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.

Forty years since Charles Mingus left us, who has equaled him?

Bass Player

LIVE FANTASTIC • Pandemic permitting, there will be some amazing live bass to enjoy this year.

New Ibanez SR and BTB models • Eleven new basses coming.

Yamahow much? • Macca’s Wings BB breaks records

ASSUME NOTHING • Chloe Peacock challenges received bass wisdom…

PHIL CHEN RIP • The great Doors and Rod Stewart bassist remembered

IN THE Groove CARPENTERS CLOSE TO YOU (A&M, 1970) • Every month, we give a bass-driven album a spin. How does this piano-led slab of heartfelt balladry stand up?

Stuart Hamm • The unique solo and session star looks back on a fistful of career-defining recordings, from the fast to the frenzied.

In February 2003, Robert Trujillo joins Metallica—and they give him a million bucks to sign up.

LEARN TO LINE CHECK • Make those crucial pre-show checks count

ACOUSTIC BASS EXPLORED • Let’s dig beneath the fretboard...

MASTER DIMINISHED HARMONY

Inside The Myth • This year marks the centenary of Charles Mingus, the jazz innovator whose prolific musical output was anchored by bass playing of almost mythical eloquence. Although he left us in 1979, his profile continues to rise: We celebrate his life and work with academic and personal perspectives that have rarely, if ever, been expressed before.

Son Arise • We meet blues musician Eric Mingus for a view of his father that counters everything we know about the late icon

Experimental upright bassist Adi Meyerson offers her take on Mingus

No Longer Lost • A new Mingus record, The Lost Album From Ronnie Scott’s, promises low-frequency highlights

Oedipus Mingus bassist Jon Thorne considers the ethos behind the performance

Jools Holland’s long-time bassist Dave Swift details the master’s technique

WAR SONGS • Jenny Lee of Warpaint discusses melody versus groove. Which comes first?

EVER AFTER • How old were you when you started playing jazz standards? Joshua Crumbly has an answer that might surprise you

THE CLASSIC INTERVIEW • We dig into BP’s vaults for a memorable summit in 2008 between us, Victor Wooten and Stanley Clarke . Could you have kept it together at a bass meeting of that caliber? Somehow, we managed it...

DREAM ON • There is no more accomplished metal band than Dream Theater. There is no more technically gifted metal bassist than John Myung... but does he ever screw up? Let’s ask him.

DARK HEART • The world’s last great hard rock band with an advanced sense of humor, The Darkness, are back with a bass-packed new album, Motorheart. Bassist Frankie Poullain brings the pick and the thumb...

TURN THE PAGE • A new book, Immortal Axes, features a ton of iconic basses

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

SPECTOR Euro 4 RST • Tired of backbreaking basses? Try the new Spector Euro out, advises Mike Brooks

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

SADOWSKY MetroExpress Hybrid PJ • Fancy a Sadowsky that doesn’t break the bank? Stuart Clayton does

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

TRACE ELLIOT ELF C110 Combo • We loved Trace’s popular ELF head: Can the 1x10 combo match up, asks Mike Brooks?

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

DUNLOP Justin Chancellor Cry Baby Wah • The ultimate Tool box? Our Editor readies his boot

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

Bass Lessons • Making you a better bass player in every issue, our...