eMedia Bass Method

Learn How to Play Bass at Home at Your Own Pace

The Easiest Way to Learn to Play Bass!

The best-selling eMedia Bass Method features bass guitar lessons for beginners from noted bassist and teacher John Arbo. This course is complete bass guitar instruction that runs on your computer with interactive technology to make understanding the lessons easier. You can even get eMedia Instant Feedback as you play your first, easy bass guitar songs and exercises.

Learn how to play bass fast with over 140 easy-to-follow bass guitar lessons that take you from basics such as how to tune a bass guitar to learning how to play bass lines, playing bass guitar scales, how to read bass guitar tabs, how to read bass guitar music notation, and much more. Learning bass guitar is made fun with popular songs made famous by Bob Dylan, Steve Miller, The Grateful Dead, Credence Clearwater Revival, and others.

Instant Feedback shows you when you play the correct notes on your bass as you progress through an exercise. With a microphone connected to your computer and a bass in your hands, play the notes in the exercise (or song) on any screen featuring the “ear” icon in the upper right corner and the computer will highlight the notes for you in green. You’ll discover that reading tablature and music notation is easier than you ever thought possible!

With over 140 Step-by-Step bass lessons, eMedia Bass Method makes playing bass easier than ever. This bass tutorial features step-by-step lessons with on-screen instructor John Arbo. Learn to play using triads, fills and syncopation, and to create a bass line for any song you like. Learn to read tablature and standard music notation, including scales and intervals.

eMedia Bass Method features songs in a variety of genres to make learning fun and memorable – including Rock, Pop, Country, and Folk! Many of these songs are also in eMedia Guitar Method, so bass and guitar students can jam along with each other as they learn. Our latest version includes dynamic, enhanced, multi-track audio playback of hit songs popularized by well-known artists such as:

• Bob Dylan (“Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door”)
• The Steve Miller Band (“Rock’n Me”)
• The Grateful Dead (“Uncle John’s Band”)
• Creedence Clearwater Revival (“Midnight Special”)

Also included are popular songs “Scarborough Fair,” “La Bamba,” “Ode to Joy,” “Shenandoah,” “Drunken Sailor,” “House of the Rising Sun” and more!

Video Instruction Professional bass instructor John Arbo guides you in over 30 videos with split-screens and close-ups (as needed). Watch your instructor demonstrate proper techniques for playing exercises. You can pause, rewind, and replay to see proper bass guitar fingerings and techniques at your own pace, as often as needed.

John Arbo has been teaching bass for over 25 years and has served on the music faculty of the New School in New York City. He has performed with Liza Minelli, Les Paul, and has been the bassist for many Broadway shows.

The Animated Fretboard (with two different skins!) displays fingering positions as the music plays. It allows you to see exactly how to play the song on a bass guitar fretboard as you hear the music. Since you can highlight and loop any section of the music (or even double-click on a single note in the music), you can use the Animated Fretboard to make difficult sections or quick changes easier to manage and learn. The Animated Fretboard makes it simple to follow along with the lesson content. Includes option for both right- and left-handed views.

The Note Tracker and Finger Tracker tools make it easier to see what note you’re playing by displaying the note as music notation and on eMedia’s Animated Fretboard. You’ll be able to correct your playing quickly and learn to read music fast!

Music Tracking highlights the music and lyrics as they’re heard, making it easy to follow along on the bass.

You get both multitrack audio and variable-speed MIDI tracks, including Bass-Only and No Bass audio options, so you can perfect your bass technique and play along with the band. With MIDI tracks, slow down the music to any tempo, while the Animated Fretboard shows song fingerings as the music plays. Learn at the pace best suited to you!

Tune your bass guitar quickly and easily. A precision gauge Bass Tuner allows you to play into your computer’s microphone and tune up interactively. Reference bass tuning notes are also included.

The Guitar Chord Dictionary includes recorded sounds for over 250 guitar chords. Easy access helps you learn songs with new chords quickly. An indispensable reference tool!

With a Metronome, set your tempo and practice keeping a steady beat with audio and visual indicators.

Use the Recorder to save your recordings and play back to share and compare.

Attention Educators, please visit our academic product page for information on using this product in schools or for private group instruction.

