If that sounds like you (I know it sounds like me), then I thought I’d share my go to bass practice routine. I try to pick up my bass at least 4-5 times a week and for the last six months or so, what follows in this article is what I’ve done about 90 percent of the time.

So, if you’re just looking for something that can get you started without needing to scroll through a thousand YouTube videos, maybe it’ll help you as well.

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are ‘affiliate links’. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission.

The Struggle: Why Most Practice Routines Fail

Most of us fall into two camps. The first camp is the “Scale Robot.” These players spend all day on boring exercises. They can play a C Major scale at 160 beats per minute, but if you ask them to actually play a song, they freeze up. They usually quit because, let us be honest, playing scales is about as exciting as watching paint dry.

The second camp is the “Aimless Jammer.” This was me for a long time. I would put on a YouTube backing track and just hit notes that sounded okay. I was having fun, but I was not getting better. I was plateauing because I did not have the tools to express what I was hearing in my head. I was essentially a human washing machine, making a lot of noise but not really going anywhere.

The 1-2 Punch routine solves this by giving you a clear “toolbelt” phase followed by an “application” phase. I tend to play for 45 minutes or so using this routine, but you could certainly make it longer or shorter depending on the time you have. The easiest way to extend is to just keep jamming away on songs.

Phase 1: The Brain Work (20-30 Minutes)

The first half of the routine is what I call the Brain Work. This is where you build your toolbelt. Instead of wandering around YouTube and getting distracted by videos of people turning every possible song into a slap bass monstrosity, I practice using Pickup Music.

I love Pickup Music because of their “Pathways.” I don’t have to waste time figuring out what to practice. I just click on the next lesson in the Pathway. Each day’s lesson is usually broken down into three or four segments that build on each other and then end with a mini-jam session.

For example, a typical session might involve learning the Major Pentatonic shapes and using it for bass fills. It is focused, it is structured, and it actually makes sense. I have spent months testing their curriculum, and if you want to see exactly how their pathways are structured for bass, you should check out my full Pickup Music review here.

The key here is not to overdo it. Spend twenty to thirty minutes getting the theory into your fingers and your brain. Do not worry about being perfect. Just get the shapes down. Think of it like grocery shopping. You are just gathering the ingredients so you can cook something incredible later.

Bonus Tip: If you find that the intervals or scale structures in your daily lesson are a bit confusing, you can quickly brush up on the fundamentals at Musictheory.net before jumping back into your Pathway.

Phase 2: The Application (20-30 Minutes)

Once your brain is a little bit tired, it is time for the fun part: The Application. This is where you take those “tools” you just learned and put them into a musical context.

The tool I use for this is Tomplay. If you have not used Tomplay, it is basically a cheat code for feeling like a pro. It provides high-quality sheet music and backing tracks, but the real “hook” is the ability to mute the “pro” bass track. And I highly recommend muting that track for most of your playing. Otherwise, you’ll be convinced you’re playing much better than you actually are because you’re hearing someone else. Trust me…I speak from experience.

With Tomplay, you are not just playing along to a song. You are the bassist for a real band. There is no “ghost” bass player covering up your mistakes. It is just you, the drummer, and the rest of the band. Tomplay doesn’t feel like “practice.” It feels like fun. Check out my full review of Tomplay here.

You will think you know many of the songs already. After all, you’ve heard them a thousand times. Playing them…that is something entirely different. But that is the point. You see where the gaps are in your playing while actually making music. It is one thing to play a scale against a metronome. It is another thing entirely to hold down the low end when a virtual drummer is staring you down.

Phase 3: The Secret Sauce (How to Combine Them)

This is where the magic happens. The “Secret Sauce” is learning how to bridge the two phases. You do not want these to be two separate islands. You want them to talk to each other.

Let us look at a specific example of how I do this.

In Phase 1 (Pickup Music), I might spend my twenty minutes learning a specific fill using the Major Pentatonic scale. I practice the movement, I get the fingering right, and I understand the intervals. Pickup Music doesn’t typically use original tracks (because of copyright, I imagine.) However, they will tell you it is a piece inspired by James Brown, for example.

In Phase 2 (Tomplay), I do not just play any random song. I find a track in that same style. Often, you can find the exact song Pickup Music is basing their lesson off of.

Suddenly, that “classroom” lesson from twenty minutes ago has turned into a “live” gig. You are not just “learning the Major Pentatonic.” You are playing a fill that sounds like something that James Brown got down to with his bad self. That is how you turn information into an actual skill. These skills will help you tremendously at your first real jam.

Why This Works for the “Above Average” Journey

I am not a pro bassist. I can’t figure out slap bass, and I still get nervous at open mic nights. But this routine has stopped me from hitting that intermediate wall that stops so many people.

It works because it respects your time and your motivation. If you only do theory, you will get bored and quit. If you only jam, you will get frustrated by your lack of progress and quit. By splitting the difference, you get the satisfaction of learning and the joy of playing every single day.

I am still using these resources in my own journey. I am still the guy who buys a new pedal because I am convinced it will magically make my “ghost notes” sound better. But the foundation is this routine. It is about getting better, together.

