FREE STUFF - EDUCATIONAL/LESSONS

Improve your skills (theory, dexterity, ear training, etc.) using these free resources. Below is our growing collection of lessons several artists and authors have contributed, all available for download at no cost - a big thanks to each of you!

If you have something you would like to contribute or share, please let us know. You get full credit - and the opportunity to assist your fellow brothers in bass.

NEWEST LESSONS ADDED
Harmony Symbolism	Mike Overly, author of Bass EncycloMedia reveals the Nine Essential Triads based on Three Types.

EXISTING COLLECTION

MIKE OVERLY
This collection of lessons contributed by Mike Overly, author of Bass EncycloMedia, it's play-along audio CD, Bass Fretboard Facts and the Fretboard Flashcards for 4, 5 & 6 String Bass.

12 Sounds, 21 Symbols and 15 Keys

Mike Overly, author of Bass EncycloMedia explains why there are only 15 “traditional” major scales, in 15 major keys, with 15 major key signatures.

All The Chords I Needed To Know, I Learned At My First Lesson

Mike Overly, author of Bass EncycloMedia enfolds five movable major chord forms into one holistic fretboard.

Bass Harmonic Numerics

Mike Overly, author of Bass EncycloMedia presents important insights into the creation of "harmony numerals" which guarantees harmonic success in all keys.

Bass Patterns:
In and Out of Sync

Mike Overly, author of Bass EncycloMedia, delivers 12 essential 12 bar bass patterns - plus a bonus bass line from the genius of Ray Charles.

Bassists or Bass Player?

Mike Overly, author of Bass EncycloMedia presents an incomplete alphabetical listing of influential rock, metal, pop, fusion, Latin, funk, punk, country, reggae, blues, and jazz musicians of both double bass and electric bass.

Do Re Mi

Mike Overly, author of Bass EncycloMedia presents Solfege and explains what Julie Andrews, Guido of Arezzo, Giovanni Battista Doni, Isaac Newton and Sancte Iohannes have to do with its development.

First Inversion
Hit Songs

Mike Overly, author of Bass EncycloMedia explores first inversion harmony and applies it to Lynyrd Skynyrd, Eric Clapton, Steely Dan, and many others.

Glossary of Music, Bass and Musician

Mike Overly, author of Bass EncycloMedia, defines words and terms that every musician playing bass should know.

Harmony Rhythm’s Fatal Flaw Part 1

Mike Overly, author of Bass EncycloMedia explains the problem of Meter Slashes and presents the solution!

Hit Song Harmony
and Progressions

Mike Overly, author of Bass EncycloMedia recaps the development of harmony from 1722 to the present and then updates this knowledge so that you can play 18 Hit Songs.

How to Make a Short Song Long

Mike Overly, author of Bass EncycloMedia introduces music's most common "signs of direction" - the repeat signs.

Improve Your Improvisation

Mike Overly, author of Bass EncycloMedia defines improvisation and presents three types of chords, arpeggios and scales from which to choose.

Interstellar Music

Mike Overly, author of Bass EncycloMedia travels deep into outer space to bring you a special extraterrestrial Golden Record!

Learn Bass in a Flash

Mike Overly, author of Bass EncycloMedia reveals the unique differences and the many benefits to be gained from using Bass Fretboard Flashcards from 12 Tone Music Publishing.

Learning is a Process

Mike Overly, author of Bass EncycloMedia, invites you to read a list of student questions that will lead you from the 'tempo of thought' to the 'tempo of performance'.

Major Scale Harmony Spelling

Mike Overly, author of Bass EncycloMedia shows how to spell 49 different harmonies with only seven major scale letters.

Mother Nature + Father Time = Rhythm

Mike Overly, author of Bass EncycloMedia shows what happens when Mother Nature and Father Time get together.

Music Math:
2 + 2 = 3!

Mike Overly, author of Bass EncycloMedia explores the mysteries of "music math" and discovers the basis of all harmony - nine triads.

Natural Fun Outside the Box

Mike Overly, author of Bass EncycloMedia explains how to play in "extended" position on a 4, 5 or 6 string bass.

Nature of the Sign

Mike Overly, author of Bass EncycloMedia brings clarity and simplicity to understanding the difference between the certainty of key signature and the probability of key.

