The Blue-Collar Bassist: How To Get Gigs & Be The Player That Everyone Wants To Hire

Learn how to get gigs and be the bass player that everyone wants to hire with this real-world guide written by veteran bassist and music educator, Ted Gould. This book goes far beyond theory and the mechanics of playing the instrument and into the often unspoken skills needed to make money as a bass player.

What if you could successfully play gigs with little or no rehearsal? Imagine becoming a top call bass player in your area! Imagine being able to learn a lot of material in a short amount of time! Learn pro hacks for networking and how to go about getting your name out there in a new town. Have a competitive edge and be able to tackle any gig that comes your way.

Ted Gould has held the bass chair with Funk Music Legend Zigaboo Modeliste since 2012, has been a contributor to NoTreble.com, and featured in Bass Player Magazine. He earned his B.A. in Music Performance from California State University, East Bay with a focus on Double Bass and when he is not teaching works as a bassist in the San Francisco Bay Area.

"The Blue-Collar Bassist" is a no-nonsense guide to the skills that a working bassist must have to survive in the working world.

"The Blue-Collar Bassist" is for the bass player who wants to start playing either part-time or full time professionally. This book is for the player who is new to the scene and also for the experienced player who wants to expand their horizons. Topics include how to build an extensive repertoire, networking, faking it, how to put bandleaders at ease, what other musicians want from a bassist and lots of true stories.

"I’ve watched Ted navigate the Bay Area music scene for more than 10 years. He ’s grown up as he learned from his mistakes and found his own voice. In this book, he shares some incredibly valuable information that you won’t learn in school. I highly recommend it!" - Darryl Anders | Bassist, Band Leader AgapйSoul

"Ted Gould's book "The Blue Collar Bassist" contains lots of applicable advice for the gigging bassist or the bassist aiming to gig. Peppered with pro advice this book's got great stories from the green room and tales from the road. You will find actionable musical tips as well as solid business advice - this is a really useful collection. I am very happy that my book "Music Theory for the Bass Player" gets a recommendation as "one of the most comprehensive books that I’ve seen on the subject". The Blue Collar Bassist is an easy read with videos and images to make it real. Funk thumbs up, Ted!" - Ariane Cap, Author of "Music Theory for the Bass Player"