Who this is for
Players of piano, guitar or bass who know chords and inversions and want chord changes that glide. Already write bass lines with slash chords? Test out on Day 5.
Best done after: Chord Symbols & Lead Sheets, Triads & Inversions. It is advice, not a rule: every lesson has short "rusty on…?" boxes for anything you skipped.
Why learn this
The **bass** is half the music. When the bass leaps from root to root, changes can feel jumpy; when it moves by **step**, the same chords sound smooth and a little more sophisticated. Slash chords (C/E, G/B) are how guitarists and pianists write that line into the chords.
This program teaches the slash chords that matter, the famous descending bass line, and a simple walking pattern for bass players. As always: these are suggestions. If you like the sound, it is right.
What you will be able to do
- What a slash chord is and how to read it
- Climbing and walking down with the 3rd in the bass
- The descending bass line
- Pedal bass
- A simple walking bass pattern
The 5-day plan
- What a slash chord is. Read a slash chord and play it with the bass note underneath.
- Climbing and walking down. Use the 3rd in the bass to make the bass move by step.
- The descending bass line. Play and recognise the famous descending bass line, and use a pedal bass.
- A simple walking bass. Play a four-note walking pattern under any chord.
- Test day: the bass line. Show you can read slash chords and fill in smooth bass lines.
How each session works
Every day follows the shape of a workout. It starts with a warm-up that reviews earlier days, then technique: a short, plain explanation with a small interactive tool to try it on. Then come the working sets, drills with instant feedback, and a finisher, a short test with a pass mark so you only build on things you can do. A cool-down recaps the day and previews the next.
Choose your split
The daily split is a session a day: done in a week. The easy split is a session every other day, with rest days between: two weeks, and a gentler pace. On your own pace there is no schedule. Nothing is ever locked, and you can change split at any time.
Frequently asked questions
Is a slash chord the same as an inversion?
When the bass note belongs to the chord (like C/E), yes: it is an inversion. When it does not (like C/D) it is a different sound, called a polychord or a chord over a different bass.
Do I need a bass guitar?
No. On piano put the bass note in the left hand; on guitar play it on the lowest string you can. The idea is the same.
Why does the bass want to move by step?
Steps are easy to follow and sound connected. Leaps sound like jumps. A bass that steps creates a second melody under the chords.
What is a walking bass?
A bass line that plays one note on every beat (quarter notes), moving mostly by step and landing on the chord's root on beat one. It is the backbone of jazz and blues.