★★★★★ 4.87 / 5.00
Master The African Bass
Become a groovier bass player and learn how to ignite a dancefloor in just 30 days or your money back.
Comfortably pay in 4 installments
Captivate The Sound Of African Bass
A common saying in western pop and rock music is that you don’t notice the bass guitar until it’s gone. In Africa, this statement couldn’t be further from the truth. The African bass is not a background player – it’s the driving force that dictates whether the crowd dances, takes a break, or heads home for the night. Congolese nightclubs are famous for 5-hour marathon concerts, and the bass player is who makes that happen.
Meet The Students
“I’ve learnt ways of playing my instrument that I hadn’t previously been exposed to.”
Scott Gleason
USA
“I love the way Edd explains every exercise and the different camera views.”
Roberta Leono
Colombia
“In Edd’s teaching you will find uniquenesses that you haven’t found before.”
Julia Menard
Canada
“This has made my bass playing very appreciated by the audience.”
Will Morris
Canada
make instant progress
The African Bass Curriculum
Click below to preview the blue highlighted lessons
Module 1 - Learn Soukous And Sebene Bass - 49.39
- Lesson 1 – What We’ll Be Covering 2.40
- Lesson 2 – A Brief History Of Congolese Music 4.23
- Lesson 3 – Learning Soukous and Sebene Basslines 2.31
- Lesson 4 – The Congolese Thumb Technique 7.12
- Lesson 5 – The Formula For Adding Variations 5.40
- Lesson 6 – Putting Variations Together In A Live Context 3.07
- Lesson 7 – Practising Your Own Basslines 5.23
- Lesson 8 – Soukous Bass Style On A 1 4 5 4 Chord Progression 4.32
- Lesson 9 – Going Deeper Into Congolese Bass 8.18
- Lesson 10 – Try Creating With The Backing Track 5.51
Module 2 - How To Play Zimbabwean Music - 27.21
- Lesson 11 – My Journey In Zimbabwean Music 3.04
- Lesson 12 – How To Play Sungura Basslines1.48
- Lesson 13 – Arpeggios in African Music 3.36
- Lesson 14 – Experiment With Your Own Basslines5.23
- Lesson 15 – Learn Sungura Grooves In E Major2.28
- Lesson 16 – Staccato Zimbabwean Basslines And Variations7.27
- Lesson 17 – Put It Into Practice Yourself5.23
Module 3 - Study Zouk Basslines - 33.26
- Lesson 18 – How Zouk Came Back To Africa 3.04
- Lesson 19 – Playing Zouk With Bouncing Basslines3.29
- Lesson 20 – Varying The Chordtones To Keep It Interesting7.50
- Lesson 22 – Playing Two Chord Zouk With Flowing Basslines6.27
- Lesson 23 – Attempt Your Own Zouk Grooves With The Band 6.27
Module 4 - Translate Pop Basslines - 16.45
- Lesson 24 – Billie Jean – Michael Jackson3.28
- Lesson 25 – Come Together – The Beatles5.11
- Lesson 26 – Under Pressure – Queen 8.06
Module 5 - Basic Techniques & Ear Training - 32.34
- Lesson 27 – Basic Techniques And Dexterity Exercises8.29
- Lesson 28 – Learning The Scales Throughout The Fretboard5.00
- Lesson 29 – Ear Training Ab Major5.31
- Lesson 30 – Ear Training Bb Major2.55
- Lesson 31 – Ear Training C# Minor4.47
- Lesson 32 – Ear Training Rhythms3.45
- Lesson 33 – Thanks For Learning With Us2.07
1241 Students
33 Lessons
4.87/5 Rating
The Ultimate Learning Experience
what’s included on your journey
interactive on-screen notation
Learning new skills is easier with our innovative, interactive tools. Access on-screen notation, tablature, animate fretboards, variable tempos, and more.
african backing tracks – volume 1
Put your new techniques into practice and Jam on recordings by the World Music Method tutors over different African grooves including Soukous, Zouk and Afrobeat.
live masterclass
and q&a
Stream the latest Zoom masterclass and join the next session live to get your questions answered by Edd Bateman.
sebene heaven – andy morgan
The bitter-sweet paradox of Congolese Rumba. Andy Morgan’s eBook details the gripping history of the countries main musical export.
