On many online publications, you may find the bass guitar referred to as the electric guitar. It is a member of the string instruments known for the melodious high pitched sounds that complement different genres of music. The history of the bass guitar can be traced to the early 1930s when it was invented as a new modern model of the traditional six string classical guitar.
The bass guitar has a characteristically long neck, and it can be found with a different number of strings such as the four, five or six string bass guitar.
What are the Best Bass Guitar Lessons for Beginners?
2) Udemy: The professional bass master class for beginners
- Affordable
- Build Solid Foundation
- Basic
- Practical Exercises
1) Artistworks: Electric bass with Nathan East
- High Quality
- Receive High Ratings
- Guided by Nathan East
- Great for All Level
3) Udemy: Bass guitar lessons for beginners
- Affordable
- Music Theory Lessons
- Comfortable to Learn
- Great for Beginners
One of the reasons bass guitars have become very popular in the music scene is the ability to use this musical instrument to play different types of songs, and the multiple techniques. For example, you can play the bass guitar by plucking the strings with the thumb or fingers, picking the strings, strumming, or plucking strings to produce the beautiful sounds we enjoy.
There are many bass guitar lessons online to help beginners learn how to play the musical instrument from scratch. These lessons have been prepared by experienced teachers and musicians who have a passion for helping everyone who wants to achieve their dreams.
A majority of the beginner’s lessons you will find online for the bass guitar have been created to help you learn without pressure. Instead, the lessons are fun, engaging, and inspirational. You will also have the unique opportunity to learn from other students during courses that permit the exchange of practice videos.
The interactive nature of some of these online bass lessons makes it possible to get direct guidance from the instructor to understand the cause of errors while playing the instrument and how to avoid them. Developing your confidence with the bass guitar is mostly dependent on how well you practice. This is why many of the online bass guitar lessons for beginners feature exercises that encourage students to practice and master what they have learned. With your skills as a bass guitarist, you can enjoy lengthy jamming sessions with friends, play in bands or have fun all by yourself.
Here are some nice online bass guitar courses for beginners.
15 Best Bass Guitar Lessons for Beginners Review
1) Artistworks: Electric bass with Nathan East
The online bass course for beginners offered in this package starts from the basics. This approach makes the course suitable for people who have never played the bass guitar before. The lessons start with an introduction to the bass guitar; students are given tips on how to tune the guitar to ensure the right notes are produced while picking the strings.
Students are also taught about the harmonics, intonation, and how to play bass guitar by ear. The practical exercises include lessons about the right-hand techniques to play the bass guitar. These lessons involve learning how to develop arpeggios, repertoire, improving note lengths, and using the major and minor scales.
The exciting aspects of these bass guitar lessons for beginners are the speed drills. The entire package has been put together by Nathan East, a professional bassist who has played for music legends such as Barry White, Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder among others.
After the music theory aspect of the course, students are taught to apply their knowledge during practice. While the beginning practice sessions are quite slower, over time students gain confidence and increase their speed. The speed drills are coordinated for the arpeggios, the right-hand speed drills, and the scalar melodic patterns.
At the concluding part of this course, students are introduced to the different bass techniques to play songs. In this course, the songs covered are bandstand rock, R&B, blues shuffle, slow blues, and slow reggae. The instructor Nathan East has created an engaging course suitable for both young and older adults who wish to become bass guitarists.
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2) Udemy: The professional bass master class for beginners
A professional approach was used to develop this bass guitar course for beginners. It covers the basic areas of music theory and practical exercises. The first lessons in this course teach beginners to understand the bass guitar and how to write bass lines.
The music theory lessons for this course covers areas such as learning about harmony, chord progression, mode, keys signatures, and time signatures. There are also focus lessons on learning how to use the charts while playing the bass guitar.
Students have a chance of mastering a crucial bass guitar skill during this course. This is the aspect of time. To ensure the notes are played accordingly, the lessons in this area teach students how to coordinate their plucking patterns in the right rhythm. There are also lessons that expain the fretboard and how it can be understood by beginners as well as a basic approach to improvisation with the bass guitar.
At the end of this course, students are expected to have the knowledge and skills to play bass guitars on a public stage or in the studios. This course has been created by Rajiv Narang, a professional bassist with experience as a creator, composer, writer, and teacher.
3) Udemy: Bass guitar lessons for beginners
An overview of this course features music theory lessons and practice exercises presented as video files. The course is a blend of lessons that aim to give students the basic knowledge needed to master all about the bass guitar. The course includes video lessons which last for about two and a half hours.
