Are you a bass player looking to take your skills to the next level? You can have all the determination in the world, but if you don’t know what to practice, it can be hard to make any progress on your bass.
But thankfully, the internet is full of resources to help you achieve your goals. Whether you’re a beginner looking to learn the basics or an experienced player looking to level up your chops, there are some great online courses for bassists to improve.
To help you narrow down your search, in this post, we’ve put together a list of what we think are the ten best online bass guitar lessons and courses currently available and have broken down what we think makes them so good. Let’s get started.
Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post may contain affiliate links which means we get a commission if you purchase at no additional cost to you.
1. Electric Bass With Stu Hamm On ArtistWorks
Our number one pick for the best online bass guitar course is “Electric Bass with Stu Hamm,” offered by ArtistWorks.com.
This paid course offers hundreds of online electric bass guitar lessons designed for players of all levels. Sign up for this course, and you will get access to nicely presented and easy-to-follow video lessons, play-along tracks, bass guitar tabs, notes and scales, and much more.
What sets this course apart from other similar courses you can find online these days is the ability to submit your videos for review using the special video exchange learning platform that you can find on the site.
Your videos will be reviewed by the teacher, and you will get a response in the form of another video containing detailed instructions and feedback on how to improve your playing.
Another great thing about this course is that you will also get access to the Video Exchange library and interactions of other students with the teacher, so you can use their videos as study material as well.
Your teacher will be Stu Hamm, one of the premier bassists of progressive rock, recognized and respected by bass players all around the globe. He has extensive experience performing and has shared the stage with some of the world’s best musicians, such as Steve Vai, Frank Gambale, Joe Satriani, Greg Howe, and more.
Besides this, Stu is also an experienced teacher, passionate about sharing his vast experience and knowledge with his students and helping them master bass guitar playing.
Pick this course and get the chance to work with an amazing musician and teacher who will help you achieve your goals in a very short time and at an affordable price from the comfort of your own home.
2. JamPlay
Our second favorite is JamPlay and its extraordinary bass guitar lessons. Whether you are a beginner, intermediate, or advanced-level learner, there are lessons for everyone’s needs.
New players can start with their step-by-step beginner program, while those who already have some experience playing bass guitar can move on to some of the genre, artist, style, and song lessons.
The lessons are of the highest quality and presented in a simple, interesting, and easy-to-follow way. They are organized into four phases to make learning more effective.
Therefore, Phase 1 (Beginners) will teach you the fundamentals of bass guitar playing, such as tuning, technique, posture, and reading tablature. Phase 2 (Styles) will lead you through genre-specific skills and techniques, while Phase 3 (Songs) will equip you with the practical skills you need to play your favorite songs. Finally, Phase 4 (Artists) will teach you styles and techniques that made the bass guitarists and teachers world famous.
The lessons are taught by college professors, world-class educators, and artists from some of the most popular bands, such as Megadeth and Mr. Big. So, you can rest assured that you will learn from the very best.
Sign up for this course and get the privilege of being taught by real music stars in the comfort of your home and at more than a reasonable price range.
3. Ariane Cap’s Bass Groove Creation Station on TrueFire
The third spot on our list of the best online bass lessons belongs to “Ariane Cap’s Bass Groove Creation Station,” which you can find on TrueFire.com.
This paid course offers a variety of lessons that present simple, creative, and effective approaches for creating grooves in any style.
The lessons are simple but very engaging and will help you lay the groundwork for making a bassline grove, clarify the fundamental tonal material, and explore different styles such as soul, reggae, and Motown. You will also learn how to apply the acquired techniques and approaches using jam tracks.
Besides this, you will get access to all backing tracks, and you can also determine your own pace and have lessons when it suits you.
The lessons are taught by Ariane Cap, a talented musician, composer, and educator with many years of experience performing and teaching. She has played in many bands and projects in both Europe and US, and she is eager to share her extensive experience with you and help you master the art of bass guitar playing in no time.
4. Bass 101 On Scott’s Bass Lessons
The next course we’ve picked for you is “Bass 101 – Getting Started,” offered by Scott’s Bass Lessons. This paid course is designed for absolute beginners who have never touched a bass guitar before.
The lessons are very simple and will lead you through the material in an interesting and fun way. They will give you an insight into the information you need to get familiar with your bass guitar and start playing grooves.
You will learn all fundamentals of bass guitar playing, starting from the anatomy of the bass guitar, left and right-hand techniques, tuning your bass, bass amps, dialing in a sound to the important major scale grooves, and a lot more.
To access the lessons, you will have to become a member. Once you become a member you will enjoy all benefits that this course and site offer, and you will get the chance to work with some of the world’s best bass guitarists.
5. Fender Play
Another affordable option for beginners comes from Fender Play. This site can get you started quickly and help you acquire all the necessary skills you need to move on to the next level.
It offers a wide variety of easy and fun lessons based on songs and is designed particularly for beginners with a guided curriculum.
You will learn how to play the songs you love, and great hits such as James Brown’s “(I Got You) I Feel Good” and Green Day’s “Basket Case,” and in the process, learn all the basics of bass guitar playing and acquire all practical skills you need to play any other songs as well.
