A LOT of Free Lessons, how to's and other stuff from me!

[Dmanlamius]

Hello Fat Stringers! It's been a while. Just thought i'd pop along and give you an update on my free online lessons, how to's...

Ok, this stuff is categorized. Should make life easier. Most of this stuff is aimed at beginners! If you have ANY questions about any of this, I will happily and sincerely do my best to help you and answer you the best I can. I'd like to feature more "questions answered" posts, so please feel free to ask away. You can ask here on talk bass, my forums, my blog or my youtube channel. All are fine. Links will feature below...

Please be aware that I add lessons to my youtube channel twice a week, so if you want a continued update, subscribe HERE.

Alternatively, you can check out my site LEARNBASS.NET for all active updates!

A BIG thankyou to talkbass.com for making this a sticky, and being so supportive of our bass community, especially concerning education. Kudos. Special thanks go to Stumbo for nudging me to update this list, and Mark for doing it.

I sincerely hope some of this stuff helps you guys. Just putting something back to an instrument that I have an absolute passion about.

Please be aware that even though I try my hardest to point out bad habits in these lessons, there is nothing better than an ACTUAL teacher to learn from. They will point out things and habits that us online teaches will not see. These lessons should be secondary to a real teacher...

Bass talk:

Tuning your Bass guitar

Hand and Tendon exercises

Beginners Bass lesson part one (old lesson, but still of benefit!)

Beginners bass lesson part two

Hammer-on exercise one

How to learn the notes on the bass fretboard (Very important lesson that covers something all new Bass players should be trying to achieve!)

The Major scale: (What are root fifths and octaves? How do I play the scale? What does it mean? What are intervals? Need it all explained? Then watch on….)

Ok, at this point you will have learnt the major scale, how to play a simple riff, learnt where a few notes are on the fretboard, learnt the history of the bass guitar, terms of techniques, as well as some great strengthening tips! Let’s carry on shall we? Now we’re going to get onto learning some famous songs. These are nice and simple, but will help you build up your strength and timing…

Learn simple Bass riffs: Seven nation army The White stripes, seven nation army. Although he doesn’t use a Bass on the recording of this song, his effect is so low, it may as well be! No playalong, because it’s a simple tune to learn.

Learn simple Bass riffs Ben.E.King: Stand by me Learn Ben E King’s Stand by me Bass line, here. This is a nice and simple line that all beginners should have fun with. Good luck!

Learn simple Bass riffs: NWA: Express yourself: Great funky line that loops!

Learn simple Bass riffs: The Who: Boris the spider: Odd song that only a Bass player could write, ha ha!

Learn simple Bass riffs Radiohead: Creep A nice simple riff for you beginners to get started with. As I say in the video, try and mix it up a bit with the stuff I taught you in “Beginners Evolved” premium lesson, if you have it…

Learn simple Bass riffs: The Beatles: When I’m 64 A nice simple, fun Bass line for you to get results quickly with. Notice how this line isn’t overplayed? It’s nice and simple, and compliments the song perfectly!

Learn simple Bass riffs Sly and the Family Stone: If you want me to stay So…the Chilli’s version of this Sly and the Family Stone CLASSIC.

Learn simple Bass riffs: Pink Floyd: Money (Part one) Here we have part one of this great song! It’s the first song I teach that is mostly in 7/4 timing. If you don’t understand what these numbers mean, please check out tips on timing 5/4 (Introduction).

Learn simple Bass riffs: Nirvana: Smells like teen spirit The song that made Nirvana (and grunge) famous. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Who knows. Learn the bass line here.

Ok, so now you’ve learnt a few cool songs to help your playing along! I hope you enjoyed them. We’ll get onto learning some more songs in the near future. At this point you may have a few questions that will need answering. Below are some answers to questions that maybe troubling ‘ye:

How much should I be practicing?

What Bass should I buy as a beginner?

Hey, I've got a Blister!

Should I play with a pick or not?

If you DO like playing with a pick, check out this lesson and exercise!

How do I read Bass tabs?

What does 'playing in the pocket' mean?

Now, let’s get on with a few more interesting songs. These are a little harder, and should keep you nice and concentrated.

Learn simple Bass riffs: The Beatles: Come together. Ok, here is a tune by one of my all time favourite bands

Learn simple Bass riffs: The Breeders: Cannonball. Nice and simple but effective live from the Bass player from the Pixies.

Learn simple Bass lines: The Police: Roxanne. Great song from a band with a great bass player.

Learn simple Bass riffs: Red Hot Chili peppers: Under the bridge. Ooo! I love this line! I used to have a “Blood sugar sex magik” tab book, and this was the first bass line I learnt from it. It took me ages! But the feeling of accomplishment was immense. I played that chorus riff over and over and over in the summer of ‘93. Enjoy. A few open E’s before each chorus. Simple stuff.

Learn simple Bass riffs: Red hot chili peppers: Under the bridge (Part two) Part two of the above

Learn simple Bass riffs: Wild cherry; Play that funky music. Really addictive bass line to play, once you get it down.


Learn simple Bass riffs: Michael Jackson: Beat it. A very popular song, with a great Bass line! Great fun to learn as well.

Learn simple Bass riffs: Michael Jackson: Billie Jean. Another from the great!