These lessons cover areas such as a simplified introduction to music theory, learning the notes, harmony, rhythm, and scales. Students are also introduced to the bass guitar chords. There are also lessons focused on teaching students about the strings- their names and how to play the octaves on bass guitar strings.
The instructor during this course is a prolific bass guitarist named Todd Porter. He has over fifteen years of experience as a bassist and music teacher. This course is a good option for people who have never played the bass guitar before, and wish to gain confidence while playing the musical instrument.
At the end of this course, students will learn the different concepts and techniques needed to produce the best sounds with a bass guitar, how to play the musical instrument during jamming sessions with friends or in a band, and the best methods of improvisations for solos.
The lessons feature special animated videos that make learning fun. Students also have the opportunity to learn at their own pace because the lessons have been properly arranged into stages all through the course.
4) Udemy: Bass guitar foundation for beginners
Students who would like to learn how to play songs with the bass guitar in one day will find this course helpful. It is also suitable for people who want to master the bass guitar to enjoy jamming sessions with friends or bands. The course is for beginners who want to learn how to play the bass guitar without going through the long lessons about reading music.
It features about three hours of instructional videos which have been categorized into different lessons to teach students all about the bass guitar. The lessons begin with instructions on how to understand the notes, keys, and strings of the bass guitar.
The lessons in this course last for about twenty minutes or less. They include exercises to help students practice and quickly start playing their favorite songs with the bass guitar. During this course, students will take one course dedicated to teaching the bass solo; there are also three courses about the chromatic scale and walking bass.
Students also have access to simple songs they can practice and gain confidence while playing the bass guitar. At the end of this course, students are expected to understand everything about the blues riffs, walking bass line and playing their first solo. Steve Burnside, also known as Bside, has put together this course for beginners to offer tips that can be immediately used to play the bass guitar.
5) Udemy: Beginner bass guitar mastery - Learn bass the easy way
This online bass guitar course for beginners is a good choice for students who enjoy regular warm-up sessions to get them ready for the lessons. The courses have been divided into different lessons to help students plan and complete the entire course without missing crucial knowledge.
The concepts explained in the course aim to help students understand the basics new bass guitarists must know. The lessons in the music theory section include instructions, hints, and tips to guide students in areas such as learning the scales, octaves, notes, harmony, teaching the fretboard, thumb placements and rhythm.
This course also covers the basic fingerpicking techniques for the bass guitar. Students have a chance to master string muting techniques, and how to play the bass guitar with the thumb and finger. The course features twenty-five lessons which have been presented as high-definition instructional videos.
Students also learn the three methods of tuning the bass guitar to ensure they produce the right sounds during practice sessions. The progression of this course is organized in a way to make it easy for students to learn at their own pace.
David Taub, the instructor during this course has over twenty-five years of experience as a music teacher. His approach aims to help students learn about the bass guitar in a fun and engaging way.
6) Udemy: The African bass lessons for beginners
Everyone who wants to learn how to play the African rhythms with a bass guitar will find this course helpful. It is for people who have never played the bass guitar before and want to learn from scratch. The lessons have been made simple to help students understand the basics and start playing songs within a short time.
The lessons in this course are focused on teaching students the concepts and techniques needed to understand and play the different African music genres with the bass guitar. The music theory lessons for this course covers areas such as learning the history of each African music genre for the bass guitar, understanding the notes, keys, and the scales on the neck of the bass guitar.
The practical exercises in this beginner’s course for the bass guitar cover areas such as learning the rhythmic and timing lessons, the use of backtracks for ear training, and practicing the thumb positions, to improve fingering and confidence while playing the bass guitar.
In the African music genre, the lessons in this course are as follows, music theory and practical exercises for the Soukous, Konnakol systems, Zouk, and Sungura. These are common terms used in this bass guitar beginner’s course.
The lead instructor for this course is Edd Bateman. He has been playing African music with the bass guitar from the age of fourteen. Bateman has had many gigs with Zimbabwean and reggae bands throughout his career.
7) Udemy: Bass guitar setup and stringing lessons for beginners
This course has been created for new learners who understand the need to master tuning and to string the bass guitar before strumming. The lessons are simple and quite straightforward. Students are introduced to the three methods of tuning the bass guitar.
There are also lessons that teach intonation, how to adjust string height, and managing the truss rod dial located on the neck of the bass guitar. There are also high-quality video lessons that teach students the best methods to improve their bass tone and create different tonal sounds.
Understanding all about setting up and stringing a bass guitar gives beginners a chance to build a good foundation and improve their bass guitar skills. The lessons are presented as DVDs which feature the instructional videos for this course.
