When & Where

Quick Facts

  • Availability Yes
  • Tutor Paul Westwood
  • Course Code W24JPMH02A
  • Suitable For 19 year olds and up are permitted on this course

What you will learn

Suitable for bass players with some degree of experience who wish to take their skills to a higher level. Coursework includes grooves, riffs and improvisation in the styles of Boogie-Woogie, Blues, R&B, Rock and Funk. Technical exercises include: scales, arpeggios, chromatic movements, interpreting chord symbols, a range of chord sequences, reading music and rhythm notation. Creative work will be focused on building a broad repertoire of bass phrases used in contemporary music, and performing as part of a band.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • Understand and play a wider range of scales, chord symbols, chord sequences and phrases
  • Gain good timekeeping abilities and play in tempo
  • Play more advanced riffs in the styles of boogie-woogie, swing, rock, R and B, funk, shuffle funk, country rock, blues
  • Use additional skills to improvise on grooves in various contemporary styles of music
  • Perform with greater understanding about rhythm and harmony and know how to apply these aspects more effectively
  • Perform with greater confidence and skill, in general
  • Apply new skills and knowledge that enable progression to the next level.

Class format and activities

Classes will be held at Morley College and are continuous over three terms. Students may sign up each term or for the whole year. Please be aware that catch-up lessons will be available online if you enrol in terms 2 & 3. Handouts are provided each lesson to accompany classwork. Additional handouts are provided that reference music elements such as theory, harmony, rhythm, phrasing, and technique. Students are encouraged to perform each exercise with the tutor, who accompanies on guitar, piano or with backing tracks. Play-along backing tracks are provided for practise and personal development outside of the classroom. There is an option for recordings of students’ performances if they choose. To ensure that you make the best possible progress on your course, feedback, advice, and Q&A sessions are conducted in a constructive and supportive environment.

Entry requirements

Students who have attended Bass Guitar 1 course, or who have had some previous experience of the bass guitar.

What you need to know before you enrol

The first lesson begins with important basics that gradually build throughout the term. Regular practice between lessons is essential for ongoing progress.

What you need

Your bass guitar and a pen or pencil.

What you can do next

Morley College course Bass Guitar 3.