Master Music Theory
Built for Bass Players
Learn the Theory Behind Every Great Bass Line - And Finally Understand What You’re Playing.
Taught by Ariane Cap - bassist, author, and “The Education Guru” (Bass Player Magazine) - this proven system will help you unlock your fretboard, elevate your groove, and build true musical confidence
Everything You Need to Know to Play With Confidence - Practical, Easy to Follow, and Designed to Transform How You Play
The entire course is: 22+ Hours of Video lessons | 130+ PDFs & 127 Jam Tracks | Built for all styles | Lifetime Access
🎤 What Attendees are Saying
“I’d tried other courses—none came close to Ari’s method. Fun, structured, and it sticks.”
Laura B. USA🇺🇸
Bass Player
“Just wanted to let everyone considering taking your 20-week bass course that it is one of the best educational investments I have ever made.
The weekly assignments are loads of fun with plenty of variety and obtainable challenges.
The weekly assignments are loads of fun with plenty of variety and obtainable challenges.
Mike T. 🇨🇦
Five String Bassist
“This course is a a game-changer.”
Dominic R. 🇩🇪
Bassist
"Theory is so complicated!"
Right? WRONG!
- You don't understand it, despite all of your attempts, so it feels complicated and useless
- You don't understand theory well enough to incorporate it into your playing without it being just "one more thing to remember"
- You haven't been shown how to easily remember what you learned on the fretboard
- They say "play what you feel" but you draw a blank and theory just seems to get in the way rather than help!
- You haven't been shown step-by-step how to use theory for improvisation and for creating your own grooves
- You have tried to learn theory away from the fretboard
- You haven't had help with connecting the sounds and the shapes of theory with what you feel
Michelle smiles as she is improvising a chord progression all over the bass.
Your bass playing will flourish if instead...
- Theory becomes intuitive
- Theory opens the doors to your creativity
- Jamming, improvising and creating your own grooves becomes second nature
- You understand how the fretboard is put together, and where the notes are
- You can use shapes to express what you hear and feel
- Your fingers become nimble and faster
- You begin to love how you sound and you know how to fix it when you don't!
- You play with confidence and freedom
WELCOME TO THE
Music Theory For The Bass Player
THE COURSE
Making theory intuitive using improvisation is the key to
becoming a confident player
This online class is your comprehensive guide to mastering the bass, designed for aspiring players of all levels. Whether you’re a complete beginner picking up your first instrument or a frustrated hobbyist yearning to break through a plateau, this course will equip you with the skills and knowledge to take your bass playing to the next level.
Cohort student Delilah improvising a creative note finder drill all over the fretboard with ease and understanding.
The first course of its kind that...
- Teaches theory as shapes on the fretboard using diagrams and fingerings
- Immediately gets you improvising so you can make it yours and remember it
- Combines theory with proper fingering so you literally get theory under your fingers
- Is designed in such a way that it will take you to your personal edge. Works for beginners to advanced
- Is deep and multi-layered. We have many students who love it so much they take it over and over again
- Asks you to commit to 40 weeks of learning
- Has an optional support option called "The Cohort"
- Tackles theory, technique, improvisation, groove creation, notefinding, styles, practicing tips etc.
- Will reliably put theory under your fingertips and empower you to fly with chord changes
Cohort Coach Helen from Australia getting beautiful tones on her fretless doing permutation drills that help fretless intonation!
By the end of it you will be able to...
- Create your own grooves over changes with confidence
- Experience theory as a combination of understanding, shapes under your fingers
- Easily find all your notes on the fretboard and understand how the fretboard works
- Have an easier time remembering tunes
- Have sharper ears
- Talk music with other musicians
- Play faster and with better tone because of all the finger kung fus you did in the course
- Have a solid grasp of the music foundations of music theory
- Use creatively: scales and modes, intervals and chords, extensions, alterations, sus and slash chords
- Have a foundational knowledge of not only theory but also styles and several milestone songs
- Play with much more creative confidence
Our student Durandus from the Netherlands, practicing Bass Line Lab. He has been playing for barely a year and he sounds awesome!
This is for you if...
- You consider your skill level lower intermediate & up
- You are a motivated beginner
- You are a pro who wants to be inspired by new ideas
- You are a course graduate and want to keep improving
- You have purchased or will be purchasing the Music Theory for Bass Player book
What exactly is in this Course?
