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“Just play what you feel” is bad advice.
It's applied THEORY that will make you a better player.
"Theory is so complicated!"
Right? WRONG!
Michelle smiles as she is improvising a chord progression all over the bass.
Your bass playing will flourish if instead...
Cohort student Delilah improvising a creative note finder drill all over the fretboard with ease and understanding.
Cohort Coach Helen from Australia getting beautiful tones on her fretless doing permutation drills that help fretless intonation!
Our student Durandus from the Netherlands, practicing Bass Line Lab. He has been playing for barely a year and he sounds awesome!
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
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]
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]
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]
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]
Here we set the tone – so to speak – for the week!
You get:
And finally, I send you off for the week with an Outro section which is much more than an outro:
All these goodies come in handy zip files so you can download them with one click
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.
I also utilize the power of learning in groups: our first cohort with volunteer coaches ran in 2018, and Masterclasses started in 2020.
Find out more about Ari as a bass player
Find out more about Ari as an educator
We lead you step by step to creating your own grooves and fills with the theory concepts.
This course uncovers how music is put together. Understand the underlying logic and all begins to make intuitive sense!
Ditch the TAB and use your new knowledge instead. Create your own variations, fills, solos and improvisations.
Stop chasing what you hear inside but rather use your new knowledge to hear it before you play it!
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 that with good technique. After this course, we do the Pattern System, Reading and Rhythm, and then some advanced theory, and you are truly unstoppable! After this course, reading becomes a breeze! Boom! What a shortcut!
Do it this way around, not the other way. Utilize your strengths rather than fight against your weaknesses.
Yes! You will be creating and playing your own Basslines, licks, grooves & fills, and even solos! Usually along with a jam track, and trading off with me! This is really at the core of this course. And mighty fun, too!
Yes!! This course contains lots more information, exercises, and concepts than the book. It refers heavily to it, but it goes way beyond it.
Lots of additional material, videos, and applications that can best be shown in videos. And, the core of it: the step by step approach, with each unit building upon the next, using the material in the book in more and more challenging contexts and applications.
The 89 videos that come with the book demonstrate the shapes shown in the book. They are demonstrations so you hear what the samples and shapes shown in the book sound like and how playing them on the fretboard looks like.
The 21 hours of video in the course are course videos. Ari shows you concepts on how to use this material, demonstrates drills and exercises to play along with and plays “call and response” with you. They are instructional videos.
The course references a few pages of the book and the corresponding book video demonstrations of these book pages in the intro section of each unit. So whether you have already read the book or not
Yes, if you are motivated and enthusiastic. If you are just starting out you will need to pace yourself and go at a slower pace.
A good rule of thumb is to allocate at least two weeks for each unit. I have included a beginner crash course as well and instructions as to how to proceed through the course if you are a novice.
Yes! Intermediate to advanced players who are looking to improve their theory and technique will find a treasure trove of useful exercises here.
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.
Once the course is paid in full, you have lifetime access.
Yes, 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.
We offer a no-questions-asked money back guarantee so your commitment is risk free for 20 days.
Try it on for size and you’re not completely convinced that this course is right for you, I will promptly refund your money.
What about the Support Option?
Twice a year you can take this course with support: we call it the
“THEORY COHORT”
What is the 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!
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!
is a group of students who start and complete a course together. They move through the course at the same pace, doing assignments and submitting them by a weekly deadline. This setup allows them to support each other, discuss what they’re learning, and often work together on projects. Think of it as a class where everyone learns and progresses together, even though it’s online and everyone practices on their own.
Reserve 45 minutes 5 times a week and 30 minutes every other week to shoot and upload your video(s).
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.
Yes, if you are motivated and enthusiastic, go for it! Your coaches and peers will help you and cheer you on! Super supportive vibes will help you thrive!
Yes! Inspire your fellow cohorts and show off your stuff! The course assignments are designed such that if you have a lot of facility you will be able to use it!
Our Cohorts start twice a year, around New Year’s and in summer.
We run the cohort twice a year, around New Year’s and in Summer. You can always start the course on your own and join up with a cohort later (many do this!)
The cohort Add-on portion of the course is not refundable because we have limited seats available and organize coaches who work with you.
But we do offer an unconditional 30-day money back guarantee for the course materials. If you are not satisfied for any reason with the course, 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.
Go for it! We sell only the cohort add-on for this purpose. Note that since seats are very limited and you get an assigned coach, there are no refunds for the cohort add-on only.
Our cohort coaches are not professional bass teachers. Instead, they are successful course completers and former cohort participants whom we carefully select to be cohort success coaches. Each coach is assigned to 3 to 6 students.
Their primary role is to hold you accountable, assist you if you encounter any obstacles, and provide ongoing encouragement.
According to our surveys, 80% of respondents reported that having a coach check in with them made a significant difference in staying on track.
We offer a no-questions-asked money back guarantee so your commitment is risk free for 20 days.
Try it on for size and you’re not completely convinced that this course is right for you, I will promptly refund your money.
What is the time commitment for the Cohort?
Will I have to practice for hours and hours?
We offer a no-questions-asked money back guarantee so your commitment is risk free for 20 days.
Try it on for size and you’re not completely convinced that this course is right for you, I will promptly refund your money.
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“We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. We are a participant in the Avangate Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program for Transcribe. Ariane is an official endorser of the following companies: Marleaux bass guitars, Fibenare Bass Guitars, Gruvgear, SingularSound, BackBeat, Dean Markley Strings.”
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