Conclusion: Stop Randomly Practicing

If you are tired of “sucking” at bass, the first step is to stop practicing randomly. Pick a path, find a song, and bridge the gap.

A great bass practice routine is only as good as the tools you use to stay consistent. If you’re ready to stop practicing randomly and want to see if these resources are the right fit for your goals, check out my deep-dive reviews and learning guides:

I get it. You picked up the bass to feel the thunder, lay down a righteous groove, and maybe impress a few friends. You did not pick it up to learn math. The phrase “music theory” probably makes your mind flash back to high school algebra. You just want to rock! I’m here to convince you that music theory will not only help you achieve rock god status, it will actually help you do it quicker and easier.

But here’s the secret: As a bass beginner, only focus on the music theory you need right now. Don’t get distracted by YouTube videos talking about “modes” and “polyrhythms” and “E^sus2 over…oh my God, kill me now” chords. You don’t need to know that now. If you really geek out over music theory (as I must admit I do), you can always get into that later. For now…you need the basics.

Why Do You Need to Know Any Music Theory?

Music theory is not a rulebook. It’s a language and a massive shortcut.

Instead of spending an hour guessing which notes to play over a chord change, theory lets you instantly know where to put your fingers and what notes sound good without guessing. It’s the difference between trying to navigate a new city with a blindfold on and having a perfect, detailed GPS. If you’re ready to finally stop guessing and start grooving with purpose, this guide is your map. It’s also how you communicate with other musicians when you’re jamming, particularly in your first band.

Let me start with a few caveats:

• I’m not going to teach you music theory in any depth. I’m going to point you to resources – people who can do it much better than me.
• Many out there may disagree with me on my “basics.” Perhaps they think some aren’t necessary. Or, more likely, why didn’t I include X or Y or Z? I’m trying to keep this article to the bare minimum that will help you, but not overwhelm you. There’s always something else to learn, but too many options leads to paralysis. Start with these ideas, and you’ll have a good foundation.
• If you know absolutely nothing about music (and that’s okay!), you may need to brush up on the honest-to-goodness basics like notes, tempo, time signatures. I’m not getting into that here, but if you need to work on those music fundamentals, BassBuzz’s “Beginner to Badass” starts with those concepts.

Convinced? Great…So What Are the “Basics”?

• Scales – Major, Minor, Pentatonic – “The notes that sound best at the time.”
• Triads – “The foundation of the scale, and your focus as a bass player.”
• Nashville Number System – “A simple language to talk to other musicians.”

The Only Three Scales You Need to Start Sounding Professional

When I first started, my scale practice was just running up and down the neck until my fingers hurt. It sounded terrible, and I didn’t know why. I needed a toolkit for navigating the fretboard, not a treadmill. Turns out, you only need three main scales to unlock about 90% of the music you hear. Focus on these three, and you’ll go from flailing to professional-sounding faster than you think.

The Major Scale: The Foundation

This is the ultimate source code for almost all Western music. Every scale and chord is measured against it. The Major Scale is built on a simple formula of Whole-Whole-Half-Whole-Whole-Whole-Half, which is the space between the notes. If that sounds like gibberish right now, don’t worry too much about it. As a bass player, the most important thing to know is the physical pattern on your neck. Once you know the pattern for one key on your bass, you know the pattern for all the keys. Just move your starting point around. This is your foundation. This is the beauty of bass.

The Minor Scale: The Emotion

The Minor Scale is the emotional twin of the Major Scale. It’s how we get that sad, intense, or dramatic feeling in music. All you do is slightly change one note in the Major scale—you flatten the 3rd degree. That little shift is all it takes to instantly change the feel of your entire groove. Again, don’t get worked up if you don’t understand “flatten the 3rd degree.” In the simplest terms, it means you take that third note from the major scale, and play it one fret lower. Bam! Minor scale. Understanding this relationship is a huge step in making your playing sound intentional, not accidental.

The Pentatonics: The Secret Weapon

If you want the easiest shortcut to sounding professional—and trust me, I’m all about shortcuts—you need the Pentatonic scales. (Yes, scales. There are two actually: major pentatonic and minor pentatonic. One for each of the scales above. I’m just lumping them together.)

“Pentatonic” literally means five notes. These scales are so powerful because they eliminate the notes that are most likely to clash or sound dissonant over a chord. If you’ve ever tried to improvise and hit a sour note, you hit one of the “clash” notes the Pentatonic scale leaves out. Focus on the Minor Pentatonic for improvisation; it gives you a safe set of notes to work with, guaranteeing you never sound bad. This is the scale every pro uses to lay down a solo or fill that always works.

Chords are the Fuel—and Bass is the Engine

If you think chords are just for guitar players and keyboardists, then I’ve got news for you. Chords are the engine of the groove, and the bass is what anchors that engine to the ground. So while the bass player is rarely playing chords, there’s a saying that nobody in the band even knows what the chord is until the bass plays the root…the anchor of the chord.

A chord is simply a stack of notes played together. We’re not going to worry about the fancy names yet.

