Ignite your musical journey as a bassist

Step By Step

These online bass guitar courses will change your game 🤘

scroll to learn more

If you want to:

1

Become not just a better bassist, but overall musician by improving your music theory, technique, ear, and creation skills

2

Turn uncharted territory or your struggles into stepping stones toward becoming the musician you aspire to be

3

Have actual structure in your practice and be told exactly what to do

…Then this may be the most important page you read all year.

Here’s Why ↓

I’m going to give you:

A NEW way to learn
bass guitar online

My method has helped THOUSANDS of bassists.

Step By Step is broken into

3 courses

  • Start from scratch or review the basics as you embark on your journey as a bass guitarist.

    Level 1 (35 Lessons)

    Level 2 (28 Lessons)

    View entire Foundation curriculum below

  • The most detailed part of Step By Step, the intermediate journey is where you will really take your playing to the level.

    Level 3 (51 Lessons)

    Level 4 (37 Lessons)

    Level 5 (34 Lessons)

    Level 6 (36 Lessons)

    Level 7 (40 Lessons)

    Level 8 (28 Lessons)

    View entire Intermediate curriculum below

  • The advanced levels of your bass journey contain an intense jazz crash course centered around walking bass lines, the intro to ghost notes, and the intro to traditional slap bass.

    Level 9 (37 Lessons)

    Level 10 (27 Lessons)

    Level 11 (29 Lessons)

    Level 12-13 (Coming Soon)

    View entire Advanced curriculum below

Step By Step: Foundation

($97.99 Value)

  • Levels 1 and 2

  • Starts from the complete beginning

  • From fretting + plucking hand technique, posture, to playing immediately with popular songs

  • Includes core concepts of intervals, rhythm, root notes, octaves, hammer ons, pull offs, + more!

  • Practice assignments

Step By Step: Intermediate

($397.99 Value)

  • Levels 3 through 8

  • The most detailed phase of Step By Step

  • Includes the application of all common triads and seventh chords as well as scales

  • Recurring series of Bass Line Creation, Ear Training, Dexterity Exercises, + more!

  • TONS of exercises and songs for application

  • Practice assignments

Step By Step: Advanced

($179.99 Value)

  • Levels 9 through 13

  • The phase where you’ll put all theory and fretboard knowledge together for creation

  • Intro to jazz concepts and applying walking bass

  • Intro to slap bass and ghost notes

  • Play-alongs with me AND visual play-alongs with the backtracks

  • TONS of exercises and songs for application

Here’s how it works:

No more aimlessly searching Google or YouTube, these courses will teach you exactly what you need to know: STEP BY STEP.

Lesson

This world-class curriculum is a guided journey with a detailed video lesson followed by an…

Exercise

Nothing is taught without application. Apply exercises and popular songs, all with the targeted concept in mind.

Practice Assignment

The most underrated part of Step By Step is you will be told what to practice. These practice assignments will never leave you asking yourself what you need to be working on. One of the only online bass courses that has structure.

Mark it completed 😎

Have A Look on the Inside

Take A Tour:

You’ll also get These included

bonus perks:

SOCIAL MEDIA TABS

Access years of tabs/transcriptions (160+) to covers I’ve done on social media!

The practice section

Browse through the library of 100+ bass-less backtracks, drum beats, drones, and chord progressions! You can also practice music theory with fretboard and interval identification as well as ear training.

Sign up

A traditional bass teacher will charge you for every single lesson, costing you thousands of dollars per year.

Teaching yourself bass inefficiently without structure is slowing your progress down.

Skip the hassle. Skip the headache. Have structure.

Purchase all 3 courses together:

Step By Step

$676.99

PREFER A MONTHLY PAYMENT PLAN?

CURRICULUM

FOUNDATION:

  • • Level 1 Overview

    • Buying A Bass, Amp, + Accessories

    • The Role Of A Bassist

    • String Names, How to Tune, + Parts of the Bass

    • Bass Position + Posture

    • Plucking Hand Technique

    • Applying Plucking + Alternating Fingers

    • Fretting Hand Technique + Fingering

    • Higher or Lower? Above or Below?

