Hopefully around these parts, this is not an embarrassing admission: In high school I was a “band nerd.” I was in marching band. I was in jazz band. I was in the pep band. I played for the school musical. I was in the show choir band. If it was band, I did it. 

I think all high schools have their cliques (at least in the United States), and mine was solidly with the band kids. And I have no regrets about it. I made great friends and had great times. 

Fast forward a few years (sigh…decades), and I found that I desperately missed the camaraderie that comes with playing music with others. My trumpet chops had long since faded, but my neophyte bass guitar skills were improving. So when I heard about a call for those looking to join a band, I jumped on it despite only having picked up the bass a few months earlier.

If you are tired of the intermediate slump and want to actually rock out, you need to find a group. In this guide, I am going to show you how to find the right fit, how to be a good band member, and what gear you actually need to survive the transition from your bedroom to a loud, sweaty rehearsal space. We are going to cover everything from band etiquette to the music rehearsal tips that will keep you from getting fired after the first session.

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 Benefits of Band Life

Playing by yourself is great for learning the notes, but joining a band is where you learn the music. When I finally stopped hiding in my room, my musical growth exploded. My timing improved more in three weeks than it had in three years because you cannot ignore a drummer. (No matter how much you might want to sometimes…) This forces you to develop active listening, where you stop just staring at your fretboard and start reacting to what the guitar player is doing or how the singer is phrasing a line. It is also the best way to practice improvisation and find your place in a specific genre.

Beyond the skills, there is the accountability. It is easy to skip practice when it is just you and your cat. It is much harder to skip when four other people are waiting for you to lock in the groove. Having a rehearsal schedule forces consistent practice in a way that an online course never will. Plus, you get a front row seat to the local music scene. I have met some of my best friends through random open mics and questionable ads. You are building a community, not just a setlist.

I already wrote about my beginner bass guide to music theory, but playing in a band puts that knowledge to the test. You may think you don’t know much theory, but when you ask the guitar player the key of the song and he says something like, “Um…it’s in a G shape, but I have a capo on the third fret” you’ll learn your theory quick.

Finding a Band to Join

Before you go googling “how to find a band to join,” you need to define your goals. Are you a hobbyist who wants to drink a few beers and play 90s covers on the weekend, or are you an aspiring professional trying to tour the country in a van that smells like old socks? There is no wrong answer, but if you join a group with different goals, everyone is going to be miserable.

I won’t claim to have vast experience with many different bands, but I’ve played in my share. I found them in a few different ways:

• Digital Platforms: For the best websites to find band members in 2026, check out BandMix, Vampr, and even Craigslist (just, you know…watch out for serial killers.) These allow you to filter by genre and skill level.
• Local Music Stores: Check the physical bulletin boards for flyers. People who still use paper and tacks are often surprisingly dedicated.
• Open Mic Nights: This may be the best organic way to find a group. It is terrifying, but it gives you the opportunity to “test run” what it would be like to play with different musicians before formally committing. Read my guide to your first jam session here.

Depending on the situation and level of commitment. There may be an audition. Only you can decide if that is what you’re after. However, if you do audition to join a band, remember that you are auditioning them just as much as they’re auditioning you. (Unless Metallica is looking another new bassist. In that case, they’re definitely auditioning you.)

There’s an old band saying. Play for the hang, the music, and the money. All three is best. Two out of three isn’t bad. If you’ve only got one of the three with your new band, it’s probably best to avoid. Playing with friends, but the music isn’t to your taste and there’s no money? Probably skip. You’re getting paid, but you don’t like the music or the people? Life’s too short.

I once saw an add on BandMix for a group looking for a bass player. The type of music seemed like a good fit. As I read further into the description a few red flags popped up. Red flag 1: the new bass player has to provide the practice space. Hmm. Red flag 2: the practice space has to have a full drum kit. WTF?

Tips for Your First Band Audition and Etiquette

The fastest way to get kicked out of a band is not by playing a wrong note; it is by having a massive ego or being unprepared. One of the most important tips for your first band audition is that preparation is key. You must learn the songs before you arrive at the first rehearsal. Rehearsal is for practicing how to play together, not for learning the basic chord changes.

Good band etiquette also means knowing how to give and receive constructive feedback without your ego getting in the way. If the singer says your bass line is too busy and is clashing with the vocals, do not get defensive. They are trying to make the song better for the audience, not attack your soul. 

Then there are the Three Ts of being a reliable band member:

1. Time: Be on time. If rehearsal starts at seven, that means you are tuned up and ready to play at seven, not walking through the door at seven-fifteen.
2. Tuned: Be tuned. Check your tuning between every song. Nobody cares how good your groove is if you are flat. (Also, don’t be constantly noodling when others are trying to tune or work a section.)
3. Transportation: Have your transportation sorted. Do not be the person who always needs a ride from the guitar player.

Essential Gear for Gigging Musicians

Moving from a bedroom to a band environment requires a shift in your band gear mindset. You are no longer just playing for yourself; you are part of a loud ecosystem that involves monitoring and often a messy PA system. You can read my bass gear starter pack article here, but if you’re joining a band, I recommend a few extra items.