edd bateman’s west african love affair
Download the debut album featuring Edd’s compositions in African genres including Mbalax, Soukous, Afrobeat and more.
now you finally can
Become Fluent in African Bass
Register today and get immediate lifetime access to the following
the african bass masterclass – 2.5 hour online course
£97
interactive on-screen notation
£77
african backing tracks – volume one
£17
live masterclasses and q&a
£17
sebene heaven – ebook by andy morgan
£10
edd bateman’s west african love affair – album download
£10
Total Value
£228
Get It For Just
£97
Edd Bateman, Author Of African Bass
At age 14, in the rural Devon countryside town of Tavistock, (UK) Edd Bateman was sitting in his bedroom playing heavy metal basslines. Suddenly his Mum arrived and said you need to go to the next-door neighbour’s house right now and take your bass amp. ‘Chimanimani’, who were a Sungura and Chimurenga dance band from Harare, Zimbabwe had just arrived in England and were there auditioning for a bass player to join their upcoming national tour. Despite Edd’s youthful inexperience and limited knowledge of theory he got the job and did the first 2 hour show just 11 days later. Within a month the band played together at African nightclubs in London, universities and then Glastonbury festival. Edd worked with Chimanimani for 6 years.
In his early 20s he took the first of many trips and tours to West Africa and instantly fell in with the famous Cissokho family of griots from Southern Senegal and began his deep training performing regular 5 hour shows with Solo Cissokho, Seckou Keita, Sadio Cissokho and the whole Dialikunda family as well as on-stage guest spots with Cheikh Lo, Orchestra Baobab and Super Diamono.
Now back in the UK and with thousands of concerts under his belt with bands from all over the world he developed his skills serving as bandleader for ‘London Astrobeat Orchestra’ and ‘Edd Bateman’s West African Love Affair’. In the lockdown he saw the need to begin documenting the brilliant African bass guitar styles he’s dedicated his life to learning and so founded the World Music Method to share this knowledge with the world.
21 Years Touring Experience
Chimanimani
2001
Bulawayo
2009
Sadio Cissokho
2016
London Astrobeat
2020
Frequently Asked Questions
How Does The 30 Day Guarantee Work?
How Long Will I Have Access To The Course?
Forever! Take it fast, take it slow. If you need help with anything just get in touch and a helpful human will respond.
What Level Do I Need To Be To Use This Course?
Great question. This course is designed to suit bass players of all levels but not absolute beginners. Advanced players will absorb highly intricate textures of African rhythms, intermediate players will solidify their groove like never before, beginners will be inspired to accurately study the material and make instant progress. We have very advanced software which helps to speed up your learning time by providing syncronised bass tab, notation, popup visual fretboards, slow motion and looping options.
There is specific Congolese thumb technique we’ll study and this is likely new for all levels so there is lots to learn for everyone.
Do I Need To Read Music?
No not at all. Everybody learns in different ways so you have the option to acquire this knowledge by combining any variety of close-up angles, in-depth and clear explanations, learning by ear, bass tab or sheet music.
How Experienced Is The Tutor?
Incredibly experienced. There are better bass players from Congo, Zimbabwe, Senegal, Nigeria and South Africa but there is nobody else on the planet who has the combined expertise of Edd Bateman in the field of African basslines. Since going on tour with a Sungura band from Zimbabwe aged 14 he’s dedicated his entire life to the study and performance of African music. Not being born in Africa has actually been a great advantage in allowing him to absorb so many genres without being locked into just growing up surrounded by the music from one African country only. Combining this experience with a Western musical education and deep knowledge of theory is what makes his explanations so easily understood by students all over the world.
30 days risk-free
Satisfaction Guaranteed
You don’t need to travel across the continent. In fact, you don’t even need to leave your house. Build up your African bass literacy risk-free today – with a 30-day money-back guarantee, there’s never been a better time to get started.
Take your African bass skills to the next level with the World Music Method today.
Ready to get Started?
Become African Groove Confident
lifetime access to the course and all bonuses for only
£97
….. your African musical repertoire with melodic Sebene basslines.
….. the traditional Congolese right hand thumb approach with accuracy.
….. your rhythm section relationship with contextual groove examples.
….. your entire musicality with new authentic African bass techniques.