    • How To Read Tablature

    • How To Read Diagrams

    • Reading Tab With Popular Bass Lines

    • Practice Assignment #1

    • The Root Note

    • Applying Root Notes

    • Practice Assignment #2

    • Finger Per Fret vs. 1-2-4

    • Dexterity Exercise #1

    • The Musical Alphabet, Sharps, + Flats

    • Practice Assignment #3

    • Rhythm Pt. 1: Intro, Note Duration, + Time Signature

    • Applying Basic Rhythm With Open Strings

    • Applying Basic Rhythm Moving Around

    • Applying Basic Rhythm With Root Notes

    • Practice Assignment #4

    • Muting + Pressure Lifting

    • The 5th + 12th Fret Hack

    • The Octave + Octave Shape #1

    • Applying Octaves

    • Should You Read Music?

    • How To Read Bass Clef (Optional)

    • Reference Notes

    • Practice Assignment #5

    • Level 1 Quiz

    • Level 1 Recap

  • • Level 2 Overview

    • Intervals Pt. 1

    • The One Octave Major Scale + Pattern

    • Practice Assignment #1

    • Intervals Pt. 2

    • Raking

    • Applying Raking With Crazy Train

    • Dexterity Exercise #2

    • Practice Assignment #2

    • Bass Line Creation: Roots + All Octave Shapes

    • Applying More Roots + Octave Shapes

    • Applying Even More Roots + Open Octave Shapes

    • The Octave Trick

    • Practice Assignment #3

    • Rhythm Pt. 2: Ties, 16th Notes, + Dotted Quarter Notes

    • Applying Ties

    • Applying 16th Notes With "Dean Town" Intro

    • Applying Dotted Quarter Notes

    • Hammer Ons, Pull Offs, + Slides

    • Practice Assignment #4

    • Applying Hammer Ons, Pull Offs, + Slides

    • Applying Hammer Ons With "Have You Ever Seen The Rain"

    • Weekly Assignment #5

    • Open Strings vs. Closed Strings

    • Traveling Thumb

    • How To Practice Efficiently

    • Level 2 Quiz

    • Level 2 Recap

Intermediate:

  • • Level 3 Overview

    • Rhythm Pt. 3: Grouped 8th + 16th Notes, Syncopation

    • Applying Grouped 8th + 16th Notes

    • Practice Assignment #1

    • Syncopation With "Pick Up The Pieces"

    • Bass Line Creation: Rhythm + Syncopation

    • Applying Syncopated Variations

    • Practice Assignment #2

    • Rhythm Roulette

    • Bass Line Creation: Roots + 5ths

    • The Two Feel

    • Applying Roots + 5ths

    • Practice Assignment #3

    • Triads + Arpeggios Preparation

    • Major Triads Intro

    • Major Triad - Second Finger Pattern

    • Major Triad - Fourth Finger Pattern

    • Applying Major Triads

    • Practice Assignment #4

    • Intro To Ear Training - Pt. 1: Pitch Matching

    • Minor Triads Intro

    • Minor Triad - First Finger Pattern

    • Minor Triad - Fourth Finger Pattern

    • Minor Triad Rock Groove

    • Bass Line Creation: Approach Notes Pt. 1

    • Practice Assignment #5

    • Major Triad - Intervals Below The Root

    • Major Triad - Connecting The Patterns

    • Minor Triad - Intervals Below The Root

    • Minor Triad - Connecting The Patterns

    • Applying Major + Minor Triads (Clusters)

    • Practice Assignment #6

    • Dexterity Exercise #3

    • Applying Approach Notes With "The Boogie Woogie"

    • Applying Approach Notes To Transitioning Chords

    • Applying Approach Notes: Two Chords In The Same Measure

    • Bass Line Creation: Arpeggios With Approach Notes

    • Practice Assignment #7

    • Major Triad - Extended Fingering

    • Static Arpeggio Groove: Major Triad

    • Applying Major + Minor Triads (All Patterns)

    • Minor Triad - Extended Fingering

    • Using Arpeggios With Open Strings

    • Applying More Arpeggios: Major + Minor Triads

    • Practice Assignment #8

    • Barring

    • Applying Barring With "Listen To The Music"

