Comping Styles for Bass - Funk: Guitar Parts Included

Bruce Arnold

Dec 2010 · Mel Bay Publications

About this ebook

The ability to read, play, and make a convincing, consistent groove in a sixteenth note rhythm is one of the more formidable challenges facing a contemporary rhythm section player. This book attempts to address that challenge by supplying chord progressions with different syncopated rhythmic patterns. Practice of these exercises will lead to an understanding of the style, and ability to execute the rhythms common to funk. Comping Styles for Bass is a collection of 36 different progressions with both guitar and bass parts written out, so a bass player can see what the guitar is doing and also get used to reading bass parts in a funk style. It includes a online audio which demonstrates the progressions in a trio setting of guitar, bass, and drums. It is a useful tool for learning to interact with a rhythm section. Includes access to online audio.

About the author

Bruce Arnold was born in Sioux Falls and began his music training at the nearby University of South Dakota. After three years of study, he transferred to the Berklee College of Music. While there, he received the Harris Stanton Award for "Outstanding Guitarist Of The Year" before graduating with a Bachelor of Music degree in Composition. His education continued with studies in improvisation and composition under Charlie Banacos and Jerry Bergonzi. Bruce was also honored with Berklee's "Outstanding Teacher Of The Year" award in 1984. He is also the first guitarist to take full advantage of Supercollider, an object- oriented computer software program developed for digital sound processing, in live performance. He also performs regularly with Roberta Piket's "Alternating Current," and "The Jamie Begian Big Band." In addition, Bruce has collaborated with Joe Pass, Joe Lovano, Randy Brecker, Peter Erskine, Stuart Hamm, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and "The Absolute Ensemble" under the baton of Kristjan Jarvi. As an educator, Bruce has taught at some of the most prestigious music schools in America, including the New England Conservatory of Music, Dartmouth College, and The Berklee College of Music. He presently teaches at Princeton University, New York University, and the New School. Upon his arrival at NYU, he set about improving the music program and instituted NYU's first-ever sight-reading curriculum for jazz guitarists. He also maintains a busy private instruction practice. After becoming aware of serious gaps in conventional music education texts, Bruce was driven to rectify the problem. He is now the author of over 40 music instruction books, many of which are best- sellers at Amazon.com and elsewhere. In them, he covers important aspects of theory and the mastery of high- performance skills. His methods are ideal for students of all levels, from dedicated beginners to advanced musicians with professional goals.