Hearing Protection – This is a non-negotiable. I learned this the hard way after a four-hour session next to a crash cymbal that left my ears ringing for two days. You need the best earplugs for band rehearsal to protect your long-term hearing. High-fidelity earplugs are the way to go because they lower the volume without making everything sound muffled or underwater.

The “Backup” Kit – Things will break. It is a mathematical certainty. I always keep a small bag in my bass case that includes must have accessories for guitarists and bassists:

• Extra Strings: Because breaking a string during a set is a nightmare.
• Cables: Always bring a spare instrument cable and a spare power cable.
• 9V Batteries: If you have active pickups, an empty battery is a silent bass.
• Gaffer Tape: It fixes everything from vibrating amp hardware to loose cables on the floor.

Tuner – A pedal tuner is extremely helpful. Clip-on tuners can struggle in a loud room with a lot of vibrations from the drums. A pedal tuner lets you mute your signal and tune in silence, which is a major part of how to be a good band member. The StroboStomp HD is my go to tuner pedal and probably deserves a post all to itself. Make this the first pedal you buy and never be out of tune again.

Gig Bag and Pedal Board Case – Stop carrying your bass in those flimsy bags that offer no protection. Invest in gig bags with backpack straps or “pedalboard” hard cases to make moving your gear easier.

Instrument Stand – You’ll want to take breaks during rehearsal. In a crowded rehearsal space, you do not want to be trying to lean your $1000 bass up against the wall and hope for the best. Buy a simply folding instrument stand and make your life much easier. You may want a music stand as well. You can get these very cheap. I recommend this basic stand at Amazon.

Conclusion

Joining a band is the single best thing I ever did for my playing. It is intimidating to put yourself out there, especially if you feel like you are not a pro yet. But the truth is, you do not need to be the second coming of Bootsy Collins to hold down a groove in a garage band. You just need to be reliable, prepared, and willing to learn from your mistakes.

Take the leap. Stop being a bedroom legend and start being an above average bassist who actually plays with people. You will probably suck at first, and that is perfectly fine. We all did. The goal is to get to that level where you can walk into any rehearsal space and lock in with the group

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:

We have all been there. You walk past your bass every day, and it is sitting in the corner on that stand you bought when you were feeling inspired. Lately, though, it has just become a very oddly shaped place to hang your laundry. I call this the “Couch Slump,” and let me tell you, it is a real thing.

Full disclosure: I sometimes use affiliate links for the products I’m discussing. Using them helps fund this site while costing you nothing extra.

A rut is not a failure on your part. It does not mean you are a bad musician or that you lack the natural talent people love to talk about. It is actually just a signal that your routine has become a loop. You are doing the same things, hearing the same sounds, and your brain has officially checked out. I have spent far too many hours and probably too much money buying online courses that did not click for me. We are going to break that loop today.

First things first, don’t feel guilty about taking a break. It happens. It’s natural. Nobody expects you to practice 10 hours a day. In fact, it’s better that you don’t. Focused, targeted practice is better than long hours of aimless noodling and jumping from video to video.

Here are a few tips you can use to break out of the bass slump and get back to loving your instrument.

Break the Muscle Memory Cycle

Tip 1: Stop Playing the Same 3 Scales

The biggest killer of motivation is the “Theory Fix” trap. The problem is simple: your fingers go to the same spots every single time you pick up the instrument. You plug in, you play that one major scale you have known for years, maybe you throw in a pentatonic box you saw on a TikTok video, and then you run out of ideas.

This is a muscle memory cycle. Your hands are on autopilot, but your ears are bored to tears. The solution is to finally understand the map. When you know why a note sounds good, you can actually find new ones instead of just guessing and hoping for the best. You do not need to become a jazz professor, but you do need to unlock the fretboard.

For many bass players, if your fretboard was a treasure map, everything beyond the 7th fret may as well be labeled “Here Be Dragons.” If you are tired of playing the same patterns, check out my Music Theory 101 for Bassists to unlock the whole fretboard.

Ditch the Static Metronome

Tip 2: Step Into the Band

Practice often feels academic and dry because you are playing in a vacuum. Some teachers will tell you to play with a metronome at a slow tempo, and gradually increase until you master the lick or go insane, whichever happens first. While timing is vital, playing along to a clicking box can be about as much fun as filling out tax forms. It makes the bass feel like a homework assignment.

The solution is to use interactive tracks that make you feel like the featured bassist for a real band. This is about the joy of playing. This is a reason I’m a fan of Tomplay. It lets you jam with real songs, which is the fastest way to remember why you liked the bass in the first place. Plus, you can slow it down and gradually speed it up, same as a metronome.

I tend to start my practice sessions with guided drills and then end with Tomplay. There is something about hearing a full drum kit and a vocalist that makes you lock in differently than a beep-beep-beep ever could. See how it works in my Tomplay Review. It is the easiest way to turn a boring practice session into a stadium gig in your living room.

Stop Noodling and Start a Path

Tip 3: Get a “Personal Trainer”

We have all fallen into the YouTube rabbit hole. You sit down to practice, you ask yourself what you should practice today, and then you spend 20 minutes scrolling through “Top 10 Slap Riffs” videos while your amp stays cold. By the time you find a video that looks interesting, you have zero minutes left of actual playing time.

