Learning to play the bass guitar takes a lot of time to master. Those who are well-versed in playing an acoustic guitar know that it’s a whole different ball game when it comes to playing the bass guitar. Therefore, finding the right platform becomes a priority If you’re eager to learn to play the bass guitar.
Thanks to the emergence of online lessons, you can learn to play the bass guitar comprehensively in the comfort of your home.
In this article, we have listed the 11 best online bass guitar lessons, both free and paid, to help you can get started on your journey of learning to play the bass guitar.
1. Todd Porter’s Bass Guitar Lessons [SkillShare]
Todd Porter is one of the most talented multi-instrumentalists you can find on the internet. This skillshare course caters to beginners and intermediates who want to learn bass guitar.
It provides a mountain of knowledge and lays the foundation to take your playing to the next level. The beginner’s course has 42 individual lessons with 2 hrs and 45 minutes of video instruction, while the intermediate course includes 38 individual lessons and over 3 hours of video content.
Both the online bass guitar lessons are broken down into two parts: One, where Todd explains the various concepts at play, and the second part covers practical examples with voiceovers and a multitude of graphic overlays to help deepen the understanding of the concepts.
Duration – 2 hrs 45 minutes for beginners; 3 hours 10 minutes for intermediates
Cost – Paid
Certification – No
Pros
- Courses are divided into two sections that make it easier to understand the concepts.
- Ideal for beginners and intermediates
- Affordable
- Free trial available
- Virtual jam rooms have fully realized background tracks spanning multiple styles and genres
- A high-level overview of music theory
Cons
- It does not cover any one specific style/genre
- Limited usefulness for advanced bassists
2. Learn and Play Music Your Way [Yousician]
Yousician is arguably one of the most interactive online platforms for learning bass guitar on the planet. It combines the learning process with video games to keep you hooked throughout the lesson. For those who haven’t felt comfortable with other lesson platforms, you are sure to love this particular bass lesson app.
The platform breaks down the different concepts into levels you will need to cross to start the next concept. Every lesson features a tablature-style notation you can play on as you continue the lessons in the background. The app uses your phone’s microphone to study the pitch and rhythm and determines if you’re playing correctly or not.
The standout feature of this platform is the interactive feature, which ensures you’re learning the critical concepts without even realizing you are learning them.
Duration – Variable
Cost – Paid
Certification – No
Pros
- The gamified user interface makes learning fun
- Different lessons for different skill levels
- Accurate scoring
Cons
- Relatively expensive
- Fairly limited lessons
- It feels more like a game than a teaching tool
- Must follow the progression of the app
3. LEVEL UP YOUR BASS [scottsbasslessons]
Scott Devine has built one of the biggest communities of bassists. He recorded hundreds of bass guitar lessons and tips and put them up on Youtube before launching a dedicated learning platform for bassists.
Every concept around mastering bass guitars that is worth learning is covered in great depth on this platform. The lessons also cover a broad spectrum of genres and styles. Other than the lessons, the course also has plenty of extra stuff like virtual hangouts, interviews, and 1:1 sessions with Scott.
With over 25,000 students enrolling themselves on his paid platform, there’s a sense of community that he has built that every bassist can join and relate to. His personal touch with all his students is just as commendable as the lessons themselves.
Duration – Variable
Cost – Paid
Certification – No
Pros
- Content is specifically designed for bass guitarists
- Highly interactive extended community
- Plethora of free content on Scott’s Youtube channel
- Free trial available
Cons
- Expensive
4. Online Guitar Lessons That Really Works [Jamplay]
Jamplay is a platform that hosts a variety of professional bassists who bring their own vision and experiences into the courses on offer. They have played with world-renowned bands like Megadeath, Aristocrats, and Pantera; some are also faculty members at the Berklee School of Music.
The courses are broken into smaller sections where students can pick and choose in any order that they want. A huge variety of genres are covered, such as metal, country, jazz, rocks, and blues. Another feature worth pointing out is the number of camera angles at play, making it really easy to see what is being done at any particular moment.