Triads: The Absolute Essential

For a bass player, the most crucial thing to know is the Triad: the Root, the 3rd, and the 5th. These are the core chord tones. If a song is in the key of C, the C Major chord is built using C (Root), E (3rd), and G (5th).

As the bass player, you are responsible for playing the Root of the chord to anchor the stack. The second most important note for your groove is the 5th. If you know where the Root and the 5th are located in relation to the chord, you can anchor any groove instantly. You can build entire careers just grooving between the Root and the 5th. Seriously, skip the 7th chords for now, as basic triads are more crucial for a beginner. You’re here to get above average, and basic triads are the most crucial starting point for a beginner.

The Nashville Numbering System – Why the Pros Use Numbers, Not Letters

This is where the real shortcut, the professional secret sauce, comes in: the Nashville Numbering System.

Imagine your band leader says, “Hey, this song is in the key of A.” You have to mentally scramble to remember the notes in the A Major scale (A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G#) and then figure out the chords. Now, what if they say, “It’s a 1-4-5 progression?”

In the Nashville Numbering System, the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 just refer to the notes in the Major Scale of that key.

• 1 is the Root (The Key) – A in this case.
• 4 is the Fourth note in the scale – D in this case.
• 5 is the Fifth note in the scale – E in this case.

If your band leader says “1-4-5,” that progression is always 1-4-5, regardless of the key. If you switch to the key of G, a 1-4-5 is still a 1-4-5. You just play the G (1), the C (4), and the D (5). No mental scrambling needed! This system allows you to change keys instantly. Learn a simple 1-4-5 pattern on the fretboard, and you can play thousands of songs . Modern grooves from great players often use these concepts. Pickup Music recently added a new Blues Bass course that covers this. Check out my review of Pickup Music here.

How Theory Saves You Hours of Practice Time

The ultimate goal of learning this stuff is not to pass a test. It’s to stop wasting time and start sounding better right now. This is how knowing this theory helps you in the real world:

Playing the Pocket: When a chord changes, you need to instantly find the Root and the 5th to establish the foundation. Knowing your triads and the Nashville Numbers system means you don’t have to hunt for those notes. They’re automatically in your muscle memory, letting you lock into the groove instantly. It’s so much easier to nail a simple groove for a song once you develop an ear for these common intervals. (Check out my review of Tomplay if you’re looking for more practice playing real music.)

Improvisation: As I mentioned, the Minor Pentatonic is your safe zone. It’s a magic bullet for solos and fills because it avoids the clash notes. Want to add a fill? Slide into a Minor Pentatonic pattern. Instant cool points. Instant professional sound. Knowing the Minor Pentatonic gives you a safe set of notes to improvise with, guaranteeing you never sound bad.

The Tool Belt: Theory lets you write your own killer lines. Theory is more than just notes; it’s the tool that turns you from a copycat into a creator. You’re trying to get above average, right? That means you need to write your own basslines. If you understand the Nashville Numbering System (1-4-5) and the core Triad (Root-3rd-5th), you don’t have to wait for someone else to tell you what to play. You can look at any chord sheet, instantly know the essential notes, and build a unique, awesome groove around them. No more just playing the root note over and over again—theory gives you the framework to play that 3rd or 5th note on the beat, instantly adding character and depth to your playing.

Conclusion

Theory is not an obstacle. It’s a massive shortcut that makes you a faster, more valuable bassist. It turns a confusing landscape of frets into a simple, logical map. It lets you communicate instantly and guarantees your fills and grooves always sound good. I hope this music theory for bass players 101 gives you some guidance on what to focus on.

You have the map (theory). Now, the only thing left to do is get the vehicle (lessons). Don’t make the mistake I did and spend years buying courses that don’t click. Head over to my comprehensive guides where I break down the best lessons I’ve paid for, tested, and actually recommend.

I’ll be honest with you: The fundamentals are boring. They just are. No musicians get together and say, “Hey guys, do you want to play the major scale for a bit? Maybe work our way around the circle of fifths?” You’re not learning bass because you want to practice scales. You want to rock! But…you know those skills in order to rock. What to do? How do you continue to build skills while maintaining that motivation that got you interested in bass to start?

Enter Tomplay.

Affiliate Disclosure Alert: Just so we’re clear, I am an affiliate for Tomplay. But remember my promise? I only review what I’ve paid for, tested, and genuinely believe in. If it was trash, you wouldn’t be reading this.

I realized that what I needed wasn’t another course—I had plenty of those—I needed a secret weapon against practice burnout. I needed a reason to pick up my bass after a long day instead of just collapsing onto the couch. Tomplay is that weapon. It serves a different role than your traditional lessons: it’s the fun engine that fuels continued practice. It’s the app that finally makes applying the theory you just learned in Pickup Music feel like you’re actually cheating your way to becoming a better bassist.

In its simplest form, Tomplay is an interactive sheet music platform that lets you play your part along with realistic backing tracks. You aren’t playing with a cold, static metronome; you’re playing with a full band and a real score. It is less a learning curriculum and more a practice accelerator.