You need a structured, high-energy curriculum. Think of it like getting a personal trainer for the gym. You do not show up and stare at the weights; you follow the plan. Pickup Music’s Learning Paths take the guesswork out of the equation. They are designed for the player who wants to see measurable progress in modern styles.

I am a regular guy with a regular job, and I do not have time to curate my own music education. I need someone to tell me exactly what to do next. If you need a professional to tell you exactly what to do next, read my Pickup Music review to see how their paths cured my boredom. It is much harder to be in a rut when you have a clear “Level Up” button waiting for you every day.

Spark Creativity with New Tones

Tip 4: Buy a “New” Sound

Sometimes, the rut is not in your head; it is in your ears. If you have been playing through the same clean, flat amp setting for six months, your ears have become desensitized to your own playing. Sometimes a fresh sound—like a bit of growl from an overdrive pedal—makes a boring riff feel brand new.

You do not need to spend thousands of dollars to fix this. You do not need a five hundred dollar pedalboard. Just one new texture can spark an entire week of creativity. I remember buying my first cheap fuzz pedal. I played the exact same three riffs I always play, but they sounded like a thunderstorm. Suddenly, I was excited to plug in again.

Check out my Beginner’s Guide to Bass Pedals for the four essentials that actually change your vibe. It is a “new” sound that can often lead to a new way of thinking about the instrument.

Become a Well-Rounded Musician

Tip 5: Venture into the Dark Side

I have a confession to make. I recently purchased an electric guitar. Also a keyboard. I made sure to explain to my bass that I still love it and it will always be my number one, but sometimes you need to explore.

This might sound counter-intuitive. Why would you play a different instrument when you are trying to get better at bass? Consistent practice is important, but if you are feeling a little burned out, trying something different for a few sessions can clear the mental fog.

Guitar and keys help me be a better bass player by reinforcing similar music theory ideas in a different way. When you see how a chord is built on a piano, it suddenly makes more sense when you go back to your fretboard. It keeps your brain engaged with music without the specific pressure of mastering the bass that day.

Being an above average bassist means understanding how the whole band works. A little musical flirting with a guitar might be exactly what you need to appreciate your four strings again.

Prepare for a Real Jam Session

Tip 6: Make Music With Other People

The bass is a social instrument. It was never meant to be played alone in a bedroom forever. One of the fastest ways to kill a rut is to put some skin in the game. Having a date on the calendar to play with a human drummer changes how you practice.

Suddenly, those scales are not just exercises; they are tools you need so you do not look silly in front of other people. The terror of open mics is real, but it is also a massive motivator. I still go up to random strangers at open mics and ask if they need a bass player, even when I feel totally unqualified.

If you are ready to take it to the stage, see my Beginner’s Guide to Jam Sessions for how to prepare. Nothing cures a practice rut faster than the realization that you have a rehearsal in three days and you do not know the chorus to the song. Joining jam sessions is the best way to find your first band.

Conclusion: The One-Percent Rule

You do not need to overhaul your entire life to get out of a slump. You do not need to practice for hours a day or sell your soul to the metronome. Just pick one secret from this list and spend 15 minutes on it.

The goal is to stop the rut right now. Do not wait for perfect motivation to strike, because it usually does not work that way. Just pick up the bass and do one thing differently today. If you are ready to stop the rut right now, start a structured path. Check out my review of the Best Online Bass Lessons for 2025 to find the one that actually makes you want to play.

Let’s stop searching and start playing.

Welcome to the rabbit hole.

I have to admit when I first started learning bass, I only had a vague understanding of what these “pedals” even were that I kept hearing about. I sort of understood that they did something to the sound of your bass, but beyond that? I didn’t really know.

Honestly? That was probably a good thing. Since pedals weren’t really on my radar, I didn’t spend any time (or money) buying them. Even more importantly, the time I would have inevitably spent tweaking settings on my shiny new pedals was instead spent actually learning to play bass. (Something I accomplished thanks to a few great online courses like Pickup Music and BassBuzz.)

As amazing as pedals can be, they don’t do much for you if you haven’t first figured out the fundamentals of your instrument. So I’m writing this beginner’s guide to bass pedals in hopes of being helpful, but I do not recommend you go down this rabbit hole until you’ve spent a little bit of time focusing on the bass first.

All that said, there is a good reason these little boxes exist. Some are pure utility, making your life easier. Others are great for effects, and even if those effects are limited in use, they can provide a huge motivation boost to keep you playing more.

Full disclosure: I sometimes use affiliate links for the products I’m discussing. Using them helps fund this site while costing you nothing extra.

Bass Pedals — What the Heck Are They?

Let’s start with a quick bass pedal 101. In simple terms (which I promise is true because I’m far from an expert or a sound engineer): pedals are mechanical devices that are plugged in between your bass and your output source (typically an amp, but could also be to a PA system, computer, or other way of producing sound.)

These pedals produce some sort of effect or provide some sort of utility that affects your bass output. They’re often controlled by a button or pedal that can be turned on or off, traditionally with your foot. (Sometimes you’ll hear pedals referred to as stomp boxes for this reason.)

