# How this course works

*Module 0 · Lesson 1: Getting started · BazzLow*

> Understand the structure of the course and how to use its pages and tools.

This course teaches music theory as it applies to the electric bass. If you already own a bass and want to understand what you are playing, you are in the right place.

The subjects are the ones a bassist uses every day: notes, rhythm, reading music, intervals, scales, chords, harmony and bass lines. Two things are deliberately left out: gear and playing technique. You will not find advice on basses, strings or amps here, and no lessons on how to pluck or mute. Technique comes up only when the theory needs it, such as the numbers used for your fingers.

## Modules and lessons

The course is organised in **modules**, and each module is made of **lessons**. The lessons form one path: each one builds on the ones before it and lists them as its prerequisites, at the top of the page.

> The first time through, follow the order. Later, come back to any lesson as a reference.

Here is the whole path. Every title is a link.

  Module 0 · Beginner

### [Getting started](https://bazzlow.com/en/getting-started/)

1. 0.1[How this course works](https://bazzlow.com/en/getting-started/how-this-course-works/)
2. 0.2[Your bass: strings and tuning](https://bazzlow.com/en/getting-started/strings-and-tuning/)
3. 0.3[Reading the diagrams](https://bazzlow.com/en/getting-started/reading-the-diagrams/)

  Module 1 · Beginner

### [Notes and the fretboard](https://bazzlow.com/en/notes-and-fretboard/)

1. 1.1[The musical alphabet](https://bazzlow.com/en/notes-and-fretboard/musical-alphabet/)
2. 1.2[Half steps and whole steps](https://bazzlow.com/en/notes-and-fretboard/half-and-whole-steps/)
3. 1.3[Sharps, flats and enharmonic notes](https://bazzlow.com/en/notes-and-fretboard/sharps-flats-enharmonics/)
4. 1.4[The chromatic scale](https://bazzlow.com/en/notes-and-fretboard/chromatic-scale/)
5. 1.5[Mapping the fretboard](https://bazzlow.com/en/notes-and-fretboard/mapping-the-fretboard/)
6. 1.6[Octave shapes](https://bazzlow.com/en/notes-and-fretboard/octave-shapes/)
7. 1.7[Natural harmonics](https://bazzlow.com/en/notes-and-fretboard/natural-harmonics/)

  Module 2 · Beginner

### [Rhythm I: pulse and note values](https://bazzlow.com/en/rhythm-1/)

1. 2.1[Beat, tempo and BPM](https://bazzlow.com/en/rhythm-1/beat-tempo-bpm/)
2. 2.2[Note values and rests](https://bazzlow.com/en/rhythm-1/note-values-and-rests/)
3. 2.3[Bars and time signatures](https://bazzlow.com/en/rhythm-1/bars-and-time-signatures/)
4. 2.4[Counting eighth notes](https://bazzlow.com/en/rhythm-1/counting-eighth-notes/)
5. 2.5[Strong and weak beats](https://bazzlow.com/en/rhythm-1/strong-and-weak-beats/)
6. 2.6[Dots and ties](https://bazzlow.com/en/rhythm-1/dots-and-ties/)

  Module 3 · Beginner

### [Reading music for bass](https://bazzlow.com/en/reading-music/)

1. 3.1[Bass tablature](https://bazzlow.com/en/reading-music/bass-tablature/)
2. 3.2[The staff and the bass clef](https://bazzlow.com/en/reading-music/staff-and-bass-clef/)
3. 3.3[Bass sounds an octave lower](https://bazzlow.com/en/reading-music/octave-transposition/)
4. 3.4[Reading rhythm on the staff](https://bazzlow.com/en/reading-music/reading-rhythm-on-the-staff/)
5. 3.5[Accidentals and key signatures on the staff](https://bazzlow.com/en/reading-music/accidentals-and-key-signatures/)

  Module 4 · Beginner

### [Intervals](https://bazzlow.com/en/intervals/)

1. 4.1[What an interval is](https://bazzlow.com/en/intervals/what-is-an-interval/)
2. 4.2[Major, minor and perfect](https://bazzlow.com/en/intervals/interval-qualities/)
3. 4.3[Interval shapes on the bass](https://bazzlow.com/en/intervals/interval-shapes/)
4. 4.4[Augmented, diminished and the tritone](https://bazzlow.com/en/intervals/augmented-diminished-tritone/)
5. 4.5[Inverting intervals](https://bazzlow.com/en/intervals/interval-inversion/)
6. 4.6[Compound intervals](https://bazzlow.com/en/intervals/compound-intervals/)
7. 4.7[Consonance and dissonance](https://bazzlow.com/en/intervals/consonance-and-dissonance/)

  Module 5 · Beginner

### [The major scale and keys](https://bazzlow.com/en/major-scale-and-keys/)

1. 5.1[The major scale formula](https://bazzlow.com/en/major-scale-and-keys/major-scale-formula/)
2. 5.2[Scale degrees](https://bazzlow.com/en/major-scale-and-keys/scale-degrees/)
3. 5.3[Major scale fingerings](https://bazzlow.com/en/major-scale-and-keys/major-scale-fingerings/)
4. 5.4[Keys and key signatures](https://bazzlow.com/en/major-scale-and-keys/keys-and-key-signatures/)
5. 5.5[The order of sharps and flats](https://bazzlow.com/en/major-scale-and-keys/order-of-sharps-and-flats/)
6. 5.6[The circle of fifths](https://bazzlow.com/en/major-scale-and-keys/circle-of-fifths/)
7. 5.7[Transposing](https://bazzlow.com/en/major-scale-and-keys/transposing/)

  Module 6 · Beginner

### [Minor scales](https://bazzlow.com/en/minor-scales/)

1. 6.1[The natural minor scale](https://bazzlow.com/en/minor-scales/natural-minor-scale/)
2. 6.2[Relative minor and relative major](https://bazzlow.com/en/minor-scales/relative-minor-and-major/)
3. 6.3[Parallel major and minor](https://bazzlow.com/en/minor-scales/parallel-major-and-minor/)
4. 6.4[The harmonic minor scale](https://bazzlow.com/en/minor-scales/harmonic-minor-scale/)
5. 6.5[The melodic minor scale](https://bazzlow.com/en/minor-scales/melodic-minor-scale/)

  Module 7 · Intermediate

### [Triads and arpeggios](https://bazzlow.com/en/triads-and-arpeggios/)

1. 7.1[Chords on the bass](https://bazzlow.com/en/triads-and-arpeggios/chords-on-the-bass/)
2. 7.2[Building triads in thirds](https://bazzlow.com/en/triads-and-arpeggios/building-triads/)
3. 7.3[Diminished and augmented triads](https://bazzlow.com/en/triads-and-arpeggios/diminished-and-augmented-triads/)
4. 7.4[Chord symbols](https://bazzlow.com/en/triads-and-arpeggios/chord-symbols/)
5. 7.5[Triad shapes on the bass](https://bazzlow.com/en/triads-and-arpeggios/triad-shapes/)
6. 7.6[Inversions and slash chords](https://bazzlow.com/en/triads-and-arpeggios/inversions-and-slash-chords/)
7. 7.7[Sus chords and power chords](https://bazzlow.com/en/triads-and-arpeggios/sus-and-power-chords/)

  Module 8 · Intermediate

### [Harmony in a key](https://bazzlow.com/en/harmony-in-a-key/)

1. 8.1[Diatonic triads](https://bazzlow.com/en/harmony-in-a-key/diatonic-triads/)
2. 8.2[Roman numerals](https://bazzlow.com/en/harmony-in-a-key/roman-numerals/)
3. 8.3[Chords of a minor key](https://bazzlow.com/en/harmony-in-a-key/minor-key-chords/)
4. 8.4[Chord function](https://bazzlow.com/en/harmony-in-a-key/chord-function/)
5. 8.5[Common progressions](https://bazzlow.com/en/harmony-in-a-key/common-progressions/)
6. 8.6[Cadences](https://bazzlow.com/en/harmony-in-a-key/cadences/)

  Module 9 · Intermediate

### [Building bass lines](https://bazzlow.com/en/building-bass-lines/)

1. 9.1[Roots](https://bazzlow.com/en/building-bass-lines/playing-roots/)
2. 9.2[Root, fifth and octave](https://bazzlow.com/en/building-bass-lines/root-fifth-octave/)
3. 9.3[Chord tones over changes](https://bazzlow.com/en/building-bass-lines/chord-tones-over-changes/)
4. 9.4[Passing and approach notes](https://bazzlow.com/en/building-bass-lines/passing-and-approach-notes/)
5. 9.5[Walk-ups and walk-downs](https://bazzlow.com/en/building-bass-lines/walkups-and-walkdowns/)
6. 9.6[Chords and melody](https://bazzlow.com/en/building-bass-lines/chords-and-melody/)

  Module 10 · Intermediate

### [Seventh chords](https://bazzlow.com/en/seventh-chords/)

1. 10.1[The four main seventh chords](https://bazzlow.com/en/seventh-chords/four-seventh-chords/)
2. 10.2[Diminished 7th and minor-major 7th](https://bazzlow.com/en/seventh-chords/diminished-and-minor-major-seventh/)
3. 10.3[Diatonic seventh chords](https://bazzlow.com/en/seventh-chords/diatonic-seventh-chords/)
4. 10.4[The dominant seventh](https://bazzlow.com/en/seventh-chords/dominant-seventh/)
5. 10.5[ii–V–I](https://bazzlow.com/en/seventh-chords/ii-v-i/)
6. 10.6[Sixth chords](https://bazzlow.com/en/seventh-chords/sixth-chords/)

