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The IIB Online Bass Courses
Soloing Techniques | Jazz Bass Lines
The International Institute of Bassists (IIB) is an online resource dedicated to the advancement of contemporary bass performance and the study of the bass tradition. Since its founding in 1997, the IIB has established a long-time presence on the internet and grown into one of the largest and most popular bass-related web sites found online. Today, the IIB is recognized as one of the leading online publications for bass players and the promotion of all things bass. The IIB keeps both electric and acoustic upright bassists of all levels of playing experience, from novice to professionals alike, returning every day for the latest updates and information in the bass community.
If you live in a remote area and are unable to attend one-on-one lessons with a private instructor on a regular basis or you maintain a hectic schedule due to work or family commitments, the courses offered at the IIB will take your knowledge to the next level and stimulate your pursuit of playing the bass with greater depth and new insight. By studying bass online through the IIB, you can learn at your own pace, on your own time, in the comfort of your own home, at a cost that is much cheaper than the price of most one-on-one private bass lessons from a local instructor, and you can easily archive the lesson material for future reference.
The IIB offers an expanding catalog of courses in all areas of contemporary bass playing including technique, theory, sight reading, bass line construction, and soloing. These courses will enhance your understanding of techniques and theories that are crucial to you success as in independent musician. If you are seeking to increase your performance opportunities, enhance your skills, or communicate with a network of like-minded bassists, the IIB is the place for you. Please review our course catalog to explore the different ways the IIB can assist in achieving your goals.
If you live in a remote area and are unable to attend one-on-one lessons with a private instructor on a regular basis or you maintain a hectic schedule due to work or family commitments, the courses offered at the IIB will take your knowledge to the next level and stimulate your pursuit of playing the bass with greater depth and new insight. By studying bass online through the IIB, you can learn at your own pace, on your own time, in the comfort of your own home, at a cost that is much cheaper than the price of most one-on-one private bass lessons from a local instructor, and you can easily archive the lesson material for future reference.
The IIB offers an expanding catalog of courses in all areas of contemporary bass playing including technique, theory, sight reading, bass line construction, and soloing. These courses will enhance your understanding of techniques and theories that are crucial to you success as in independent musician. If you are seeking to increase your performance opportunities, enhance your skills, or communicate with a network of like-minded bassists, the IIB is the place for you. Please review our course catalog to explore the different ways the IIB can assist in achieving your goals.
The IIB Course Catalog
Soloing Techniques For Bass Guitar & Acoustic Bass
The Next Session Begins August 2 - Enroll Today!
Ever since the introduction of the bass guitar and acoustic upright bass, a bassist's primary role has been to provide a supportive function as an accompanist within the setting of a rhythm section. Today, as a well-rounded bass player, you are also expected to produce lyrical solos with proficiency. Soloing Techniques is an intermediate to advanced level course that explores all of the fundamental elements required to improvise effective solos. Featuring classic bebop to modern era techniques, you will be presented with a wide array of improvisation concepts and learn how to create your own horn-like solos in the jazz idiom. Following a step-by-step analysis, this course begins by examining basic theoretical principles including the construction of intervals, triads, seventh chords, tensions, and scales. Over the span of 12 weeks, you will be introduced to various techniques and concepts such as passing notes, approach notes, neighbor notes, cells, sequences, voice leading, superimposition, phrasing, melodic interpretation, thematic development, and the assimilation of those components through practical application. Soloing Techniques will expose you to a collection of proven strategies which will help you implement these techniques in a musical fashion. Utilizing a compilation of popular standards from the jazz repertoire and an archive of signature solos recorded by some of the most innovative instrumentalists in the history of jazz music including John Patitucci, Jaco Pastorius, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Oscar Peterson, Sonny Stitt, and Wynton Marsalis, you will learn to connect your ears to the fingerboard, develop ideas, and expand the traditional role of the bassist through the vocabulary of the jazz language. Transcriptions of legendary solos, dozens of play-alongs, and a series of essential listening tracks will be employed to establish a database of documented statements and demonstrate the proper integration of phrasing considerations. Upon the completion of this course, you will have acquired the necessary tools to improvise solos in the styles of the premier bass soloists such as John Patitucci, Jaco Pastorius, Jeff Berlin, Michael Manring, Brian Bromberg, Alain Caron, Gary Willis, Ray Brown, Ron Carter, and Paul Chambers. Soloing Techniques is recommended for both aspiring and professional bassists alike who are seeking an indispensable resource for the contemporary study and analysis of soloing concepts on bass guitar and acoustic upright bass.
