Bass: Jazz for the Beginning Bassist

Learn the building blocks of improvising on the double bass or bass guitar in a jazz style. Develop walking bass lines and improvised solos from chord charts and discover methods for instructing young bassists in a jazz ensemble setting.

How the course works:

The course is done completely on your own time, there are no scheduled meetings. There are six units, about one per week during the summer term, and about one every two weeks during the fall and spring. Assignments are due at the end of each unit. Students will watch the instructor’s videos and read the content, then make videos of themselves demonstrating the skills. The instructor will watch your videos and provide feedback, which students can then apply to your next assignments.

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

Students can choose either upright or electric bass to take this course. No previous jazz or improvisation experience necessary.