Duration – Variable
Cost – Paid
Certification – Yes
Pros
- Content is shot in 4K resolution with 3-5 camera angles for a deeper understanding
- 20+ music genres covered
- Each concept is dealt with in detail
- Option to learn about the instructor’s techniques
- Experienced musicians are course instructors
Cons
- No free trial period
- Relatively expensive
5. The Professional Bass Masterclass [Udemy]
One of the best-selling bass guitar lessons on Udemy, this course is crafted for everyone starting from beginner to advanced level bassists. It is excellent for players from both ends of the experience spectrum because it covers the basic music theory techniques and supplements them with practical examples.
The online bass guitar lesson is widely accessible and relatively affordable. It is also designed in such a way that it will help you develop a technique for both hands. Additionally, Udemy offers a 30-day trial and refund period if you’re unsure if this online lesson is for you or not.
Duration – 9.5 hours; Self-paced
Cost – Paid
Certification – Yes
Pros
- Certificate provided
- 10+ research articles
- 17 downloadable resources
- Lifetime access to content
- It can be accessed on mobile and TV
- Theory accompanied by practical examples
Cons
- Just one instructor conducts masterclass
- Some reviews suggest that there aren’t enough lessons
6. Artistworks Electric Bass with Nathan East [Artistworks]
One of the most famous session musicians of the 20th century, Nathan East, has tracks alongside some of the experts in the music industry such as Michael Jackson, Beyonce, and Whitney Houston.
Nathan’s music lesson platform accommodates courses specifically designed for bass guitarists. The bass guitar lessons are led by Nathan himself and cover everything from foundational concepts that beginners require to progress to further levels, such as intermediate and advanced.
The course subscription gives you access to not just the collection of lessons but also the music theory workshop, allowing you to submit up to five videos to Nathan in case you get stuck on a particular topic. Nathan will then respond to each query with a video to help you cross the hurdle.
Duration – Variable
Cost – Paid
Certification – Yes
Pros
- Personalized approach to teaching
- Video lessons are comprehensive and in-depth
- Each lesson is broken down by skill levels, with a multitude of classes in every section
- Access to Nathan East’s music workshop
Cons
- Very Expensive
- Lack of stylistic lessons
7. Ariane Cap’s Bass Frills and Thrills
For those not in the know, Ariane Cap is a highly decorated bass player well-known for creating some of the most outrageous bass lines. This online bass guitar lesson on Truefire is a journey through her experience, where she shares her tips and tricks to create compelling bass guitar parts.
The course is available at a flat fee and is divided into 13 strategies useful for creating fills and patterns. Then, she explains in a super easy way, making it easier for you to implement those lessons into your playing. Ariane also dives into what makes an ideal bass fill which you can later use to craft your original music.
The lessons are designed so that the notation and the tablature synchronize perfectly with the video, making it convenient for you to watch, play and learn simultaneously.
Duration – 21 video lessons
Cost – Paid
Certification – Yes
Pros
- Highly affordable
- Lifetime access to video lessons
- Focussed course materials
Cons
- Not ideal for beginners
- Less comprehensive than other lesson platforms
8. YouTube
The world’s most renowned platform for free content is undeniably YouTube. While the bass guitar lessons may not be as structured and comprehensive as other dedicated learning platforms, you can still pick up a thing or two about music from channels that pro bassists run.
We previously mentioned in point 3 that Scott Devine has a Youtube channel where he uploads video lessons worth hundreds of hours, which can be useful to you irrespective of whether you are a beginner, intermediate, or advanced bass player. Similarly, a host of other popular bass guitarists has built their own respective knowledge centers and a community of theirs on YouTube dedicated to teaching the concepts of bass guitar.
We’ve listed down some of the best bass guitar channels on YouTube below –
Duration – Variable
Cost – Free
Certification – No
Pros
- Free of cost
- Extended community to discuss ideas and best practices
- Lifetime access
Cons
- Not as structured as other learning platforms
9. Bass Buzz
Bass Buzz’s systematically structured website makes navigating through it and finding the relevant information on learning bass guitar an easy task. Ideal for beginners, this online bass guitar lesson covers a wide scope of topics, such as strumming, learning the notes, and tuning the bass guitar.
The course also extensively covers advanced concepts such as the left-handed technique to fret and the terminology. The videos are recorded in HD quality and are supported by featured articles about essential topics related to playing the bass guitar.
There is also an online forum where new ideas are constantly shared and discussed, making it another important source of information. The topics are regularly refreshed to keep things interesting, which promotes routine activity within it.
