How do you outdo a classic album like Led Zeppelin IV, 50 years later?

When John Paul Jones completed the recording sessions

SPACE ROCK

News and views from the bass world, collated by BP's team of newshounds

Rocket Science

Ampeg introduces the Rocket Bass Series

Love Lines

A great bass-line in 85 words

Booked In

What is it with bass books at the

WILL POWER

Ever had a bass die during a gig? Will Palmer has

IN THE Groove

JOHNNY CASH : JOHNNY CASH WITH HIS HOT AND BLUE GUITAR! (SUN, 1957)

Billy Sherwood

We celebrate five great - and less great! - albums on which a notable bassist appears

I WAS THERE!

A historic moment in bass world—recalled by those who were there to see it 

RE-LEARN YOUR REPERTOIRE

Return to live performance at full strength!

FRETBOARD RADIUS EXPLAINED

It’s back to school with Professor R. Elrick

EXPLORE II-V-I PATTERNS

Welcome! Contrary to popular belief, no matter what

FOUR of the BEST

It’s 50 years this year since Led Zeppelin released their immense fourth album, cementing their position in music history and inspiring the playing of a million guitar-shop visitors. The band’s Quiet One, bassist John Paul Jones, was on astounding form throughout: Half a century since that high point, we revisit his bass parts and ask how it was that JPJ became the leading rock bassist of his generation

Behind The Symbols

Stuart Clayton analyses the bass playing on Led Z eppelin   IV,  song by song

Gearography

Ever wondered which basses, amps and effects JPJ has used over the years? Dan Veall digs out a prime selection

SMOOTH OPERATOR

Carlos Santana’s long-time bassist Benny Rietveld reflects on a career at the front line of expression

NEW ROSE

With his new album, Two Roses, Israeli upright bassist Avishai Cohen achieves a career high. We meet the master

INSPIRED NOTES

Bassist and songwriter Lena Morris on the catalyst that sent her into the low frequencies

PUTT IT THERE

We meet the veteran jazz bassist— and occasional James Bond adversary— Putter Smith.

LEVEL HEADED

Behold an exclusive extract from Level 42—On Track by author and bassist Matt Phillips. Here, Matt recalls the making of ‘Lessons In Love’, the song that took Mark King and his band into the stratosphere, all the way back in 1986

ALL’S FAIR

You know Richard Fairbrass as the frontman of Right Said Fred, who first came to fame with 1991’s ‘I’m Too Sexy’ single—but we dig deeper into his history as a bass player with, among others, David Bowie

UPRIGHT CITIZEN

Fumi Tomita on the road to jazz mastery

CLASSIC LOWS

Helen Storer of Hexandagger and Workshed hails the punk rockers

MARCUS MILLER

In every issue, we bring you a noteworthy interview from the bass vaults, from far-off times when gigs were plentiful and a virus meant no more than a day in bed.  This month: Marcus Miller, interviewed in 2012

TURNER PORTRAIT

The Atlanta-based rock quintet Blackberry Smoke return with a new album, You Hear Georgia. Bassist Richard Turner explains the thinking behind the big tones

GEAR Reviews

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

GRETSCH G5442BDC Electromatic

Comfortably  vintage and  sonically  authentic, this red  retro bass delivers  the goods, says  Joel McIver

ESP Phoenix 1004

Has this Phoenix truly risen again?  Joe Daly finds out

KRAMER D-1

When he heard there was a Kramer D-1 up for review, our man Ian Glasper couldn’t put his hand up fast enough... but was his faith well placed?

BASS CENTRE Ashbory

Time for something a little different, suggests our Editor

MXR Effects

Spice up your bass tones, says Mike Brooks

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

SEVENTH CHORDS, PART TWO: MINOR

Nashville-based session and stage bassist Ryan Madora is

PICKING LARGE INTERVALS

The great Steve Lawson brings us a new

USE THE MELODIC MINOR SCALE

Phil Mann has built an enviable stage and

PLAY LIKE JOHN PAUL JONES

Ace bass educator Stuart Clayton guides us to