Why Choose Me as Your Bass Instructor?

Expert Guidance: With over 15 years of live playing experience, I've performed in a variety of settings. From pit orchestras to professional function bands, and even spending three years as a bassist on cruise ships. Additionally, I'm experienced in session work, having contributed bass to numerous recordings, including the unexpected opportunity to work on the Teletubbies' 2021 album, 'Ready, Steady, Go!' (yes, really!). All this to say – if there's a song you want to learn, chances are I've played it! I've been offering tailored one-to-one bass lessons for over a decade, and have also served as a section tutor and band leader in group settings.

Comprehensive Curriculum: My lessons cover the entire spectrum of your bass playing journey – from the basics to advanced techniques. Thanks to my extensive experience as a professional bass player, I have a wealth of knowledge to share.

Tailored Learning Materials: Worksheets, cheatsheets, sheet music, and tabs are all custom-created to cover what we discuss in our lessons. I can transcribe that song you've been wanting to learn, tab out specific bass riffs and fills, or even provide a custom backing track to help you work on topics from your last lesson!

Flexible Scheduling and Communication: With online bass lessons, the only limitations are your availability! I also operate on a 'no stupid questions' policy – if you have any problems, questions, or queries between lessons, you can just message me! I'm always happy to help out or clarify when it comes to techniques or theory and can often provide additional learning materials (free of charge) or direct you to useful content.

What Do You Actually Do?

Aside from getting really, really excited about playing bass, you mean? Read on!

Bass Guitar Lessons: What we cover in our lessons is up to you. Before we start, we'll have a free consultation call – this helps us meet, discuss your musical preferences, and identify your goals. We can work on technique, expand your musical language, focus on specific styles or genres, or simply learn that song you love.

And remember – along with a free consultation call, your first bass lesson is half price!

Beginner Bass Lessons: The fundamentals are crucial. I can get you up and running and ready to jam with your friends in no time. We cover fingerpicking and picked bass (I recommend both!), healthy left-hand/fretting technique, and basic/commonly-used scale shapes. We'll also start looking at how to write your own simple bass parts, incorporating a bit of music theory.

Advanced Bass Techniques: If you've been playing for a while, you might want to branch out. We can work on slap bass, bass chords, bass harmonics, or focus on getting faster and cleaner. Being a flexible and diverse musician is always beneficial, and more tools in your arsenal is always a good thing.

Music Theory for Bassists: Before you roll your eyes – while music theory is extremely useful, it doesn't have to be daunting! Playing is best done by ear first, but theory helps us understand what we've played. I cover all aspects of music theory pragmatically, focusing on how it helps you craft the perfect bass part. We can work on transcribing parts by ear, understanding what to play under certain chords, and what scales to use for different sounds. We'll also use theory to dissect artists and genres, replicating their musical language.

Performance Preparation: You've had a few lessons, you're getting the hang of this bass guitar stuff – now what? Time to play with some mates. I've got a fair few gigs under my belt, having played with musicians of all styles and from many walks of life, and in venues from dive bars and rock clubs to cruise ships, concert halls, and cathedrals. I have a wealth of live playing and collaborative music experience that I can pass on to you as you prepare for gigs or writing with a band. Performance tips, stage presence advice, effective communication with bandmates, and even logistical concerns about gear and tech – I've got you covered.

Alright then, let's give it a go.

Excellent news! You'll be grooving in no time. All you need to do is get in touch – either via any of the contact methods listed below, via social media, or by filling out the form here.

It's important to make sure that my approach suits you. You'll be happy to know that all new students get a free consultation call – just so we can get an idea of what you need – and the first bass lesson is half price!

Serving Greater Manchester

My bass lessons are available throughout Manchester and Greater Manchester, including but not limited to:

• Manchester

• Salford

• Stockport

• Bolton

• Oldham

• Rochdale

• Bury

• Wigan

• Tameside

• Trafford

• Altrincham