FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the book Contemporary Bassist

Here, directly from Titian's PC, is a collection of the main answers to questions about the method that we have received over the years.

These are all real questions, obviously removing the names, but those interested will be able to recognise themselves. We have tried to answer them in a comprehensive manner to clarify possible doubts and perplexities.

Basically, all questions actually encapsulate a couple of them. The first is: "Is this book for me... or not?". The second, "Will this book get me the results I want?"

With these answers, we hope we can help you understand if this is the book you are looking for.

Happy reading!

 

D. Good evening maestro, does the method you made have tablatures or just notes?

R. The Contemporary Bassist method is aimed at bassists who want to understand what they are playing (in terms of harmony, scales, arrangement, etc.). Bassists who want to understand how music works and not just the technique of the instrument.

This is why he does not use tablature, because tabs give a very limited approach to bass playing. In fact, tabs lead bass players to read numbers, but without understanding the true harmonic and rhythmic concepts of what they are playing.

But if you don't know the notes, don't worry: in a couple of weeks, with practice, you will learn them easily.

 

D. I am already a musician. I can do practically all the main scales (major, minor, harmonic, pentatonic). I also play in a rock cover band. Will volume 1 be OK or is it better to go straight to volume 2? I wouldn't want Bassist 1 to reintroduce me to scales or exercises that I already know how to do.

R. Volume 2 only works if you have done Volume 1, regardless of your years of experience with music. Incidentally, the course is not one of the usual 'booklets' on the market with things scattered here and there in a superficial way. The two books are a complete course of 50 lessons in order of progressive difficulty.

The topics in Volume 1 link directly to those in Volume 2. If you do not clearly address some of the lessons in Volume 1 (e.g. Lessons 1-6, 12, 15, 17), you can only get 30-40 % of the possibilities in Volume 2. If you cannot afford to buy both, start with the first one. Work on it for at least three to four months, then go for volume 2 with the confidence that you will get 100 % of its value.

 

D. How much time should I devote to volume 1?

R. If you work at it seriously for 1 hour every 2 days, you should be able to do the 25 lessons in about 25 weeks (i.e. one a week). In a few months you will find that you have a clarity on how to use the bass guitar technically and musically that you can't even imagine now. Spend your time well by studying really strategic things if you want to become a good musician!!!

 

D. I am about to buy a new bass. Having always played with a '4-string', I've decided to go straight to a '6-string' bass. Is there a special study method for the 6-string, or is the 'Contemporary Bassist' effective all the same?

R. I have consulted hundreds of bass guitar methods and none of them address the 6-string seriously. As you know, I've been playing since 1992 and I can assure you that there are no difficulties in going from 4 to 6. The important thing is to study the 4 well, then with a couple of months you adapt to the 6.

The Contemporary Bassist is dedicated to the 4-string because it is the ideal instrument to start with. However, if you use a 6-string you can work with my method on the middle strings and develop most of the exercises on the other two strings. The 6 has many advantages in terms of extension and expressive possibilities (chords, faster technique...). It only has one problem: when you have to change strings you have to spend more!

 

D. I am a keyboard player and former drummer and would like to learn the bass guitar, my latest musical passion, using a good method. Is Contemporary Bassist for me?

R. If you are interested in approaching the bass in a complete and confident way, the Contemporary Bassist method is certainly the best you can find around. You are a musician and therefore know perfectly well that in addition to instrumental technique, it is also important to delve into the mechanisms on which music is based, especially if you want to play with others. This method, which is giving unimaginable results to hundreds of people, explains and makes you practise the frames and scaffolding on which all music is built, regardless of genre and style. Now all you need to do is get started.

 

D. Over the years I have purchased several bass guitar methods, but of these I have not particularly liked the application part, which in fact reduces them to mere examples of riffs. In order to be able to assess whether Maestro Tiziano Zanotti's texts might be right for me, I would like to understand a little more about his way of applying theory to the practical part.

R. In Contemporary Bassist the theoretical approach is treated in parallel with its practical application on the instrument. Any element is explained on a theoretical level and immediately afterwards applied to the instrument. Obviously you have to study it very carefully and consistently!

 

D. Do you recommend other methods of developing specific technical elements on the electric bass alongside the Contemporary Bassist?

R. By far the most complete method on the market for technique, theory, bass lines, reading, accompaniment improvisation, ear training, rhythms and polyrhythms. All topics are introduced and developed in a logical and progressive manner, so the only thing you have to do is open the book at lesson 1 and do everything up to lesson 25. That's all you need.

 

D. I recently switched to the 6-string bass. Currently there are no texts on the market (apart from a couple of booklets) that specifically deal with a complete study method for the 6-string bass, since in fact the principles of the 4-string are perfectly applicable to the 6-string as well. I wanted to know if the Contemporary Bassist texts cover theory, examples and staves with the 6th and 1st strings in mind?

R. The Contemporary Bassist method is basic for the 4-string, but all the concepts are extendable to the 5 or 6-string. The only exception is the reading part, which is specific to the 4-string. On the other hand, the a priori reading method also develops the B bass and C treble strings in detail, so it is also good for the 5 and 6 strings.

 

D. Why is Reading Book 1 handwritten rather than printed? Isn't it tiring to read?

R. Even if you are not convinced right away, you will find that the Reading Book was specially made in manuscript. All the effort you put in now to decipher the 'handwriting' by hand will become an advantage later when you have to read real printed music. It would also have been much more comfortable for me to write everything directly with Finale, but over the years I realised that the Reading Book must be handwritten, because it is much more effective in terms of the results you get.

 

D. I'm a beginner and have just started studying with the Contemporary Bassist 1 method. When is the right time to start the Reading book as well?

R. Ideally, you should work exclusively with the Contemporary Bassist up to lesson 20. From lesson 20 also introduce the Reading book. If you anticipate the time, you risk too much effort because you have not yet developed the necessary skills to be able to read with ease.

 

D. I play the bass, an instrument that I have been passionate about for a long time. Unfortunately what you don't do when you're young, you certainly can't do when you're not. I don't know the music, I bought contemporary bassist 1 and 2 and I find it difficult for me. So I would like to know if there is anything, maybe a dvd, where they show the various exercises practically.

R. Of course, there is the online course. Pretty much all the videos of each lesson, topic by topic. You can find all the information on this page: www.bassistacontemporaneo.it/bassista-contemporaneo-online/. I advise you to work patiently on the book by signing up for the online course. It will be very easy to continue.

Keep in mind that I have had pupils (direct and indirect) who even at the age of 60 and over have managed to achieve great results with this method. At our age, we know that things come slowly and with an extra week of maturing you have greater satisfaction. In short, take your time to get the results you deserve.

 

D. Can the method also be purchased by cash on delivery?

R. Yes, by purchasing it online via the Borsari strumenti musicali website.