Tomplay at a Glance

Feature	Focus	Best For
Primary Use	Playing interactive sheet music	Timing, sight-reading, and motivation
Best For	Learners who struggle with motivation	Applying theoretical knowledge to real songs
Pricing Model	Monthly or annual subscription	Regular, motivated users
Core Customization	Speed, Looping, Track Mute	Above Average tackling difficult passages

The Secret Weapon Against Practice Burnout

The “Real Music” Factor

Here’s why I actually use Tomplay almost every single session: Playing along with actual songs—even if they aren’t the original artists—is the absolute best way to develop your timing and internalize music structure. Now, any musician will tell you one of the best ways to learn it to pick a song you like and just…figure it out. And I don’t disagree! The thing is, that’s hard to do and can be very frustrating for a newer player. Consider Tomplay to be your training wheels. You’re playing along with real songs, but with a little help. As you get better at the songs (and at bass), you can start to remove some of that help. Mute the bass track. Hide the tabs. Whatever you need. Some songs even tell you which pedal to use to sound like the original track. Check out my guide to pedals here.

Vast & Varied Library

The library size is huge, featuring thousands of songs across a wild variety of styles. From Bruno Mars to Bach, Pearl Jam to Paul Simon, Tomplay is sure to have music you’re into. Honestly, I think it is just as important to work on songs that you don’t normally listen to. You may not be into country, but spend some time playing it and you’ll quickly be a root-fifth maestro. Whether you want to groove to Motown or tackle a more complex Jazz piece, you’ll find the sheet music here to keep you engaged.

Complements Structured Learning

This is a crucial point: Tomplay is not a curriculum replacement. You still need a great course to teach you the why behind the notes. This is where the synergy with a program like Pickup Music comes in.

Once you learn the theory and the fingerings in a structured course like Pickup Music, you need to apply it immediately. Tomplay acts as a practice accelerator for your lessons. It is the sandbox where you immediately apply that theoretical knowledge to real-world music. Learn a new scale shape or concept, then pull up a song in Tomplay that uses it. Boom. You’ve successfully moved from “Newb” to “Above Average” a little bit faster.

Eventually, you may wish to join a live band. Until you do, Tomplay can fill that itch you get to play with other musicians.

The Custom Practice Lab: How Tomplay Works Harder Than You Do

The Visuals: Tab, Notation, or Both

Tomplay gives you the flexibility to choose how you want the music presented. For beginners (and those of us who still rely on the occasional tab to be honest), you can use the Tab-only view. For more advanced players who want to sharpen their reading skills, you can stick to standard notation. I personally use the Both view. It helps me associate the tab numbers with the formal notation so I can slowly wean myself off the crutch. I grew up playing and reading music, but in treble clef. My brain really struggles to read bass clef quick enough to play a song. Tomplay helps me with this.

Time Control (Slowing Down/Looping)

We all know the terror of a fast passage. There’s a saying musicians like to throw around (borrowed from the military, I believe): “Slow is smooth and smooth is fast.” Starting faster than you can handle is a recipe for disaster and frustration. The utility of slowing the music down without changing the pitch is essential. I use the time control feature to practice a difficult 4-bar phrase at 50% speed until I nail it, then slowly inch the tempo up. This focus on tackling difficult passages at an above average pace is where the magic happens.

The Mute Button Magic

I’ve dedicated a specific section to this because the Mute Button is the most powerful tool in the app. You can mute the vocals, the accompaniment, or, most importantly, mute the bass track. This is how you take ownership of the low end and dramatically improve your timing.

The practice goes like this:

1. Listen to the song with the bass track on to internalize the part.
2. Play the song with the bass track on to ensure you are nailing the notes.
3. Mute the bass track.

When the bass track is muted, you are forced to listen to the drums and the rest of the band to keep time. If you fall out of the pocket, you immediately know it. It’s the ultimate training for your musical ear and for preparing to play with a real band. I spent 95 percent of the time playing with the bass track muted.

Muting the pro track is a game-changer, but if you’re not sure how this helps, check out my bass practice routine where I show you how to bridge theory lessons with these backing tracks.

Final Thoughts

The Good

• Tomplay is great for motivation and the chance to play for real along with songs you know.
• Superb customization: adjust the tempo, loop difficult sections, mute individual tracks to hear what you want.
• You can print out individual scores and record your own track along with them.
• A huge library of music from a wide range of genres. I regularly go from jazz to metal to country in a single session.
• Playing along with songs, especially if you use the included click track, helps with timing and musicality.

The Not-Quite-Perfect

• For copyright reasons, the songs are all covers. Some sound just like the real artist…and some don’t. That can be distracting.
• This isn’t a structured course like Pickup Music or BassBuzz. This supplements what you’re learning there.
• It’s a monthly subscription, which not everyone is into.
• Although you can use either tab or musical notation, neither is a substitute for trying to learn to play along with a song by ear.

Final Verdict: Should You Spend the Money on Motivation?

The bottom line is simple: Tomplay is an expense, and I only review what I think is worth your money. For me, Tomplay is fun. Apart from all of the benefits of building up your skills, it’s just fun to step in and be the bass player for Bon Jovi or Jamiroquai or Lady Gaga. The ideal user is the learner who struggles with motivation and needs to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world music. If you’ve spent money on a course like Pickup Music and want to guarantee you actually apply the lessons and keep the momentum going, then Tomplay is a no-brainer. It is the crucial piece of the practice puzzle.

