Intermediate Level – Slap Bass Study #3

This study piece has a rock/funk feel that is similar in style to Flea’s work with the Red Hot Chili Peppers. It was written with a number of intermediate level techniques in mind, specifically the use of tenths and fretting hand slaps. This piece also includes a challenging bass solo. Learning this piece will certainly […]

READ ARTICLE

Intermediate Level – Slap Bass Study #4

This piece has a heavier feel to it and was written as a resource for practising sixteenth note-based slap grooves at slow tempos. When playing slapped parts at higher tempos, the fretting hand tends to share the burden, but when playing slower, it’s more common for the thumb to handle the bulk of the work. […]

READ ARTICLE

Intermediate Level – Two-Handed Tapping Study #1

This two-handed tapping study is an unusual piece of music in that it is played over an almost completely static tonality and doesn’t have a top line in the traditional sense. The bass is used in a highly rhythmic fashion, creating a continuous sixteenth note pulse. For bassists who wish to learn the piece but […]

READ ARTICLE

Intermediate Level – Two-Handed Tapping Study #2

This slow tempo two-handed tapping study is a solo piece that features simple melodic ideas integrated with accompaniment parts. It’s also a great example of how chords and arpeggio-based ideas can be performed using the technique. As you’ll hear, this can be very effective. For bassists who wish to learn the piece but require additional […]

READ ARTICLE

Advanced Level – Fingerstyle Study #1

This study piece was written as a resource for playing sixteenth note-based fingerstyle grooves at slow tempos. It’s also a great work-out for tightening up your fretting hand fingerings and strengthening any fingers that might be weaker. When learning this piece, you might find the following courses (all included in the monthly subscription cost) useful: […]

READ ARTICLE

Advanced Level – Fingerstyle Study #2

This challenging study piece was written as a resource for working on up-tempo fingerstyle funk grooves similar to those played by bassists such as Jaco Pastorius and Rocco Prestia. In addition to these complex fingerstyle lines, the piece also includes unison sections and chordal parts. For bassists who wish to learn the piece but require […]

READ ARTICLE

Advanced Level – Fingerstyle Study #3

This piece was originally written to represent Rocco Prestia (Tower of Power) in Giants of Bass, a book which celebrated the contributions of 26 of the world’s most influential bass players. This is a very challenging piece to play as it is built around a series of bass grooves that consist of continuous sixteenth notes. […]

READ ARTICLE

Advanced Level – Chordal Fingerstyle Study

This study piece was written as a resource for working on the chordal fingerstyle technique, where the strings are played with the thumb and fingers in a similar way to that of a classical guitarist. As you’ll find out when working on this piece, it’s a technique that translates really well onto the bass guitar. […]

READ ARTICLE

Advanced Level – Harmonics Study

This study piece was written as a resource for developing the use of harmonics on the bass. Throughout this piece, we’ll be playing lines that combine open strings with natural harmonics, as well as melody lines that include combinations of fretted bass notes and harmonics. We’ll also be looking at some ways in which we […]

READ ARTICLE

Advanced Level – Plectrum Study #1

This study piece is a funk rock track written in the style of bands such as Extreme, Aerosmith and The Electric Boys. It was composed as a resource for working on more complex rock bass picking lines, where the bass plays a more active role, often doubling tricky lines with the guitar in addition to […]

READ ARTICLE