There are 20 Units in this course
Each Unit has 7 sections, each section has one or more videos
21+ hours of new video, 127 PDFs, 130 jamtracks
Quizzes, motivational videos, tips on practicing, “Purpose & Benefits” explained and much much more
The Units (click to expand)
[1 hour 16 minutes] of VIDEO • 8 PDFs • 5 Jamtracks
Intro:
Beginner’s Crash Course: [24.47]
Welcome Video: [3.12]
Finger Kung Fu:
Basic Set Up [3.07]
Permutation 5th fret [7.10]
Practice with me [3.10]
Theory Practice:
Note Name Drills with Visualization [3.13]
Note Name Drills on the Bass [1.49]
String of the Week: E string [3.49]
Bass Line Lab:
Groove and Fill Minor Pentatonic [8.24]
Groove and Fill w Call and Response easier [5.30]
Groove and Fill w Call and Response harder [4.11]
Combo Class:
Creative Notefinder E [3.52]
Hip Bit:
Blindfolded Notefinder [3.11]
[53 minutes] of VIDEO • 8 Jamtracks
Finger Kung Fu:
Right Hand Finger Fitness [8.45]
Permutation 1243 4312 [2.49]
Practice with me [15.12]
Theory Practice:
String of the Week: A string [2.02]
Note Name Drill: Dots [6.06]
Rock the Prime [7.03]
Bass Line Lab:
Rockin’ Primes over Chords with a Twist [5.19]
Combo Class:
Notefinder C, F [1.44]
Hip Bit:
Rock this 6-bar Chord Progression [4.09]
[59 minutes] of VIDEO • 4 PDFs • 8 Jamtracks
Finger Kung Fu:
Right Hand Spatial Orientation [5.31]
Permutation 1432 4123 [5.25]
Practice with me [17.24]
Theory Practice:
String of the Week: D string [2.36]
Note Name Drill: Top Down [3.28]
Practice Chromatic Scale on one String with Eartraining [4.47]
Bass Line Lab:
Chromatic Approaches Over a Blues Progression [9.48]
Combo Class:
Creative Notefinder w/Seconds G [4.41]
Creative Notefinder w/Seconds D [5.53]
Hip Bit:
Guess these Classics! [2.14]
[1 hour 10 minutes] of VIDEO • 8 PDFs • 6 Jamtracks
Intro:
Motivational Boost
Finger Kung Fu:
Right Hand Spatial Orientation [7.06]
Permutation 1324 4231 [4.45]
Practice with me (easier version) [20.40]
Practice with me (harder version) Permutation the whole note scale [7.32]
Theory Practice:
String of the Week: G string [3.48]
Beautiful Theory Practice Using Whole Tone Scale [3.44]
Bass Line Lab:
Grooves on Dots with Seconds [5.23]
Combo Class:
Creative Notefinder Bb [6.08]
Creative Notefinder Eb [1.42]
Hip Bit:
Grooves with Minor Thirds [5.35]
Grooves with Major Thirds [3.46]
[1 hour 3 minutes] of VIDEO • 7 PDFs • 4 Jamtracks
Intro:
Motivational Boost
Finger Kung Fu:
Right Hand Spatial Orientation [7.06]
Permutation 1324 4231 [4.45]
Practice with me (easier version) [20.40]
Practice with me (harder version) Permutation the whole note scale [7.32]
Theory Practice:
String of the Week: G string [3.48]
Beautiful Theory Practice Using Whole Tone Scale [3.44]
Bass Line Lab:
Grooves on Dots with Seconds [5.23]
Combo Class:
Creative Notefinder Bb [6.08]
Creative Notefinder Eb [1.42]
Hip Bit:
Grooves with Minor Thirds [5.35]
Grooves with Major Thirds [3.46]
[50 minutes] of VIDEO • 7 PDFs • 5 Jamtracks
Finger Kung Fu:
Open Strings Practice [5.45]
Permutation 1342 4231 [2.49]
Theory Practice:
Creating Grooves using 6ths, 7ths 8ths & Pedaling 5th [9.14]
Bass Line Lab:
Going Disco [5.11]
Combo Class:
Notefinder in Ab [5.49]
Notefinder in C#m [3.19]
Hip Bit:
Chromatic Approaches [3.40]
[1 hour 12 minutes] of VIDEO • 7 PDFs • 7 Jamtracks