    • Tone + EQ

    • Practice Assignment #9

    • Level 3 Quiz

    • Level 3 Recap

    • Level 3 Recap

  • • Level 4 Overview

    • Intro To Scales + The Misconception

    • The Major Scale - Second Finger Pattern

    • The Major Scale - Fourth Finger Pattern

    • The Major Scale - First Finger Pattern

    • Connecting Major Scale Patterns Warmup

    • Practice Assignment #1

    • The Natural Minor Scale

    • The Minor Scale - First Finger Pattern

    • The Minor Scale - Fourth Finger Pattern

    • Intervals Beyond The Scale Patterns

    • Practice Assignment #2

    • Efficient Shifting

    • Two Octave Scales With Efficient Shifting

    • Ear Training - Part 2: Intervals From Triads

    • Practice Assignment #3

    • Bass Line Creation: Passing Tones

    • Applying Passing Tones

    • Bass Line Creation: Approach Notes Pt. 2

    • Applying Approach Notes: Multiple Chromatic

    • Practice Assignment #4

    • Rhythm Pt. 4: Triplets

    • Applying Triplets

    • Dexterity Exercise #4

    • Practice Assignment #5

    • Relative Major + Minor

    • Diatonic Major Scale Theory (Triads)

    • Diatonic Major Scale Warmup - Clusters

    • Diatonic Major Scale Warmup - Same String

    • Practice Assignment #6

    • Common Diatonic Progressions

    • Ear Training - Pt. 3: Diatonic Chord Progressions

    • Drop D Tuning

    • Applying Drop D Tuning

    • Practice Assignment #7

    • Level 4 Quiz

    • Level 4 Recap

  • • Level 5 Overview

    • Rhythm Pt. 5: Straight vs. Swing

    • Seventh Chords Intro

    • Dominant 7th Chords Intro

    • Dominant 7th Arpeggio - Second Finger Pattern

    • Dominant 7th Arpeggio - Fourth Finger Pattern

    • Applying Dominant 7th Arpeggios

    • Practice Assignment #1

    • Dominant 7th Arpeggio - First Finger Pattern

    • Dominant 7th Arpeggio - Intervals Below

    • Dominant 7th Arpeggio - Connecting The Patterns

    • Dominant Arpeggio Expanding Warmup

    • Static Arpeggio Groove: Dominant 7th Chord

    • Practice Assignment #2

    • The Mixolydian Scale Intro + Second Finger Pattern

    • The Mixolydian Scale - Fourth Finger Pattern

    • Walking Bass Blueprints

    • Practice Assignment #3

    • The 12 Bar Blues

    • 12 Bar Blues Playalong

    • Boogie Woogie's + Box Shape Patterns

    • 12 Bar Blues Boogie Woogie Patterns

    • Evolving Walking Skills: Combining Boogie Woogie's + Box Shapes

    • The Mixolydian Scale - First Finger Pattern

    • Practice Assignment #4

    • The Minor Blues With "The Thrill Is Gone"

    • Dexterity Exercise #5

    • Practice Assignment #5

    • Walking Bass With "All My Loving”

    • Staccato vs. Legato + String Muffling

    • Applying Articulation: Staccato, Legato, Accents

    • Practice Assignment #6

    • Level 5 Quiz

    • Level 5 Recap

  • • Level 6 Overview

    • Rhythm Pt. 6: Odd Time Signatures

    • Practice Assignment #1 - "Money"

    • Major 7th Arpeggio - Second Finger Pattern

    • Applying Major 7th Chords With "Stranger Things"

    • Major 7th Arpeggio - First Finger Pattern

    • Major 7th Arpeggio - Intervals Below The Root

    • Major 7th Arpeggio - Fourth Finger Pattern

    • Major 7th Arpeggio - Connecting The Patterns

    • Applying More Major 7th Chords

    • Practice Assignment #2

    • Minor 7th Chords Intro

    • Minor 7th Arpeggio - First Finger Pattern

    • Minor 7th Arpeggio - Fourth Finger Pattern

    • Minor 7th Arpeggio - Intervals Below The Root

    • Minor 7th Arpeggio - Third/Fourth Finger Pattern

    • Static Minor 7th Groove #1

    • Practice Assignment #3

    • Minor 7th Arpeggio - Connecting The Patterns

    • Static Minor 7th Groove #2

    • Minor 7th Rock Groove

    • The Major ii V I w/ Seventh Chords

    • Practice Assignment #4

    • Diminished Triads Intro

    • Diminished Triad - First Finger Pattern

    • Diminished Triad - Third/Fourth Finger Pattern

    • Diminished Triad - Extended Fingering

    • Diminished Triad - Intervals Below The Root

    • Diminished Triad - Connecting The Patterns

    • Transitioning With Diminished Triads

    • Practice Assignment #5

    • Ear Training - Pt. 4: Interval Ear Training With Seventh Chords

    • Dexterity Exercise #6

    • Practice Assignment #6

    • Level 6 Quiz

    • Level 6 Recap

  • • Level 7 Overview

    • Note Checkup

    • Diatonic Major Scale Theory (Seventh Chords)