You Don’t Need Every Pedal — Start With the Ones That Are Most Useful For Bass

Guitar players will often go crazy with pedal effects. The same guitar can be made to sound a thousand different ways through pedals. The same is also true for bass, though typically bass players rely less on pedals. Don’t forget, ninety percent of the time, our job is to provide the foundation of the song. This usually doesn’t require twenty different effects to accomplish.

When you get to the stage of playing with other people, your job is to anchor the band. You need to sound consistent, clear, and massive. That’s where a few strategic pedals come in.

Ready to start shopping? Before you buy anything, make sure you’ve got the basics down with my Starter Gear Pack.

Pedal Basics: A Few Simple Rules

The world of bass pedals is surprisingly simple, yet fraught with peril. Peril, in this case, means bad tone and annoying noise.

First, your signal chain: This is the order your pedals go in. There is no “correct” way to order your pedals (despite what BassDude777 says on reddit.) A common approach is to put utility pedals first (tuners, compression), and fun, dramatic effects (like distortion) next, and tone-shaping pedals last. This allows the foundational pedals to clean up your sound before the effects mess with it. If you put a fuzzy distortion before a compressor, the compressor will try to clean up the fuzzy mess—not ideal. Boss, one of the most respected makers of pedals, has their own guide.

Second, the power rule: Do yourself a massive favor and buy a dedicated power supply that can power all your pedals. Daisy-chain cables might seem fine at first, but they can inject noise into your signal, turning your beautiful, rumbling bass into a mosquito whine. It’s no fun trying to figure out what is causing the buzz or how to fix it.

ABOVE AVERAGE PICK

1 SPOT Pro CS7 Guitar Pedal Power Supply 

I recently picked up this power supply and it solved all my mysterious buzzing noise. It can power up to 7 pedals, more than sufficient for most players.

Check Price on Amazon

Finally, bass pedals vs. guitar pedals: A lot of the time, the answer is “it depends”. Guitar pedals are often designed to cut out the low frequencies…and that’s you. You don’t want that! Bass-specific pedals, on the other hand, are engineered to keep your crucial low end intact while applying the effect. When in doubt, stick to pedals clearly marked for bass to save yourself the disappointment of losing your low-end thunder. That said, there are far more guitar pedals than bass pedals. Feel free to experiment, but be careful before handing over a lot of money for a pedal that may not sound great on bass.

Your First Three Pedals

This list is not about getting every pedal in existence. It’s about the pedals that will take you from being a guy who plays bass to a guy who sounds professional. I fully admit the first three pedals I’m recommending aren’t the sexiest, but they are the most useful.

1. The Foundation: The Tuner Pedal

In my Bass Gear Starter Pack article, I suggested you buy a clip-on tuner. I stand by that. In fact, you should have a few of those because they get lost and stop working. However, I also suggested you might want a pedal for this. The pedal option is better and my recommendation for your first pedal. It’s especially useful when you join your first band.

The tuner pedal is the ultimate utility item. It should be the very first pedal in your chain because it requires a clean, unaffected signal to work its magic. A good tuner pedal will also function as a mute switch, which is essential for changing instruments or fixing a cable issue without broadcasting a loud, embarrassing thump over the PA system. It’s not sexy, but it’s mandatory.

ABOVE AVERAGE PICK

Peterson StroboStomp

Bass and guitar players can be oddly attached to their favorite tuner. This one is mine, but there are plenty of other good ones out there. The StroboStomp is super accurate, you can change the display color, and it has a setting specific for bass.

Check Price on Amazon

2. The Problem Fixer: The Compressor Pedal

If you regularly surf the various online bass communities, many will suggest one of the first pedals you should consider is a compression pedal. A compression pedal takes the signal from your bass and smooths it out. By using various adjustments, you essentially “compress” the signal so that it fits within a prescribed loud and quiet range. This is a helpful way to adjust for the normal human inability to hit every note exactly as you wish. It’s especially helpful in slap and playing with a pick where it is easy to play some notes much louder than you intend.

And…all of this is true. Except, I have to admit if I watch any video review of any compression pedal, it is almost impossible to hear the difference. I’ve heard many bass players say compression is less about how it makes your bass sound and more about how it makes you feel while playing. Nearly any professional bass player you hear is using compression. (Guitarists, too!) Even if they don’t have a compression pedal on their board, the sound engineer is using compression to adjust levels and make the band sound cohesive.

All this goes to say, it is worth getting a compression pedal early in your pedal journey and to start experimenting with it. Try different settings. Go crazy. See which ones sound good to you. You will notice a difference in your sound, but if you’re like me, it’ll be hard to describe exactly what that difference is.

It’s important to sound good while playing with others. Check out my guide to surviving your first jam session to learn more.

ABOVE AVERAGE PICK

MXR Bass Compressor

This is a rock solid compressor used by amateurs and pros alike. It has every setting you could want in a compressor and it’s on my own board. That said, there are cheaper (and more expensive) options so feel free to shop around.

Check Price on Amazon

3. The Tone Shaper: The EQ/DI Pedal

This is a two-in-one powerhouse and, honestly, one of the most critical pedals to have if you ever plan on playing outside your bedroom.