Learn simple Bass riffs: Red hot chill peppers: Give it away. Well, what can I say about this bass line? It’s unique, fun, and funky. Even to this day. Just like Flea. Great one to learn, and great to play. Don’t forget the funk!

So now you have a few more tunes in your repertoire! I hope you are enjoying them. Now you just need a guitarist and a drummer who also know the songs…But before you do, let’s focus on some of the more important aspects of the bass guitar. Timing.

Tips on timing (an intro) 5/4

Tips on timing 3/4

Further tips on timing

Role of the Bass player + composition ideas

General Bass playing tips

Now, to practice this new found understanding of timing you should have, use these practice beats I have created for you:

Click here for many beats at many BPM'S, and many time signatures!

So now you have some ideas on how to keep better time! Let’s have a look at some more techniques!

Introduction to natural harmonics. Harmonics are great little tools to get a unique sound out of your Bass guitar. Check out the lesson to find out how!

Slap and pop lesson one Here we have the first in my slap and pop series. I explain what slap and pop is, where to slap and pop and how to slap and pop as well as add mutes (or ghost notes). We also go through a basic riff!

Slap and pop Lesson two: The second lesson.

Slap and pop lesson three: In the third lesson, we go through the Chili peppers’ “Higher ground”. Well, their version of the Stevie Wonder classic, anyway.

Ok, so you'll most likely have some problems when first Slappin' and a poppin' that bass guitar. Here are a few lessons to get you more precise:

Ideas on slap precision

Slap Dynamics

When I slap, where does my thumb land?

Now, let's try the above ideas with some slap precision exercises that I have created for you:

Slap precision exercise one

Slap precision exercise two

Slap precision exercise three

Slap precision exercise four

And let's get onto other techniques:

Tapping: Another new technique for you to get your fingers round! “Tapping”, a technique made famous by Eddie van Halen on guitar, is now being used more and more on the bass guitar. Here is my introduction to the technique.

Bass tapping exercise one

Bass tapping exercise two

Ok, let's get onto some funk stuff.

Below, we have a bunch of my personal funk lines for you guys to learn! I play the riff, show YOU how to play the riff, and then there is a drum track for you guys to play along with. All for free. Bargain. Some are finger played, and some are slap and pop, so make sure you have a little experience before you start these.

10 Funk lines I have created playlist.

If you had problems with the quicker fingering techniques above, here are some finger funk exercises:

Finger funk exercise one

Finger funk exercise three (Two got lost in the post)

Finger funk exercise four

Ok, here we have my 'Riff of the week' section, where I add a new Bass riff created by me, every week. They have started simple, and have slowly evolved into harder lines. Hope you enjoy them:

Riff of the week playlist.

Feeling confident? Then try and create some of your own bass lines to these guitar and drum lines I created. There have already been some great replies to this, and i’m always interested in seeing what everyone else has been creating!

Jam with D'man

Here's some inspiration for you. My interviews with other Bass players. So far, I have Marlowe DK, Dave Ellefson (Megadeth), Jean Baudin, Valerie lee, Jeff Schmidt, and Jayme Lewis:

Check them out here.

There you go, that's all for now. Should be enough to keep you Fat stringin' for a good while. Don't forget to check my site, and youtube channel for all updates!

LEARNBASS.NET

All the best!

Kris (Dmanlamius)

[Dmanlamius]

Playing bass with a pick.

Lesson and discussion.

I'll have some pick exercises coming soon!

[Mark Wilson]

All of the links are new, and updated!

Enjoy these amazing lessons, guys!

[italianstalion]

You did a pretty great job with all the lessons. I have started going through your lessons one by one and will definitely ask you any questions i come across during that. Thanks a lot for sharing such a wonderful thread

[dtotheatothevto]

Great guy, I found him on YouTube & it's nice to see him hear on TB! Great lessons for newbies like me...I got a couple books, but it's easier for me to learn by watching vids.

[Dmanlamius]

Glad you guys are enjoying the lessons

[Sonny Creek]

This is pure dynamite!!! A wealth of info is in this one page. Many thanks...

[linuxbassist]

Thank you for sharing this! I'm just getting back into playing bass and want to do things right this time. This is going to be a HUGE help!!!

[BassSurfer]

This is ESSENTIAL for ALL bass players from beginner to expert! Excellent stuff!

[dangerouscello]

Wow, this site is incredible! I've been sort of at a plateau, not sure what to do, but playing the songs along with you has made it a lot easier to get myself to practice every day. It has also given me some new song ideas for a cover band that a few friends and I are starting! Thanks so much!!!

[Yuulie]

Dmanlamius, this is really a great site! I wanted to learn more stuff and looked for a while on youtube, but as soon as I found your channell, I stuck with it! I can highly recommend!

[matey]

cool a lot of great stuff thanks man

[rfslick]

Incredible resource! Thank you!

[Katdawg]

Thanks Man! Just what a newbie like me was needing)
I will still be looking for a teacher in the Portland Or. area sson, if anyone has suggestions it would be KEWL! Peace and Thanks!

[Prafeston]

I'm a bit of a newb at bass. Played a little in the past, but this is pretty cool to see. Hopefully I can actually learn a few things this time around!

[Dukey89]

this is just what i need, i even think ill start right at the beginning, as every bit of it i think i could use