    • Diatonic Seventh Chords Warmup - Cluster Patterns

    • Diatonic Seventh Chords Warmup - First Finger Patterns

    • Dexterity Exercise #7

    • Practice Assignment #1

    • Ear Training Pt. 5 - Chordal Ear Training

    • Rhythm Pt. 7: Pocket, Feel, + Groove

    • Applying Feel With "Got To Be Real"

    • Practice Assignment #2

    • Intro To The Pentatonic Scales

    • Why Does Pentatonic Always Sound Good?

    • The Major Pentatonic Scale - Second Finger Pattern

    • The Major Pentatonic Scale - Fourth Finger Pattern

    • The Major Pentatonic Scale - First Finger Pattern

    • Applying Major Pentatonic Scale Patterns With "My Girl"

    • 12 Bar Blues With Major Pentatonic Pattern

    • Practice Assignment #3

    • Major Pentatonic: Intervals Above And Below Patterns

    • Motown Style Major Pentatonic

    • Bluesy Major Pentatonic Groove

    • Practice Assignment #4

    • The Minor Pentatonic Scale - First Finger Pattern

    • The Minor Pentatonic Scale - Fourth Finger Pattern

    • The Minor Pentatonic Scale - Third/Fourth Finger Pattern

    • Minor Pentatonic: Intervals Above And Below Patterns

    • D Minor Pentatonic Groove + Fill

    • C# Minor Pentatonic Groove + Fill

    • More Minor Pentatonic w/ "Wake Me Up"

    • Practice Assignment #5

    • Relative Major + Minor With Pentatonics

    • Create Your Own Fills In Em

    • Create Your Own Fills In Am

    • Creating Pentatonic Fills With Relative Key

    • Absorbing Every Pentatonic Pattern Exercise

    • Pentatonic Phrasing In 4's Exercise

    • Practice Assignment #6

    • Level 7 Quiz

    • Level 7 Recap

  • • Level 8 Overview

    • The Blues Scales Intro

    • The Minor Blues Scale - First Finger Pattern

    • Walking Bass With The Minor Blues Scale

    • Dexterity Exercise #8

    • Practice Assignment #1

    • The Minor Blues Scale - Third/Fourth Finger Patterns

    • Applying Minor Blues w/ "Sunshine Of Your Love"

    • Slides, Hammer Ons, + Pull Offs w/ The Blues Note

    • Applying Fills Using The Minor Blues

    • Practice Assignment #2

    • Major Blues Scale - Second Finger Pattern

    • Major Blues Scale - Fourth Finger Pattern

    • Major Blues Scale - First Finger Pattern

    • "The" Major Blues Lick

    • Playing Musical Ideas In One Pattern

    • Practice Assignment #3

    • Applying Major Blues w/ "Sir Duke"

    • The Trill + The Shake

    • Applying The Trill + The Shake

    • Creating Your Own Fills w/ The Blues Scales

    • Practice Assignment #4

    • Relative Key + The True Why

    • Bass Line Creation: Enclosures

    • Applying Enclosures

    • Practice Assignment #5

    • Level 8 Quiz

    • Level 8 Recap

Advanced:

  • • Level 9 Overview

    • Intro To Jazz As A Bassist

    • How To Use iReal Pro

    • Understanding Extensions

    • Mastering Jazz Walking Bass Lines

    • The Walking Checklist Intro + Example

    • Jazz's Most Important Chord Progressions - The Major ii V I

    • More Applying The Major ii V I

    • Jazz's Most Important Chord Progressions - The • Quick IV (I to IV)

    • The Jazz Blues

    • Walking Over The Jazz Blues - Playalong in F

    • Walking Over The Jazz Blues w/ "Kadota's Blues"

    • Walking Over The Jazz Blues - Playalong in Bb

    • The Half Diminished 7th Chord (Minor7b5) Intro

    • Half Diminished 7th Arpeggio - First Finger Pattern

    • Half Diminished 7th Arpeggio - Third/Fourth Finger Pattern

    • Half Diminished 7th Arpeggio - Fourth Finger Pattern

    • Half Diminished 7th Arpeggio - Intervals Below

    • Half Diminished 7th Arpeggio - Connecting The Patterns

    • Jazz's Most Important Chord Progressions - The Minor ii V i

    • More Applying The Minor ii V i

    • Walking Over Jazz Standards w/ "Fly Me To The Moon"

