Ability/Difficulty Levels

All of the video courses on this website have been organised into three main Ability Levels: Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced.

Each of these is broken down into Difficulty Levels:

Beginner: Levels 0-2
Intermediate: Levels 3-5
Advanced: Levels 6-8

This breakdown is similar to the grading system used by the ABRSM and the pop/rock qualifications offered by Rockschool and Trinity. It can be used as a guide for finding your own ability level, and the courses that are suitable for YOU.

What do these levels mean?

Bassline Publishing founder Stuart Clayton has extensive experience within the bass guitar education market. He has worked as Head of Bass at BIMM (10 years) and as the bass specialist for Rockschool (2012-2018). This experience formed the basis of the grading system that is used across all of the courses on this website.

The following is a rough guide to each level:

Beginner

Level 0: You’ve just picked up the bass and have little to no experience with it so far. Courses at this level will get you acquainted with the basics of the instrument and some of the simple theory that you’ll need in order to start learning songs.

Level 1: You’ve begun learning the notes on the neck and are playing scales in a few keys using basic shapes. You have a fundamental grasp of techniques such as fingerstyle, plectrum and slap bass and can use them to play simple lines.

Level 2: You are able to use fingerstyle, plectrum, and slap bass techniques to perform longer pieces with a degree of complexity. You are able to play major and minor scales in all twelve keys using basic shapes, and you are comfortable with the main arpeggio types. If you are learning to read music, you are comfortable with all eighth note-based rhythms, and key signatures up to and including two sharps/flats.

Intermediate

Level 3: You are comfortable playing the first six major/minor scales over two octaves and you can play the harmonised major scale arpeggios in four keys. You have begun to use more complex slap bass techniques, and you can play simple sixteenth note-based lines with the plectrum. If you are learning to read music, you have begun learning to read simple sixteenth note-based rhythms and key signatures up to four sharps/flats.

Level 4: you are able to play all major/minor scales over two octaves and the harmonised major scale in seven keys. You have covered some of the most-commonly used modes and you are using more complex slap techniques such as double stops and chords. You are capable of playing rock and pop songs that feature challenging basslines. If you are learning to read music, you are comfortable with more difficult sixteenth note-based lines.

Level 5: You are able to play major and minor pentatonic scales and the blues scale in all keys and you are comfortable with the remaining modes. You can play the harmonised major scale confidently in all twelve keys. You are using more advanced slap bass techniques such as machine gun triplets and can play challenging sixteenth note-based lines with the plectrum. If you are learning to read music, you are comfortable with compound time signatures and notes written on ledger lines.

Advanced

Level 6: In addition to all other scales, modes, and arpeggios, you are able to play the harmonic minor scale and its seventh arpeggios in all twelve keys. You are able to use more advanced slap techniques such as double thumbing and double popping and you are comfortable with most plectrum parts. If you are learning to read music, you are now reading more complex sixteenth note-based material written in any key signature.

Level 7: In addition to all other scales, modes, and arpeggios, you are able to play the melodic minor scale and its seventh arpeggios in all twelve keys. You are able to use more advanced slap bass techniques such as open-hammer-pop, and more complex applications of the double thumbing technique. If you are learning to read music, you have begun tackling odd time signatures, chords and reading in treble clef.

Level 8: In addition to all other scales, modes, and arpeggios, you are able to play the diminished and whole tone scales in any key. You are comfortable with all advanced applications of the slap and plectrum techniques and are confident with learning any piece of music that is required of you. If you are learning to read music, you are a now doing this at a high level, tackling pieces written in cut common time and reading lead sheets which are open to your own interpretation.