  Module 11 · Intermediate

### [Rhythm II](https://bazzlow.com/en/rhythm-2/)

1. 11.1[Sixteenth notes](https://bazzlow.com/en/rhythm-2/sixteenth-notes/)
2. 11.2[Syncopation](https://bazzlow.com/en/rhythm-2/syncopation/)
3. 11.3[Triplets](https://bazzlow.com/en/rhythm-2/triplets/)
4. 11.4[Compound meter](https://bazzlow.com/en/rhythm-2/compound-meter/)
5. 11.5[Swing and shuffle](https://bazzlow.com/en/rhythm-2/swing-and-shuffle/)

  Module 12 · Intermediate

### [Pentatonic and blues](https://bazzlow.com/en/pentatonic-and-blues/)

1. 12.1[The major pentatonic scale](https://bazzlow.com/en/pentatonic-and-blues/major-pentatonic/)
2. 12.2[The minor pentatonic scale](https://bazzlow.com/en/pentatonic-and-blues/minor-pentatonic/)
3. 12.3[The blues scale](https://bazzlow.com/en/pentatonic-and-blues/blues-scale/)
4. 12.4[The 12-bar blues](https://bazzlow.com/en/pentatonic-and-blues/twelve-bar-blues/)
5. 12.5[Blues bass lines](https://bazzlow.com/en/pentatonic-and-blues/blues-bass-lines/)

  Module 13 · Advanced

### [Modes](https://bazzlow.com/en/modes/)

1. 13.1[What a mode is](https://bazzlow.com/en/modes/what-is-a-mode/)
2. 13.2[The seven modes, one by one](https://bazzlow.com/en/modes/seven-modes/)
3. 13.3[Relative and parallel modes](https://bazzlow.com/en/modes/relative-and-parallel-modes/)
4. 13.4[Modes and chords](https://bazzlow.com/en/modes/modes-and-chords/)
5. 13.5[Modal harmony](https://bazzlow.com/en/modes/modal-harmony/)

  Module 14 · Advanced

### [Beyond the key](https://bazzlow.com/en/beyond-the-key/)

1. 14.1[Extended chords](https://bazzlow.com/en/beyond-the-key/extended-chords/)
2. 14.2[Altered chords](https://bazzlow.com/en/beyond-the-key/altered-chords/)
3. 14.3[Secondary dominants](https://bazzlow.com/en/beyond-the-key/secondary-dominants/)
4. 14.4[Borrowed chords](https://bazzlow.com/en/beyond-the-key/borrowed-chords/)
5. 14.5[Changing key](https://bazzlow.com/en/beyond-the-key/changing-key/)

  Module 15 · Advanced

### [Songs and charts](https://bazzlow.com/en/songs-and-charts/)

1. 15.1[Song form](https://bazzlow.com/en/songs-and-charts/song-form/)
2. 15.2[Lead sheets and chord charts](https://bazzlow.com/en/songs-and-charts/lead-sheets-and-charts/)
3. 15.3[The Nashville number system](https://bazzlow.com/en/songs-and-charts/nashville-number-system/)
4. 15.4[Putting it all together](https://bazzlow.com/en/songs-and-charts/analysing-a-song/)

## What every lesson contains

Every lesson page has the same parts, in the same order:

- **one clear objective**, written under the title, so you know what you should be able to do at the end;
- **an explanation with diagrams** of the bass neck, drawn for this site;
- a **“Try it”** exercise to do on your bass;
- the **new terms** the lesson introduces, each linked to the [glossary](https://bazzlow.com/en/glossary/).

How much you practise, and how often, is up to you. The course tells you *what* to learn and *in which order*. It does not tell you how long to spend on each step.

## The three tools

Three interactive pages are available at any time, and the lessons link to them where they help:

- [Bass Map](https://bazzlow.com/en/tools/bass-map/): arpeggios, the circle of fifths, natural harmonics, modes and scales, and every note on the neck;
- [Chords for Bass](https://bazzlow.com/en/tools/chords-for-bass/): every chord type from every root;
- [Key Chords](https://bazzlow.com/en/tools/key-chords/): the chords of any key.

You do not need to understand them yet. They will make more sense with every module.

## Two languages, two ways of naming notes

The site exists in English and in Italian. The English pages name the notes with letters: C D E F G A B. The Italian pages use the solfège names Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Si, and they also teach the letters, because chord charts, tabs and music software use letters everywhere in the world. You can switch language at any time with the EN / IT buttons at the top of the page.

## Four or five strings

The course works for both 4-string and 5-string basses. The theory is the same on both. The diagrams show 4 strings unless a lesson says otherwise.

## Try it

Open the [Bass Map](https://bazzlow.com/en/tools/bass-map/) tool. Switch between **Notes** and **Degrees**, and pick a few keys from the circle of fifths. There is nothing to understand yet: just watch how the page responds.

## New terms

- module
- lesson
- theory

Page: https://bazzlow.com/en/getting-started/how-this-course-works/