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10 Powerfully Simple Tools from Ray Brown

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Videos

200+

PDFs

310+

Backing Tracks

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Transform Your Solos and Walking Bass Lines with Ray's Genius

Have you been feeling that your playing could use...something extra? Some more color and life? You've learned the basics of jazz bas but you feel that you've reached a plateau and you're looking to elevate your solos and lines. Adopting these simple tools will help. We'll explore devices from Ray Brown including:

  • Stick & Move
  • The 16th Pull-Off
  • Hitching Train Cars
  • Open Triad Pursuit
  • And More

Take ownership of these approachable Ray Brown techniques by taking a deep dive into his playing.

“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. I check out all tutorials and Matt is one of the most easy to follow. To teach is a special art form. Matt has it all.”

@TIMOBARA64

“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. It's also essential to anyone who wants to write jazz arrangements. Even a beginner who can't read yet could learn by listening and watching. Great stuff.”

@mbmillermo

“One of the best...”

I must say, my double bass playing has definitely improved since I discovered your channel. You're one of the best to do it. Keep doing what you're doing."

@bustabass9025
 

Increase

Your Playing Options 

Unlock creative approaches to walking and soloing directly from Ray Brown's own vocabulary, curated from thousands of recordings.

EXPLORE PRICING

What You'll Learn

 

The Juke

The Power of Surprise

Kick the first soloist off with a deceptively simple approach.

Ready? Let's Go →
 

Open Triad Pursuit

Travel Registers With Ease

Navigate the fingerboard with Ray's fluid style.

Ready? Let's Go →
 

Hitching Train Cars

Give Internal Movement to Walking Bass Lines

Create interesting connections.

Ready? Let's Go →
 

Stick & Move

Add Some Solo Flair

An ornament for the rest of us.

Ready? Let's Go →
 

The 2 Drop

Dig Into ClichĂŠs

Master this Ray walking line shape.

Ready? Let's Go →
 

The 16th Pull-Off

Ornament Your Phrase

Spice up your solo with this Ray technique.

Ready? Let's Go →
 

Loading the Board

Lay Down Some Tension

Orchestrate excitement in the form.

Ready? Let's Go →
 

The Crush

Articulate Like Ray

Elevate your solo phrases.

Ready? Let's Go →
 

Rock-A-Bye Bass

Swing That Baby to Sleep

Add weight and suspension to your walking line.

Ready? Let's Go →
 

The Nibble

Take a Bite Out of Phrasing Crimes

Create texture where boredom might exist.

Ready? Let's Go →

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 visiting artist 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 →

select appearances

“Thanks so much…”

“...blew me away. love the way that you play, how generous you are in explaining things, how much you love the bass, and how much you want to improve others playing. Thanks so much!"

@jameswasil8961

 

“Just WOW...”

“Absolutely brilliant and stunning lesson, Matt! I did learn a lot! Thank you so much for just giving away all those things. Your channel is one of the best educational channels you can find on YouTube! Just WOW!”

@GeorgiAndre

“Certainly my favourite...”

“Finally, someone said all of that! This is rapidly becoming one of the best bass channels on YouTube and certainly my favourite!”

@AlessandroAzara

What's Included

UNIQUE BACKING TRACKS

Play With Oscar Peterson & Ed Thigpen

 

Extracted piano, drum, and horn parts from famous recordings allow you to practice your Ray vocabulary with the greats.

ON-DEMAND VIDEO

Release the Pressure & Take Your Time 

 

With multiple videos in each of ten modules, you'll be able to view the lessons at your pace. With 4k resolution and accompanying downloads and partner images, you'll have ample opportunity to study.

APPROACHABLE LAYOUT

Finish the Course and  Absorb It

 

Ray Brown's genius may be intimidating, but the structure and explanation of each device is manageable, fun, and immediately useful. 

ENGAGING BONUSES

Read Lesson Notes from Ray & More

 

Extra PDFs, a copy of a letter in Ray's own hand, spreadsheets for further study–these and more are included in the course!

Trying to Decide?

This is for you if...

  • you have prior experience playing jazz
  • you are able to read conventional notation
  • you have a basic understanding of jazz bass function
  • you are either an upright or electric bassist

This is not for you if...

  • you're looking for a course for a true novice
  • you're interested in learning specifically about soloing
  • you're not a fan of Ray Brown
  • you're comfortable with your lines & solos
 
Need a Reason to Start?

Here are 3 Great Reasons

 

Own Ray's Vocabulary for Yourself 

Enjoy exercises and explanations that allow you to imitate, assimilate, and innovate on Ray Brown's special tools.

 

Find More Pleasure in Your Walking Lines and Solos

Armed with the information from the course, you can immediately apply any of these ten tools in just about any song.

 

Add Vibrant Color to Your Bass Playing

Confidently add on to the information you already have to make your lines and solos even better. And, there's goodies. Lots of goodies. PDFs, transcriptions, recording excerpts with separated instruments, and play-alongs with Oscar Peterson, Gene Harris, Milt Jackson, and more. Cool bonus stuff too!

Get Started
Grab Your Bass

We're About to Get Started

There's no better time than now to get yourself closer to this masterful musician. Let's work together to add more interest and depth to your playing for the many gigs to come in your future!

Enroll Now

Let's Put You on the Path
to Play Like Ray

The Ray Brown Sound

$300

USD

$375

 
Full access to all 10 tools and all the material inside. This includes:

 

•Hundreds of pages of material in PDFs specifically made for the courses

•Unique backing tracks with Oscar Peterson, Gene Harris, Milt Jackson, Sonny Stitt, and more

•50+ Individual videos

•Access to me via email for feedback on performance

•Bonus material including a lesson on Ray's sound and feel, my personal notes from my private lesson with Ray, and more

 

BUY NOW

3-Monthly Payments

$100.00

USD

Get the entire course in 3 manageable payments

BUY NOW

Give It a Try for 7 Days

If you don't love it, you'll receive your money back, no questions asked. 

Frequently Asked Questions