The EQ (Equalizer) section is what allows you precise shaping of your bass sound. You can boost the lows to sound warmer, cut the harsh mids to get rid of muddiness, or boost the highs to give your tone some needed clarity. Different rooms and different amps change your tone, and the EQ gives you the power to dial it back in to sound exactly how you want it.

The DI (Direct Input or sometimes Injection) functionality lets you plug directly into a venue’s mixing board or a recording interface without using an amplifier. This is mandatory for gigging or recording because it sends a clean, high-quality signal to the sound engineer. Even if you use an amp, the sound engineer often prefers to take your signal from the DI box.

You can buy pedals that only do EQ and you can buy pedals that are only DI. I recommend saving space on your board and buying a pedal that does both. As a bonus, most EQ pedals can also add a little grit or drive to your signal. More on that in my last recommendation.

ABOVE AVERAGE PICK

Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI V2

There are hundreds of pedals to choose from in this category, but SansAmp is a recognized leader in the field and used by professionals. There’s a good chance most produced music you listen to went through their equipment.

Check Price on Amazon

Bonus Recommendation: Overdrive/Distortion

Okay, enough with the serious utility pedals. Let’s talk about the fun stuff. If the previous suggestions are the equivalent of eating your bass vegetables, this one is for dessert. Plus, depending on the kind of music you enjoy playing, particularly rock or metal, you’re going to want some sort of drive to sound like your favorite players.

Overdrive is generally a lighter, warmer breakup that reacts to how hard you play. It’s great for adding a subtle growl to rock, funk, or blues lines. Distortion is heavier and more aggressive, often used for metal, grunge, and heavier rock. It’s the sound of aggression, pure and simple. You won’t use it on every song, but when you do, it will motivate you to play a little harder and a little louder. Finally, there is fuzz, the angriest of the lot, when you just need to get that aggression out.

These pedals are very much a matter of personal taste and it is one of the largest categories of pedals. You may even find a few different pedals you enjoy the sound of and each may find a place on your pedal board. My preferred distortion pedal these days is the AfterShock by Source Audio. It’s got the grit and noise I like. That said, it’s a $200 piece of equipment and maybe it isn’t what you like. Rather than going all in, I’m going to recommend something more affordable so you can dip your toes into the world of distortion.

ABOVE AVERAGE PICK

Joyo Double Thruster

Joyo makes really good pedals and amazing prices. I think the distortion on this one sounds great, but at the price, I wouldn’t feel bad if I decided to swap it out six months down the road.

Check Price on Amazon

It’s a Slippery Slope With Pedals…But Very Fun

If you start with these four pedals, you’ll have the essentials: The Tuner for staying in tune, the Compressor for consistency, the EQ/DI for tone and professional connectivity, and the Overdrive for fun. They key is to not let your GAS (i.e. Gear Acquisition Syndrome…a sometimes fatal condition) stop you from actually playing your bass.

So…are you ready to stop searching for the “perfect” gear and start playing?

• Check out my Pickup Music Review to see if it can help you reach that next level. 
• Check out my Tomplay Review to get some practice in playing along with your favorite songs.

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.

Short Disclosure: I’m not a pro bassist, I’m just a regular guy with a regular job who wants to get better and have some fun in my spare time. I’m going to tell you the real-world, no-BS minimum you need to know and bring so you can finally move that killer riff from your bedroom to the real world.

Full disclosure: I sometimes use affiliate links for the products I’m discussing. Using them helps fund this site while costing you nothing extra.

The Mindset Shift: Why You Need to Go

I remember my first jam session. I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t know what to say or how to behave. I was sure everyone was staring just at me and questioning my very existence. So I get it. But you have to do it. Why? Because you learn more in five minutes of playing with a live drummer than you do in five hours with a metronome.

This isn’t just about showing off; it’s about leveling up your core bass skills:

• Real-Time Listening: You must listen to the drummer to lock in—a skill you absolutely cannot learn by practicing with a metronome. You become part of the rhythm section, not just a player. You learn to interpret “the look” from the lead guitar that means slow down or speed up or one more verse.
• Learning Form & Cues: Suddenly, you’re forced to learn standard song structures like the 12-bar blues or AABA, and you have to pick up on non-verbal cues (like when the song is about to end!) on the fly. No sheet music here!
• Fretboard Knowledge: When the song is one you know, but the singer says “let’s do it in G instead,” your fingers are forced to locate the root notes and chord tones quickly without relying on tabs. It’s the ultimate theory test. Expert level is playing with a guitarist who knows very little theory and when you ask the key, they tell you “I use a G shape, but with a capo on three.” As bass player, your job is to just figure it out.
• Networking: The best part? You meet other local musicians who are also looking for a bassist. This is how bands start!

The Absolute Minimum Gear (The “Above Average” Kit)

This isn’t the time to bring your entire pedalboard—seriously. The goal is to minimize setup time and potential points of failure. Keep it small, essential, and practical. Check out my guide to your Bass Guitar Gear Starter Pack for more details.

