Perfect Your Technique Now, Not Later
Transform Your Playing with Solid Technique and Effortless Control
When I was in my early 20s, I played countless 4 or 5 hour concerts in Senegal, often with no break unless the power went out. To perform for that long without cramping or fatigue, I needed impeccable technique. It’s not about pushing harder – it’s about learning how to move efficiently, reduce tension, and play with precision (whilst also being able to communicate with the rest of the band and be comfortable to dance around the stage).
When I started the World Music Method and began teaching on Zoom, I had the unique opportunity to watch dozens of bass players at once in gallery mode. That experience was eye-opening, I saw the same common mistakes over and over again, all relating to posture and technique. I began dissecting my own approach, figuring out what I was doing right and, more importantly, how to explain it.
In recent years, I’ve been performing in Indian devotional concerts, where a single mantra can last an hour, and a set often means playing for four or five hours straight. This level of stamina isn’t about brute force – it’s about learning to eliminate unnecessary tension. When you’re sending signals from your brain to the wrong muscles – your neck, shoulders, upper arms, or forearms – it slows you down and wears you out. By switching off that tension, not only does your speed improve, but your tone becomes cleaner and more resonant.
This course is designed to give you the tools to fix these issues and elevate your playing. If you’ve ever struggled with string noise or buzz, there’s a full module dedicated to getting a clean sound. If you want to increase your stamina and refine your tone, the techniques and exercises here will get you there. Plenty of 20 minute backing tracks to work through these exercises with to take your mind out of the practice and let your body take over.
I’ve poured everything I’ve learned into this library, and I guarantee it will make a significant difference in your playing. If you don’t feel that improvement within 30 days, just let us know, and we’ll refund you in full.
Key Learning Outcomes
By the end of the Bass Technique Library, you will:
Master Left- and Right-Hand Techniques
- Learn proper hand positioning to reduce strain and increase precision.
- Develop right-hand techniques like fingerstyle, thumb strokes, and plectrum use for versatile playing.
Achieve a Clean, Professional Sound
- Eliminate string buzz and noise with muting techniques for both hands.
- Refine your tone through controlled pressure and efficient movement.
Enhance Dexterity and Control
- Strengthen your fingers and build speed with targeted exercises.
- Navigate the fretboard with ease, playing fluently in every key.
Develop Stamina and Endurance
- Learn how to eliminate unnecessary tension for longer playing sessions without fatigue.
- Build the strength and fluidity needed for extended performances.
Expand Your Musical Knowledge
- Practice scales, modes, and rhythmic variations across the fretboard.
- Train your ear to recognize intervals, rhythms, and tonal relationships.
This course is not just about improving your bass technique – it’s about giving you the tools and confidence to play better, longer, and with greater musicality.
Meet Your Teacher
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.
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