It makes practice feel fun, which means you’ll do it more often. And the resource you’ll stick with is the one that works best.

➡️ Ready to finally make practice feel like a Saturday afternoon jam session?

As I mentioned in my “Big 3” review, I recommend BassBuzz’s Beginner to Badass course for the true beginner. I think Josh and his team do a great job at getting the new bass player well on their way to the intermediate level. If you’re like me though, you may end that course and wonder what’s next?

You turn to YouTube. Suddenly, I had a library of 10,000 lessons with no sequence, no context, and no guidance. I was an above-average bassist with an intermediate skill set and zero idea what to do next. I was paralyzed by choice. One day a video on slap bass. The next on the importance of mastering Locrian mode. Screw it, let’s just learn “Hysteria.” That, my friends, is no way to progress.

If you’re nodding along right now, I have great news: I found the map out of the wilderness.

Right now, Pickup Music is my go-to program. This isn’t just a sales pitch. I use it almost every single day. It’s the perfect bridge between a structured beginner course and becoming a truly fluent musician. It’s the only one I’ve found that specifically addresses the question: “Okay, I don’t suck anymore, but how do I get good?” It’s for these reasons I recommend Pickup Music after Beginner to Badass. Read on to find out why.

Affiliate Disclosure Alert: Just so we’re clear, I am an affiliate for Pickup Music. But remember my promise? I only review what I’ve paid for, tested, and genuinely believe in. If it was trash, you wouldn’t be reading this.

Tomplay at a Glance

Feature	Focus	Best For
Primary Use	Playing interactive sheet music	Timing, sight-reading, and motivation
Best For	Learners who struggle with motivation	Applying theoretical knowledge to real songs
Pricing Model	Monthly or annual subscription	Regular, motivated users
Core Customization	Speed, Looping, Track Mute	Above Average tackling difficult passages

The Perfect Bridge: Why Pickup Works After Beginner to Badass

Structured Progression vs. Freestyle: The Intermediate Growth Formula

BassBuzz is brilliant because it’s a direct, linear path from A to Z. You finish, you know the basics. But intermediate growth doesn’t work that way. Once you have the fundamentals, you need modular, project-based learning. You need to choose a skill—say, walking bass—and hyper-focus on it until it’s nailed.

That’s where Pickup Music shines. They don’t give you a syllabus for the next two years. They offer you longer term Pathways that can take three or more months to complete, Challenges which are a week long and focus on topics like walking bass or ghost notes, five minute mini-lessons, and general jam tracks where you can play along with a real band. This project-based approach is necessary for intermediate players because it forces you to take your fundamentals and immediately apply them to a real musical context. For me, having these options keeps me motivated.

Focus on Modernity and Groove

Let’s be honest, I’m not playing in a 70s funk band (yet). I want to play stuff that sounds good now and that I can jam on with my friends. The content at Pickup Music is highly relevant to contemporary music and rhythm section development.

The lessons feel like they were designed for the player who wants to be ready for a gig or a jam session tomorrow. It’s not just theory; it’s about developing your groove. I’m talking about the kind of subtle pocket playing that makes a band sound professional. If you want to move beyond just playing root notes to actually supporting a song, this is where you need to be.

Inside the Locker: What’s Actually Worth Your Money?

Pickup Music divides its instruction into longer Pathways (full curriculum tracks like the Late Beginner or Intermediate tracks) and specialized, one-off Courses, such as Mastering the Box or playing like James Jamerson.

I love the Courses. These are focused, single-topic deep dives into things like slap bass fundamentals, walking bass, or blues bass lines—similar to the approach of my other favorites. They cut the fluff and deliver actionable exercises that you can immediately start practicing. This is where I go when I need to solve a specific problem in my playing, like finally understanding the ghost notes in modern R&B.

Also, I should note that while I’m currently recommending Pickup Music after Beginner to Badass, Pickup Music has a program for the absolute beginner as well. As much as I’m a fan of BassBuzz, you might find you click with Corbin over at Pickup Music better. Since both programs offer a money back guarantee, it might be worth checking out both BassBuzz and Pickup Music to see which platform is best for you.

The Video Critique: The Game Changer

This feature alone is what turned me from a satisfied user into a daily devotee. The Video Critique feature is the most unique and valuable asset on Pickup Music.

Here’s how it works: After you finish a “grade” in a pathway, you complete a final quiz and are encouraged to record a video of yourself playing one of the short songs they provide that build on the exercises of that grade. You upload it, and one of their professional coaches watches it and records a personalized video response for you. We’re talking about specific feedback on your timing, your tone, your technique—stuff you simply cannot get from any static video course.

And…if you’re anything like me you might be resistant to uploading a video of your playing to a stranger. Pickup Music thought of that which is why they incentivize it. Everyone who completes a grade and uploads a video is entered into a monthly drawing for a free bass or guitar. At first, that was my primary motivation, but now that I’ve received my feedback multiple times, I’d do it without the free bass. (Though I’ll take that as well.)

