Jazz Bass Course

Jazz Bass explores the key ingredients necessary to play great jazz bass lines, including the sound, feel, foundation and power.Throughout the course, you will learn techniques for playing effective walking bass lines over jazz chord changes. The course begins by exploring "money notes"—the notes most valuable to a bass player to support and influence the band. You will play simple and functional walking bass lines over the blues and then progress to more sophisticated lines over jazz tunes, using chord tones in conjunction with half-step approach notes in multiple keys.

You will learn to recognize common chord progressions in jazz standards and play them effectively. The course highlights famous recordings from jazz greats—such as Paul Chambers, Ray Brown, Ron Carter, and Christian McBride—and teaches you strategies for modeling their performances. You will explore right- and left-hand techniques for both acoustic and electric bass, in addition to topics such as substitute chords, melodic development, and turnarounds. Each lesson will feature video demonstrations, listening examples, play-along exercises, and suggested practice routines, culminating with a walking bass line assignment that demonstrates the key concepts covered. The goal of the course is to give you the tools you need to improvise jazz bass lines like a seasoned professional.

"When a walking bass line is done right, everybody in the audience wishes they could play bass." –Jim Stinnett, Jazz Bass course author.

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Play a walking bass line over jazz blues

• Transpose jazz blues to any key

• Hear and recognize the ii-v-i chord progression

• Transcribe walking bass lines

• Produce a jazz sound in your playing

• Develop a better physical technique

• Identify characteristics of the master jazz bassists

• Create a focused practice routine

Jazz Bass Course Content

Lesson 1: The Money Notes

• Tension and Resolution—Roots and Half Steps

• Jazz Blues, Chord Changes with II-V Chord Substitutions

• Left-Hand Technique—Major Scale Economy of Motion

• Practice Techniques

Lesson 2: Build it Solid

• Jazz Blues, Chord Changes with bV Chord Substitutions

• Transposing Chord Changes

• Jazz Sound on the Electric Bass

• Transcription—Ear/Hand Coordination

• Practice Techniques

Lesson 3: Developing a Harmonic Foundation

• 3rds, 5ths, and 7ths

• Transcription Examples

• Right-Hand Technique for the Acoustic Bass

• Left-Hand Technique for the Electric Bass

Lesson 4: Learn from the Masters

• Transcription—Learning the Language

• Blues in the Key of Eb

• Left-Hand Technique

Lesson 5: The Rosetta stone

• The ii-V-I Chord Progression

• Hearing the ii-V-I

• Transcription

Lesson 6: Build It Solid

• One Measure Melodic Shapes

• Practice Techniques

• Two-Beat Style

• Turnarounds

Lesson 7: Modeling

• Modeling

• Bass Line Analysis

• Practice Session—Transcribe

Lesson 8: Hearing the Line

• Substitute Chords in Blues—Memorization

• Choosing Left-Hand Position

• Transcription

Lesson 9: Quarter Note Melody

• Additional Substitute Chords in the Blues

• Chords with Tensions

• Developing Melodic Shapes

Lesson 10: How to Sound like a Seasoned Pro

• Register

• Rhythmic Embellishments

• Dynamics

• Giant Steps/Transcription

Lesson 11: Secrets of the Great Walking Bassists

• Function - Interaction

• Phrasing - Repetition

• Creativity

Lesson 12: Cake Minus Eggs Ain't Cake: The Importance of Balanced Learning

• Balancing Act—Tips on Successful Learning

• Transcription

• Next Steps

Dolce Music Institute

Dolce Music Institute is a premier western music school in Hyderabad, India. Founded by a skilled musician Alexander in 1999,it caters over 400 students every year and is regarded as one of the best music institutes in Hyderabad with a highly experienced and qualified faculty.The emphasis is not just on individual performance but also on ensemble playing, aural development and musical appreciation. Courses for Western classical instrumental training, Piano, Keyboard, Acoustic/Electric Guitar, Bass Guitar, Violin, Music Theory, Songwriting and specialized courses like Flamenco,Jazz and Blues Guitar outlines are catered. Classes are generally held on a one to one basis. The students can also give Certification exams for Classical music from The Trinity college of London, The London college of Music and The Associate Board of Royal School of Music.

As each day dawns, new challenges await. In this changing scenario, it is quite imperative for us to train our youth to stand aloft in this age of cut-throat competition. Within a short period,the institute has been successful in spreading its wings. This would not have been possible without the incredible support of students, staff members & other generous members of the society. Apart from the regular classes, several workshops by visiting artists and other musicians are also regularly conducted which provide musical interaction for the students. Periodic pupil’s concerts and other events help to develop the performance skills of the students.

The school has put a special focus on its website by providing many add on services through it. Students and other visitors can now interact with each other and share information on the website. People can request for chords or tabs of particular songs which are posted in due time. Students and visitors can also sell and buy music instruments (brand new and second hand) on the website. The website also gives latest happening events in and around Hyderabad. Also the school regularly posts new informational articles on music (general and technical) to help young musicians. The website also helps the budding musicians by providing them a platform to promote their music by uploading songs on the website.

Our Mission

• To provide a platform for musically inclined people to get formal but personalized training in western music.

• To constantly innovate in our methods of teaching.

• To become the one stop solution for any service related to music in the country.

• To nurture talents, give them professional skills and develop their creative potential for successful careers in music.

• To promote values and well being through music.