Students are also given access to downloadable content, songs, and practice tools to help improve their bass guitar skills. The lessons are engaging and flexible to allow students to learn at their own pace.
The bass guitar methods taught by David Taub in this course are aimed at helping students achieve results. Taub has had a successful career as a bassist and music teacher. He also manages a popular YouTube channel for his bass guitar lessons.
8) Udemy: Electric bass guitar right from the start
This course has been created for everyone who wants to learn how to play bass guitars online. The lessons start from the basics and progress to cover more areas that give students an insight into the intermediate bass guitar lessons. The course features video files and audio files which contain play-along tracks to help students improve their practice sessions.
The lessons cover areas such as how to use the open strings and finger styles for playing the bass guitar. Also, students are introduced to the basic aspects of playing the bass guitar to different music genres such as rock, pop, jazz, and funk.
Paul Lennon, the creator of this course is a music teacher, composer and multi-instrumentalist. Lennon is a graduate of the Trinity College of Music, London. To participate in this course, students are required to have access to a four-string bass guitar. The audio files which feature play along tracks have been enhanced with narratives by the instructor who teaches the students tips and how to avoid common errors while playing the bass guitar.
Students are also introduced to the bass tablature because it is an important area that should be understood to progress to higher learning online courses for the bass guitar. The course is simplified with a basic outline and suitable for everyone.
9) JamPlay: Bass guitar lessons for beginners
The videos and practice tools included in this online package makes this course suitable for beginners who want to become bass guitarists. The lessons that make up this course have been structured in a way that they expose beginners to the tips and techniques that can be used to play songs and improvise with the bass guitar.
Students are introduced to the bass guitar with a focus on describing the different parts and how the function. In addition, there are lessons that show students the proper way to tune the bass guitar to ensure they get started the right way. Students who take this course are given access to hundreds of learning materials to help improve their techniques with the bass guitar.
The course is presented as high-quality videos which have been captured from different angles. This feature gives the students different views to help them study the techniques used by the instructors. The practical exercises featured in this course are short.
So beginners will feel encouraged to complete the practice sessions and learn how the musical instrument works. The lessons have been simplified for all beginners; also, students can choose which instructor they want to learn from according to their goals.
10) Bass Buzz: Beginner bass basics
The beginner bass basics course has been created as a series of instructional videos to help people achieve their dreams of becoming bass guitarists. The videos in this course feature simple instructions to back up the demonstrations of the teacher while playing the bass guitar.
The lessons start from the basics; students can learn how to tune the bass guitar, the names of strings and how to pluck strings of the bass guitar with fingers or the thumb. Students are also taught how to play the bass guitar with both hands. There are over ten bass guitar specialists who offer lessons in this course.
Other areas covered in this online course for bass guitar are comprehensive lessons about the fretboard, and students are introduced to the twelve notes associated with classical music when playing bass guitars. The plucking methods for the bass guitar taught in this course are the right-hand technique.
These lessons teach students the right fingers that should be used to pluck the strings in line with the tablature being used. The lessons also feature high-quality pictures that show students the positions of the hands, fingers and how to strap the bass guitar.
Students who wish to take this course can plan a flexible timing for the lectures. Josh Fossgreen has created this beginners course to share his extensive knowledge and tips about playing and mastering the bass guitar techniques.
11) Scottbasslessons.com: Bass lessons for beginners
This is a good course for students who need a step by step approach to learning the methods of playing bass guitars. The lessons start with a survival guide to teach students simple tips and techniques they can use to get the process right. These lessons include methods of overcoming errors while playing the bass guitar and how to recover when mistakes are made.
Students are also taught how to play the bass guitar by ear, and the basic steps to start improvisation with the musical instrument. There are special lessons that aim to help students improve their dynamics, rhythm, and harmony while playing the bass guitar.
The lessons in this course are basic and have been simplified to enable young, and older students learn fast. Everyone who needs an online bass guitar course that teaches how to play the songs from notations will also find these lessons helpful.
At the end of the course, students should be able to play the bass guitar confidently in bands or solo. Students will also be able to play the bass guitar to all genres of music.
12) Study Bass: Online bass lessons for beginners
The study bass online course starts from the fundamentals of learning about the bass guitar. Students taking this course are taught how to hold the bass guitar and the proper finger placements while plucking the strings. The lessons for beginners also focus on teaching students notations, the octaves, and the different scales of the bass guitar.
There are lessons in this course that introduce the diminished chords and the 12-bar-blues bass. Students are also introduced to the fretboard and its basic applications. The lessons in this course aim to help students build a solid foundation for the bass guitar.