Finger Kung Fu:
Permutation 4132 2314 [37.47]
Right Hand – Left Hand Coordination [4.48]
Theory Practice:
Whole Tone Jam: Tritones and Major Thirds [4.41]
Bass Line Lab:
Groove and Fill: Call and Response Minor Blues Scale [7.03]
Advanced Version Groove and Fill: Call and Response Minor Blues Scale [4.07]
Combo Class:
Groove and Fill with Slides [3.56]
Creative Notefinder C-Flat in 3/4 [4.18]
Creative Notefinder in D# in 3/4 [2.54]
Hip Bit:
“Flat5 versus Perfect5” [3.20]
[1 hour 14 minutes] of VIDEO • 5 PDFs • 7 Jamtracks
Intro:
Motivational Boost
Finger Kung Fu:
Permutation 3124 4213 Diagonally Practice with me! [33.58]
Coordination Exercises RH-LH: Legato Notes with Open Strings [4.17]
Theory Practice:
Inversions: What they are and Double Stops [7.50]
Bass Line Lab:
Grooves with Compound Intervals [11.36]
Grooves with 1-5-8-10 [3.42]
Combo Class:
Groove and Fill Slides [2.04]
Creative Notefinder E# Minor [2.41]
Creative Notefinder Db [3.53]
Hip Bit:
These are the Days of our Shining Stars [4.20]
[1 hour 34 minutes] of VIDEO • 4 PDFs • 6 Jamtracks
Finger Kung Fu:
Scales with Root Pedal [14.52]
Permutation 2143 3412 Descending with Mirror Image Practice with me! [34.17]
Theory Practice:
Skills for Scales Groups of Three C. G [6.53]
Bass Line Lab:
Call and Response: Scale Fragments [10.20]
Combo Class:
Scales Through the Cycle with Improv [17.01]
Creative Notefinder in Fb in 6/8 [5.34]
Creative Notefinder in G# in 6/8 [3.38]
Hip Bit:
Major Scale Songs [1.21]
[1 hour 13 minutes] of VIDEO • No PDFs • 6 Jamtracks
Intro:
Welcome to Review Week [4.34]
Mind Gym “Say and Play” [9.36]
Ear Training Primer [19.08]
Finger Kung Fu:
Mystery Permutation Exercises [6.08]
Theory Practice:
Interval Review [17.39]
Combo Class:
Interval Grooving with Eartraining [15.59]
[58 minutes] of VIDEO • 8 PDFs • 6 Jamtracks
Finger Kung Fu:
Hammer-ons and Pull-offs [15.04]
RH String Finding Exercises with LH Chord Strengthener [5.41]
Theory Practice:
Skills for Scales: Groups of Threes Reversed and Groups of Fours Eb F [8.24]
Triads Through the Cycle in Major (2 fingerings) [11.21]
Triads Through the Cycle in Minor [6.30]
Bass Line Lab:
Cycle Triad Improv in Major [5.49]
Combo Class:
Notefinder in G-Flat in 5/4 [2.50]
Notefinder in A# in 5/4 [1.52]
Hip Bit:
Songs from Triads [1.10]
[1 hour 14 minutes] of VIDEO • 5 PDFs • 7 Jamtracks
Intro:
Motivational Boost
Finger Kung Fu:
Permutation 1234 4321 with Hammer-ons and Pull-offs Practice with me [19.08]
RH String Finding Exercises with LH Chord Strengthener [4.49]
Theory Practice:
Diatonic Triads in Order of the Scale [7.32]
Diatonic Triads in Order of the Cycle in Major [6.35]
Bass Line Lab:
Diatonic Triads in one Position [10.54]
Improvising through the Cycle in Minor [4.26]
Combo Class:
Notefinder in B# in 7/8 [6.10]
Hip Bit:
Cycle Tip [3.10]
[51 minutes] of VIDEO • 8 PDFs • 9 Jamtracks
Finger Kung Fu:
Permutation with Fixed 1 [14.38]
RH String Finder with LH Chord Strengthener, Inversions [5.27]
Theory Practice:
Diatonic Triad Cycle in A [5.44]
Diatonic Triad Cycle in C with Variations [4.52]
Skills for Scales Groups of Twos in C [7.22]
Bass Line Lab:
Sus Chords and Slash Chords [6.02]
Styles Lab:
Reggae Triads [5.28]
Hip Bit:
Mister Blister [2.04]
[1 hour 3 minutes] of VIDEO • 12 PDFs • 6 Jamtracks
