• Basic terms ( parts of the bass, types of instruments, tuning,etc.)
• Sequence of notes
• Right and left hand techniques ( playing styles )
• Finger exercises
• Fretboard knowledge
• Basics of reading music and tablature
• Open string and first position reading
• Intervals
• Major and minor scale ( construction, 1 octave fingerings )
• Major and minor pentatonic ( 1 octave )
• Cycle of fifths / key signatures
• Various songs and basslines

• Triad families ( Maj., Min., Aug., Dim.,)
• Modes ( Construction, characteristics, 1 and 2 octave,etc.)
• Pentatonics
• Triad arpeggios ( 2 octave )
• Relative maj./ min.
• Chords within a key, diatonic harmony
• Pentatonics with chromatics
• Reading
• Funk basics
• Harmonics
• Chord nomenclature

Phase 3

• Dominant and seventh chords and arpeggios
• Chords (construction, fingerings,)
• Harmonic, melodic, jazz minor
• Scales ( blues, bebop, etc.)
• Walking
• Chart reading
• Funk advanced
• Diminished scales
• Compound intervals and chord extensions (9,11,13)
• Transcribing
• Improvising
• Patterns for soloing
• Cycle of fourths
• Jazz concepts ( 2-5 changes, diminished over dominant, rhythm changes, etc.)
• Tapping
• Altered modes (modes from harmonic and melodic minor)
• Various standards are used to work on walking,chord knowledge, and soloing

Sample of Songs covered

• Rock, funk, etc. (students choice)
• Various Blues
• Freedom Jazz Dance , Eddie Harris
• Teen Town , Jaco Pastorius
• Autumn Leaves , Johnny Mercer
• A Train , Ellington / Strayhorn
• My One and Only Love, Wood / Mellin
• Cello Suite No. 1 J.S. Bach
• Chromatic Fantasy J.S. Bach ( Jaco )
• Donna Lee Charlie Parker ( Jaco )
• Portrait of Tracey Jaco
• Bach Invention 1

Materials

• Electric Bass by Mike Hiland (Mel Bay) is the book used for beginner students.

Portions of the following books are covered as needed ;