Study Theory the Ari Way

Because it’s practical, fun, and deeply transforms your bass playing

Ways to Learn Theory with Ari

Most bass players who have been playing for a while reach a point where they want to break through to the next level. Maybe they are self-taught ear players, mostly focused on learning songs through TAB, and deep down they know that more is needed to become a true musician. 
A player in this situation – but newbs take note, too! – will grow by leaps and bounds if they learn theory the Ari way – through shapes on the fretboard.

The book puts Theory at your fingertips

⚫️ An encyclopedia of music theory's basic building blocks, in easy-to-understand fretboard diagrams and demonstrated in bite-size videos

⚫️ Engaging Test Your Understanding questions, examples and technique drills make theory meaningful for your playing situations

⚫️ Comes with 89 videos that stream online

⚫️ This book puts Theory on the fretboard where you need it

⚫️ All levels
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Book

For your practice room wall

⚫️ The most important fundamentals you learned from the book at a single glance so you keep the basics top of mind

⚫️ Tutorial videos on how to use it for short daily drills

⚫️ Staring at the Wall has never been so productive

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POSTER

Go far beyond the book:
our 20 Unit course

⚫️ In order to internalize theory you must practice it step by step, in various contexts, complete with technique exercises (we call them finger kung fus).

⚫️ In this 20-unit course you put the theory building blocks from the book into action and you get theory not just under your fingers, but into your musical mind.

⚫️ Ari and Wolf's flagship course goes through the book and far beyond it with groove creation, improvisations, notefinders, fills drills, styles labs, and much more.

⚫️ Twice a year we offer a unique and very popular version of this course, which helps you achieve your goals with personal success coaches, assignments, meetings and more. We call it The Theory Cohort

⚫️ All levels, including motivated beginners
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Big
Course

A 3 hour-course that's a great start

⚫️ If you want to start with a short theory course, are a beginner or don't have the book yet, start here!

⚫️ Theory, finger kung fus, bass lines, grooves!

⚫️ A great place to start!

⚫️ Comes with videos, PDFs, diagrams, jamtracks and a beautiful booklet

⚫️ Great for beginners/low intermediate players
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SHORT
COURSE

Experience how Ari makes Theory easy

⚫️ Experience for yourself what Ari means when she says "make Theory intuitive"

⚫️ A fun, one-hour seminar where you learn a vital theory shape via one of Ari's signature methods

⚫️ Low intermediate and up!

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mini
course

Why should I learn theory as a bass player?

Most bass players who have been playing for a while reach a point where they want to break through to the next level. Maybe they are self-taught ear players, mostly focused on learning songs through TAB, and deep down they know that more is needed to become a true musician. 
A player in this situation – but newbs take note, too! – will grow by leaps and bounds if they learn theory the Ari way – through shapes on the fretboard.

  • Theory helps you understand how music is put together!
  • With understanding comes agency: over sounds, chords, scales!
  • With agency comes better ears...
  • ...and the ability to play confidently over chord changes
  • Now you are learning to improvise - grooves, fills, solos...
  • And rather than copy and imitate, you now confidently create!
  • Learning theory the Ari way also means your technique improves
  • Because in Ari's book, theory = shapes on the fretboard
  • Learn these shapes with good fingering...
  • ...develop proper technique habits
  • Learn and understand the fretboard
  • And soon you are playing with confidence & freedom!

How is Ari's way of learning theory "revolutionary"?

But when cracking open a typical theory book they are in for a bad surprise...

Ari wrote Music Theory for the Bass Player because she noticed something striking in many bassists: many intermediate self-taught bassists teach themselves through learning songs via TAB tend to reach a very typical plateau and then they get insufficient help to break through to the next level. Feeling like a copycat they long to create their own grooves!

Typically there comes a moment when they realize that theory might be a key to deeper knowledge and understanding. Searching for help, they can run into resources that confuse rather than help, because:

Most theory approaches:

  • start with teaching pitch reading (including treble clef) – a turn-off for most ear players who are happily (and wisely!) fretboard-oriented
  • either are focused on classical theory and won’t help a typical bass player looking to improve their (band) playing
  • or, Jazz theory books (which are great for jazz!) often thoroughly overwhelm a typical player as these books assume a lot of fundamental theory knowledge without explaining them.

This is a very frustrating experience for many players because it steers their minds away from the fretboard, overwhelm them, and take them on unnecessary tangents.

They also do not at all pay tribute to the fact that in order for theory to have meaning it must be practiced on the fretboard!

Music Theory for the bass player spiral bound Ariane Cap Ari Cap arisbassblogTheory the Ari Way:

  • starts with with shapes on the fretboard 
  • understands that learning to read – rhythms and pitches – are vital skills that are best learned after you know theory on the fretboard. It makes learning to read much much easier!
  • uncovers an awesome secret about learning theory: if you learn a theory item as a “shape on the fretboard” and combine it with good fingering (and good technique while you are at it!) you transformed a complex, disconnected theory item into an understandable, familiar sounding shape on the fretboard.
    Players often miss this because they don’t understand how the fretboard works and don’t keep fingerings consistent.

This is a very empowering experience for those with song playing experience (and a great start for a novice). There is no need to forget all you know or start learning to read first.


Build on what you know and dive in!
Plus, Ari’s teaching style is one of understanding and discovery, one that uses improvisation and creativity rather than mindless copying or dry explanations.

And there is more that's different with Ari's Approach

Other Ways

Music THeory for the bass player Ariane Ari Cap

The Ari Way

Focusing on terms without the "why"
Deep learning in context! "Test Your Understanding" Quizzes!
Teach reading first, then explain theory on staff
Learn theory as shapes on fretboard first, then reading
Start with scales as WWHWWWH
Start with intervals, then build scales from them
No guidance on how to practice

PORA method, practice guidance, fun drills

Limited guidance on how to apply theory to your fave styles
Learn through improvisation. Use it in your jams tonight
Does not consider what you likely already know,
starts with reading
Making you realize how much you already know, builds on it
Most concepts explained in the key of C
Key of G/Em as starting point then systematic path to all keys
Shows piano keyboard and staff
Explains & practices the bass fretboard
Video demos not always included
89 video demonstrations
Top down instruction, focus on repetition
Guidance so you feel like you discover it yourself, own it forever
Random fingerings
Precise system of fingerings
No mention of bass technique
Entire chapter on bass technique
No follow up when done
Seamlessly continue on with Ari's Pattern System

4.7 Star rating, over 1k reviews on Amazon

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