Ultimate Beginner Series: Rock Bass: Bass Guitar DVD

This two-step DVD series treats rock bass as a skill to be built methodically, not as an afterthought to guitar. Bogert anchors every lesson in actual song contexts, so students hear exactly how the techniques he teaches shape real band grooves.

Solid, grounded, driving. Rock bass is about locking into a pocket and letting the rhythm section breathe together. These lessons build the muscle memory and listening skills that let a bassist anchor a band without overthinking.

Beginner to early-intermediate bass guitarists ready to move beyond open strings and single-note lines. This works especially well for students in garage bands or school rock ensembles who need to understand how bass functions in a full mix.

• Lock your rhythmic feel with the kick drum first. Before layering melodic movement or fills, internalize how your notes sit against the drummer's pulse.
• Use power chords and double stops to thicken the low end without losing clarity. Play through the examples slowly and isolate the fretting hand until the shapes become automatic.
• Apply harmonics and raking sparingly. These techniques add texture, but overuse obscures your foundational groove. Listen to how the demonstrations balance restraint with musicality.
• Work through shuffle and boogie feels separately. Master the straight 16th-note pocket before adding the swing and bounce that define the style.

Use Step One as foundational material for any student picking up bass for the first time. Progress to Step Two once pentatonic scales and basic shuffle feels are solid. The recorded demonstrations make this ideal for independent study between lessons.

• Reading and playing classic rock bass lines
• Understanding shuffle feels (straight, swing, 16th-note)
• Major and minor pentatonic scale patterns on bass
• Power chord double stops
• Harmonics and raking techniques
• Listening and locking in with drums and other band members
• Boogie feels and groove consistency