This personalized accountability is what takes you from Above Average to genuinely good. It’s like having a private lesson without the private lesson price tag.

State of the Platform: Is it Just a Guitar Site?

Full disclosure: Pickup Music started as a guitar-focused site, and yes, there is more guitar content than bass at the moment. However, the bass program is developing quickly. New courses are coming online all the time, and the quality is exceptional. You can tell they are committed to building out a world-class bass curriculum, and frankly, I prefer being on a site with fresh, relevant content over one that just recycles the same decades-old theory lessons. The growth trajectory is strong.

There’s a small, but growing community if you’re looking for opportunities to share stories, upload your videos, and simply chat with online strangers about all things bass (or guitar.)

Final Thoughts

The Good

• Highly relevant, real music inspired exercises and content designed for today’s player.
• Personalized Video Critiques offer the absolute best path to fixing technique and timing issues.
• The modular, project-based courses are perfect for the intermediate player’s development.

The Not-Quite-Perfect

• The bass content library is still considerably smaller than giant competitors like SBL or Talking Bass, but growing.
• It offers less theoretical depth than a highly specialized site like TalkingBass (but frankly, most of us don’t need that much theory yet.)
• The monthly subscription adds up, but the value of the critiques makes it worthwhile.

Final Verdict: Is Pickup Music Worth the Subscription?

The bottom line is that Pickup Music is the best platform available for the intermediate player who has completed a beginner course and is looking for focused, modern growth and personalized accountability. It answers the “what now?” question with a definitive and grooving curriculum.

If you are serious about moving past the intermediate slump and want someone to call you out on your sloppy technique (in a nice way!), this is your program.

If you want to see exactly how I integrate these pathways into my daily schedule, check out my 1-2 Punch Bass Practice Routine where I bridge these lessons with real-world jamming.

We picked up the bass a while ago, figured out the basics, and then hit the wall—hard. You were probably excited, maybe even a little cocky, thinking, “How hard can this be? It’s only four strings!” You hit that open E string and new your were destined for bass goodhood. Then you started watching YouTube videos. One minute you’re trying to nail the opening riff to “Another One Bites the Dust,” and the next, a guy in a fedora is casually explaining his tapping technique with the Locrian mode on a $10,000 boutique bass.

Then you decided to get serious and started buying online bass courses. I know the drill because I’m a professional course buyer—it’s my only real qualification. I’ve spent hundreds, maybe thousands (I really shouldn’t do the math), trying to separate the good from the useless. I was looking for the fast lane to “above average,” but instead, I found the scenic route full of technical jargon, dry professors, and overly chatty instructors. It’s frustrating to pay good money for a course that feels designed for music school grads, not for a regular person who just wants to nail a decent groove after work.

I started this site because I needed an honest guide, and since I couldn’t find one, I decided to become one. My promise is simple: I only review what I’ve paid for, tested, and genuinely believe will help the average player level up.

Full disclosure, because I promised honesty: Some links below are affiliate links. If you purchase a course through them, I get a small commission. This helps keep the lights on here at AboveAverageBass.com, but rest assured, my reviews come from my own paid experience, not from a sales pitch. I’m your guinea pig.

The Big Question – Which Online Bass Course is Best?

So, which online bass platform actually works? Which one will take your hands out of the beginner bucket and help you become a genuinely Above Average player? That’s why we’re here. Let’s put the three biggest names—Scott’s Bass Lessons (SBL), BassBuzz, and TalkingBass—to the ultimate test: which platform is the fastest, least frustrating, and best value for the dedicated, self-taught player?

Tomplay at a Glance

Feature	Focus	Best For
Primary Use	Playing interactive sheet music	Timing, sight-reading, and motivation
Best For	Learners who struggle with motivation	Applying theoretical knowledge to real songs
Pricing Model	Monthly or annual subscription	Regular, motivated users
Core Customization	Speed, Looping, Track Mute	Above Average tackling difficult passages

Individual Deep Dives

Now that the skimmers have their fix, it’s time to get into the details. I have personally paid for and put in the hours on all three of these platforms, which means you get the real-world, no-fluff breakdown.

BassBuzz (The Fun & Focused Path)

The Pitch: Who is Josh and what is the “Beginner to Badass” promise?

Josh from BassBuzz is the guy who looks like he genuinely wants you to succeed. He’s not trying to show you how fast he can slap; he’s trying to show you how fast you can learn. His flagship course, “Beginner to Badass” (B2B), isn’t a humble name—it’s a promise. The entire premise is to take you from never having touched a bass to playing real songs with a decent groove, all on a clear, no-detour path.

I started B2B after wasting a few months on scattered YouTube videos. Honestly, I found some of the early material to be a little too simple because I already had some music theory knowledge. I didn’t know how to play bass, but I knew note types, time signatures, and the other basics. But I stuck with the path, and that’s the magic. Josh excels at building a rock-solid foundation that most self-taught players—the “average” ones like us—skip over entirely. He breaks everything down to the absolute beginner perspective. I appreciate that there’s just one main course here; it forces you to focus your efforts instead of getting overwhelmed.

Structure & Content: Is it truly start-to-finish?

