Walking bass lines • Techniques for constructing walking bass lines
Chapter 3 - Working with a Metronome
Chapter 4 - Speed
• Surface speed • Left hand agility • Right hand agility • Left hand-Right hand synchronization
Chapter 5 - Polyrhythm
• Definition of terms • Polyrhythm mathematics: How to make any
polyrhythm • Three-layer polyrhythms • Polyrhythm calculation within
prescribed timeframes • Non-hitting polyrhythms • Table of time • Rests • Mathematical
formulas for tempo calculation • Ratios and surface speed • Yati • Practice
plan
Chapter 6 - Time
Feel
• Lock and groove • Pushing and dragging • Practice plan
Chapter
7 - Chord-Scale
Relationships
• Chord chart • Chord-scale chart • Modes of the major scale • Modes
of the pentatonic scale • Modes of the melodic minor scale • Modes
of the harmonic minor scale • Other scales: synthetic scales • Practice
plan
Chapter 8 - Motivic
Development
• Elements of form • What is a motive? • Techniques for developing
motives • Practice plan
Chapter 9 - Summary
of Articulations
• Miscellaneous exercises • Templates
Chapter 10 - Ear
Training
• Practice plan
Chapter 11 - Repertoire
Chapter 12 - How to Practice
Chapter 13 - Flow
Chapter 14 - Bass
Physiology
• Breeds of electric bass • Components of the bass • Questions
to ask yourself • Choosing strings • Maintaining strings • Fitting
strings • Setting up your bass • Types of amplifier and speaker • Equalization • Maintaining
your bass and amplifier
Chapter 15 - Performance
Pointers
• Physical setup • The signal chain • Being prepared for
the gig • Being professional
Chapter 16 - Harmonics
• What are harmonics? • The harmonic series • How to sound
a harmonic • Notating harmonics • Harmonic chart • Intonation
and microtones • Frequency/pitch
chart • Artificial harmonics • Practice
plan
Chapter 17 - The
6-string Bass
• Choosing a 6-string bass • Right hand technique • Left
hand technique • Special exercises • Playing chords
Chapter 18
- Slap
• Slap techniques • Practice plan
Glossary
• Definitions
and terminology • Rhythmic terminology
JOIN
THE BASS RIYAZ USERS GROUP
To be kept
abreast of developments and to join related discussions subscribe
to the Bass Riyaz Users Group. You can unsubscribe at
any time.
VISIT
THE BASS RIYAZ USERS FORUM
This new forum has
just begun and I welcome new discussions.
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Take a look at my bass page also!