Letters :
These are actual letters received from people who have bought my books. If you have my books, please write me with your comments and I will post them. Thanks everybody!
Mr.Vitti,
Just wanted to say " Awesome Books!!" I ordered the complete package.Way more than I had expected to get.
I have been playing bass for just over two years now.What a challenge. I was so bored with all those other books. And believe me I have them ALL. I play the Alto Sax and am used to reading treble clef music. Your books have really opened up some new doors for me. I can read tab so book #2 is the one I have started with. But tab is a cheating habit I wish to loose. I haven't stopped listening to your music since the books made it to my house. I own several basses.All but one
are Fenders (USA).One is a p-bass and the other is pj-bass with emg's. My odd bass is a Carvin Fretless.Black beauty.
Thanks again and I hope to see new stuff soon. Love your work. I now have enough challenges lying ahead.Thanks.
Wesley, Orlando,Florida.
Hi Anthony,
I was just wondering when we were going to see another slap book or hip hop
book? Your books have helped me so much, I got to see the proof this past
weekend. I haven't recorded anything at a studio for about 8 months so I was
excited to get to do it again. I used my Modulus Genesis 5 string direct into
the board and was quite pleased with the results. The engineer liked it too
and asked if he could check out my bass. So he records a little bit and plays
it back. He says "well I guess your sound is in your fingers" I considered
that a compliment, but I give the credit to the material you provided to me.
Not to mention, I have saved so much money as opposed to traditional music
lessons that I was able to buy myself a new Lakland which I should have out
of layaway in a few weeks.
Thanks again,
Scott Green
Hey Anthony,
I'm a former Berklee student. Although I never got to study with you while I was there I stumbled across your site while checking out Bruce Gertz' site. Your books looked good so I checked out the Finger Funk vol.1 and Slap Bass Bible. What an excellent surprise. I've been seriously disappointed in the
books out there for bass players but this is some great stuff. I now live in kind of a small town and there aren't any good bass teachers to continue my
studies with here, and the selection of books out there to study from are usually very basic in content, or just simply a lot of fluff as I mentioned. These books though, are tremendous resources. I've barely cracked the Slap Bass book because I've been so busy with the Finger Funk book. It's definitely a work-out. Getting these lines up to tempo is no easy task...hell, playing them at half-tempo isn't even easy at first. Just the challenge I'm looking for...this should really improve my chops and add some new rhythmic ideas to my playing. Berklee's bass teachers were excellent while I was there, and I gotta say you all put out the best books too. Between these
books and Oscar Stagnaro's tremendous Latin Bass Book, I've got a wealth of material to keep me busy for a long time. You can count on me to order your other two books real soon. I'm looking forward to more new books from you as well.
If you have a mailing list for new book announcements
etc.. feel free to put me on it.
Keep up the good work on the books.
Cheers,
Rob
Hey Anthony,
My order came Saturday, and was very impressed just as I was when I got the
Slap book. I wish I would have found out about your material years ago.
Looking forward to the new slap book.
Scott Green
Hey Anthony
I just wanted to tell you that I got the video and that I
really enjoyed it.
You come across really well. Very sincere.
I was very impressed with the booklet also. I have never seen one so good with a video.
I thought the production was brilliant. Mainly how they have a light on you but every thing else
around you is dark. It really keeps the focus on you.
And of course the perfomances were incredible.
I hope to see the next one soon.
Thanks!
Hi Anthony and Sandra,
I've been meaning to send a hand written note out to you to thank you for
the care in sending out my book, video and throwing in the new print of the
sight reading book. But time is slipping by and I don't want to let another
moment go by without sending my thanks. Adding that book was so thoughtful
and special and made my day!
Welcome back from your tour Anthony! I hope you had a great time. I like the
way you put the new book together. The tab reveals the fingering you use and
that helps to see the concept you had in mind for choosing where to place
the notes. And the video is very cool. You looked really happy doing it.
It's good to see how you approach the finger board and the performance clips
are very cool. That's a killer slap solo at the end.
I think people get their money's worth with your stuff. Content is the best
word to describe it...lot's to sink your teeth into.
When the sight reading book fell out of the box I thought you (Sandra) made
a mistake...then I saw the note saying "enjoy"...it really made my day! Very
sweet! You guys are great and I hope our paths cross again!
I found out that we'll be moving to Atlanta, GA for my next assignment.
We'll be moving from Heidelberg in Feb 02. We're looking forward to getting
back to the States...although it has been incredible here.
God bless and thanks,
Jim Lambie
Anthony, I received your books and CD's a few weeks ago and have found
them to be the wonderful. You are a superior player and hope you come out
with more of this type stuff. Do you have music for the Dig CD to learn
some of your licks. I live in a small town and travel to Atlanta and
Nashville to take lessons. Your books and CD's are wonderful for me. Do
you have any other methods of learning bass. I've been playing for 23 years
and I have a tremendous desire to be a great bass player. I'm looking for
ways to increase my abilities and take my playing to the next level. Does
Berklee offer anything to someone so far away. I don't read music (not very
fast anyway) and play mostly by ear. Any info or help let me know. Bass
players that don't enjoy the Dig CD and the books you have put out with CD's
have no ear for a top notch bass player. You make me want to burn my bass
and give up.