    • Walking Over Jazz Standards w/ "Autumn Leaves"

    • Walking Over Jazz Standards w/ "All Of Me"

    • 2 5 1 Overload w/ "Blue Bossa"

    • Jazz's Most Important Chord Progressions - "I Got Rhythm" (Rhythm Changes)

    • The Minor Jazz Blues w/ "Mr. P.C."

    • The Diminished 7th Intro (Fully Diminished)

    • Fully Diminished 7th - First Finger Pattern

    • Fully Diminished 7th - Third Finger Pattern

    • Fully Diminished 7th - Fourth Finger Pattern

    • Applying Transitional Fully Diminished 7th Chords

    • Applying Fully Diminished 7th Chords

    • Dexterity Exercise #9

  • • Level 10 Overview

    • Intro To Ghost Notes + Overview

    • Ghost Note Prep - Muting

    • Bass Guitar Tone For Ghost Notes

    • Intro To Same String Ghost Notes

    • Level 1: Same String Ghost Notes

    • Level 2: Same String Ghost Notes

    • Level 3: Same String Ghost Notes

    • Intro To Raked Ghost Notes

    • Level 1: Raked Ghost Notes - Three Strings

    • Level 2: Raked Ghost Notes - Three Strings

    • Level 3: Raked Ghost Notes - Three Strings

    • Level 1: Raked Ghost Notes - Four Strings

    • Level 2: Raked Ghost Notes - Four Strings

    • Level 3: Raked Ghost Notes - Four Strings

    • Level 1: Raked Ghost Notes - Combining

    • Level 2: Raked Ghost Notes - Combining

    • Level 3: Raked Ghost Notes - Combining

    • Intro To The Percussive Lift/Drop

    • Level 1: The Percussive Lift

    • Level 2: The Percussive Lift

    • Level 3: The Percussive Lift

    • Palm Muting With Ghost Notes

  • • Level 11 Overview - Intro To Slap Bass

    • The Complete History Of Slap Bass

    • Slapping Motion, Hand Position, + Thumb Angles

    • Slapping With The Thumb

    • Slapping "Lessons In Love"

    • The Importance Of Muting With Slapping

    • Muting Slapped Open Strings

    • Muting Slapped Fretted Notes

    • Adding The Pop With The Octave Shape

    • Slapping Around With The Octave Shape

    • Moving Slapped Octaves Around

    • Slapping + Popping "Fly Away"

    • Slapping + Popping Octaves With "Super Mario Bros."

    • Slapping + Popping Syncopated Octaves

    • Just The Pop

    • The Use Of Triplets In Slap

    • Slapping Triplets With "Higher Ground"

    • Slapping 8th + 16th Note Triplets

    • What Are Dead Notes? How Are They Important In Slap?

    • Slapping "Dark Necessities"

    • Practicing Muting With Dead Notes

    • Half Fretting, Accents, + Groovin'

    • Slapping Hammer Ons + Pull Offs

    • Slapping 16th Note Dead Notes + Open Hammers

    • Slapping Hammer Ons + Pull Offs (Ebm)

  • • COMING SOON

if you want

even more…

Join the Bass Freedom Mentorship waitlist and be notified when spots open up!

Are you looking for a way to take your skills even further?

If you like the idea of accessing the Step By Step courses AND also want face-to-face ACCESS TO ME on Zoom, then you need:

BASS FREEDOM MENTORSHIP

what people are saying

testimonials:

Minta Spencer

Jordan Odell

Marc Royer

frequently asked

questions:

  • FOREVER!

  • Step By Step’s curriculum takes a bassist from the complete beginning all the way to an aspiring professional level. Along with the hundreds of lessons, there are practice assignments which tell you what to work on, so you don’t have to think. The combo of detail, application, and structure is the secret here on Bass Freedom. You will become not just a better bassist, but a better musician.

  • Yes! You get me the entire journey. It can be confusing learning from a bunch of different instructors. I will be there the entire time!

  • Yes! Step By Step starts from the complete beginning. From getting started and buying a bass to the 101 tips of posture and technique.