• Your Bass: This is obvious, but bring the one you’re most comfortable with. The one that feels like an extension of your body, not the shiny new one you haven’t quite bonded with yet. This also isn’t the time to show off that $5,000 boutique bass you bought. The audience won’t care and having a cheap beer spilled on your vintage Fender is a great way to ruin your night.
• Instrument Cable (Bring a Spare!): Cables fail. They just do. Always have a spare ready to swap out so you don’t waste ten minutes troubleshooting a $15 piece of wire while everyone stares.
• Tuner (Clip-On or Pedal): This is the most important thing. There’s no such thing as “a little out of tune!” You’re in tune or you’re not. Don’t be that guy. A reliable clip-on is fast and simple. I prefer a pedal tuner because it doubles as a mute, but I wouldn’t bring a pedal the first time until you’ve learned the set up.
• Earplugs (Highly Recommended): This is protecting your investment—your hearing! Trust me, drummers are loud. You can grab a pair of musician earplugs that keep the sound clear while turning down the volume. You may need to try a few that don’t overly block the low frequencies (because that’s you.) I’ve been using this brand at jam sessions.
• A Small Amp/DI: Some jams provide a backline (an amp), but always check! If they don’t, you need at least a small amp or a Direct Input (DI) Box to plug directly into the venue’s PA system. For most venues this is probably optional. Either it will be a small enough place there won’t be a sound system to plug into or, if not, the sound tech will take care of you. I always carry a DI box to be safe, but don’t stress over this. Check out this solid, reliable DI Box.

Why Blues Jams Are Your Easiest Entry Point

Here’s the secret to minimizing that anxiety: go to a Blues Jam.

Most blues relies almost entirely on the 12-Bar Blues Form. This is your safe haven. If you know the 1-4-5 chords in just one key, you can successfully play the bass line for 90% of the songs they call. The beauty of bass are fretboard patterns. If you can play the 1-4-5 pattern in one key, you can do every key.

A quick story. 

My first jam session ever was in a small club overseas where I barely spoke the local language. My plan was just to observe, but they needed a bassist. Because I knew the 12-bar form, I was able to play for hours. I spent the evening jamming with a legendary blues musician from that country (to my complete ignorance.)  I ended up jamming all night with a guy who could sing “Hoochie Coochie Man” in perfect English but could barely have a conversation with me! The universal language of the 1-4-5 saved my butt—and I made a new friend. Everyone was incredibly welcoming and understanding.

• Preparation Tip: Find a local blues jam, and go once with no intention of playing. Just sit, watch the flow, and introduce yourself to the person running it (the jam leader). If you don’t play that night, you’ll know what to expect next time. Or, maybe the vibe will be great and you’ll jump right in.
• Action Tip: Before you go, make sure you have the 1-4-5 down and learn a few simple blues shuffle patterns. If it isn’t a blues jam, learn a simple song or two in case you get asked for something you want to play. For rock, something like “Zombie” is usually great. “Folsom Prison Blues” is another popular pick.

Don’t worry if you don’t already know the 12-Bar Blues. BassBuzz has a nice (free!) tutorial.

Jam Session Etiquette: How to Fit In (Not Freak Out)

Most mistakes aren’t musical; they’re social. Knowing the etiquette will make you feel ten times more comfortable.

• Keep It Simple (The Bassist’s Mantra): Your number one job is to lock in with the drummer and play the root notes. Do not show off. Don’t complicate things with fancy fills or upper-fret acrobatics. Selflessness is key to a good groove. Make others look good and you’ll quickly develop a reputation as a great bandmate. Playing the right note and the wrong time is much worse than playing the wrong note at the right time.
• Don’t Be a Fixture: Play 2 or 3 songs max, and then step aside. Other people are waiting, and you’ll look like a professional, courteous player by giving up your slot.
• Listen Actively: You won’t have sheet music, so you need to figure out the chord changes by ear. Don’t panic about major vs. minor right away; just hit the root notes when the chord changes. Listen to the guitar and keys.
• Talk to the Leader: Politely ask the person running the jam (usually the host musician) how you can get a slot and what the rules are. They are the gatekeeper, and being respectful goes a long way. Offer to help with set up or tear down if they need it.
• Don’t Overthink It: Nobody is judging your playing nearly as much as you are. Honestly, most of the crowd can’t pick out the bass notes (even if they’re feeling them.) If you do nothing more than play root notes in time, you’re golden.

Ready to Finally Groove?

Your biggest mistake isn’t playing a wrong note; it’s staying home. Get out there! The fastest way to eliminate the fear of a jam session is to truly know your instrument and the music theory that connects you to the band.

If you need a structured, no-fluff plan to master the 12-bar form and understand the fretboard in a way that actually helps you communicate with a drummer, check out my review of The “Big Three” Online Bass Courses. They all have resources that can help.

No more excuses. Get out there and be the rock star you see in the mirror!

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!

I’m a case study in how to not start your bass guitar journey. At least, not if you want to be smart about your money and time. I already knew how to play a bit of ukulele so I thought it would be smart to buy one of those cool ukulele basses. Plus, it was acoustic-electric so I wouldn’t even need to buy an amp! How smart!

