It is important for working bass players to have an understanding of a wide scope of fundamental techniques and harmonic approaches. This is ultimately because they will encounter many different styles and genres at gigs, in the studio, and even just jamming with other players. Working up to this level of player can be daunting, but is entirely possible when you establish the right foundations.
In his Foundations edition of Bass Buddha, Bill ‘The Buddha’ Dickens opens up about, what he considers to be, the most essential creative approaches and bass techniques.
Here are 10 free video bass guitar lessons from the course. For the full course, check out Bill Dickens’ Bass Buddha: Foundations on TrueFire!
Bass Guitar Lesson – Thumb & Pluck: 1: Performance
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This first exercise is a little more simple so you can better understand where to thump and pluck. It is played in the key of C minor.
Bass Guitar Lesson – Thumb & Pluck: 1: Breakdown
Download the tab & notation for this foundations bass guitar lesson
In this video I’ll run through the Thumb & Pluck 1 exercise slowly, and I’ll explain in more detail what each hand is doing.
Bass Guitar Lesson – Double Thumb: 2: Performance
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The second Double Thumb exercise is a little more advanced. It is played in the key of D minor.
Bass Guitar Lesson – Double Thumb: 2: Breakdown
Download the tab & notation for this foundations bass guitar lesson
Now we’ll run through the Double Thumb 2 exercise slowly, and I’ll explain in more detail what each hand is doing.
Bass Guitar Lesson – Pluck Only: 1: Performance
Download the tab & notation for this foundations bass guitar lesson
Here we’ll get started with the first Pluck Only exercise, which is fairly simple. Then I’ll discuss in more detail in the following segment. Have fun and enjoy.
Bass Guitar Lesson – Pluck Only: 1: Breakdown
Download the tab & notation for this foundations bass guitar lesson
In this video I’ll run through the Pluck Only 1 exercise slowly, and I’ll explain in more detail what each hand is doing, and how I simultaneously mute the strings with my plucking hand as well as my left hand.
Bass Guitar Lesson – The Blues & Triplet Feel: 2: Performance
Download the tab & notation for this foundations bass guitar lesson
Now we’ll run through the second Blues & Triplet Feel exercise, which is a little more advanced. Then I’ll discuss in more detail in the following segment. Have fun and enjoy.
Bass Guitar Lesson – Crafting Bass Melodies: Techniques & Approaches: Demo
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In this video I’ll discuss some of the history behind the bass melodies I grew up with, and the way I like to approach this technique. I’ll also play you some simple melodic examples. Let’s dig in and have some fun.
Bass Guitar Lesson – Crafting Bass Melodies: 2: Performance
Download the tab & notation for this foundations bass guitar lesson
Now we’ll run through the second Bass Melody Exercise, which is more challenging than the first, but still a lot of fun. I’ll discuss in more detail in the following segment. Let’s dig in and enjoy.
Bass Guitar Lesson – Crafting Bass Melodies: 2: Breakdown
Download the tab & notation for this foundations bass guitar lesson
In this video I’ll run through the second Bass Melody Exercise slowly so you can see what each hand is doing. I’ll also explain how I approach playing the bass like a songwriter.
Digging these free foundations bass guitar lessons? Check out Bill Dicken’s full course, Bass Buddha: Foundations.