Learn bass guitar& double bassIn personin Melbourne
- All levels welcome
- Bass guitar & double bass
- 15+ years teaching
Hello there! I studied Jazz performance at university and graduated with a Bachelor of Music, majoring in electric/double bass. I’ll guide you step by step in a supportive and FUN environment.
Music isn’t hard.It’s unfamiliar.
Music is a language. Like any language it has always been passed from person to person, and trying to teach yourself in a vacuum makes it harder than it needs to be.
Lessons with John are friendly, relaxed and flexible, built around what you want to learn. Stick to regular practice of what we work on together and you will see results.
What you play, what you love, and where you’re stuck. We set goals together.
Posture, fingering and timing exercises, and getting to know your instrument.
Exactly what to practise, step by step, with a schedule that fits your week and someone keeping you accountable.
The ins and outs of the styles you came for, plus a guide into new musical worlds.
Ear training, theory and improvisation tied together so you can jam, gig and write your own lines.
The modes ofthe major scale
Every chord in a key has its own scale. Learn to hear and find all seven, and you can improvise freely across the chord changes in any key instead of running one scale over everything.
There’s a piano in the studio too, so we can practise lines over real chords, the same way this interactive player below does.
- The seven modes by sound and by shape on the fretboard
- Chord-scale relationships: which mode fits which chord, and why
- Chord tones as targets for bass lines and solos
- Following the harmony through real tunes, in any key
- Understanding this concept is the real gateway towards confidently improvising over any song in any key
Tap any Roman numeral to hear that chord with its arpeggio or mode played over the top, like a piano accompaniment. Orange notes are chord tones; the ringed note is the root.
Bass guitar lessons,double bass lessons
Lessons for both instruments, with plenty of crossover. Many bass guitarists add double bass later, and the theory and ear training carry straight across.
John has a Bachelor of Music majoring in electric and double bass, and has been teaching both for more than fifteen years.
For complete beginners, and for players who’ve taught themselves and want to fill the gaps.
- Time feel and locking in with the drums
- Technique for both hands: plucking, muting, fingering
- Blues, funk, rock, pop, jazz and gospel lines
- Learning songs by ear instead of hunting for tabs
- Theory that makes sense on the fretboard
For complete beginners, and for bass guitarists moving to upright.
- Setup and posture: endpin height, standing or seated, playing without strain
- Intonation and shifting without frets
- A full, even pizzicato sound
- Walking bass lines and jazz standards
- Pickups and amps for playing live
Learn from aworking bassist
Two recent gigs: double bass with The Victor Scale at the launch of Gabriel’s Diary, and bass guitar with Sahar.
Lessons draw on what actually matters on a stage: time, listening, sound, and making the band feel good. Swipe through the clips, tap the speaker on any of them to hear it, and catch more on Instagram.
Weekly lessons,60 minutes
- Weekday daytimes
- Monday & Thursday evenings
- Saturday & Sunday afternoons
Per lesson with a 4-pack. The same rate for bass guitar and double bass, in the studio or online.
| Option | Price | Per lesson |
|---|---|---|
| Single lesson · 60 min | $70 | $70 |
| 4-pack · 4 × 60 min | $250 | $62.50 |
| Extra student | +50% | Learn together |
In the studio,or online
The Snedlab
A treated room in Coburg North. A well-equipped studio, great for lessons.
Online lessons
The same one-on-one lessons from anywhere.
Callouts
Local callouts are available. Get in touch to check your area.
Off for course students
Ableton Live Beginners Course students get 10% off private lessons.
The Snedlab · Coburg NorthImprove your playing,one week at a time
Weekly lessons are encouraged. That’s where the real progress happens.
With consistent practice you’ll notice results every week. Consistency is key: even twenty minutes a day keeps you moving ahead.
I’ll help you build a practice plan that keeps you consistent and intentional, using a structured approach. That keeps you solidifying the basics while always expanding what you can play.
Bass & double basslessons
The Snedlab, Coburg North, or online. $70 a lesson, or $250 for four.