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Contents Summary

Introduction

I. About the Bass

Types of basses and their parts; stringing; tuning; holding the bass; string numbering; hand and finger position; musical alphabet and the fretboard; right- and left-hand exercises; first bass line.

II. Simple Bass Lines with Catchy Rhythms

String dampening; right- and left-hand finger techniques; major scales; creating bass lines using major triads; rhythmic possibilities for bass lines; the “Intergalactic Bass Rhythm” with variations; first syncopated rhythms.

III. Developing More Bass Lines and Fills

Shifting from triad to triad; building bass lines combining rhythms with triads; changing bass patterns within a song; fingering rule exceptions; minor scales; minor triads; creating bass lines for songs using major and minor triads; fills and how to use them; bass lines with slash chords.

IV. Walkups, Walkdowns and Syncopation

Walkups and walkdowns; changing positions; connecting chords; fills within sections; eighth-note fills; understanding the blues or shuffle rhythms; learning new syncopated rhythms; using syncopation with chord notes; introducing the eighth-note groove and its rhythmic possibilities.

V. Reading Tablature

Learning how to read TAB – a simple music notation common to all fretted sting instruments; rhythmic notation; time signatures; songs and licks written out in TAB

VI. Reading Standard Music Notation

Introducing standard music notation – a universal music notation common to all instruments; note values; rests; time signatures; sharps, flats and naturals; key signatures; learning to read on every string and up the fretboard with songs and licks.

Theory: Intervals, Scales, and Triads

Learning the basics about intervals; how to recognize different intervals on the bass and in music notation; how to play major and minor scales in the nine most frequently used keys; how to play major triads; minor triads, diminished triads and augmented triads.

Appendix

Button symbols; commands and shortcuts; Animated Fretboard; song looping; tools (Metronome, Recorder, and Finger Tracker); bass set-up; amplifying the bass; Instant Feedback.

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What reviewers are saying...

“eMedia Music’s instrument training programs are complete.”
– The New York Times, March 13, 2019

“Even this lead-footed, tin-eared, rhythm-challenged oldster was turning out meaningful riffs not more than an hour after firing up eMedia Bass Method.”
– James Coates, Chicago Tribune

“There’s enough material here to bring any aspiring bassist from their first note to very competent, all-around musical ability.”
– J. Mochi Park, Musician.com

“Soon you’ll be playing like a great!”
– ActiveBass.com

What customers are saying...

“I have been using eMedia to augment my private lessons. I love the attention to technique that this programs provides.”
– James Modisette of Thibodaux, LA

“Great tool to learn the bass. Small, logical steps that really do the job.”
– Mario

“This program has a wealth of information in it. I am brand new to playing the bass but this course is getting me familiar with the instrument. I plan to continue using the other courses as I advance. I think this course is outstanding.”
– William McClellan of Fontana, CA

“I have tried many self teaching methods before, but this is the first one that taught me to play! I am very proud of the progress I have made with your system.”
– Harry Thomas of Forest Hill, MD

“I have tried many home study bass DVDs and yours is the best by far. Emphasis is what you need to learn to progress further and lessons are provided in a clear and concise manner.”
– Richard K of Alexandria, VA

“I love it.”
– Richard Ross of Tulalip, WA

“I’ve learned a lot.”
– Edwin Rivera of Brooklyn, NY

“Great program.”
– John Tumino of Emerson, NJ

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System requirements

Internet connection recommended for online activation. Requires a Windows desktop, laptop, or tablet device; or a 32-bit (only) Mac desktop or laptop computer. Not compatible with iPhones, iPads, Android, or Chromebook devices.

* Attention Mac Users Beginning with macOS 10.15 (Catalina), Apple has eliminated the option to run 32-bit apps on the Mac. If you wish to continue using our applications, which currently require 32-bit support, do not upgrade your operating system past Mac OS 10.14 (Mojave). Alternatively, you can retain an older Mac operating system on a separate drive partition. eMedia developers are currently working on software updates to support Catalina and future versions of macOS, but this is a major undertaking. We are currently unable to foresee how long it will take us to create these new versions. If you purchased your eMedia Mac software on or after September 7, 2019, upon receiving proof of purchase we will provide you with a free upgrade to a macOS 10.15 (Catalina)-compatible version of an eMedia application when it becomes available. All other registered owners of eMedia software will be qualified for discounted upgrades.

Questions about system requirements? Contact our technical support department.

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