Finger Kung Fu:
Permutations with Fixed 4 [6.56]
RH String Finder with LH Chord Strengthener, Inversions 2 [6.35]
Theory Practice:
Diatonic Triad Cycle in D [9.14]
Skills for Scales: Diatonic Triads in G [10.35]
Skills for Scales Groups of Twos with Phrasing Bb [3.27]
Bass Line Lab:
Tritone Double Stops [10.37]
Styles Lab:
Funk [9.49]
Hip Bit:
Terrific Tritone [5.53]
[1 hour 1 minute] of VIDEO • 7 PDFs • 5 Jamtracks
Finger Kung Fu:
Permutations with Fixed 2 [16.14]
RH String Finder with LH Chord Strengthener, Inversions 3 [2.49]
Theory Practice:
Diatonic Cycle in Bb [4.19]
Skills for Scales: Diatonic Thirds Reversed in Eb [3.57]
Skills for Scales Diatonic Fourths in D [2.39]
Bass Line Lab:
Diminished Triads Through the Cycle [8.32]
Styles Lab:
Pop [5.23]
Hip Bit:
Tritone Substitution Applied [6.48]
[1 hour 11 minutes] of VIDEO • 7 PDFs • 5 Jamtracks
Intro:
Motivational Boost
Finger Kung Fu:
Permutations with Fixed 32 [12.37]
RH String Finder with LH Chord Strengthener 4-Note Chords [6.05]
Theory Practice:
Skills for Scales: Diatonic Fourths in F Reversed [9.25]
Skills for Scales Diatonic Fifths in Bb [3.02]
Minor Differences [18.29]
Bass Line Lab:
Minor Call and Response [4.26]
Minor Differences: Grooves [3.20]
Styles Lab:
Minor Pop [9.47]
Hip Bit:
Harmonic Major [3.57]
[31 minutes] of VIDEO • 6 PDFs • 8 Jamtracks
Finger Kung Fu:
Pedaling for Cool Effect [8.02]
Permutations with 2 Fingers Fixed: 1324 [8.11]
Theory Practice:
Skills for Scales: Diatonic Fifths Reversed in G [3.49]
Skills for Scales Diatonic Sixths in D [3.21]
Bass Line Lab:
Cycle Walk [16.48]
Cycle Tune in Minor: Let’s Disco [5.43]
Styles Lab:
Jazz (Walking Bass 1) [14.42]
Hip Bit:
Find the Key & Name the Minor [13.31]
[1 hour 14 minutes] of VIDEO • 7 PDFs • 6 Jamtracks
Finger Kung Fu:
Permutations with 2 Fingers Fixed 1423 [10.19]
Permutations Hammer-ons/Pull-offs 1342 2431 [5.18]
Theory Practice:
Skills for Scales: Diatonic Sixths Reversed in C [3.28]
Skills for Scales: Diatonic Sevenths in A [3.27]
Modes in a Minute [14.22]
Bass Line Lab:
Lydian Fantasy [16.35]
Funk Dorian [5.14]
Shortcut for Improv [10.13]
Styles Lab:
Jazz (Walking Bass 2) [4.25]
Hip Bit:
The Man Who Sold the Mode (D Bowie) [1.30]
[1 hour 29 minutes] of VIDEO • 10 PDFs • 8 Jamtracks
Finger Kung Fu:
Permutations with 2 Fingers Fixed 1234 [17.41]
Permutations Hammer-ons/Pull-offs 3142 2413 [2.49]
Theory Practice:
Skills for Scales: Sevenths Reversed in B-Flat [3.06]
Skills for Scales Octaves in E-Flat [5.44]
Bass Line Lab:
Blues Overview [13.25]
Rockin’ Mixolydian [10.23]
Dark and Heavy Phrygian [10.02]
Styles Lab:
The Blues [11.02]
Hip Bit:
[59 minutes] of VIDEO • 5 PDFs • 15 Jamtracks
Intro:
Motivational Boost
Review and Preview Where to From Here: Tips [14.12]
Finger Kung Fu:
How to Create your Own – Tips [6.48]
Bach Bass [7.30]
Theory Practice:
Two Octave Arpeggios [6.47]
Bass Line Lab:
Modes Review [14.51]
Styles Lab:
Motown [5.04]
Hip Bit:
Stevie Wonderland 2 [4.29]
Each Unit contains 7 sections
Here we set the tone – so to speak – for the week!
You get:
- Overviews of the unit
- A short reading assignment from the book which includes the relevant book videos
- Thought-provoking coaching questions for you to answer – take them seriously, they are very powerful!
Finger Kung Fu is next and it’s all about technique.
I’ll give you practice regimens to get your fingers in shape and prepare you to conquer any foe: arpeggios, tricky grooves, fills or solos!
There are usually two to four videos in this section, including some that you just pop in and practice along with – I call them “Practice with me” videos!
We progress from easy to pretty tough. This section is very popular because it is so satisfying to sense your progress each week!
Theory Practice is the third section – this is where we marry the theory knowledge of the Intro to the fretboard!
And we do it in a way that makes practical sense by emphasizing shapes and patterns.
- We’ll create grooves using a theory concept,
- improvise on a new sound/shape we just learned,
- or put the theory into practice by doing some fun improvisation.
Often, we practice the new concepts all over the fretboard – putting theory into action! 1 to 3 videos each unit, with descriptions, PDFs, and custom composed jam tracks!
Now new:
Mindbending and challenging interactive quizzes! They are such a great way to double check yourself! Some are tongue in cheek, some make you think, some will make you laugh out loud. You can do them often, we have a large question bank so each time you do it, it varies!
This section gets the most thumbs up from our participants for fun factor!
Bass Line Lab follows the good grounding in theory. Here, you’ll be creating your own bass lines using the theory material we covered previously. Each week builds on the previous one, and we will do this in lots of variation
- For example, there is one exercise I call “Groove and Fill” which helps you put the theory materials to great creative use. But watch out… this can be addictive
- Another favorite is “Call and Response”. Can you follow along with the easier versions? How about the more advanced ones? (Hey, you can even slow down the video if it’s too fast at first!)
- And improv, improv, improv! If you want to make a concept yours, improvise over it!
Jamtracks, descriptions and PDFs to help you out and make it super enjoyable! 1 to 3 videos each unit!
Combo Class is where you get a double bang for your practicing buck!
In particular, a series I call “Creative Notefinder” takes you through all 21 notes (Yes, twenty-one! That’s not a typo). All over the fretboard! In a systematic fashion!
Students say Combo Class doesn’t feel like practicing at all, but more like jamming with a friend, and that’s exactly what it is!
We switch it up each unit by using different time signatures and adding additional, progressively harder assignments. Wolf created a unique jam track for each note name, including wicked variations and rhythmic twists!
In later units, Combo Class turns into Styles Lab and that is all about various styles of grooves: we tackle pop, rock, reggae, funk, jazz, blues and more.
Descriptions, PDFs, jam tracks! 1 to 3 videos each unit!
Combo Class Sample
Combo Class Sample
Jamtracks, descriptions and PDFs to help you out and make it super enjoyable! 1 to 3 videos each unit!
The Hip Bit section is packed with cool stuff, fun stuff, the unexpected, sample licks, name-that-bassline drills, fills, grooves, songs… it is the icing on the cake!
PDFs, descriptions, jam tracks. You know the drill. Usually one video, sometimes more.
Wiz Bit
The Wiz Bit contains valuable practice tips and tricks! Read them, use them, and turbo-charge your practice time!
It’s short, and sweet, and very useful!
And finally, I send you off for the week with an Outro section which is much more than an outro:
- It contains all the PDFs and jam tracks for easy download
- as well as resources for your own practice logs,
- and great looking unit overviews (“unit matrix” and the “Course Matrix
With that many videos and assets staying organized is key and these visually appealing resources and practice planners make that easy!
All these goodies come in handy zip files so you can download them with one click
What is this
Shared-Experience & Support Option
AKA “BASS THEORY COHORT”?
“Cohort” ˈkō-ˌhȯrt
a group or team who works together on a worthwhile goal.
“Bass Theory Cohort” ‘basˈthē-ə-rēˈkō-ˌhȯrt
a group of awesome bass students doing the 20-Unit Theory Course together with the help of success coaches & each other!
How the Cohort Works
You’ll watch course videos on your own schedule, post weekly homework by a deadline, and move through the material together - step by step.
Get encouragement from your peers, personalized guidance from a success coach, feedback from Ari herself, and connect with Ari and your peers in 4 live Zoom sessions.
New material drops every other week, and you do five units of the course together.
Let’s groove - together.
Why do this as a Cohort?
- Accountability, deadlines, community
- Time commitment: 5 times a week 45 minutes to practice in your own time
- Four practice-packed live sessions with Ari
- All meetings archived should you miss one
- Receive feedback on select submissions from Ari
- Kick off meeting, 10 weeks of course materials, finals = 12 weeks total
- It's a ton of fun!
“The Cohort was an Amazing Experience!”
Alixe L., student and cohort coach
Doing a big online course on your own can get a little lonely, sometimes overwhelming. If you’d like some help, motivation, accountability and company, we got you! Twice a year we run what we call the “Theory Cohort”.
As a participant of our Course Cohort you do ten units of the course with your personally assigned success coach (who will help hold you accountable) and a group of peers, who will cheer you on and support you. You submit homework assignments and can ask Ari questions in meetings. It’s a lot of fun and will help you create a great practice habit for life!
Meet some of our 2024 New Year’s Cohort attendees. Hear them play below!
How does the cohort work?
Our new Cohorts are 12 Weeks long, span 5 units of your choice and include personal feedback from Ari!
- You practice course materials in your own time
- You get weekly assignments and submit playing videos every other week!
- Now new: Personal Feedback from Ari on select submissions
- Each student gets a personally assigned accountability coach
- Live kick off meeting, practice meetings, finals and Q&As
- Motivation and momentum! (We boast a 70 percent completion rate!)
- Get your questions answered from Ari
- 5 Units of fun, friendship and learning together
- Kickoff-meeting, 10 weeks of assignments, finals celebration = 12 weeks!
Hear a Few of Our Coaches Play
Hear some student submissions
What is the time commitment for the Cohort?
Will I have to practice for hours and hours?
- You can if you want to but we stress quality over quantity practice! We show you exactly how to maximize your time on the instrument.
- Our cohort success formula:
Each week, on 5 days, reserve 45 minutes for course bass practice
Every two weeks reserve another hour to record & upload drills
Hang out in the Cohort Community to listen to/learn from your peers - We practice smart, not long: follow our detailed instructions and you can cut practice time dramatically while getting better results.
- If you have been moving your fingers mindlessly for years, maybe decades, without seeing a lot of improvement, you owe it to yourself to join this Course and super charge your musical abilities!
Our New Year's Cohort Starts on January 8th
ENROLLMENT ENDS IN
Days
Hours
Minutes
Our next Cohort won't run for a while! Don't miss this next round!
Course only
20 Unit Course for self study $ 650
00
Prefer smaller payments? 5 x $145 - Proven System built for just bass players
- Over 22 hours of bite-size, immersive video lessons
- 130+ jam tracks, 127 PDFs
- Pay up front and save $75.00
Complete Course + 12 Weeks Cohort
Choose this if you don't own the course yet $845
$ 795 Prefer smaller payments? 5 x $175 - Proven System built for just bass players
- Over 22 hours of bite-size, immersive video lessons
- 130+ jam tracks, PDFs, and playalongs
- 12 Weeks of Cohort Support for Five Units! Structured assignments, coaches, meetings with Ari
- Motivation, momentum, feedback and a real finish line
- Pay up front and save $80
Save $50
Cohort Add-on only
Choose this if you already own the course $ 195
00
Choose installment plans during checkout! -
- 12 Weeks of Cohort Support for Five Units! Structured assignments, coaches, meetings with Ari
- Motivation, momentum, feedback and a real finish line
- Pay up front and save $30.00
30-day money-back guarantee on the Course. Cohort portion is non-refundable due to limited seats.
Cohort reviews say: the COHORT is powerful, fun and productive!
“I joined the cohort in January and have found recording myself to be invaluable. It lets you spot areas of technique that you should be concentrating on. The Cohort is excellent and I can honestly say I have played for a minimum of 30 minutes each day since 20th Jan when it started. Everyone is so friendly and supportive. I feel like I have improved more in 4 weeks than I did in the last 4 months.”
“There is something very powerful about making a public commitment and then following it up with a recording of that exercise… and the video you record is incredibly eye-opening!”
“Never seen anything so productive”
“Recording myself has enabled me to see the progress I’ve made by the practicing I’ve done. It serves as a record of my progress as I look back over time at the recording to assure me of how far I’ve come in my bass studies.”
“I learned through watching recordings of myself that my technique looks nothing like I think it looks when I am playing.“
“I got so much out of recording myself. It was initially very daunting but I soon used it to spot areas of my technique that I could improve. Once I started to use the PORA mechanism it became invaluable.“
Featured by leading bass websites and publications
Meet Your Instructor
Hi I’m Ari. Bassist, author, educator. Groove enthusiast and learning nerd.