Thanks, David Phillips I
Hello Anthony Vitti-
I doubt you remember me, but i took some lessons with you back in the
summer of '95 at berklee - i must say you changed my life! i loved
learning from you and hearing all about your fender jazz persona - every
time i see a fender jazz bass i remember you! you are a great person.
anyway, i was writing to let you know how much i love your books. they
are the only books i've found that actually still challenge me even
after three years! very nice work! sometimes when i teach, i warm up
with a couple exercises from your book and my students get skippy! i
then have to let them know of the religious side of slapping...
anyways, take care and i look forward to seeing you someday soon!
aaron j:
Hi Anthony,
I need to thank you for writing "The Finger Funk Workbook". I have never
used any one book as much in my teaching. The written lines are excellent.
But to play along with your sound on the CD is the "key". Your recorded
CD allows the student to use his ear in the learning process. (Nice
Groove!)
Through years of teaching I have watched many students struggle to get the
music out of a book. With "The Finger Funk Workbook" this task is
simplified greatly. I have many students who have completed every example
in the book and now improvise in the style. Volume II ?
Thanks Anthony,
Jim Stinnett
P. S. (I wish I had written it.)
Hello Anthony Vitti,
I just received your books with CD's. Thank you very much: they are great!
I'm a teacher and have holiday now, so the rest of the week I lock myself up.
Also The Dig sounds very good. Brrr..you can play. Big swing!!
Holland is a small country, and I think you should be one of the greatest funkbands here.
Have you ever visited the NorthSea Jazz Festival?
Would you please let me know when your next book is out?
Best regards,
Henk van der Drift.
The Netherlands.
Greeting's Anthony
Thanks for the speedy shipment, I slapped on the cd's right away to see what all the talk was about and I'm galad to say whoever return's these books is one deaf bassist........FANTASTIC I've been looking and telling people this is what we need 30/40 examples with no tab to improve our reading skills with a cd or casette. I don't want theory from a book ,my teacher can give me theory to last a lifetime, and GOD BLESS!!!! you no stupid finger warm up exercises,that has to be the most annoying peice of misinformation books and videos give out. I don't know if you remember "Slap It" by Tony Openheim a great little slap book that was released in the mid eighties with a plastic record (CAN YOU BELEIVE IT A RECORD) thats about the only book that comes close to your's. I've seen it re-released with a cd. What exactly is the reading book about would'nt it be the same as FFW? What makes it different?...........CONGRATULATIONS ON A VERY WELL WRITTEN BOOK ,what will FFW II contain.................CHEERS PERRY,only one difference Anthony I play a Precision like my idol Rocco,please don't hate me ,HA!
Hey Anthony,
I ordered your books in December '99, and man I have to say, I was getting
bored with my bass, but with the help of your books, you revitalized my
playing intentions. I really enjoy your books, and I have found new
dimensions in my playing. While I play for a hobbie, it is a great escape
from my studies. I just wanted to let you know that I was a satisfied
customer....
Good Luck
Jeffrey Bong D.O., M.S.
Anthony, thanks for your books. I use all three of them, Finger
Funk, Slap Bass Bible and Sight Reading Funk Rhythms. They have
demanding rhythm figures and fingerings to extend my skill beyond my
current capabilities. They're favorites for exercises in the latest
style Plus, they're good preparation for creating solid bass lines
for a variety of different types of music. Look forward to your next
books and videos.
Dave Record
Chicago"
Hi Anthony:
Glad to hear things are going good. I was just working with the finger funk
book. It's 10pm Monday night and I'm pretty tired. Those lines are a real
challenge! It makes me work real hard. They really sound great when I get
them happening.
Thanks for the discount price on the Slap book. I'll be sending in my order
real soon. Glad to hear the Finger Funk Vol. 2 is on its way. I can't wait
to hear the grooves. Your books are exceptional.
Good luck with your solo projects and have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New
Year. Hope you have lots of good Italian food around. There's no food on
earth like it! I'm half Italian. My Mother was an Imbriglio from downtown
Jersey City.
Thanks again,
Brian Boland
I ordered your three books a few weeks ago and just got started with the Finger Funk Workbook. I purchased the three books to help with my reading but with FFW, I began to see that I needed to make some left hand corrections. I started with exercise 1 at the second fret beginning the A notes with my fourth finger. The exercise basically forced me to use a better hand positioning (I had been using only my first, second, and fourth fingers to play). My skill level is such that I can comfortably play the exercise at mm=60 and feel reasonably able to progress.
With that first exercise, I feel that I have already gotten my money's worth from the book and more. Thank you so much for producing it and the series.
Sincerely,
Thomas O. Murray
Mr. Vitti,
I received my books several weeks back. First of all, let me say
thanks for shipping them so quickly. Second, I can assure you that I
won't be taking advantage of your warranty. These books are fabulous.
They are helping me hone a number of my skills simultaneously. I
particularly like the way that you teach using real, usable grooves.
I really enjoy working on my reading, my chops, and my musicality
simultaneously. Your books are making for some really efficient,
effective practice time.
Do you have plans for a fourth book anytime soon? I've got all three
now and am hoping for a fourth.
blessings to you and yours,
Brian
Hey!Just wondering when you are going to release some new books and what
the themes will be.Are u planning on making another volume for finger style funk?
The first one is fantastic.Thanks
Nate Chiattello
Hi my name is Anthony Ventura and I looked over your site and was very impressed with your books and the whole site. I am going to buy all three and really shed. Hopefully my reading and slap technique will improve. I always wanted to go to Berklee College of Music but was not able to. So I guess this could be a good chance for me to get some first hand stuff.
Thanks,
Anthony Ventura
