Areas of Study
Here’s a broad overview of each area of study within the Academy.
Scale Syllabus
A comprehensive study of scales across the entire bass. It’s a complete scale workout that will really help you unlock the fingerboard and improve your understanding of music theory.
Chord Studies
A practical study of chords to improve your understanding of harmony – Arpeggios, chord voicing, extensions & alterations, popular chord progressions, voice leading, modal playing and harmonics.
Improvisation
The fundamentals of improvising in different styles. Learn to play solos using chord tones, key centres, scales. How to build/use harmonic & rhythmic motifs and a variety of other improvisational devices. Also includes analysis of solos.
Reading & Ear Training
Everything you need to know about deciphering & reading notation and ear training – Stave notation, chord charts, lead sheets, score navigation, reading rhythms, sight reading, developing relative pitch.
Playing Styles
Play authentic stylistic bass lines – Walking bass, Latin & Afro-Cuban, Soul/R&B, Blues, Reggae & Ska, Country, Rock, Funk, Pop, Fretless bass and more…
Groove Studies
Improve your groove. Playing and developing bass lines across a range of styles and meters. Learn how to hold the low end down and stretch out to create great bass lines using what you know. Features a series of lessons with a live rhythm section.
Technique
Build greater control in your playing – Left hand and right hand technique, alternate picking, muting, ghosting, raking, using a plectrum, palm muting, vibrato, pull-offs, hammer-ons, tapping, etc.
Slap Bass
Learn and develop a solid, fundamental technique, which will act as the foundation for this full program of lessons across 2 full courses – All things Funk and more Funk!
General Musicianship
All the things that compliment your bass playing and help make you a well rounded musician – Building a repertoire, how to practice, transcribing techniques, music theory, being a professional musician, basic piano skills, working in a live studio session, physical health…
Walking Bass
Learn how to negotiate simple & more complex chord progressions, properly outline harmony, inc. extended & altered chords. Use connecting notes & chromaticism, developing good time, use rhythm & octave displacement and analyse some of the world’s most renowned bass player’s walking bass lines.
Modal Studies
A fresh take on studying the modes, centred around an in-depth study of keys. Chord studies, études, improvisations, etc. All aimed at assuring you really ‘know’ your neck and can play fluently in any key, across the entire instrument.
Bass Lines
The fundamental role of bass players is playing great bass lines. You’ll learn some of the most influential bass lines of all time, in many genres and study/learn the characteristic elements of a host of iconic bass players.
JOIN US & GET YOUR FREE BASS GOODIE BAG
By way of an introduction and to say a big HELLO!, we've got a goodie bag for you.
The FREE Giveaway includes our BASS WELCOME PACK comprising of a bespoke, one-off video, plus a great harmonic booster lesson (videos include PDF workbooks & backing tracks).
Courses
This is where you can see every one of the courses aimed at helping you play better bass, regardless of your level of ability, experience, or where you are now as a bass player.
Scale Fundamentals
A core course on scales that will give you the perfect foundation for building a good understanding of harmony across the entire fingerboard.
Chord Crash Course
A thorough study of all the basics. After working through this course you’ll have the understanding to play over any chord, or chord progression with confidence.
Groove Studies
Learn how to construct bass lines, work within a rhythm section, lock in with a drummer and stretch out whilst still holding down the low end and outlining the harmony of any piece of music.
Slap Bass
Develop a cast iron, solid technique that will help you deploy killer slap bass lines. Study left and right hand techniques, how to mute properly and breakdown some iconic, funky bass lines.
Good Technique Guide
Learn to develop and use definitive techniques that will help you play bass with control, accuracy and consistency. Study left & right hand techniques, fingerings, muting and articulations.
Improvisation
This course completely lifts the lid on how to improvise on bass guitar. You’ll explore the use of chord tones, scales, motifs and a variety of devices that will help you play interesting melodic and rhythmic solos.
Bass Lines in Depth
Learn iconic bass lines across many genres and start building a great repertoire of awesome bass lines.
Advanced Scale Harmony
This course goes far beyond the basics. You will learn a range of advanced scales and really start to open up further harmonic options in your own playing.
All about Bass
Everything you need to know to get started. Learn about all the parts of your bass, what everything does, how to set up your amplifier and how to get a good bass sound and simple left & right hand technique. Feel comfortable and sound great from your very first note.
Chords Deep Dive
Advanced chords for bass. Study extended and altered chords, chord voicings, harmonics and much more…
Playing in Style
Play authentic bass lines in a range of styles. Uncover the techniques and harmonic devices that will help you play great bass lines.
Improv - The Next Level
Improvising in depth. Study some of the world’s most renowned improvisers and transfer what they do on to your bass. Expand your harmonic and rhythmic library and learn to construct exciting solos.
Groove Studies 2
A close up look at playing bass within a rhythm section. You’ll study a variety of techniques to make sure you firmly anchor the bottom end, whatever style of music you play. Plus, learn to use all the harmonic & rhythmic devices you know to play your own unique lines.
Sight Reading
Learn to negotiate chord charts, lead sheets and follow a process that will help you read music notation at sight and with fluency anywhere on your instrument.
Walking Bass
Learn to play killer walking bass lines that will really Rock the rest of the band! You will have a much stronger command of harmonic knowledge after working through this series of lessons and you will be able to play over any chord progression.
Modal Studies
Unlock the mystery of the modes, but more importantly, really open up the world of harmony with this complete modal package. It will really open up the neck and help you play in every key and over every chord type with much greater ease and fluency.
Advanced Slap Bass
Building on the basics of playing slap bass, you’ll learn some advanced techniques, stretch your syncopation and study techniques that will help your play original funk bass lines. Plus a few licks & tricks!
General Musicianship
Enhance your bass playing and improve your musicianship all round – This course has a series of lessons covering building a repertoire, how to practice, transcribing techniques, music theory, ear training, being a professional musician, basic piano skills, working in a live studio session, physical health…
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