Parabola of 4th and 5th Intervals

Mike Overly, author of Bass EncycloMedia “cleans the slate” and presents a new view of the incorrectly named “circle” of 4ths and 5ths.

Sign Before Symbol

Mike Overly, author of Bass EncycloMedia explores the similarities and differences between sign and symbol so that you may play with speed and clarity.

The Process of Progression

Mike Overly, author of Bass EncycloMedia asks: What Type of Student Are You?

Tonal Center Modulation

Mike Overly, author of Bass EncycloMedia teaches you to identify a song’s “changing keys” by the harmony progression.

The Whole Truth About Bass TAB

Mike Overly, author of Bass EncycloMedia clarifies TAB notation and then illustrates its complete structure.

The Z Angle Unison Connector

Mike Overly, author of Bass EncycloMedia reveals 7 one octave major scale "forms" and then shows how to connect forms to create two octave major scales on the bass.

What a Coincidence: Unison Tuning

Mike Overly, author of Bass EncycloMedia unfolds the absolute, perfect and relative tuning process of the 4 string bass.

JOHN FALSTROM
This collection of lessons contributed by John Falstrom, author of EADG 4.

7th Chords in Major Keys

John Falstrom, author of EADG 4, provides an illustrated explanation of the seven 7th chords in all 15 major keys; circle of fifths order. Also includes the "assigned" mode that gets played against each of the seven 7th chords.for memorizing the notes on the Bass Guitar.

7th Chords in Major Keys (part 2)

John Falstrom, author of EADG 4, provides an explanation and breakdown of the 7th chords in chord, scale and arpeggio format.

7th Chords in Natural Minor Keys

John Falstrom, author of EADG 4, provides an illustrated explanation of the Seventh Chords In Natural Minor Keys.

Bass Guitars

John Falstrom, author of EADG 4, provides shares insight to the importance of having a versatile and varied collection of Bass guitars.

Classic Chord Chart

John Falstrom, author of EADG 4, provides a guideline to understanding and making it easier to read/create Bass lines from the chord symbols on a chart.

Chromatic Analysis

John Falstrom, author of EADG 4, provides a Circle of Fifths chart of all 15 major scales (keys) and the note relationships to the Root of the twelve (12) different notes in music.

Different Ways of Playing

John Falstrom, author of EADG 4, provides scale and mode exercices that should be be played and memorized in specific note patterns.

Different Ways of Playing Part II

John Falstrom, author of EADG 4, provides part II of scale and mode exercices that should be be played and memorized in specific note patterns.

Essential Insights For The Bass Guitarist

John Falstrom, author of EADG 4, provides essential insights for the Bass guitarist.

Four String Exercise

John Falstrom, author of EADG 4, provides various finger position excecises designed to devlop dexterity in your fretboad hand.

Key Signatures

John Falstrom, author of EADG 4, provides this tutorial on learning Key Signatures.

Memorizing The Notes On The Bass Guitar

John Falstrom, author of EADG 4, provides a great lesson for memorizing the notes on the Bass Guitar.

Musical
Terms

A 2 page explanation of Musical Terms for the Bass Guitar by John Falstrom

Practice Schedule

John Falstrom, author of EADG 4, provides a guideline to managing your practicing time into these four "tried and true" categories.

The 12 Bar Blues
Standard Form

John Falstrom, author of EADG 4, provides a explanation and breakdown of the standard 12 Bar Blues.

The 12 Bar
Jazz Blues Form

John Falstrom, author of EADG 4, provides a explanation and breakdown of the 12 Bar Blues in Jazz form.

The Blues Scale

John Falstrom, author of EADG 4, provides a explanation and breakdown of the Blues Scale.

The Blues Scale With Added Flat 5th Note

John Falstrom, author of EADG 4, provides a explanation and breakdown of the Blues Scale.

The Harmonic Minor Scales

John Falstrom, author of EADG 4, provides an explanation and breakdown of the Harmonic Minor scales.

The Modal System

John Falstrom, author of EADG 4, provides an explanation and breakdown of the The Modal System.

The Natural Minor Scales

John Falstrom, author of EADG 4, provides a explanation and breakdown of the Natural Minor Scales.

