Bass Guitar 3C

When & Where

1 May 2025 - 10 July 2025 ( 14 hours, 9 weeks )
Evening, Thursday
View course timetable
Online

Quick Facts

Availability Yes
Tutor Paul Westwood
Course Code W24JPMH03C
Suitable For 19 year olds and up are permitted on this course

What you will learn

Suitable for bass players with some degree of experience, who wish to take their skills to a higher level in World Music. Coursework includes grooves, riffs and improvisation in the styles of Reggae, Latin (inc. Bossa Nova, Cha Cha, Mambo, Rumba, Samba) and African music (inc. Cameroon, Congo, Guinea, Mali, Somalia, South Africa). Technical exercises include: diatonic and pentatonic scales, arpeggios, chromatic movements, developing and interpreting chord symbols, a wide range of chord sequences, reading music and rhythm notation. Creative work will be focused on building a broad repertoire of bass phrases used in World Music, and performing as part of a band.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

Gain an understanding about world music and how to apply it effectively in a band
Explore and fuse world music with western music styles, eg. reggae and rock
Term 1 - play riffs and grooves in the style of Reggae
Term 2 - play riffs and grooves in Latin styles (inc. Bossa Nova, Cha Cha, Mambo, Rumba, Samba)
Term 3 - play riffs and grooves in the style of African music (inc. Cameroon, Congo, Guinea, Mali, Somalia, South Africa)
Use additional skills to improvise on grooves in various styles of world music
Gain good timekeeping abilities and play in tempo
Read and play music notation
Perform with greater confidence and skill, in general
Apply new skills and knowledge that enable progression to the next level.

Cost

Full fee

£130

Concession fee

£100

Click here for information on Fees, Funding and Concessions (including financial support)

Class format and activities

Classes will be held online and are continuous over three terms. Students may sign up each term or for the whole year. Please be aware that catch-up lessons will be available online if you enrol in terms 2 & 3. Handouts are provided each lesson to accompany classwork. Additional handouts are provided that reference music elements such as theory, harmony, rhythm, phrasing, and technique. Students are encouraged to perform each exercise with the tutor, who accompanies on guitar, piano or with backing tracks. Play-along backing tracks are provided for practise and personal development outside of the classroom. There is an option for recordings of students’ performances if they choose. To ensure that you make the best possible progress on your course, feedback, advice, and Q&A sessions are conducted in a constructive and supportive environment.

Entry requirements

Students who have attended courses Bass Guitar 1 or Bass Guitar 2, or who have had some previous experience of the bass guitar.

What you need to know before you enrol

Regular practice between lessons is essential for ongoing progress.

What you need

Your bass guitar and a pen or pencil.

What you can do next

Morley College course Jazz Bass. Alternatively, learners should consider one of our ensembles. Ask your tutor for advice or contact the Music Department.