Jazz Bass Vol. 1: Building Up

A collection of exercises, etudes, and techniques from one of the world's greatest jazz bassists.

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A series of lessons from acclaimed educator John Goldsby.

Exercises, techniques and etudes that will transform your bass playing.


'Jazz Bass Vol. 1: Building Up' is an online course with 45 lessons and 4 hours of video.

The course covers John Goldsby's most effective materials, learnt from studying with and transcribing the music of our jazz bass heroes. As a teacher, John has selected the lessons which made the biggest impact on his students. It's all of the good stuff which has transformed their playing, and it can do the same for you too!

The course is perfect for intermediate to advanced jazz bassists who want to solidify their technique and learn new approaches.

Many of the lessons feature piano and drums accompaniment. There are also backing tracks of the exercises, both with and without the bass.

The course includes detailed transcriptions of John’s exercises, etudes and solos. There are 82 pages, so you will have everything you need to get the most from your practice time!

Optional subtitles in English are provided for each video.

This course is available to stream online, exclusively at Discover Double Bass.

Your Tutor


John Goldsby
John Goldsby

John Goldsby is a member of the WDR big band, a renowned bassist, educator, author and featured columnist for BassMagazine.com and Bass Player Magazine for three decades. His hugely popular 'The Jazz Bass Book' has become required reading for any serious student of jazz bass.


 

This is course is perfect for intermediate to advanced bassists who want to solidify their technique and learn new approaches to jazz.

What will I learn?

The 45 video lessons cover a wide range of topics on jazz bass. These include:

  • Improvising walking bass lines
  • Scales
  • Ear training
  • Soloing
  • ...and much more

Many of the concepts are demonstrated using chord progressions to commonly played jazz standards such as 'Summertime', 'Blue Bossa', 'Out of Nowhere', 'Killer Joe' and more. In addition, John has included analysis and performance of three of his full-length compositions.

Who's this course for?

Intermediate to advanced jazz bassists who want to learn new approaches to walking bass line creation, soloing and technique.

Lesson Index


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Transcriptions

Detailed transcriptions of the exercises are included (82 pages of sheet music). These PDFs are displayed on the lesson pages and can be downloaded if required.

Play-Along Tracks:

We have provided downloadable play-along tracks performed by John's trio, so you can practice with the full group, or just the piano and drums.

- John Goldsby, Caroline Boaden & Jamil Sherif.

Here's what are people saying about the course:

"First of all, I must say how proud I am of John Goldsby's achievements in becoming a world-class double bassist, an exceptional educator, and a very articulate and concise communicator, as well. Each of these attributes are exemplified in his Discover Double Bass course.

I am very impressed with the clarity of this video course. There is no doubt in my mind that if the viewer/student wants to become a better bassist, he/she will certainly develop sound skills to become a competitive bassist. When one studies John Goldsby's video, they are getting all of this information from years of "real" life experience as a global professional."

- Rufus Reid, world renowned bassist, composer and author of 'The Evolving Bassist'.

"John Goldsby’s bass course is truly a marvel : it’s organized and yet flexible, it’s scholarly and yet swinging, it’s basic but also has material even advanced players can learn from. The PDFs and the trio recordings that accompany the lessons just add to the overall depth of the package. A bargain, I say. How did he do that? ... that’s player/teacher extraordinaire John Goldsby !! Highest recommendations ... and now I’m off to practice ... !"

- Steve Rodby, bassist with the Pat Metheny Group, producer and educator.

"Great course by John Goldsby. Insightful and thoughtful, it covers a wide range of material for bassists wanting to dig deeper into jazz playing."

- Bruno Migliari

"I have found John Goldsby's course immensely practical. Virtually all of the lessons can be applied immediately in a performance context."

- Tim Davidson

"I got a lot from 'Building Up', and have now moved on to its successor - 'Stretching Out'. John Goldsby has been a wonderful bass educator for a very long time and presents well-structured courses clearly. The facility to re-visit Discover Double Bass courses, and to download and print lots of the music is very handy."

- Chris Hartgroves

 

This material is very practical, with easy to understand concepts that you can apply directly on the band stand.

Frequently Asked Questions


When does the course start and finish?
The course starts now and never ends! It is a completely self-paced online course - you decide when you start and when you finish.
How long do I have access to the course?
How does lifetime access sound? After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this course for as long as you like - across any and all devices you own.
Will the course work on a tablet?
Yes, all of our courses can be viewed via an internet browser on any device. However, please note an up-to-date operating system and/or browser may be required for video playback.
Can I download the videos?
No, they are only available to view online. However PDFs of the transcriptions are available to download.
Can I ask John Goldsby questions?
John isn't available to answer questions, but we do include membership to the 'Study Group'. A private Facebook group which you can ask Geoff Chalmers and our community of double bassists questions.
Can I take this course on bass guitar?
Yes. Many of the concepts and ideas are directly applicable to bass guitarists as well as double bassists. As long as you are here to learn about jazz bass, you are in the right place!
Is this course suitable for complete beginners?
No. This course is for intermediate to advanced jazz bassists. It covers a wide range of topics and levels, from the fundamentals of jazz bass to advanced topics.
What if I am unhappy with the course?
I’m sure you will love the course, but if you’re not completely satisfied we offer a 30 day money back guarantee.
Do I need to take Vol. 1 before Vol. 2: Stretching Out?
No, you can take Jazz Bass Vol. 1: Building Up or Jazz Bass Vol. 2: Stretching Out in any order as they are just different lessons presented by John. You can get both courses together in our Jazz Bass Vol. 1 and 2 Bundle (See below).

Start Learning!



Are you also interested in Jazz Bass Vol. 2: Stretching Out by John Goldsby?

Check out the bundle to get both courses and save $30.

Jazz Bass Vol. 1 and 2 Bundle

Our courses are only available on DiscoverDoubleBass.com and include a 30-day, full-refund policy.

Have questions about the course or need help? Contact us.