It was not smart, and it saved neither money nor time in my bass journey. I think the ukulele bass probably deserves an article all of its own, but suffice it to say, it is not “easier” to play just because it’s small. In fact, I’d say it is harder. I struggled for a while on that instrument before I figured out what was holding me back was lack of an amp. So I went out and bought the smallest, cheapest amp I could. Mistake number two. Now I was trying to learn using a niche instrument on an terrible sounding amp. 

I’m lucky I stuck with bass long enough to realize how much I loved playing. I decided if I was really going to do it, I needed a “real” bass with a decent amp. My friends…doing that changed everything. It was so much easier to play, and it sounded so much better, even with my limited skills.

Don’t make the same mistake as me.

Here are the five essentials of beginner bass gear that will get you from zero to “above average” without emptying your wallet. We are focused on the fastest, most practical path to grooving.

Full disclosure: I sometimes use affiliate links for the products I’m discussing. Using them helps fund this site while costing you nothing extra.

The Five Essentials – You Need These

Now let’s get into the nitty-gritty of must-have bass gear. This is where I explain why each item made the cut, what to look for, and what to ignore.

1: The Starter Bass (The Investment)

This is where you make your first real investment, but it doesn’t have to be a mortgage payment. Your first bass needs to be one thing above all else: easy to play.

If the instrument fights you, you will lose interest. Avoid no-name basses on Amazon or Temu. A good starter bass will be a 4-string, solid body model. My suggestion: Forget 5-strings, acoustic, and the exotic woods for now. You need a simple, reliable instrument that can stay in tune. Thankfully, with ever improving manufacturing, you can get a perfectly acceptable $250 bass that’s made in China or Indonesia. In fact, many argue that once you get over $1000 you’ll start getting diminishing returns on your bass guitar investment. 

My embarrassing personal story here: When bought my first bass (non-ukulele version, that is), I figured more was better so I bought one with active pickups. I played for six weeks, and one day the sound just died. I spent hours troubleshooting my amp, my cable, and my life choices, only to find out the 9-volt battery in the bass was dead. Rookie mistake. My suggestion? Stick to passive pickups and you won’t have this problem.

Many will argue active is the better way to go. It gives you more options for your tone. That’s true, but for the new player I think getting a specific tone is a bit down the road. That said, active pickups are fine. Just don’t forget about the battery. [Tip: Don’t know what active vs passive means? In short, active basses have an eq built in so you can adjust the treble, mids, and bass directly on the instrument. More than two knobs? Good chance it is active.]

Above Average Tip: The best bass is the one that makes you want to get out there and play. If deep down you want to be Paul McCartney and rock that hollow body Hofner bass, go for it. If that matte black, active, 5-string really brings out your inner Pantera…do it. Any bass that makes you want to play is a good bass.

Above Average Tip #2: Keep your bass easily accessible. Don’t throw it in a closet. Don’t keep it hidden away in its case. Have it out and ready to grab. Get rid of any barrier between you and playing that bass. Out of sight is out of mind and that’s no way to get good. Always keep your bass gear easily accessible.

Above Average Tip #3: Decide if you need a case. Most cheaper bass guitars will not come with a case. If you’re just playing at home, that’s not a big deal to start with. Eventually you will want a case, probably a lightweight gig bag.

My Top Starter Bass Picks:

I recommend you check out a model from one of these excellent beginner lines. They all offer fantastic quality for the price:

ABOVE AVERAGE PICK

Sire Marcus Miller V3P

An excellent 4-string passive bass guitar that feels like it should cost at least twice as much. An entry level price that could last you forever.

Check Price on Sweetwater Sound

Other Great Options:

• Ibanez Gio GSR200
• Yamaha TRBX304
• Squire Affinity Series Jazz

2: The Practice Amp (The Necessity)

You must be able to hear yourself. You can’t really practice on an electric bass unplugged. At least, not at the beginning. You’ll be so quiet you won’t be able to tell if you’re playing the right notes or the wrong ones, and your progress will stall. A small combo amp is the move here.

You do not need a giant 8×10 stack that makes your teeth rattle. You need a small combo amp, which means the speaker and the amp are in one box. For home practice, 15 to 25 Watts will be plenty. If you can stretch the budget, 40 Watts will last you longer.

But here are the two crucial features to have:

1. A Headphone Jack – Keep the neighbors, family, and pets happy.
2. An Aux/MP3 Input – A convenient way to play along with real music.

Above Average Tip: Practice with headphones to keep your significant other sane. My wife is incredibly supportive of my rock star dreams, but even she has a limit on how many times she can hear me play “Seven Nation Army.” More importantly, use the Aux In to practice with actual songs. This is how you develop timing and groove. It’s a game-changer.

My Top Practice Amp Picks:

I started with a Fender Rumble (at least after I got rid of the first piece of junk.) They are lightweight, sound great for the price, and have all the features you need. Just keep in mind, none of these amps are strong enough to compete with a live drummer or wailing guitar. You’re looking at least 100 watts there (and preferably 200 or more.)

ABOVE AVERAGE PICK

Fender Rumble 40

A constant top pick for playing at home. At 40 watts, it’ll get plenty of loud, but is still light enough to easily carry. Has everything you need for playing at home.