Yes, B2B is the definition of start-to-finish. The course is laid out logically and easy to follow, almost like a school semester, but way more fun. You move through modules covering everything from holding the bass correctly and muting the strings (critical, and often overlooked!) to understanding essential scales and intervals.

The content is focused on practical application. You’re not just memorizing the circle of fifths; you are applying basic skills immediately to real-world bass lines and songs. This is crucial for keeping motivation high. I remember hitting a wall trying to figure out timing, and the B2B lesson on rhythm felt like the first time a teacher actually explained why the subdivision matters, not just what the subdivision is. Pairing the lessons with real world songs (and cool ones too, not “Mary Had a Little Lamb”), shines a bright light on why you’re learning what he’s teaching.

Warning! Somewhere around week 2 or 3 of the course, Josh throws the bass line from Michael Jackson’s “Billy Jean” at you. If you are anything like me, this is going to drive you crazy. When you’re still new to the bass, this line is a real finger twister and can make you doubt all of the progress you feel like you’ve made. Honestly, I get why Josh does it. He wants to push his students and to give them something that they can go back to at the end of the course to see how much they’ve accomplished in their bass journey, but in the moment it can be a real morale killer. If it gets to you too much, just move on and try it again in a week or two.

The Vibe Check (The Above Average Review): Relatable or distracting?

Josh’s humor and goofy production are either your favorite thing or your least favorite thing. For me, it was a breath of fresh air. After dealing with the academic, dry lessons from other sites, Josh’s encouragement and lightheartedness were exactly what I needed to keep the momentum going. I didn’t feel like I was taking a college course; I felt like I was learning from a friend who occasionally makes a terrible pun. The “fast progress” model definitely works because the lessons are so engaging and digestible. You finish one and immediately want to click the next button. (Or even better…actually get out there and jam!)

The only real caution for the Above Average player is this: if you’re coming in with any music background, some of the early sessions will feel too simple for a while. You might be tempted to skip ahead, but trust me, completing the course as designed pays off in the long run. The flip side is that once the course is over, you might find yourself wanting a bit more to continue progressing past that intermediate level.

If you’ve finished Beginner to Badass (or want to check an alternative), check out my review of Pickup Music — my top pick for where to go after BassBuzz.

TalkingBass (The No-Nonsense Professor)

The Pitch: Who is Mark Smith? Why is his approach different?

Mark Smith from TalkingBass is the Professor of Bass. Where BassBuzz offers you the fun, guided tour, TalkingBass hands you a syllabus and tells you to take notes. Mark’s approach is the polar opposite of the “fast and fun” mentality—it’s less fluff and more academic.

If you are a player who finds yourself stuck, not because of a lack of motivation, but because you just don’t understand why the notes you play sound good (or bad), Mark is your guy. His instruction is built on a foundation of very strong technical training with a focus on music theory. He is the perfect antidote to the “play by tab” mentality. His focus on theory, fingerboard navigation, and proper technique is what separates the average player from the truly knowledgeable one.

Structure & Content: The individual course model

TalkingBass doesn’t use a subscription model. Instead, Mark sells dozens of individual courses, which can be both a blessing and a curse. The blessing is that you only pay for exactly what you need. Want to crush the “Music Theory for Bass module? Buy that. Want to focus purely on walking bass? Buy that course. The curse is that, for the intermediate player, the sheer variety of courses on many different bass topics can be a bit overwhelming, making it hard to figure out the right sequence to purchase. Also, while the courses are certainly cheaper than you would pay for similar amounts of time with a personal instructor, they do add up. Fortunately, one course will provide you with dozens of hours of material.Also, Mark has a selection of free courses to try out and a variety of YouTube videos.

I dove into Chord Tone Essentials after watching a few of Mark’s YouTube videos. I have to say, the depth and clarity are unmatched. He doesn’t just name the intervals; he meticulously walks you through how to use them to create interesting bass lines. This is the stuff that gets you to Above Average. However, this intensive focus and serious tone could be intimidating for a true beginner.

The Vibe Check (The Above Average Review): Too dry for the casual learner?

Yes, the vibe is less “friendly” and more “just the facts”. There’s very little of the playful banter or high-production humor you find on BassBuzz. Mark is a serious man with a serious dedication to bass education. If you are easily turned off by material that feels like homework, this might not be the right fit. You need to be the kind of learner who wants the deep theory knowledge and is willing to put in the time to justify the cost.

My personal anecdote here is about a lesson on fretboard knowledge. I was trying to map out a tricky scale and kept getting lost. Mark’s detailed, step-by-step videos on fingering positions were the only thing that finally made it click for me. No humor, no flash, just pure, unadulterated knowledge. That said, it’s a mental load and you may need to mix it up with other purely “fun” bass activities.

Scott’s Bass Lessons (The Buffet of Bass Knowledge)

The Pitch: What is SBL’s huge library and “Players Path”?

Scott’s Bass Lessons (SBL) is the bass education industry leader for a reason: sheer volume. If BassBuzz is the focused path and TalkingBass is the specialized library, SBL is the all-you-can-eat, five-star buffet of bass education. For a single monthly or annual subscription, you get access to a massive library covering everything from beginner to professional levels.

