Bass Lessons

The ii-V-I is one of the most common chord progressions in music. As bassists, we have a horizontal view of the harmonic movement. Today we’ll see how other instruments view the progression and implement voice leading to build interesting lines.

Tim Fletcher is back with a new and exciting project. After the enormous popularity of his bass transcription for Kansas’ “Carry on Wayward Son,” he teamed up with Troy Hughes to create a complete set for the Kansas album “Leftoverture.” Here’s Part 1.

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.

“Dancing Queen” was the first single from ABBA’s 1976 Arrival album, topping the charts in 15 countries and remaining one of ABBA’s best-known songs. Check out this transcription and analysis by our newest contributor, Tom Kenrick!

Olivier Babaz is back with his second entry in his “Bass & Creativity” lesson series. In this video lesson, he’s focusing on exploring the sounds, colors, and options through improvisation within the Dorian mode.

In this video lesson, we'll practice and explore the harmonic possibilities of combining bass playing with one or two top notes. Follow along with the video and topic outline.

We are all used to seeing younger bassists playing amazing technical things on bass. Tim Fletcher returns with a new transcription focusing on Juliaplaysgroove’s impressive cover of Dua Lipa’s "Don’t Start Now."

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.”

Three-note-per-string patterns offer a lot of opportunities for lightning-fast licks. In this episode of Talking Technique, Ari shows us how to get started with the idea of them by practicing a scale all across the bass in speed lick fashion.

This is the twelfth (and final) entry of the “Unsung U.S. Bassists” series is here, and this one is just in time for the holidays. Check out Tim Fletcher’s transcription and analysis for the bass line on “Christmas Wrapping” by The Waitresses.

The recent protests in Chile inspired Marcelo Cordova to take on “El Derecho de Vivir en Paz” (“The Right to Live in Peace”), a hymn composed by Víctor Jara that Marcelo says “unites all Chileans.” Marcelo turned it into a solo bass piece. Here’s his transcription.

Tim Fletcher’s eleventh entry of the “Unsung U.S. Bassists” series includes his transcription and analysis of Greg T. Walker's bass line on "Highway Song" by Blackfoot.