Topics Discussed In Soloing Techniques Include:
- Practicing
- Notes On The Bass
- Ear Training
- Intervals
- Triads
- Seventh Chords
- Tensions
- The Modes Of The Major Scale
- The Modes Of The Melodic Minor Scale
- Major, Minor & Other Pentatonic Scales
- The Blues Scale
- Whole-Step/Half-Step & Half-Step/Whole-Step Diminished Scales
- The Whole Tone Scale
- A Guide To Scales
- The 12-Bar Blues, 32-Bar A-A-B-A & Other Basic Song Forms
- Modal Tunes
- Rhythm Changes
- Common Chord Progressions, Chord Substitutions & Turnarounds
- Chord Tones, Scale Tones & Chromatic Approach Notes
- Triad Cells
- Chordal Cells
- 3, 4 & 5-Note Scale Cells/Fragments
- Triad, Chordal & Scalar Sequences
- Melodic & Rhythmic Interpretation
- Phrasing & Thematic Development
- Articulations Including Hammer-Ons, Pull-Offs, Slurs & Grace Notes
- Target Notes
- Passing Notes
- Scalar & Chromatic Approach Notes
- Scalar & Chromatic Neighbor Notes
- Telescopes
- Deflections
- Tertial & Non-Tertial Cells
- Superimposition/Chord-On-Chord/Bitonality
- Connecting Changes With Triads, Chord Tones & Scales
- Techniques To Improve Your Improv
- Transposition
- Voice Leading
- Indirect Resolution
- Strong Beat/Weak Beat
- Rhythmic & Octave Displacement
- Sound Production
- Timing
- Dynamics & Vibrato
- Memorizing Lead Sheets/Chord Charts
- A Guide To Chord Symbols
- A Guide To Transcription
- Ballads, Medium Tempos & Fast Tempos
- Transcriptions Featuring Solos Recorded By John Patitucci, Jaco Pastorius, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Oscar Peterson, Sonny Stitt, & Wynton Marsalis
- Selected Discographies
- Building A Repertoire Of Jazz Standards
- Play-Along & Essential Listening Tracks
By The Conclusion Of This Course, You Will Have Been Presented With The Tools To:
- Structure Effective Practice Sessions
- Locate All Of The Notes On The Bass
- Play Intervals, Triads, Seventh Chords, Tensions & Scales Across The Entire Range Of The Fingerboard
- Increase Your Technical Mastery Of The Bass
- Expand Your Fretboard Familiarity
- Understand Basic Chord/Scale & Jazz Theory
- Identify Intervals, Triads, Seventh Chords, Tensions & Scales By Ear
- Construct Melodic, Horn-Like Solos Using Chord Tones, Scale Tones & Chromatic Approach Notes
- Integrate Rhythmic Diversity Into Your Solos
- Improvise Solos In The Styles Of John Patitucci, Jaco Pastorius, Jeff Berlin, Michael Manring, Brian Bromberg, Alain Caron, Gary Willis, Ray Brown, Ron Carter & Paul Chambers
- Recognize Chord Symbols & Common Chord Progressions
- Navigate Lead Sheets/Chord Charts
- Transpose A 12-Bar Blues To Every Key
- Solo Over Jazz Standards With Proper Tone & Feel
- Extend Your Performance Endurance
- Interact With Other Musicians On A Deeper Level Through The Language Of Improvisation
- Transcribe Solos
Prerequisites For Soloing Techniques
- Fundamental Right & Left Hand Technique
- The Ability To Read Standard Music Notation Or Tablature
- Visit The IIB Requirements Page For A Complete List Of Required Hardware & Software
Duration: 12 Weeks
Cost: $24.95
Topics Discussed In Soloing Techniques Include:
- Practicing