Besides this, the lessons come with backing tracks that will teach you how to play along with guitar and drums.
The lessons are taught by experienced educators and bass guitar players who will guide you through your little adventure and help you achieve your goals at a very affordable price.
6. StudyBass
StudyBass is an online resource for bass guitar lessons founded by bass teacher Ander Pouska. The site offers several courses arranged to gradually improve your skills as you advance through lessons.
There are lessons for complete beginners, who have never played bass, and for those more experienced players.
All lessons are nicely arranged and easy to understand and follow. A great thing about this site is that it offers tons of free lessons and resources, which can be very helpful if you are tight on a budget.
Apart from ordinary lessons, there is a lot of content about bass gear and bass construction. After paying for your membership, you will get access to a large number of backing tracks to play along with and practice the newly acquired skills.
Additionally, you will get access to the paid study packs that you can purchase together or separately. No matter which option you choose, all of them are pretty affordable and will fit your budget. You will enjoy many benefits that the content on this site provides and work with an experienced, dedicated teacher.
7. Beginner To Badass On BuzzBass
BassBuzz is another great resource for online bass guitar lessons. This site offers a unique beginner’s bass guitar system called “Beginner to Badass,” which is the easiest way to learn bass.
It is a fully comprehensive course with a structured curriculum and is suitable for all levels of experience, but particularly for beginners who have never touched a bass guitar before.
It doesn’t claim that it will make you a bass guitar pro in a week, but it will certainly equip you with the knowledge and enough practical skills you need to play your favorite songs and sound great.
Once you complete the course, you will be able to jam and improvise with other musicians, too, play in a band or hold your own, and much more.
The lessons are simple and interesting. You will learn loads of popular songs with full backing tracks with the help of a fantastic teacher – Josh Fossgreen. Josh is exceptional in his work with students, and if you are a beginner looking for a way to learn bass properly, Josh is an ideal teacher for you.
8. The Professional Bass Masterclass On Udemy
The next bass guitar course comes from Udemy – “The Professional Bass Masterclass – Bass 1, Bass 2, Bass 3.”
This is a paid course which provides bass techniques, tools, and methods to help you master bass guitar playing from the beginning stages to advanced matters in a very short time and at a great price range.
The course is divided into four levels and starts with the fundamentals of bass guitar playing, then moves into intermediate and advanced techniques, knowledge, and development of practical skills.
You will learn modes for the bass guitar, triads, chords, scales, music theory, functions of the bass, bass guitar techniques for the left and right hand, chord construction, key signatures, and much more.
At the end of the course, you will be able to fully understand music, time, harmony, and theory and craft your own songs.
The course is taught by Rajiv Narang, a managing director, producer, writer, composer, and, above all, a great bassist and a dedicated teacher. He will ensure that you learn everything necessary to master the art of bass guitar playing.
9. Yousician
Yousician offers excellent solutions in the form of unique apps for those looking to learn various instruments, including bass guitar.
All you need to do is to get the app, and you will have everything you need to learn bass in one place. This application is suitable for learners of all levels and will provide you not only with high-quality lessons and instant feedback on your playing but also with a lot of fun on the way.
You will learn by following lesson plans created by real bass players and music teachers and practice your skills with a bunch of interactive tutorials. You will learn chords, fretting, triads, plucking, picking, locking in, grooving in style, and much more, all while playing your favorite songs in the comfort of your own home.
You can learn at your own pace when it suits you and take your app anywhere you want. Another great thing is that this app will keep you constantly motivated as you will earn various rewards for well-played things and achieved goals. This way, you will learn faster and acquire all the practical skills you need to start playing and advance in this area.
10. Musika Lessons
And the last resource on our list is Musika, a popular website that offers not ordinary bass guitar courses and lessons but virtual one-on-one lessons that can connect you with qualified music teachers based on your level of knowledge and experience, goals, and interests.
There are many teachers you can choose from, and you will certainly find a perfect match for you. To help you with this, the site provides some questionnaire where you answer questions and, based on your answers, you can pick an excellent teacher for you.
If you are not satisfied with your current pick, you won’t be charged, and Musika can help you match with another teacher.
No matter whom you pick, you will enjoy well-structured lessons that are simple and easy to understand and follow. The lessons will quickly help you acquire the knowledge and skills you are looking for and take your playing to the next level.
Conclusion: Which Online Bass Guitar Course Is The Best For You?
That’s it for our guide to online bass lessons. We hope you’ve found it helpful! All of the options on this list offer a good combination of quality and price.
What’s most important, they can help you acquire the knowledge and practical skills you need to become not only a good bass guitarist but also a well-rounded musician in next to no time.
However, if you are still on the fence and can’t make up your mind, we recommend ArtistWorks and its “Electric Bass with Stu Hamm” course. It offers hundreds of creative online electric bass guitar lessons designed for players of all levels and an opportunity to work with Stu Hamm, one of the world’s best bass guitarists, who will support you and guide you through each step of this exciting little adventure.
You’ll have to put in the work and practice, but if you’re serious about the bass and want to improve fast, then it’s a worthwhile investment. For more information and to get the best price, click below.