As a bassist, I have toured/played/recorded with a variety of rock, Jazz, and funk bands, I have worked with some incredible producers (Keith Olsen) and musicians (Paul Hanson, Muriel Anderson) and I toured Brazil with Stu Hamm as a duo.
As a bass teacher, I have taught at London Bass Day, Gerald Veasley’s Bass Boot Camp, SBL, Truefire, notreble… I even ran my own music school for a few years before gigs took me back on the road.
One thing to know about me is that I teach because I am absolutely fascinated with the learning process.
When I started playing bass, I excelled very quickly because I had an amazing teacher who taught me using a powerful method. This method transformed my playing so quickly that I passed a bunch of high-level university auditions and even tested out of entire classes at university even though I had been playing for only a very short time.
That’s what, many years later turned into one of my books, co-written with Wolf Wein, called “The Pattern System for the Bass Player”. I created entire systems of learning based on some of these ideas and wrote books and created courses together with Wolf. Our bass books have sold over 30,000 copies and garnered rave reviews.
I started teaching online in 2009 and have embraced technology as a powerful learning tool since then, never losing sight of the importance of providing feedback and personalized guidance to learners.
Find out more about Ari as a bass player
Find out more about Ari as an educator
Myth Buster
Learning hundreds of songs with TAB will not make you a better player somehow/maybe/hopefully!
In reality, all it does is turn you into a walking, breathing karaoke bassist – only able to play the songs verbatim, and only in the key the TAB was in. Originality, agency, or real musical skills will rarely emerge on their own like that.
The way to get better is to get competent. To understand how music is put together. And it does not need to be hard or boring.
Do my fun theory drills that use improvisation and get the competence by creating theory with grooves to help you understand how you can make it all work.
The way to get your fingers to cooperate is to learn to play with relaxation and feel, just like we practice it in my Finger Kung Fu sections in this course!
Find your creative self in the many groove and fill drills in this course that not only put skill at your fingertips, but a confident smile on your face.
Real confidence requires real proof – and it comes from finally knowing what you are doing.
Done the Ari Way, theory deepens the magic giving you more options, new insights, better ears and an enormous amount of understanding!
Theory creates true competence, confidence, and ability!
No matter where you are in your bass journey – my 20-Unit course teaches you all you need to know about music theory as a bass player and how to use the knowledge so you can start to sound musical right away!
FAQs
- The book (get it on your country’s Amazon or order it in bookstores).
- Email and an internet connection! This is all online. Exclusive content will be streamed straight to you.
- Your bass
No need to be able to read! It doesn’t hurt but if not, we got TAB and descriptions for everything!
Learn theory first (shapes! shapes! shapes!)
My course combines shapes with good technique. After this course, we do the Pattern System, Reading and Rhythm, and then some advanced theory, and you are truly unstoppable! When you know the material in this course, reading becomes a breeze! Boom! What a shortcut!
If you do it this way around (theory first!) you utilize your strengths rather than fight against your weaknesses.
Once the course is paid in full, you have lifetime access to all lessons, videos, and resources. Learn and review at your own pace!
Yes, for the course we offer an unconditional 30-day money back guarantee. If you are not satisfied for any reason, do not hesitate to email for a full refund for the course.
Buy completely risk-free and get lifetime access to the material once the tuition is paid in full.
The cohort Add-on portion of the course is not refundable because we have limited seats available and organize coaches who work with you.
Yes!! This course applies the theory! It refers to what is in the book, but it goes way beyond it.
You will do examples, drills, exercises that cannot easily be described in a book. And, the core of it: the step by step approach to making theory intuitive – with each unit building upon the next! You will use the material in the book in increasingly challenging contexts and applications.
Not at all. The course includes reading assignments from the book, so it works perfectly even if you haven’t finished or started it yet.
Absolutely. You’ll use theory to understand harmony, chord tones, and scales, then apply them creatively to your own grooves and bass lines.
Yes, if you are motivated and enthusiastic, go for it. We include a complete starter guide as well as tips for complete beginners.
We also offer Beginner Evolution, if you are looking for a slower pace and more foundational approach.
Definitely. Many advanced players discover missing fundamentals or new fretboard connections that improve their improvisation and overall musicianship.
Yes. Every lesson connects theory to the fretboard using shapes, exercises, and practical grooves. You’ll play your way through theory.
