Jazz Bass Guitar: From Fundamentals to Feeling the Groove
Learn to play jazz bass guitar the right way — from walking basslines and chord tones to improvisation and playing with a real jazz feel. Built for beginners and intermediate players ready to step into the jazz world.
What you'll learn
What you'll be able to do
- Construct a solid, musical walking bassline over any standard jazz chord progression
- Identify and target chord tones (root, 3rd, 5th, 7th) across the entire fretboard
- Understand and apply ii-V-I and I-VI-ii-V progressions in all 12 keys
- Play the 12-bar jazz blues with authentic phrasing and harmonic awareness
- Comp and groove effectively alongside a piano, guitar, and drum kit
- Use approach notes, chromatic passing tones, and enclosures to create melodic basslines
- Read and interpret a lead sheet / chord chart the way a professional jazz musician does
- Perform at least two full jazz standards confidently from start to finish
How it works
A school that adapts to you
This isn't a set of static videos. Every lesson is generated live and tuned to where you actually are.
We learn your level
A quick placement check tailors your starting point so you're never bored or lost.
Lessons adapt as you go
Each lesson is written for your pace and your goal, adjusting as your skills grow.
Your AI coach keeps you moving
Checkpoints, feedback, and gentle nudges turn progress into a real result.
The curriculum
What's inside your school
5 modules · 15 lessons
The Jazz Bassist's Foundation
Build the mental and physical framework that separates jazz bass from every other style. Learn how jazz bassists read chord charts, think about the fretboard, and approach tone and technique.
- 1.1How Jazz Bass Works: Your Role in the Rhythm SectionIncluded
- 1.2Jazz Tone & Technique SetupIncluded
- 1.3The Fretboard for Jazz: Knowing Where Your Chord Tones LiveComing soon
Walking Basslines — The Core Skill
Walking bass is the heartbeat of jazz. Learn to construct basslines that move smoothly from chord to chord, keep the swing feel alive, and make the whole band feel good.
- 2.1What Is a Walking Bassline? The Four-Beat FrameworkComing soon
- 2.2Connecting Chords: Passing Tones & Approach NotesComing soon
- 2.3Swing Feel & Rhythmic PhrasingComing soon
Jazz Harmony You Actually Need
Cut through the theory overwhelm. Learn exactly the harmony that matters for jazz bass — chord qualities, key centers, and the progressions that appear in 90% of jazz standards.
- 3.1Chord Types & How They Sound: maj7, m7, dom7, m7b5, dim7Coming soon
- 3.2The ii-V-I: Jazz's Most Important ProgressionComing soon
- 3.3The Jazz Blues: 12 Bars with a Jazz TwistComing soon
Playing Standards — Real Songs, Real Skills
Apply everything you've learned to actual jazz standards. Learn how to read a lead sheet, choose a bass approach for different song sections, and adapt your lines to the music's character.
- 4.1Reading a Lead Sheet Like a ProComing soon
- 4.2Your First Full Standard: 'Autumn Leaves'Coming soon
- 4.3Playing a Ballad: Slow Tempo, Big EarsComing soon
Advanced Vocabulary & Improvisation
Elevate your lines from functional to musical. Add chromatic enclosures, motivic development, and bebop vocabulary to sound like a seasoned jazz bassist.
- 5.1Enclosures & Chromatic DecorationComing soon
- 5.2Motivic Basslines: Developing a Musical IdeaComing soon
- 5.3Putting It All Together: Jam Session PrepComing soon
Questions
Frequently asked
Your teacher
A note from your teacher
John Kunes
Hi, I'm so glad you're here. I've been playing bass guitar for over 15 years, and jazz completely changed how I hear and feel music. When I first tried to make the jump into jazz, I was overwhelmed — the theory felt intimidating, the records sounded impossibly cool, and I didn't know where to start. I spent years piecing together lessons, transcriptions, and jam session experience into a method that actually works for bass players.
This course is everything I wish I'd had when I started. I'm not going to drown you in theory for its own sake — every concept we cover will immediately make you sound better and feel more musical. My goal is simple: by the time you finish, you'll have the vocabulary, the ears, and the confidence to walk into any jazz situation and hold your own. Let's get to it.
— John Kunes
Start your journey today
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$97/mo
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- 5 modules, 15 lessons
- AI-adaptive lessons tuned to your level
- Quizzes & checkpoints to lock in progress
- Your own AI learning coach
- Learn on any device, at your pace
- Full access for as long as you're subscribed
13 more lessons coming soon at no extra cost.