The Pentatonic Scale

John Falstrom, author of EADG 4, provides a explanation and breakdown of the Pentatonic Scale.

The Vertical and Horizontal Approaches

John Falstrom, author of EADG 4, explains the two ways to approach the chord changes in a song: "The Vertical Approach" and "The Horizontal Approach."

Tips Of The Moment

John Falstrom, author of EADG 4, provides some timeless and priceless advise in the lesson.

JERZY DROZD
The Ultimate Guide To Perfect Bass Setup	Compliments Jerzy Drozd (Jerzy Drozd Basses). It covers exactly what it says: Everything You Always Wanted To Learn and Know About Perfect Bass Setup Here is what you will learn with this Guide: - General cleaning procedures of fretboard, bridge, electronics - Correct string installation - Setup techniques for neck, bridge and pickup adjustment - Advanced Setup techniques for necks with double truss rod system - and more... Swing on over to their website to get your FREE copy! (newsletter signup is required)

CLIFF ENGEL
This collection of lessons contributed by Cliff Engel, the driving force behind the IIB (The International Institute Of Bassists).

Targeting Chord Tones With Approach Notes

A 22 page lesson contributed by Cliff Engel, the driving force behind the IIB (The International Institute Of Bassists) that includes a collection of improvisation/soloing techniques.

* Beginning April 6 - The IIB launches Online Bass Courses.
For complete details, click here and/or email Cliff directly for additional information.

Sight Reading For Bass

A 52 page lesson(!) working through a collection of rhythm studies exercises comprised of eight and sixteenth note combination in an effort to increase proficiency of your rhythmic recognition skills when sight reading standard notation for Bass. Since the principal goal of this lesson is to improve rhythmic acuity as it pertains to sight reading, these rhythm studies exercises have been notated using rhythmic notation. This is the type of notation that a drummer would be required to read in a percussion-related chart.

Targeting Chord Tones With Approach Notes

A 22 page lesson contributed by Cliff Engel, the driving force behind the IIB (The International Institute Of Bassists) that includes a collection of improvisation/soloing techniques.

* Beginning May 4 - The IIB launches Online Bass Courses.
For complete details, click here and/or email Cliff directly for additional information.

SCOTT HUBBELL This collection of lessons contributed by Scott Hubbell, author of Fretboard Alchemy and Fretboard Arcanum.
Alcanum	Scott Hubbell, author of Fretboard Alchemy and Fretboard Arcanum provides an example of how to combine concepts from both of his books. Includes pdf transcription and MP3 performance! Click to download both in 1 zip file.
Arpeggio Workout	Scott Hubbell, author of Fretboard Alchemy and Fretboard Arcanum provides an Apreggio Workout, that provides great exercise on dexterity, meter and dynamics of attack.

BYRON SANTOS This collection of lessons contributed by Byron Santo, author of Picking Hand Grimoirium & Pentatonic Note Sequence Grimorium.
Learning The Extended Range Bass Guitar Neck	Byron Santo, author of Picking Hand Grimoirium, provides a 6 page lesson, covering the Extended Range Bass Neck chart and applies the key of C-Major to it.

TODD JOHNSON This collection of lessons contributed by Todd Johnson, the man behind the Technique Builders, Walking Bass Line Module System Vol. 1: Triad Module System & Walking Bass Line Module System Vol. 2: Scale Modules DVDs.
Modal Bass Lines Packet	From Todd Johnson, a 4-page pdf look at a style of jazz known as modal tunes. Modal tunes are songs built on one or two chord changes that last at least eight bars each. The example we’ll use in our study is the 1959 Miles Davis composition entitled So What.

MIKE CORNELISON This collection of lessons contributed by Mike Cornelison, author of Classical Masterpieces Vol. I & Vol. II, Christmas Classis For Solo Bass, Arpeggio Woodshedding & The Ultimate Books of Jaco.
The Diminished Chord and Scale	Mike Cornelison explains and analyzes the Diminished Chord and Scale.
Walkin' the F Blues	Mike Cornelison provides 8 F Blues 12 bar examples, each one using a different approach.
Third Position Sight Reading Study	Mike Cornelison provides a great lesson on the four steps you can go through to put yourself "into position" to nail a piece of music the very first time you see it.