Bass: Introduction to Upright and/or Electric Bass for the Non-Bassist

Master the functional concepts on upright and/or electric bass that can immediately help the bassist in your ensemble reach their potential. Learn correct techniques for the right and left hands; practical approaches for developing bass lines in rock, jazz and Latin music styles; how to apply scale and arpeggio knowledge to improvise using chord charts that do not include a written-out note-for-note bass line; common fingering patterns for major and minor scales; arpeggios; and bass lines for the blues and common progressions such as ii-V7-I. You’ll leave this course feeling prepared to teach all levels of bass as well as compose and perform bass lines encountered in many genres. Only one type of bass is needed in order to take this course.

This is an online course that runs from February 10, 2025 – May 2, 2025. Asynchronous. Meetings are scheduled at student’s convenience. The course is split into three units. Materials for each Part are due together. Students will perform, record and submit examples to the instructor. All due dates and times are listed in the Schoology system.

* Course Number:

MMEd: 512ST, 2 credits

MECA: 7045A, 3 credits

* This course is offered at two course levels. Students enrolled in the MMEd program at VanderCook are eligible to enroll for the 500 course number. Students not enrolled in the MMEd program who wish to earn graduate credit as a MECA Continuing Education student should register for the four digit course number. The difference in credits earned and tuition cost is attributed to the difference in tuition rates for the MMEd and MECA Continuing Education programs. If you are unsure which section is best for you, please contact us directly at [email protected].