Check Price on Amazon

Other Great Options:

• Orange Crush Bass 25
• Ampeg RP-108

3: The Clip-On Tuner (The Unsung Hero)

You know what sounds worse than a beginner playing the wrong notes? A beginner playing the right notes, but out of tune. Don’t skip this crucial bit of bass gear.

I’m serious: A reliable tuner is key to sounding good with recordings and others. Your entire goal right now is to sound in tune and in time. That’s the secret to sounding “Above Average”.

I know, I know. “But Shawn, my phone has a free tuner app!” Don’t trust the free phone app. They’re just not consistently good enough. Plus, once you start playing with others, you’ll always have someone else noodling around while you’re trying to tune and it’ll be drama. A dedicated clip-on tuner is fast, accurate, and clips right onto the headstock of your bass.

Honestly, I prefer a pedal tuner because it doubles as a mute, is easier to read, and it can be more accurate. However, it’s more expensive and involves setting up a pedal chain (albeit a simple one.) Save that for later. For now, get the clip-on tuner.

Above Average Tip: The key to sounding Above Average is being in tune. Don’t overthink the brand or model. Feel free to unclip it and stick it in your pocket if you’re playing in front of people. 

My Top Tuner Pick:

You’ll go through many of these and lose them (I’ve lost three in the last year alone). Just grab one of these:

ABOVE AVERAGE PICK

D’Addario Eclipse Clip-On

Nice bright screen so you can see it in the dark. Accurate, but cheap enough that when you lose it you won’t feel terrible.

Check Price on Amazon

4: The Spare Cable (The Thing That Connects the Things)

Picture this: You finally get the courage to go to an open mic night. You plug in, you’re ready to groove, and… silence. The cable is shot. Cables have a cruel, short lifespan, and they always fail at the worst possible time.

Any cable will do at the start, but here’s my pro-tip: get at least 10 feet. I suggest one 10-foot and one 15-foot cable. This allows you to stand up and move around a bit. Plus, someday you will get sucked into pedals and you’ll need another cable for that.

Above Average Tip: Buy a spare immediately. Treat the spare like an emergency kit. Never unroll it until your main cable dies. My own bass journey hit a major snag when my cable broke right before a jam session—I had to use a guitarist’s cable, and they never let me forget it.

Above Average Tip #2: Be wary of marketing hype. Alright. I’m not an electrical engineer. However, back in the day I worked A/V retail and we pushed the expensive, gold-plated, shielded cables hard. Did we do it because they were better? No, we did it because the commission was better. Now, those fancy cables probably are better, but will the average Joe notice that difference? I doubt it. Basic cables are fine.

ABOVE AVERAGE PICK

Ernie Ball Flex – 10′ Cable

This would do the job and do it well. Ten feet is plenty for playing at home. If you’re rocking the stage you may want 15. (If you’re Flea, you may need 100 feet.)

Check Price on Amazon

5: The Comfortable Strap (The Back Saver)

If you plan to play standing up (and you should—it helps with your stage presence, even if your stage is just your living room), you need a strap. Your 8 pound bass will feel heavy after 15 minutes, and a thin, flimsy strap will dig into your shoulder and ruin your practice session.

The wider the strap, the more comfortable. Wide straps distribute the weight better. Also, avoid “slippery” materials. You want something that grips your shoulder so the neck doesn’t take a nosedive every time you let go. Leather is nice, but expensive.

Above Average Tip: Go with a look that you like. Part of playing is feeling cool! If you want a little extra security (and I recommend it), the Ernie Ball Polylock system can be nice. It’s a simple, cheap way to keep the strap attached to your bass. I use strap locks on most of my basses, but that involves a bit of very simple modification to the bass. Save that for later.

ABOVE AVERAGE PICK

Levy’s Leathers MSSC4-BLK Bass Strap

Nothing fancy, but good quality and should last you a long time.

Check Price on Amazon

What the Above Average Beginner Should ABSOLUTELY Skip (For Now)

This bass gear is not useless, but it is a distraction for a beginner.

• Effect Pedals (Fuzz, Octave, Delay): Skip. You need to learn the basic groove first. You can always start chasing the perfect fuzz tone next year. When you decide you’re ready for pedals, check out my beginner’s guide to bass pedals.
• Custom/Hard Cases: Skip. Hopefully your bass will come with something, but if it doesn’t a basic padded gig bag is fine for now. You’re not touring yet.
• Expensive Proprietary Cables: Skip. Get a decent, reliable cable. Do not spend $80 on a cable. It won’t make you sound better. See my earlier story.
• More Basses: This is the toughest one. It’s also very much a “do what I say and not what I do” situation because I have more basses than talent. Buying a new bass does not make you better. It makes you poorer. Focus on getting the basics down with that first bass. Six months down the road you’ll have a much better idea of what you like and don’t like. Decide then if another bass makes sense.

Final Verdict

Look, you don’t need a music degree to play the bass. You don’t need a truck full of gear. You just need the five things we covered today: a solid bass, a practice amp with a headphone jack, a reliable tuner, a spare cable, and a comfortable strap. That’s it. That’s the whole secret.

The best time to start learning the bass was ten years ago. The next best time is right now. Stop overthinking it, stop browsing forums, and start playing. All the best lessons and advice in the world won’t help if you don’t have the gear in your hands.