This lesson is the second in the Bass Improvisation Series that aims to provide an introduction to improvising for those just getting started.
This lesson deals with small 2 note phrases as a means of moving between chord tones and a way of getting a feel for the various combinations of sounds over a particular chord.
The lesson also shows how to apply the concept to any seventh chord on any root.
This is the first in the Talking Bass series of lessons on Bass Improvisation from Mark J Smith. This lesson covers the absolute basics of getting started with bass soloing and improvising. The fundamental aspects of improvising are covered along with some basic exercises for introducing the beginner to spontaneous creativity. Practice Track:
This lesson addresses one of the biggest problems I see in students when trying to solo through chord changes. As bass players we deal with root notes of chords a lot. So when it comes to that time to solo we automatically aim for the root note and then take it from there. In this…
This week we’re finishing our look at Jazz Standards and our focus on the Jazz Blues classic Billie’s Bounce by Charlie Parker. In this lesson we’ll be looking at THE most important practice you can do for learning to solo: Transcription. We’ve got tips on every aspect of the transcription process and we’ll be breaking…
This lesson is the third in the Bass Improvisation Series that aims to provide an introduction to improvising for those just getting started. This lesson deals with small 3 note phrases and how to get more mileage out of small 2 and 3 note fragments. This can involve breaking a 3 note phrase into three…
This week we’re continuing our look at jazz standard practice by looking at improvising a bass solo through the Charlie Parker jazz blues ‘Billie’s Bounce’. Learning to solo requires practice and development of vocabulary. There are no ‘hacks’ or easy solutions but in this lesson we’ll be looking at some simple tips for getting started…
This lesson is the fourth in the Bass series of lessons on Bass Solo Improvisation. This week I’m giving some pointers as to how you can style your soloing by using vibrato, slides, dynamics, accents and ghost notes.
Very good, I like that you start with something simple, I can use it to increase my knowledge how to play bass. You are actually teaching how to play bass, others just show how good they are playing bass but not much of a lesson.
I’ll be waiting for the next lesson.
Cheers
Thanks, Mark. I can’t wait to watch future lessons. The practice track player is genius! So convenient. (Have you thought about including a tempo slider, and different style options? Perhaps by simply adding more individual tracks to choose from in a systematic way.)
Hi Mark, you broaden my bass horizon so much and I love your videos. They’re constructive, easy to follow and so valuable. Thank you so much for making me a bassplayer and supporting me in what I love most…
Chris from Frankfurt/Germany.
It is amazing how you make things so simple. It makes me want to learn. Thanks for sharing you talent
Hey Mark,
Thanks for your latest video lesson, an awesome intro to phrasing/soloing. I still find it interesting, and even amusing how using the 7th can change the emotional feel so much – major and minor triads sound so happy and dark respectively, but add that 7th and they start to sound opposite! Cmaj7 ends up sounding quite sad! The new practice track player is a great addition, just so convenient.
Best,
Steve
Mark,
I am thoroughly enjoying the bass lessons; there are a lot of bass guitar lessons out there on the internet however, your teaching style is unique.
I was wondering whether you have a bass lesson on bass chords comping.
Cheers
What a fantastic lesson,
Mark, you rock! Even when you play jazz… :-)
I really love your lessons, they are great both contents-wise and presentation-wise.
The entire website is excellent, certainly stands s one of my main go-to sources online.
Best regards!
Great instruction ! Thank`s alot Mark !
Love your lessons!
truly great for a beginner !
This man is not just a great bass player, He’s a unbelievably brilliant Instructor.
some of the lessons include bits from philosophy to neuroscience and teach me so much more than just bass
Cheers Mark! Happy New Year 2017! I just finished your Bassic Fundamentals Course, and it was wonderful. I am thoroughly enjoying working through these improvisation lessons. Your approach to teaching is incredibly understandable and effective. I am having more fun with my instrument than I have had in years. I so wish I would have discovered you years ago when I was getting started.
This lesson jolted my mind into coming up with all kinds of different chord tone progressions which all sound correct,as long as the rhythm is correct.No need to start on the root note or come back to it so often.I’m all over the place.
This lesson has brought me back from the famous black hole bass players cave. Cheers Mark
Thanks again for everything.