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 • We asked you who the greatest bassists of all time are. You answered.

Bass Player

SNAKE RATTLE AND ROLL • Veteran rockers Whitesnake announce their new bassist

ROBBIE SHAKESPEARE RIP

Big Notes

Pine Time

As They Are

TOOL BOX • Justin Chancellor announces signature Dunlop Cry Baby Wah

IN THE Groove THE BEATLES , THE BEATLES (APPLE, 1968) • Every month, a noted bassist pays tribute to an album that influenced them. Here, Enuff Z’Nuff bassist Chip Z’Nuff salutes the Beatles’ self-titled ‘White Album’ of 1968

Chris Childs • Thunder’s bassist reviews five career-defining albums.

I WAS THERE! • A historic moment in bass world—recalled by those who were there to see it

CONSIDER AESTHETICS • Let’s look our best when we perform on stage.

THE ACOUSTICS OF BASS • What resonates inside your bass?

EXPLORE CONCEPTS IN 3/4 TIME

THE 100 GREATEST BASSISTS • Last summer, we asked you to nominate the GOAT Bass Player in a series of musical categories. An unprecedented 100,000 votes later, let’s see who you chose!

THE PIONEERS • The musicians who first brought bass to the forefront: We owe them everything

JAZZ AND FUSION • Your Top 10 jazz and fusion bassists are revealed below. Raise a glass! It’s a tricky category, of course, because so many jazz legends appear in our Pioneers poll—but you catch our drift, right? If a jazz-related great isn’t in either of these two categories, we’ll want to know why.

SOUL, FUNK AND DISCO • The masters of the groove... and the dancefloor

BLUES AND BEYOND • Bassists from the world of traditional music, including blues, country, gospel and folk, saluted.

SESSION BASSISTS • Hats off to the players who make their producers happy! Of course, many bandmembers play sessions and many session bassists join bands, but for the best of those who are most prolific in the studio, read on...

ROCK… BEFORE 1980 • They were there first—and they liked it loud.

POST-1980 ROCK • Punk, new wave and beyond

METAL • The headbanging starts here

WORLD BASSISTS • Reggae, ska, dub, Indian, and African music: The term ‘world music’ doesn’t come close to covering the work of these amazing bass players.

THE FUTURE • Who’s pushing our instrument forward, whether on stage or online? You told us...

GEAR Reviews • Welcome to our expert road-tests of state-of-the-art bass gear

DINGWALL D-Roc Standard 5 and Hellboy • Mike Brooks tests two diabolical Dingwall fives, one of them a Darkglass-loaded beast: The Hellboy

LUNA VISTA Bear Bass • This pretty-looking acoustic critter has serious claws, says Joe Daly

BLAST CULT Hollow Vee • Like the sound of a handmade Flying V bass? Add a hollow body and a fiendish pricetag and let’s go, says Mike Brooks

BOSS Waza-Air Bass • Amp-modeling wireless headphones? Joel McIver unplugs and plays

Bass Lessons • Making you a better bass player in every issue, our state-of-the-art team of educators will guide you every step of the way. Say hello to them here!

BP Notation Legend • The following is a guide to the notation symbols and terminology used in Bass Player magazine

PLAY QUARTER NOTE TRIPLETS

BUILD FUNK LINES LIKE A BOSS

MAXIMIZE YOUR VOCABULARY

REVISIT THE MAJOR SCALE

MULTI-EFFECTS, PART II • More expensive FX: What do we get for our bucks at the midpoint of the market?