Their core offering is the Players Path, a structured curriculum meant to guide you. However, the real draw is the colossal volume of content, including a wide variety of courses—from their full scope “Pathways” to more specific niche programs such as slap, theory, and fretboard mastery. Plus, it’s not just Scott—you get lessons from a variety of teachers, including some famous, working bass professionals such as Michael League, Sean Hurley, and Charles Berthoud.

Structure & Content: The challenge of finding a path without getting lost

While the Players Path attempts to be a clear guide, the structure is challenging for the easily distracted. Picture a library with 50,000 books and a single librarian who just points toward the back wall. Yes, the path is there, but the sheer volume of other, shiny courses is a constant distraction.

The quality of the content is consistently high. The lessons are detailed, well-produced, and the variety of instructors and perspectives is a major plus. I found their beginner Players Path course to be incredibly helpful, taught by an absolute master, but I had to actively force myself to not check out the jazz theory course right after, simply because the content overload is real. They also provide lots of extra content and materials such as an app, podcast, interviews, and community.

The Vibe Check (The Above Average Review): Is the community worth the price?

Scott himself is a passionate and motivating teacher. Yes, some people find him “too talky”, but I view his enthusiasm as part of the package. He genuinely wants to build a huge community and often succeeds. Ian Martin Allison has become almost as emblematic for the platform as Scott. The two have an obvious friendship that I find welcoming.

The community is arguably the biggest selling point and a huge factor in the subscription price. Having access to a forum of other dedicated players, and occasional feedback from instructors, is invaluable. However, be aware that some find the overall marketing—especially the constant email pushes—to be a little aggressive and overwhelming. Although people on reddit love to complain about SBL’s marketing, I find it easy enough to just delete or unsubscribe if it is too much.

For the Above Average player, SBL offers the highest ceiling. The content available at the high-intermediate and advanced levels is exceptional, thanks to the variety of expert instructors. But for me, the cost of the courses and the ongoing membership definitely add up over time.

Head-to-Head: Choosing Your Bass Journey

It’s impossible to declare a single “winner” because each one of these platforms targets a different kind of learner and a different phase of the Above Average journey. You need to stop thinking about which one is “best” overall and start thinking about which one is best for you right now. These are just my thoughts and I’ve found all three to be excellent resources. Which one I gravitate toward just depends on what I’m working on at the moment.

Pricing & Value (Subscription vs. Lifetime)

This is the most critical difference.

• BassBuzz offers a one-time course purchase. Over 2-3 years, this is by far the cheapest option. The value is immense because you get a full, structured curriculum for a lifetime fee.
• TalkingBass is the a-la-carte model, where you buy individual, high-value courses. This works if you need to hyper-focus on one area (like theory) and ignore everything else. However, if you end up buying half a dozen courses over time, the cost can easily exceed the other options.
• SBL runs on a monthly/annual subscription. If you plan on actively using the platform for a few months, the value of the massive content library is incredible. But if you forget to cancel or only log in once a month, that cost adds up with less return.

The ADHD Test (Structure)

Which platform is best for someone who needs a firm hand versus someone who prefers a buffet?

• Firm Hand (Focus Required): BassBuzz. It’s a single path. You go from A to Z, and you don’t get lost. Perfect for players who get easily distracted or overwhelmed.
• The Specialist (Self-Directed): TalkingBass. You decide what you need, you buy the course, and you execute. This requires a high degree of self-direction.
• The Buffet (Exploration Encouraged): SBL. This is for the learner who needs maximum freedom and variety. The challenge is fighting the urge to skip around.

The Community Factor

Does a forum or community actually help you get better? Sometimes, yes. Honestly, for me this isn’t that important, but you may feel differently.

• SBL has the largest, most active community, including student feedback and engagement with their roster of instructors. If the community is a major selling point for you, SBL wins, hands down.
• TalkingBass has a good community, but the focus is strictly on education—no off-topic chatter.
• BassBuzz’s community is great and highly supportive, but the focus is mainly on the Beginner to Badass course, so it doesn’t have the broad, high-level discussions of SBL.

The Final Verdict: Which Course Gets You to “Above Average” Fastest?

Remember my ultimate, professional-course-buyer advice: The best resource is the one you’ll stick with. No single platform is perfect, but there is a best answer for your current level and learning style. All three are great resources and I’ve found value in each.

Here is my scenario-based recommendation to stop you from hitting the intermediate wall:

• If you are playing bass for less than 6 months, or you feel your fundamentals are shaky, choose BassBuzz. Their B2B course is the fastest, least frustrating path to a solid foundation.
• If you can already read tab and play a few songs, but you don’t understand why you are playing them, go with TalkingBass. Start with Music Theory for Bass to finally connect the dots.
• If you are an established intermediate player looking for deep, niche content (jazz, slap, advanced technique) and thrive on variety, choose Scott’s Bass Lessons. Embrace the buffet, but be disciplined with the Players Path.

I’ve put in the hours and the money so you don’t have to. It’s time to stop searching and start playing.

Looking for more bass learning options? Check out my review of Pickup Music!