The first lessons in this course are free. They are introductory lessons that help students understand the scope of the course and if the lessons match their goals as upcoming bass guitarists.
Students also get a chance to learn the basics about harmony, walking bass, and how to play the bass guitar by ear. The curriculum for students who take this course has also been generalized. The scope covers all the common genres of music that can be played with the bass guitar. For example, students can learn how to play the following types of songs- jazz, blues, rock, and funk.
Dan Hawkins the teacher and creator of this course has been playing the bass guitar for over twenty-five years. He has played with local bands and other music gigs. Dan’s is also skilled in creating jingles, EPs, Demos, and playing the bass guitar on TV and in films.
13) Online Bass Courses: Fundamental principles of bass for beginners
In addition to registering for this online bass guitar course for beginners, students are given a free eBook to help improve their understanding and techniques. The lessons have been structured as music theory and the exercises which encourage practice sessions.
There are free lessons offered in this package. Students learn all about the fretboard and simple techniques for improvising with the bass guitar. There are also free lessons to teach students how to groove with the bass guitar, how to tune the bass guitar and tips on reading music.
All that is required to participate in this course is access to a bass guitar and notes. At the end of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to play their favorite songs with the bass guitar and proceed to the intermediate lessons as a form of progress.
Students will also know how to play bass guitar by ear and tips on composing music. The lessons get beginners started on the right path. Applying the knowledge from these lessons is easy because of the practical sessions that help students master their bass guitar skills.
14) Rock Star Academy: Bass guitar lessons for beginners
The course outline for beginners who want to become bass guitarists covers the key areas needed to form a good foundation. The lessons teach students skills such as the right-hand techniques and how to use knowledge of the fretboard while playing bass guitars with the left hand.
The lessons also teach students about the scales, notes, and how to read music charts. Students are also exposed to the techniques of using the chords while playing the bass guitar.
The lessons are extensive; they feature exercises that make the experience engaging. Students learn tips that can help them avoid common mistakes while playing the bass guitar.
During this course, students are taught how to create their first bass lines and pick up speed during the practice sessions. The speed drills help students become more confident while playing the musical instrument.
Students are also introduced to the arpeggios and solo performances with the bass guitar. After this course, students who have understood the lessons can play simple songs and enjoy jamming sessions with friends. The course outline also makes provision for students to upload their practice videos for assessment by the instructors.
15) Guitar Master Class: Online bass guitar lessons for beginners
This course for online students who want to learn how to play bass guitars from scratch covers the fundamentals and helps students practice to improve their techniques. The first lessons cover the basics such as describing parts of the bass guitar and how to care for the musical instrument.
Students are also introduced to the licks, and scales while playing the bass guitar. Regarding the scales, there are particular lessons in this course that teach students how to improve their knowledge and skills in achieving proper scalar melodic patterns. Students also get an introduction to the bass lines and the proper way to maintain chord progressions while playing the bass guitar.
The lessons are a combination of music theory and the exercises which feature practice sessions. Students taking this course have access to hundreds of learning materials and guidebooks to help improve their skills with the bass guitar. There are also short warm-up sessions that helps students prepare to improvise with the bass guitar.
The lessons in this course are straightforward and suitable for everyone. The ear training exercises are most engaging and help students gain confidence as bass guitar players. The lessons in this course have been created by Bogdan Radovic, a professional bassist who teaches the first steps, scalar approach, time keeping and beginner walking bass.
Choosing the Best Bass Guitar Lessons for Beginners
The bass guitar lessons online are mainly focused on helping beginners gain confidence while playing the musical instrument. However, if you need lessons that teach the basic strumming methods without learning how to read music you can save some money by finding and registering for this basic course.
2) Udemy: The professional bass master class for beginners
- Affordable
- Build Solid Foundation
- Basic
- Practical Exercises
1) Artistworks: Electric bass with Nathan East
- High Quality
- Receive High Ratings
- Guided by Nathan East
- Great for All Level
3) Udemy: Bass guitar lessons for beginners
- Affordable
- Music Theory Lessons
- Comfortable to Learn
- Great for Beginners
However, students who wish to play the bass guitar professionally or others learning for exams should choose online courses that combine music theory and exercises for all-round skill development.
The basic lessons for beginners are impactful because they teach the necessary lessons needed to progress to learn more advanced bass guitar techniques. It will also be helpful if you consider taking a course that offers tips to help you avoid the common errors people make when playing the bass guitar for the first time.
After the lessons, you may need to rely on the past experience to progress and improve your skills. This is why you should choose online bass guitar courses that offer extra learning materials that can be downloaded during the course. With these materials, you can always find time to study and practice with the bass guitar at your own pace.