Progressive Heavy Metal Bass Guitar Licks Volume 1 and Volume 2 contain Licks that incorporate all the important techniques used by the world’s best heavy metal bass players. (These techniques are outlined in Progressive Heavy Metal Method for Bass Guitar and Heavy Metal Techniques for Bass Guitar).
The Licks in these books are particularly useful as reinforcements of:
- Technical aspects of playing heavy metal bass.
- A source of ideas for your own licks and solos.
- Practical exercises.
- A source of teaching material.
Many of the licks are from well known solos or adaptations of these solos. It is important that after a while you begin to play these licks with some variations of your own. Combine the study of these licks with constant playing and listening. All metal bass players use the same basics but development of style is determined by how these basics are used.
Both music and TAB notation are used. For music readers most of the licks in the two volumes have accidentals (sharps, flats) placed in front of the note to be played. In some cases a key signature is used. For more information on key signatures, reading music and TAB notation see Progressive Bass Guitar.
Chord symbols are used to give an indication of what a guitarist would play and how the bass line relates to chords.
The technique to use is mentioned before and/or above each lick, e.g. use of hammer-on, pick etc. If nothing is specified use your right hand fingers to play the lick. To make reading easier and to find the notes faster on the fretboard, tablature notation is used. Also fingering numbers are used to help you find the easiest way of playing a lick.
Due to the speed, phrasing and range of heavy metal bass licks they are quite often very hard to read from written music. For this reason it is essential to have the cassette tape that contains all the examples in this book. The book tells you where to locate your fingers and what technique to use and the tape lets you hear how the lick should sound.
Volume 1 and Volume 2 both contain licks from beginner to professional level.
Good luck and have fun.
Stephan Richter obtained his degree in Classical Music (Cello major) at the Zurich Conservatorium of Music in Switzerland. He further studied in New York on Electric Bass with Rick Laird and Tony Oppenheim. He currently works as a session musician and teacher. Stephan is author of Progressive Slap Technique for Bass, Tapping Technique for Bass, Heavy Metal Method and Heavy Metal Techniques for Bass, and Heavy Metal Licks Volume 1 and 2.
