Master the Art of Solo Bass

What You’ll Learn – Course Program

Let's go through each module of the program, including an explanation, a performance video or audio, and the corresponding content

Module 1 - Technique and interpretation:

🔶 The solo bass repertoire demands a high level of technique and interpretation.

🔶 This module is designed to improve both of them to the next level in a comprehensive form, so you will be able to play any piece with precision and emotion.

🔶 We will use some pieces to work them in reality, so you will already have some solo music in your setlist.

• Basic technique: We review everything from the basics for electric bass: Chromatic exercises, muting and sound control, speed, endurance and independence of the hands

• Tapping: With one and two hands, this is an important tool for the solo repertoire

• Slap: Another fundamental tool for the solo repertoire

• Articulations: These are the elements that add emotion to a bass interpretation. We will cover each one of them in detail with different extracts from the repertoire

• Tempo alterations: This has to be executed in the right way, and not just random variations of speed.

• Dynamics: The ultimate and most difficult source of expression, considering the traditional role of the instrument. Here we take the electric bass into a completely new approach of making music, by learning how to master the volume increase and decrease just with our hands.

Module 2 - Repertoire:

🔶 We choose two pieces from the repertoire of any of my four solo albums, and we study them in depth, learning everything that can be extracted from them, always prioritizing your identity as a performer.

🔶 The reason why we choose among these pieces is because the transcriptions are already finished, which allows us to immediately dive into working on the piece, without the need to make a previous transcription.

🔶 At the end of this module, you will be fully capable of playing any solo piece already transcribed for electric bass, bringing it to life with your own interpretation.

• How to approach a solo piece: Checking everything before get into it

• How to approach a piece with accompaniment: Checking everything before get into it

• The deconstruction process of a piece: How to study and analyze it

• Issues on a piece: How to solve technical and interpretation problems on a piece

• Memorizing a piece: How to learn in the less time possibly 

• Giving interpretation to a piece: How to put your own identity to give uniqueness to a piece

Module 3 - Arrangements and adaptations:

🔶 You choose a song that you like and I teach you how to transcribe it, always keeping the original essence of the song, but adding your own identity as an adaptor.

🔶 We will see some examples of other transcriptions, to compare and learn.

🔶 The ultimate goal of this course is that you learn to transcribe any piece of music, both classical and popular, in the way you like. Once your first arrangement is made, you make another one just by yourself, and I will help you in the process.

🔶 This is mostly for making a solo version with the bass, but we will also cover how to organize that with accompaniment of other instruments.

• Choosing a song or piece: Pros and cons according to different situations

• Understanding the different layers of a composition: You will learn all the different components of a song or piece (main melody, harmony and rhythm) and how to prepare them for your own version

• Creating the arrangement: Here you learn how to put everything together in just one instrument: our electric bass. And also how to develop a transcription system in order to make the final score. In this stage we also add the expression to the arrangement

• Checking and practicing the arrangement: Here we make corrections and improvements, since we will get a deeper understanding of our transcription.

• Playing the arrangement: The final stage of the process

• Transcribing another piece by yourself: To integrate the whole process.

Module 4: Composition for electric bass without accompaniment:

🔶 With this course we will manage to convey your message through creating a composition from scratch, or with some idea you already have from before, all this making the most of the possibilities of the instrument.

🔶 First we take care of finding the sound you are looking for, then I teach you how to shape the structure of the theme, as well as the technical possibilities of performance and interpretation.

🔶 The goal of this module is to have composed a piece for the instrument without accompaniment, as well as to be able to continue composing on your own, without always having to rely on a coach.

• Fundamentals of composition: Even though there is no proven effective method, there are many guidelines that save time and avoid overwork when composing

• Transform feelings and emotions into musical parameters: At this stage, you manage to create musical ideas based on the story you want to tell with your instrument.

• From an idea to a composition: How to develop the idea that you choose into a proper piece. Here we got deep too into the expression, too, since it is really important to understand the composition in its entirety.

• Adding details: Once the basic structure of your composition is ready, it is time to add variations and fills to your piece, where it is needed.

• Writing your composition: Once the piece is finalized, the final score must be done. 

• Playing your composition: Whether for yourself , for recording and / or for a live performance, I give you final advice for a proper interpretation.

Module 5: Composition for electric bass with accompaniment:

🔶 In the same way as the previous module, we will first look for your message and sound, but this time imagining the sound of the bass accompanied by the instruments of your choice.

🔶 This is a great challenge, since here we will look for the bass not necessarily to make a rhythm line, but to be the main instrument, and work in all the structure and arrangements of the piece.

🔶 I am completely sure that you are going to do it very well! The goal of this module is that at the end of it, you will have a song composed by yourself.

🔶 NOTE: it is important that for this course you can work with an audio software, to be able to program midi instruments and record your bass part.

• Difference in composing for solo bass and for accompanied bass: We take everything you learned in the previous module and we translate that to compose with accompaniment

• From an idea to a composition: Also, this time we work with accompaniment instruments, too

• How to make the other instruments work for the solo electric bass: Considering that it is usually the other way around, we will analyze some of the few songs and pieces that exist with this format. Then, we use what you learned in your own composition.

• Adding details: In this case, we can work with production elements, such as effects, timbres and colours that the other instruments can add to the composition.

• Writing your composition: Once the piece is finalized, the final score must be done. 

• Playing your composition: Whether for yourself , for recording and / or for a live performance, I give you final advice for a proper interpretation.

Module 6: How to play a live concert with Solo Electric Bass repertoire

🔶 In this module we will cover everything you must know for an important event which is to perform only with your electric bass in front of an audience.

🔶 How to deal with issues and situations, and how to make this day an unforgettable evening.

• Preparation for the concert: You will learn to choose the best repertoire for each specific occasion.

• Understanding the venue: Even though most of the venues are very good to play a solo concert with the electric bass, not every venue is suited for the instrument, but they want you to play there anyways, so, you will learn what to do no matter the conditions of the venue

• Understanding the audience: There is no concert without audience, so, you will learn about what is important for you to achieve a great connection with the audience

• Practicing for the concert: How to focus in the repertoire

• The day of the concert: Arriving, soundcheck, coordination with the staff, and the moment of the concert. How to manage stage fright in case you have it. Emulation of the concert

• Having guest musicians: How to rehearse and coordinate with them for the concert

Module 7: How to record a solo bass song, Ep or album in a professional way

🔶 There are many good recommendations that I will give you to get the best result from a recording, since it will remain forever and you want to be in the best quality possible.

• The role of a producer, if necessary: Especially in music like this

• How to prepare the repertoire: Understanding that sometimes recording audio professionally is different than playing a live solo concert.

• How to practice for the recording: What to do and what not to do. Exercises emulating the recording

• How to record: By yourself at your home studio, or at an external studio

• How to know when the record is finished: Checking the mix and mastering of the audio recorded.