Yes, you can start the course at any time and complete it at your own pace and on your own terms. You have lifetime access. If you are looking to join a cohort, it’s only offered at certain times of the year.
- An internet connection and a smartphone to film videos
- A free youtube or vimeo account to upload the videos to
- 5 times a week 45 minutes to practice and watch videos
- Every other week, another hour or so to film yourself and post!
- The book
No problem! You can work ahead and you can catch up! And if you have a smart phone and a travel bass you can even record yourself on the road. We have had homework submissions from hotel rooms, cars and even planes. We are musicians, and we improvise!
No problem! You can work ahead and you can catch up! And if you have a smart phone and a travel bass you can even record yourself on the road. We have had homework submissions from hotel rooms, cars and even planes. We are musicians, and we improvise!
- No worries, if you need help, we got support!
- A simple setup like an amp and a smartphone will do
- If you are into a more elaborate recording setup, go for it, but no need!
For more common questions about Ari’s courses, cohorts, and live practice, visit our full FAQ page:
Participants are RAVING about our course
I've been playing bass on and off since I was 15, but it never clicked for me. Your course and book have totally changed that. Things I could never visualize or fully understand are really starting to come together.
This course is great! I’ll keep at it… I’m laughing to myself at how hard it is to keep up with you, I get a lot of value, going back over the bass Lab stuff… Livin The Dream, glad I signed up.
Just wanted to let everyone considering taking your 20-week bass course that it is one of the best educational investments I have ever made. The weekly classes are loads of fun with plenty of variety and obtainable challenges.
I look forward to practicing and am developing a more purposeful approach to practice. It seems like I am having breakthroughs every time I sit down with the instrument.
I am amazed, shocked, stunned at the amount that I learned. The course in combination with your book Music Theory for the Bass Player is an excellent value. They offer an enormous amount of information for the dedicated student.
Hi Ariane, as a self-taught bass player for many years I strongly believe that I did the best investment of my life buying the course. For the first time, I hear myself playing exactly what I want, nothing more, nothing less.
I think Ariane's approach to Theory is masterful and that it allows students to make actual progress that gets them to a place where they know their fretboards and the basics well so that when they tackle the more theoretical aspects of music
Thank you very much for making me a better bassist! 🙂 I’m entering week 19 – Maj and Min Pentatonics – and I am very excited about it as I have been over the entire course so far!
I have wasted so much time with talented well-intended musicians who just don’t know how to teach. I feel so lucky and blessed to have found Ariane. I have never had a teacher of this caliber in any area of my life including high school and college.
Ari has a very natural, easy-going teaching style (born to teach!) which creates a positive and encouraging learning environment. In addition, she is very strong on proper technique. The technique sections alone would be worth the cost of tuiti...
In this day and age, with so much content online it’s easy to get overwhelmed and distracted. Ariane has a process. A process that is proven. It works and I feel like I have improved more in the last few months of studying with her than in the last several years. She also understands the theory behind learning. She applies that theory to every component of her teaching.
On a personal level, she is incredibly passionate about teaching and truly cares about her students getting results and enjoying the process. She is a true gift to me and I am sure all those who come in contact with her.
On a personal level, she is incredibly passionate about teaching and truly cares about her students getting results and enjoying the process. She is a true gift to me and I am sure all those who come in contact with her.
Our New Year's Cohort Starts on January 8th Join us!
Course only
20 Unit Course for self study $ 650
00
Prefer smaller payments? 5 x $145 - Proven System built for just bass players
- Over 22 hours of bite-size, immersive video lessons
- 130+ jam tracks, 127 PDFs
- Pay up front and save $75.00
Complete Course + 12 Weeks Cohort
Choose this if you don't own the course yet $845
$ 795 Prefer smaller payments? 5 x $175 - Proven System built for just bass players
- Over 22 hours of bite-size, immersive video lessons
- 130+ jam tracks, PDFs, and playalongs
- 12 Weeks of Cohort Support for Five Units! Structured assignments, coaches, meetings with Ari
- Motivation, momentum, feedback and a real finish line
- Pay up front and save $80
Save $50
Cohort Add-on only
Choose this if you already own the course $ 195
00
Choose installment plans during checkout! -
- 12 Weeks of Cohort Support for Five Units! Structured assignments, coaches, meetings with Ari
- Motivation, momentum, feedback and a real finish line
- Pay up front and save $30.00
30-day money-back guarantee on the Course. Cohort portion (when offered) is non-refundable due to limited seats.