Bass Player

Bass Player is the world's most comprehensive, trusted and insightful bass publication for passionate bassists and active musicians of all ages. Each issue delivers the latest tips and techniques that are guaranteed to make you a better player.

WELCOME • How do you outdo a classic album like Led Zeppelin IV, 50 years later?

Bass Player

SPACE ROCK • Rick Armstrong, bassist and son of the late astronaut Neil Armstrong, releases Infinite Corridors with his band Edison’s Children, and tells BP about his journey into the final frontier of the low end...

Rocket Science • Ampeg introduces the Rocket Bass Series.

Love Lines • A great bass-line in 85 words

Booked In

WILL POWER • Ever had a bass die during a gig? Will Palmer has...

IN THE Groove JOHNNY CASH : JOHNNY CASH WITH HIS HOT AND BLUE GUITAR! (SUN, 1957) • Each month, we celebrate a classic, bass-loaded album. Has it stood the test of time?

Billy Sherwood

I WAS THERE! A historic moment in bass world—recalled by those who were there to see it • Twenty-eight years ago, Rage Against The Machine release their self-titled debut album, and a generation of angry kids gets into metal...

RE-LEARN YOUR REPERTOIRE • Return to live performance at full strength!

FRETBOARD RADIUS EXPLAINED • It’s back to school with Professor R. Elrick.

EXPLORE II-V-I PATTERNS

FOUR of the BEST • It’s 50 years this year since Led Zeppelin released their immense fourth album, cementing their position in music history and inspiring the playing of a million guitar-shop visitors. The band’s Quiet One, bassist John Paul Jones , was on astounding form throughout: Half a century since that high point, we revisit his bass parts and ask how it was that JPJ became the leading rock bassist of his generation...

Behind The Symbols • Stuart Clayton analyses the bass playing on Led Zeppelin IV, song by song

Gearography • Ever wondered which basses, amps and effects JPJ has used over the years? Dan Veall digs out a prime selection

SMOOTH OPERATOR • Carlos Santana’s long-time bassist Benny Rietveld reflects on a career at the front line of expression

NEW ROSE • With his new album, Two Roses, Israeli upright bassist Avishai Cohen achieves a career high. We meet the master

INSPIRED NOTES • Bassist and songwriter Lena Morris on the catalyst that sent her into the low frequencies

PUTT IT THERE • We meet the veteran jazz bassist—and occasional James Bond adversary — Putter Smith.

LEVEL HEADED • Behold an exclusive extract from Level 42—On Track by author and bassist Matt Phillips . Here, Matt recalls the making of ‘Lessons In Love’, the song that took Mark King and his band into the stratosphere, all the way back in 1986...

ALL’S FAIR • You know Richard Fairbrass as the frontman of Right Said Fred, who first came to fame with 1991’s ‘I’m Too Sexy’ single—but we dig deeper into his history as a bass player with, among others, David Bowie

UPRIGHT CITIZEN • Fumi Tomita on the road to jazz mastery

CLASSIC LOWS • Helen Storer of Hexandagger and Workshed hails the punk rockers

MARCUS MILLER • In every issue, we bring you a noteworthy interview from the bass vaults, from far-off times when gigs were plentiful and a virus meant no more than a day in bed. This month: Marcus Miller, interviewed in 2012

Beginner's Tip • Advice from the man himself on how to get started on slap bass

Pro Tip • The mighty Miller’s advice for advanced bassists

TURNER PORTRAIT • The Atlanta-based rock quintet Blackberry Smoke return with a new album, You Hear Georgia. Bassist Richard Turner explains the thinking behind the big tones

GEAR Reviews • Welcome to our expert...