- Notes On The Bass
- Ear Training
- Intervals
- Triads
- Seventh Chords
- Tensions
- The Modes Of The Major Scale
- The Modes Of The Melodic Minor Scale
- Major, Minor & Other Pentatonic Scales
- The Blues Scale
- Whole-Step/Half-Step & Half-Step/Whole-Step Diminished Scales
- The Whole Tone Scale
- A Guide To Scales
- The 12-Bar Blues, 32-Bar A-A-B-A & Other Basic Song Forms
- Modal Tunes
- Rhythm Changes
- Common Chord Progressions, Chord Substitutions & Turnarounds
- Chord Tones, Scale Tones & Chromatic Approach Notes
- Triad Cells
- Chordal Cells
- 3, 4 & 5-Note Scale Cells/Fragments
- Triad, Chordal & Scalar Sequences
- Melodic & Rhythmic Interpretation
- Phrasing & Thematic Development
- Articulations Including Hammer-Ons, Pull-Offs, Slurs & Grace Notes
- Target Notes
- Passing Notes
- Scalar & Chromatic Approach Notes
- Scalar & Chromatic Neighbor Notes
- Telescopes
- Deflections
- Tertial & Non-Tertial Cells
- Superimposition/Chord-On-Chord/Bitonality
- Connecting Changes With Triads, Chord Tones & Scales
- Techniques To Improve Your Improv
- Transposition
- Voice Leading
- Indirect Resolution
- Strong Beat/Weak Beat
- Rhythmic & Octave Displacement
- Sound Production
- Timing
- Dynamics & Vibrato
- Memorizing Lead Sheets/Chord Charts
- A Guide To Chord Symbols
- A Guide To Transcription
- Ballads, Medium Tempos & Fast Tempos
- Transcriptions Featuring Solos Recorded By John Patitucci, Jaco Pastorius, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Oscar Peterson, Sonny Stitt, & Wynton Marsalis
- Selected Discographies
- Building A Repertoire Of Jazz Standards
- Play-Along & Essential Listening Tracks
By The Conclusion Of This Course, You Will Have Been Presented With The Tools To:
- Structure Effective Practice Sessions
- Locate All Of The Notes On The Bass
- Play Intervals, Triads, Seventh Chords, Tensions & Scales Across The Entire Range Of The Fingerboard
- Increase Your Technical Mastery Of The Bass
- Expand Your Fretboard Familiarity
- Understand Basic Chord/Scale & Jazz Theory
- Identify Intervals, Triads, Seventh Chords, Tensions & Scales By Ear
- Construct Melodic, Horn-Like Solos Using Chord Tones, Scale Tones & Chromatic Approach Notes
- Integrate Rhythmic Diversity Into Your Solos
- Improvise Solos In The Styles Of John Patitucci, Jaco Pastorius, Jeff Berlin, Michael Manring, Brian Bromberg, Alain Caron, Gary Willis, Ray Brown, Ron Carter & Paul Chambers
- Recognize Chord Symbols & Common Chord Progressions
- Navigate Lead Sheets/Chord Charts
- Transpose A 12-Bar Blues To Every Key
- Solo Over Jazz Standards With Proper Tone & Feel
- Extend Your Performance Endurance
- Interact With Other Musicians On A Deeper Level Through The Language Of Improvisation
- Transcribe Solos
Prerequisites For Soloing Techniques
- Fundamental Right & Left Hand Technique
- The Ability To Read Standard Music Notation Or Tablature
- Visit The IIB Requirements Page For A Complete List Of Required Hardware & Software
Duration: 12 Weeks
Cost: $24.95
Jazz Bass Lines - Contemporary Concepts For Bass Guitar & Acoustic Bass
The Next Session Begins August 2 - Enroll Today!
