The 20 week Cohort 2024
What's that you're doing?
Using the Theory for Bass Players book and Ariane Cap's online course- I'll be doing the Cohort like I did in 2021. Check out the link here
Basically each Unit in the course is split up into sections: Permutations (finger exercises) , Theory Practice, Bassline Lab, Combo Class, Hip Bit,
The beauty of being in the Cohort is that you are accountable and you have support from a coach that helps you keep motivated (no problem with me though:)), and you get some encouraging comments from fellow students. It leads you to a better practice schedule, and helps you understand how to practice more effectively.
Come on my journey with me! You can comment on YouTube below the videos. I'd love to get some feedback.
February 9 2024
I COMMIT to practice for Unit 1:
Permutation at 120bpm - 1, 2, 3, 4 and 4, 3, 2, 1 on frets 5-8 and 1 to 4) with clear intonation
Using a keyboard and then visualisation: saying musical alphabet, skip every other letter at 90 BPM ascending and descending
On the E String- saying each note on each fret using flats & sharps. Aim for 100bpm
Groove & Fill using D minor pentatonic in each area of the fretboard- My bonus: learn the names of the boxes
Call & Response: Being as precise as possible: My bonus: saying the notes that I play
READING: Use Groove & Fill - Call and Response - Advanced sheet music to read the notes and play
Notefinder- E and A on all 4 strings: Observe and play different phasing, and the rhythmic variation (depending on beginning or end)
Unit 1... D minor pentatonic, note names, Groove & Fill
0:33 secs- Saying notes on E string with sharps( # )and flats (b) at 90 bpm
1:30 mins- Using a keyboard to visualise the notes: skip every other letter at 90 BPM -ascending and descending
2:49 mins- Playing D minor pentatonic in 5 areas of the fretboard.
4:10mins - Call & Response -- monkey hear, monkey play...
This was the most fun. Good ear training.
My challenge would be to hear and play this all over the fretboard but... that's for another day.
5:50mins.- A lot quicker hear and play what you hear! Am I that good?
February 15 2024
February 23 2024
I COMMIT to practice for Unit 2 :
Permustions 1243 4312 - one finger per fret -- Frets going up, and on 1 string.
Notes on A string at 100 bpm
Name notes on dots - sharps and flats
Unit 2 C minor 'practice' on bass, and more!
Notefinder of C. I did the C minor 7 solo.
I submitted this to SBL mentor program, and Craig said that this wasn't a solo, but an arpeggio practice. Sadly, he's right. It's not a solo.
1:00min A string note names
1:37min permutations down the neck - quick one
1:52min- my revelation
2:15min- notes on dots
March 8 2024
I COMMIT to practice for Unit 3 :
As I'm leaving for 10 days, I'm committing minimally :)
1) Saying notes on D string at 110bpm
2) Permutation 4123 1432 with a rhythmic flavour
3) and if I get my butt into gear, I'll do Money. I'd do Pink but maybe another time.
Unit 3- permutations with a rhythm
As I went to WOMAD (World of Music and Dance Festival) and took 10 days off as I also went to a little festival, I didn't quite have time to practice. But I did do my permutations, but I added a rhythm. I asked my 'viewers' what they thought the rhythm was... and this is it below. I hope that I played this!! March 18 2024
March 22 2024
I COMMIT to practice for Unit 4 :
I commit to: 1
) permutation and saying note names at the same time in this order 1324 and 4231 Who doesn’t like a brain challenge?! Doing it with Ari on her ‘practice with me’ . Nice to play with someone!
2) Bassline Lab Theory- major/minor 2nds — using the track provided
3) HitBit: minor and major power chords exercise —
I now understand why this is considered a “power chord” . Playing with the backing track provided.
Although I’m practicing the whole tone scale, I won’t put this in my video.
Unit 4- Major/Minor 2 & 3
This was an interesting exercise: listening and playing minor/major 2nds with major and minor 3rds depending on the chord type.
I played minor 7 dominant chords in my previous video, and I'm now understanding the relationship with these intervals. I've described this in my video
These exercises are part of my training with Ariane Cap using her book Music Theory for Bass Players. I'm on her cohort (for a second time) and finding my ears! March 31 2024
April 5 2024
I COMMIT to practice for Unit 5:
( Vid: 1.3) p.38 Groove with Fourths (this sound soooo cool)
(Vid 1.4) p. 41 Fifths groove- original tempo, but I'll slow it to 75bpm
Permutations: 1423 and 3241 in whole shapes, tempo 100bpm (possible to say note names)
(Vid 3.3) Money Groove 3:04
Vid 2.4 4th- string crossing- use each string, each fret area
Unit 5 the 4th and 5th intervals
Unit 5 is exploring the intervals of the 4th and 5ths, playing parts of real songs that use them, and some real cool grooves that really gets you listening to the relationship between both intervals.
April 13 2024
April 19 2024
I COMMIT to practice for Unit 6:
1. Creating grooves 6th, 7th major & minor, octaves
2. Bassline Lab- Going Disco
3. Notefinder: Ab & C#
Unit 6 Grooving with 6th, 7th and octave
Lots of work around the sixths, sevenths, and octaves. Pedalling for finger exercise (ouch!), and octave grooves disco-ey style. Not sure if it sounds very disco.. And the last bit of this section was chromatic approaches.
April 27 2024
May 3 2024
I COMMIT to practice for Unit 7:
1. permutations on A and E strings 2314 and 4123-- look out for straight wrist, hand moving along the neck , fingering like a double bass, and using alternating fingering (middle/index)
2. Call & Response in A minor Blues Scale
3. Groove & Fill with Slides
Unit 7- Tritone, Fifths, and call& response
A lot of work on Permutation (good old finger exercise), and saying note names, hearing the difference between the 5th and the flat 5th (tritone), sliding into the C on the 15th fret, and Groove and Fill while listening to Ariane
May 17 2024
I COMMIT to practice for Unit 8:
What's not to love about 10th... I just love this unit!
1. Groove using tenths (p.56). (I've got a few riff s already -)
2. Permutation 4123 and 4213 diagonally- trying to keep my fingers spread over the fretboard, and not looking at fretboard. Not looking is quite hard... and I'm double my notes too
3. Video 4. 2 grooves with compound Internals- 2 + my own groove-- Beautiful !!!
4. Video 4.3 Grooves with 1 5 8 10 (major or minor) I've been practicing tons with theses!
5 .Video 5.1 Groove with Fills and sssssslides
6. Hit Bit -- Earth Wind And Fire- Shining Star -- What a cool cool groove !! I'll do it at tempo!
I will be emotionally engaged with these grooves! Those make the best practice sessions. I read that somewhere:)
Unit 8
May 31 2024
I COMMIT to practice for Unit 9:
Unit 9
June 14 2024
I COMMIT to practice for Unit 10:
Unit 10
Reflections: