If you play the 4 string bass, The 4 String Bassist's Guide to Understanding Music will help you to take your bass playing to the next level. This book introduces the bassist to the system of Diatonic Harmony and the scales, modes, chords, and arpeggio patterns that are found throughout the diatonic harmony system. The book uses diagrams and illustrations of the bass fingerboard and the piano keyboard to simplify concepts and identify patterns found in music, and relate these to the 4 string bass. While there is no requirement for the reader to play piano, access to a piano or electronic piano keyboard is beneficial, since the piano is used in addition to the bass fingerboard to provide the reader with a solid understanding of how scales, modes, chords, and arpeggios fit together musically and relate to each other. Also, the book does not require the reader to have the ability to read music. The only requirement is an open mind and the ability to apply the concepts taught here to your own bass playing. The 4 String Bassist's Guide to Understanding Music also introduces Super Scales - the last and only bass fingerboard maps you'll ever need The Super Scales (presented in both Diatonic and Pentatonic form) greatly simplify the task of memorizing scales and modes in any key. Super Scales cover all four strings of the bass and all octaves, and they are very useful for bassists who improvise when playing. Many of the concepts discussed throughout the book are commonly taught in college level music theory courses, however, the goal of this book is to simplify these concepts to make them accessible to any bassist who is willing to take the time to read, understand, practice, and apply the material that is presented. While the book is written specifically for bassists who play the 4 string electric bass (fretted or fretless), bassists who play the double (upright acoustic) bass will also benefit from the book.