Motown Bass Lessons: Learn Soul Basslines from the Legends
6-week course · Starts May 23
Enrollment closes May 22
Join from ANYWHERE
Remote students receive the full workshop experience:
Live online access to every session
Full class recordings throughout the entire 6-week program
Downloadable transcriptions + PDFs
Practice tracks + lesson materials
1 free month of Bass Shed Academy membership
Led by Ryan Roberts
Ryan Roberts is a bassist, educator, and founder of The Bass Shed Academy. He has taught at the Los Angeles College of Music, recorded with acclaimed producers including Geoff Emerick, and created the full transcription work for soul bass legend Jerry Jemmott’s 15 Timeless Basslines. Through The Bass Shed Academy, Ryan helps bass players develop stronger musicianship through applied learning rooted in real music, listening, and performance.
About the Course
Learn to create soul basslines in the style of Motown by studying how legendary players build their lines and applying those ideas to your own playing.
In this 6-week course, you’ll work with focused excerpts from James Jamerson and Bob Babbitt—analyzing how their lines lock with the groove, outline harmony, and create movement.
Each idea is immediately applied through a structured practice system, so you’re not just learning lines—you’re learning how to create them.
Built around classic Motown grooves, this course allows you to focus deeply on time, feel, and note choice within a consistent musical context.
By the end, you’ll be able to build basslines that feel grounded, musical, and stylistically authentic—and understand a system for bassline construction that can be applied across soul and groove-based styles.
What You’ll Cover
How great Motown basslines lock into the groove
Understanding how lines support the song and create movement
Developing time feel, pocket, and consistency
Building lines in short phrases and expanding them
Applying one concept at a time within a groove
A repeatable system for creating basslines in soul and groove-based music
Included
6 weekly small-group sessions
Course portal access
Weekly materials released in advance for preparation
Downloadable transcription excerpts and full transcriptions
Practice tracks for each week
Guided assignments using a structured practice system
1 month free membership to The Bass Shed Academy
Schedule
Saturdays — 12:00 PM
Starts May 23
Enrollment closes May 22 — No walk-ins
6 weekly sessions in a small group setting.
Pricing & Enrollment
$160 In Person— Full 6-Week Course
Less Than $27 per session
Make sure your groove is informed by the legends.
Create soul basslines that lock in
$120 Remote — Full 6-Week Course
$20 per session
FAQ
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Your instrument (bass guitar), cable, tuner, and something for notes.
Amplification is provided. -
Suitable for players who may be newer to soul or groove-based music but are not new to the instrument. You should have a basic understanding of your bass, scales, and rhythm.
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Reading music is helpful, but not required. The focus is on playing, listening, and applying concepts.
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Yes. Weekly materials are released in advance so you can prepare between sessions, deepen your understanding of the material, and apply the concepts directly to your own bass playing.
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Gated parking is available. Access from Washington.
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Enrollment closes May 22. No walk-ins.
All sales are final. -
All enrollments are final. Due to limited class size, refunds are not available once your spot is reserved.