Bass: Jazz for the Beginning Bassist

Only one type of bass (upright or electric) is needed in order to take this course. 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 notefor-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.

This course will include:

• Playing accompanimental bass lines in swing, straight-eighth notes and ballad styles.
• Fingerboard/fretboard layout and fingerings.
• Basic harmonic structures of relevant chord/scale relationships.
• Navigating common jazz chord progressions.
• Concepts in improvisation.
• Learning six standard jazz tunes.
• Concepts in jazz education.

*This course is available at two levels:

• MMEd Program Students: If you’re enrolled in the MMEd program at VanderCook, register for the 500-level course.
• MECA Continuing Education Students: If you’re not in the MMEd program but wish to earn graduate credit, register for the 8000-level course.

The difference in credits earned and tuition costs reflects the varying tuition rates between the MMEd and MECA Continuing Education programs. If you’re unsure which section is right for you, feel free to reach out to [email protected]  for assistance.