Jazz Bass Lines is a beginner to intermediate level course that explores all of the fundamental components of walking bass line construction. During this comprehensive 12-week course, you will acquire a vast knowledge of improvisation techniques by studying the bass lines of the most prominent jazz bassists. Following a systematic and guided approach of analysis, Jazz Bass Lines examines the key elements of walking bass line creation. This course begins by concentrating on the basic building blocks of bass parts including intervals, triads, seventh chords, and scales. As the course progresses, you will be introduced to concepts such as walking bass line cells, rhythmic embellishments, the two feel, and the utilization of those components in practical application. Students will analyze transcriptions, play-alongs, and essential listening tracks of classic walking bass lines to assist in learning the proper integration of technique, sound, and feel. Special emphasis is placed on the 12-bar blues song form along with a collection of legendary bass tracks recorded by Ray Brown, Ron Carter, and Paul Chambers. By the end of this course, not only will you possess a deeper awareness of what makes a walking bass line great but you will also have expanded your fretboard familiarity, developed an incredible set of skills that will provide you with a greater understanding of how the bass functions within a band, and feel more confident in your ability to improvise effectively over jazz standards. From the basics of traditional walking bass line construction to more advanced contemporary principles, Jazz Bass Lines is designed to establish the essential foundation and indispensable vocabulary that is necessary for bassists interested in the art of improvising bass lines. This course is a must for anyone passionate about becoming a proficient bass player and serious about furthering their knowledge of improvisation.
Topics Discussed In Jazz Bass Lines Include:
- Practicing
- Notes On The Bass
- Ear Training
- Intervals
- Triads
- Seventh Chords
- The Modes Of The Major Scale
- The Modes Of The Melodic Minor Scale
- Major Pentatonic & Minor Pentatonic Scales
- The Blues Scale
- Whole-Step/Half-Step & Half-Step/Whole-Step Diminished Scales
- The Whole Tone Scale
- A Guide To Scales
- The 12-Bar Blues, 32-Bar A-A-B-A & Other Basic Song Forms
- Modal Tunes
- Rhythm Changes
- The Two Feel
- Common Chord Progressions, Chord Substitutions & Turnarounds
- Chord Tones, Scale Tones & Chromatic Approach Notes
- Cells
- Sequences
- Melodic Bass Lines/Phrasing
- Rhythmic Embellishments Including Eighth-Note Triplets, Skips, Ghost Skips, Syncopated Rhythms, Hammer-On Skips, Pull-Off Skips & Slurred Skips
- Target Notes
- Passing Notes
- Approach Notes
- Neighbor Notes
- Octave Displacement/Compound Intervals
- Delayed Resolution
- Ostinato Figures
- Pedal Tones
- Repetition
- Typical Rhythmic Figures
- Harmonics
- Connecting Changes With Triads, Chord Tones & Scales
- Transposition
- Voice Leading
- Strong Beat/Weak Beat
- Sound Production
- Timing
- Dynamics
- Memorizing Lead Sheets/Chord Charts
- A Guide To Chord Symbols
- A Guide To Transcription
- Ballads, Medium Tempos & Fast Tempos
- Transcriptions Featuring Bass Lines Recorded By Ray Brown, Ron Carter & Paul Chambers
- Selected Discographies
- Building A Repertoire Of Jazz Standards
- Over 100 Play-Along & Essential Listening Tracks
By The Conclusion Of This Course, You Will Have Been Presented With The Tools To:
- Structure Effective Practice Sessions
- Locate All Of The Notes On The Bass
- Play Intervals, Triads, Seventh Chords, & Scales Across The Entire Range Of The Fingerboard
