The bass guitar is all about groove. No band jams better than when a good bassist locks in with the drummer to lay the foundation. Players like Jack Bruce and Jaco Pastorius showed that bass playing is far more than the root note on the beat: the bassist tells their own melodic story, guards the groove and is the link between rhythm and harmony.
I play bass regularly myself and love passing on the essentials: a strong, relaxed technique, tight timing and a real feel for groove.
What you’ll learn
- Groove & timing, locking in with the drums and laying down the foundation.
- Technique, from the standard two-finger attack to modern three/four-finger technique, pick playing and slapping & popping.
- Vocabulary, as a beginner you’ll learn well-known riffs, useful patterns and effective techniques; as you advance you’ll fill the role of the band’s foundation with growing independence.
- Repertoire, bass lines from pop, rock, funk, soul, r&b, country, metal, gospel and jazz.
A short history
In 1951 Leo Fender built the “Precision Bass”, easy for guitarists to play thanks to its similarity to the newly developed solid-body electric guitar. Musicians in jazz and pop quickly adopted it. Ever since, the bass has had a role in virtually every kind of music.
Bass heroes
For inspiration: Jaco Pastorius, Jeff Berlin, Jack Bruce and Marcus Miller, four very different voices on the same instrument.
We work from songs you already know, so you’re making real music from the very first lesson. Whether you play in a band, want to start one, or are simply curious about the lowest register: you’re welcome.