Bass Lessons

In this lesson, we take a look at a way to build speed and effectiveness in recognizing intervals. We'll also learn to deduce chords and scales by ear through improvisation. Once again, the addition of piano with the right hand is a great way to expand our options from a bass perspective.

This new lesson focuses on using transposition cycles applied to both chord colors and intervallic shapes to offer an alternative to diatonic harmonization.

Part 3 of Tim Fletcher’s and Troy Hughes’ project, “Kansas: Leftoverture – The Complete Basslines”, features Dave Hope’s bass line for “What's On My Mind.” This includes a full transcription (with tab), analysis, playing hints, and playthrough video.

This Bass & Creativity lesson is the second part about alterations of dominant chords. Today Olivier Babaz takes a look at b9 and #9 added to a 7 chord within a II V I.

One way of applying your tapping skills to either a solo context or with a small ensemble is to create both chordal and bass line accompaniment at the same time. In this new “Tapping Technique” lesson, Josh Cohen covers this topic.

Two-hand tapping on an electric bass can be used in a multitude of ways. In his new “Tapping Technique” lesson, Josh Cohen covers the creation of improvisations in the upper register with the right hand while playing a bass line in the left hand.

In this “Bass & Creativity” lesson, Olivier Babaz takes a deep dive into some alterations of the dominant chord. With the help of piano and on bass, he covers how to get used to the colors and options of b13 and #11 within a II V I progression.

Josh Cohen is back with his second installment in his “Tapping Technique” bass lesson series. In this episode, he shares tips on “Rhythmic Displacement” in an effort to improve playing two or more independent parts at the same time.

Josh Cohen kicks off a new bass lesson series on No Treble focusing on Tapping Technique. This first lesson focuses on developing rhythmic independence.

Part 2 of Tim Fletcher’s and Troy Hughes’ project, “Kansas: Leftoverture – The Complete Basslines”, features Dave Hope’s excellent bassline for “The Wall.” This includes a full transcription (with tab), analysis, playing hints, and playthrough video.

In this “Bass & Creativity” lesson, Olivier Babaz dives into the mechanics of modulation within chord changes. You’ll learn how to navigate between tonalities, building harmonic sequences borrowing chords in two different, yet related tonalities.

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.