- Increase Your Technique
- Expand Your Fretboard Familiarity
- Understand Basic Chord/Scale & Jazz Theory
- Identify Intervals, Triads, Seventh Chords & Scales By Ear
- Construct Walking Bass Lines Using Chord Tones, Scale Tones & Chromatic Approach Notes
- Integrate Rhythmic Diversity Into Your Bass Lines
- Improvise Walking Bass Lines In The Styles Of Ray Brown, Ron Carter & Paul Chambers
- Recognize Chord Symbols & Common Chord Progressions
- Navigate Lead Sheets/Chord Charts
- Transpose A 12-Bar Blues To Every Key
- Play Jazz Standards With Proper Tone & Feel
- Extend Your Performance Endurance
- Interact With Other Musicians On A Deeper Level Through The Language Of Improvisation
- Transcribe Bass Lines
Prerequisites For Jazz Bass Lines
- Fundamental Right & Left Hand Technique
- The Ability To Read Standard Music Notation Or Tablature
- Visit The IIB Requirements Page For A Complete List Of Required Hardware & Software
Duration: 12 Weeks
Cost: $24.95
Topics Discussed In Jazz Bass Lines Include:
- Practicing
- Notes On The Bass
- Ear Training
- Intervals
- Triads
- Seventh Chords
- The Modes Of The Major Scale
- The Modes Of The Melodic Minor Scale
- Major Pentatonic & Minor Pentatonic Scales
- The Blues Scale
- Whole-Step/Half-Step & Half-Step/Whole-Step Diminished Scales
- The Whole Tone Scale
- A Guide To Scales
- The 12-Bar Blues, 32-Bar A-A-B-A & Other Basic Song Forms
- Modal Tunes
- Rhythm Changes
- The Two Feel
- Common Chord Progressions, Chord Substitutions & Turnarounds
- Chord Tones, Scale Tones & Chromatic Approach Notes
- Cells
- Sequences
- Melodic Bass Lines/Phrasing
- Rhythmic Embellishments Including Eighth-Note Triplets, Skips, Ghost Skips, Syncopated Rhythms, Hammer-On Skips, Pull-Off Skips & Slurred Skips
- Target Notes
- Passing Notes
- Approach Notes
- Neighbor Notes
- Octave Displacement/Compound Intervals
- Delayed Resolution
- Ostinato Figures
- Pedal Tones
- Repetition
- Typical Rhythmic Figures
- Harmonics
- Connecting Changes With Triads, Chord Tones & Scales
- Transposition
- Voice Leading
- Strong Beat/Weak Beat
- Sound Production
- Timing
- Dynamics
- Memorizing Lead Sheets/Chord Charts
- A Guide To Chord Symbols
- A Guide To Transcription
- Ballads, Medium Tempos & Fast Tempos
- Transcriptions Featuring Bass Lines Recorded By Ray Brown, Ron Carter & Paul Chambers
- Selected Discographies
- Building A Repertoire Of Jazz Standards
- Over 100 Play-Along & Essential Listening Tracks
By The Conclusion Of This Course, You Will Have Been Presented With The Tools To:
- Structure Effective Practice Sessions
- Locate All Of The Notes On The Bass
- Play Intervals, Triads, Seventh Chords, & Scales Across The Entire Range Of The Fingerboard
- Increase Your Technique
- Expand Your Fretboard Familiarity
- Understand Basic Chord/Scale & Jazz Theory
- Identify Intervals, Triads, Seventh Chords & Scales By Ear
- Construct Walking Bass Lines Using Chord Tones, Scale Tones & Chromatic Approach Notes
- Integrate Rhythmic Diversity Into Your Bass Lines
- Improvise Walking Bass Lines In The Styles Of Ray Brown, Ron Carter & Paul Chambers
- Recognize Chord Symbols & Common Chord Progressions
- Navigate Lead Sheets/Chord Charts
- Transpose A 12-Bar Blues To Every Key
- Play Jazz Standards With Proper Tone & Feel
- Extend Your Performance Endurance
- Interact With Other Musicians On A Deeper Level Through The Language Of Improvisation
- Transcribe Bass Lines
Prerequisites For Jazz Bass Lines
- Fundamental Right & Left Hand Technique
- The Ability To Read Standard Music Notation Or Tablature
- Visit The IIB Requirements Page For A Complete List Of Required Hardware & Software
Duration: 12 Weeks
Cost: $24.95
