Bass guitar | Double bass
In this course, you’ll learn the basics of bass guitar or double bass—two instruments that play a key role in almost every music genre. Whether it’s smooth jazz, hard rock, funk, hip-hop, blues, Americana, or classical music, without bass, the depth and connection between rhythm and melody are missing. The bass guitar, developed in the 1930s as a portable alternative to the double bass, is indispensable in modern music. Electrically amplified, it bridges drums and chordal instruments, with low lines laying the foundation of a song. The double bass, on the other hand, is a cornerstone in jazz, classical, blues, and country, connecting rhythm and melody with its warm, deep sound. Both instruments offer a unique sound and plenty of playing enjoyment—you choose!
Course levels
The bass guitar has a place in a great number of genres, ranging from rock, pop and R&B to gospel, jazz and Latin music. Within these, we can pursue a variety of playing techniques: traditional fingerstyle, thumb technique, plectrum, slap, or extended techniques for experienced players.
Bass guitar is perfect for quickly playing along with your favorite songs. Feel free to provide a list of these to the teacher, and he will structure the course around them, gradually increasing the challenge to ensure your progress. If you have no particular song preferences, the teacher has a path ready-to-go that will steadily develop your musicality and technical ability on the instrument.
Getting started on the double bass can seem daunting, but with the right approach it soon becomes an immensely rewarding experience. We will cover foundational technique and intonation, and quickly start playing along to songs to internalize the basics. This will also provide us with an opportunity to understand the double bass in its role as a rhythmic as well as melodic instrument.
From there we will gradually move to new technical challenges using musical etudes and exercises, increasing your command over the instrument while enjoying the music. For experienced players, we can tackle more challenging repertoire, explore new musical concepts, and broaden your stylistic knowledge.
Teachers
Stefan Brunner, trained in Rock, Pop, and Jazz at Music College Regensburg, specialised in Latin-American music at Codarts Rotterdam, graduating with distinction. A staple in the Dutch Latin music scene, he performs with Aruban, Brazilian, and tango artists. With over a decade of teaching experience, Stefan excels at guiding students through the challenges of learning an instrument, fostering a productive yet relaxed environment where mistakes are embraced as part of growth.Stefan Brunner
Stefan Brunner
Practical information
Please bring your own instrument. If you don’t own your own bass guitar, you can borrow one. X also has a double bass you can use during the classes. Ask the hosts for the possibilities.
Important: You can only select timeslots for the combined course in ‘Bass Guitar | Double Bass’ in the web shop. In the first class, simply tell the teacher which instrument you’d prefer. You can choose to learn bass guitar, double bass, or both.