Technique Archives
3 Fretting Hand Habits That Hold Bass Players Back (And How to Fix Them)
Learn the three most common fretting hand problems bass players face and how to fix them. Improve comfort, control, and efficiency with better technique.
How to Build Bass Grooves with 16th Notes: A Practical Exercise
In this Keep It Groovy lesson, Ryan Madora shows how to practice 16th notes on bass with short bursts, improving right-hand technique and building grooves.
Master Funk Bass with This Killer Exercise Inspired by “Play That Funky Music”
Unlock the groove! This funk bass exercise, inspired by “Play That Funky Music,” will help you master fretboard fluency and rhythmic articulation.
The Secret to Right-Hand Bass Technique: Float or Anchor Your Thumb?
Learn the secret to better bass technique - should you float your thumb or anchor it? Master control, economy of motion, and tone with this right-hand guide.
Secrets To Bass Fretting Hand Technique: Why You Shouldn’t Always Rely On A Four Fret Span
Discover essential fretting hand techniques to unlock the full potential of your bass playing. Learn the four fret span, five fret span, and three fret span positions to improve flexibility, articulation, and fretboard navigation. Perfect for mastering scales, grooves, and more.
Talking Technique: Walk This Way To Great Bass Technique
The chorus of “Walk This Way” by Aerosmith features a cool pentatonic riff with slides that we can build on for cool-sounding variations. Buckle up for fretboard fitness, finger acrobatics, and rocking riffs!
What Guitar Players Need To Know About Playing Bass
If you're looking to make the leap from guitar to bass, this lesson is for you. Yes, the fretboard looks the same, but the technique is very different.
Learn How To Play Pull-Offs: Essential Funk Bass Technique – Part 1
This lesson explores the pull-off technique, an essential element of bass playing. While it’s typically used in funk, this can be applied across all genres of music.
The Brown’stone: Zen & The Art of Playing Bass
This week in The Brown’stone, Rich Brown wants to ensure you’re playing as relaxed as possible. So in this lesson, he gives us a few tips to stay relaxed and ready to play at our best.
Talking Technique: The Most Important Technique Exercise of All
It’s fun to talk technique using song samples, blistering licks, and double stops. This episode of Talking Technique is dedicated to a less flashy but incredibly important topic.
Talking Technique: Wicked Riff
In this lesson, Ariane Cap focuses on an angular riff that presents quite the string crossing challenge. It will not only shed your technique, but it will also give you creative ideas.
Talking Technique: Black Velvet – Nail That Fill
Alannah Myles’ iconic tune “Black Velvet” features a fill that is pretty challenging. Originally played with synth bass, we might be tasked to play that line. Ari covers this (and all the benefits) in this episode of “Talking Technique.”