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What You'll Learn

A STRUCTURED LEARNING PATHWAY FROM YOUR FIRST QUARTER NOTE TO THE STAGE

 

Tame the Tidal Wave of Information 

Enjoy clear action steps to overcome information overload. I applied a rigorous structure to this course that allows for natural and logical progress, while challenging you with attainable tasks and goals. By the end of the course you'll be not only a stronger bassist, but a stronger musician.

Find More Pleasure in Practice and Performance as You Slide Into That Flow State

Armed with the information from the course, you can feel confident and relaxed taking that rehearsal, that jam session place, and that gig!

 

Be Welcome In the Local Jazz Community with New Friends & Colleagues

Confidently sit in at the jam session knowing you've studied the material and can deliver your OWN walking lines with confidence and clarity.

Want to preview the course?

GET FREE ACCESS TO PART OF MODULE 1 AND AN OVERVIEW OF ALL OF THE LESSONS

 

Take Me to the Preview
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 “Matt has it all...”

“'Ive been playing double bass for a bit over 40 years. Done my conservatorium studies and I strongly and highly recommend people wanting to learn to play upright to pay very close attention to Matt and his lessons. To teach is a special art form. Matt has it all.”
- @timobara6
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 “Great stuff...”

“Yours are the best jazz-bass lessons I've seen anywhere. I would strongly recommend your lessons not just to bassists, but also to pianists and guitarists who want to add jazz bass lines to their solo performances. Even a beginner who can't read yet could learn by listening and watching. Great stuff.”
- @mbmillerno

"Best jazz bass course out there..."

Your course stands out to me as being very clear, easy to understand, and easy to follow. I genuinely believe it has the potential to be one of the best jazz double bass courses out there... 
- Chappy C.

Let's Get Started!

We all need direction when learning something new, and a clear structure helps a lot! 

If you're at the beginning of your walking bass path, this specially-designed system is for you.

Whether you're still learning to read notation or play electric bass, everything here is accessible and understandable. I've kept you in mind when designing it!

 

Check Out Here! →

Trying to Decide?

 

 This is for you if...

  • you don't have prior experience playing jazz or you need a refresher
  • you are beginning to read  or get more comfortable with notation
  • you're looking for a basic understanding of or support for jazz harmony 
  • you are committed to learning but frustrated from a lack of structure

 

This is not for you if...

  • you're looking for a course for an expert player
  • you're interested in learning specifically about soloing
  • you're interested in non-traditional roles for jazz bass
  • you're comfortable with your lack of progress
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 “I don't sugarcoat it..."

 
"I have not found anything more complete on the subject and available. And I don't sugarcoat it at all."
- Bart D.
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 “I can see my own improvement...”

 
While I am just finishing up the 1st Mod I can see my own improvement.
-Norm K.

"Jazz theory and walking are making a lot more sense now..."

 
So far I absolutely love the course. I'm learning so much.
- Ken W.

Syllabus

  1. Preview Module: (Imitate Me) Introducing Roots, Fifths, and Octaves

    5 lessons
    1. Introducing Roots, Fifths, and Octaves
    2. Chromatic Approaches to Root, 5th, and Octave
    3. Whole Step Approach to Root, 5th, and Octave
    4. Introducing a Second Chord
    5. Approaching the Root, 5th, and Octave of the 2nd Chord

  2. Module 1 Continued: Imitate Me

    3 lessons
    1. "Dominant Magnet" and Continuing the Chord Progression
    2. Putting It Together
    3. Apply Your Knowledge in a New Key

  3. Module 2: Overview of Walking Bass & This Course

    1 lesson
    1. Overview of Walking Bass & This Course

  4. Module 3: Roots, 5ths, and 3rds In-Depth

    3 lessons
    1. Roots in Detail
    2. 5ths in Detail
    3. 3rds in Detail

  5. Module 4: 6ths and 7ths

    2 lessons
    1. 6ths In-Depth
    2. 7ths In-Depth

  6. Module 5: More on Approaches

    8 lessons
    1. Deeper Into Approaching the Roots & 5ths
    2. Targeting the 3rd of Each Chord
    3. Target the 7ths (or 6ths) of Each Chord
    4. Combining Half-Step & Whole-Step Approaches
    5. Hug Your Target
    6. Chromatic Enclosures
    7. Dominant Magnet Approaches
    8. Using Scales & Solving Problems

  7. Module 6: Non-Root Downbeats

    4 lessons
    1. Introduction to Non-Root Downbeats
    2. Targeting the 3rd on Downbeats
    3. Targeting the 5th on Downbeats
    4. Targeting the 7th on Downbeats

  8. Module 7: "Higher View" Concepts

    6 lessons
    1. "The Great 8"
    2. The "Chromatic Concept"
    3. Arpeggiation Concept
    4. Bass Line Shapes
    5. Bass Lines as Melodies
    6. Bass Line Motifs

  9. Module 8: Different Harmonic Rhythm

    3 lessons
    1. Two Chords Per Bar
    2. One Chord Per Beat
    3. When a Chord Doesn't Change

  10. More Modules on the Next Page!

    0 lessons

  11. Module 9: Making Decision About Your Lines

    2 lessons
    1. Intro to Decisions & Making Your Own Lines
    2. A Walking Line Flowchart

  12. Module 10: Walking Line Ornaments

    4 lessons
    1. Intro to Ornaments
    2. Skips & Triplet Drops
    3. Triplet Fills
    4. Articulations

  13. Module 11: Practicing & Executing

    3 lessons
    1. Practice Plan (8 Weeks to the Stage!)
    2. Stage Survival Tips
    3. Practice Plan Summary (from YouTube)

  14. Module 12: Examples from the Masters

    1 lesson
    1. Master Bass Line Examples

  15. Module 13: Appendices

    4 lessons
    1. Intro to Appendices
    2. Appendix 1: Intervals
    3. Appendix 2: Scales
    4. Appendix 3: Chords

  16. Closing Thoughts

    1 lesson
    1. Closing Thoughts
 
 
 
 

Pay Over 3 Months

$117

3 Payments of $117

 

Get the entire course with automatic payments over just 3 months

BUY NOW

Prefer to Pay Over Time?

If you'd rather spread out payments, I've got you. Pay automatically over the course of 12 weeks–you'll be on the jam session stage before then!

Navigate an Rigorously Defined Path with a Juilliard Jazz Alumus & Faculty Member

Raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Matthew Rybicki has performed with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Ernie Watts, Laurence Hobgood, Hilary Kole, Wycliffe Gordon, Ted Rosenthal, Mark Gould, Nnenna Freelon, Renee Fleming, Terell Stafford, Winard Harper, Mark Whitfield, Victor Goines, and Marcus Printup.

He has also had the great fortune of performing at many well-respected venues in New York such as The Village Vanguard and The Blue Note, as well as concert halls and festivals in locations ranging from Italy to Qatar.

Matthew is a faculty member at The Juilliard School and a professor at The University of North Carolina School of the Arts. He was an artist/instructor for Jazz at Lincoln Center where he developed and taught the inaugural bass course in the Essentially Ellington Band Director Academy. In addition, Matthew was a program coordinator for Midori and Friends and has led musical workshops at both The Whitney Museum of American Art and The Guggenheim, where he designed and presented educational performances that incorporate jazz with fine art.

He has also authored books for Hal Leonard Publications including The Hal Leonard Jazz Bass Method, Ray Brown: Legendary Jazz Bassist, and the Goldmine Series for Bass.

Matthew received his Bachelor of Music from Berklee College of Music in 1995 and graduate degree from The Juilliard School in 2004.

Learn More →
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