Duration – 30 hours of video lessons with 1-6 months plans
Cost – Paid
Certification – Yes
Pros
- In-depth video lesson in HD quality
- Availability of articles to further your understanding of a given topic
- An online forum to discuss ideas and experiences
Cons
- Not ideal for intermediate and advanced players
10. Master the Guitar [Truefire]
Truefire is an online bass guitar learning platform that is similar to Jamplay. It hosts a plethora of instructors to enlist its curriculum, and you receive access to its content for the price of a single subscription fee paid upfront.
This platform’s lesson progression is just as flexible as Jamplay’s, wherein it gives you the freedom to choose whatever you want to learn at any time. Another standout feature of Trufire is it allows you to subscribe to a specific instructor to take his/her course instead of paying a subscription fee to the platform every month. You will then receive lifetime access to the content.
Duration – Variable
Cost – Paid
Certification – Yes
Pros
- Lessons from top professionals
- Option for monthly subscriptions and separate purchase of lessons
- Assortment of topics and styles
- Lifetime access to content
- 14-day free trial period
Cons
- The monthly subscription is expensive
- Sparse coverage on bass guitar curriculum
11. Musika [Musika Lessons]
Musika is an online bass guitar learning platform that specializes in one-to-one training. Portals such as Jamplay and Trufire have perfected the recipe for online learning, but for some individuals, this type of learning environment never works out, and this is where Musika excels at.
It takes the traditional approach and offers training in a more personalized setting. Upon signing up on the platform, it asks you a set of questions to understand your preferences and eventually pairs you up with an instructor who specializes in the playing you want to excel at.
Since this is in-person training, it is fairly more expensive than the online options that are listed here.
Duration – Variable
Cost – Paid
Certification – Yes
Pros
- One-to-one sessions with experienced bass players
- The first lesson trial is free
- Tailor-made for your needs
Cons
- Expensive
What are the Things to Consider when Choosing Online Bass Lessons?
There are so many courses and so many platforms out there that we are spoiled for choices. More often than not, choosing the right one often gets overwhelming. Instead, you can make it easier for yourself by asking yourself some important questions –
How Would You Like to Learn?
This is an important question that you must ask yourself before choosing a platform. Do you enjoy learning in a more structured yet rigid environment, or are you okay with your curriculum being unstructured? Do you need personalized 1:1 attention like Musika provides, or do you prefer the flexibility that comes with learning on platforms such as Truefire and Jamplay?
Doing this helps narrow down your options and quickly eliminates the platforms that don’t cater to your learning preferences.
What Style or Skills Are You Hoping to Learn at The End of The Lesson?
Your end goal should be to be as well-rounded as possible where you’re comfortable playing under any genre when it actually comes down to playing live. Having said that, everyone has their own tastes and styles that they gravitate towards. You need to recognize this and then make sure the platform you pick teaches the genres you’re leaning towards.
Course Length
Another critical consideration before choosing online bass lessons is the course length. It determines how much time you’d spend learning to play the bass guitar. Therefore, you need to be wary of this factor as well.
Your Level
Knowing where you stand as a bassist is really important in figuring out the proper online bass guitar lesson for you. You must be honest about your knowledge levels and choose a course accordingly.
Trial Period
The trial period tells you whether the program is worth your time and money. This is the period where you get to study the platform’s lessons and course structure and make an informed decision at the end.
Conclusion
Some of the best online bass guitar lesson providers include Truefire, Scott’s Bass Lessons, Talking Bass, Jamplay, and Bass Buzz. Each platform offers a unique approach to teaching bass guitar, with various courses, styles, and skill levels available.
We hope that you found this article useful and clarified learning platforms to review and different things to consider before picking a learning platform.
Share this article with your friends and family who are looking to master the bass guitar, and comment down below if we missed out on a noteworthy platform on that you took online lessons on.
Happy learning!
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does It Take to Learn to Play the Bass Guitar?
There is no definite answer to this question, as it depends on how much time and effort you put into learning it. Learning a new skill takes time, and this is no different. However, you also need to recognize that it takes time to master any skill and that you need to be patient with yourself while learning this.
How to Speed up The Rate of Learning the Bass Guitar?
Speeding up the learning process generally requires some very basic things that you’d need to fulfill. They are – Practicing more, Having jamming sessions with their friends, and Taking time to pause and reflect between sessions.
