Beginner Bass Guitar

Ever felt the floor shake at a concert and thought, “I want to do that”? That’s the power of the bass guitar. It’s the heartbeat of the band, the bridge between the melody and the drums, and—honestly—the coolest instrument on stage. Whether you’ve never picked up an instrument before or you’ve had a dusty bass sitting in your closet for years, this workshop is designed to get you playing real grooves from day one. No ego, no complex music theory jargon—just rhythm, soul, and a lot of low-end.

We’ve stripped away the fluff to focus on the essentials that actually make you sound like a bass player. We start with the foundation by showing you how to hold the bass comfortably to protect your back and wrists. From there, you will master the pluck and the pop using proper fingerstyle technique and the “anchor” method. You’ll learn to navigate the fretboard without getting lost and discover how to find the “pocket,” which is the secret to locking in with a drummer and keeping perfect time. By the end of the session, you will have learned a classic bass line that works over almost any song.

About the Instructors

With a bass in hand since age nine, Luis Trevino has dedicated his life to the craft of four strings. Luis’ approach to music education goes beyond notes on a page; he provides a holistic “bench-to-stage” mentorship. Luis’ time as an Instructor and Band Coach at the San Antonio Girls Rock Camp remains the most rewarding chapter of his career, fueling his passion for fostering confidence and creativity in young musicians. Whether coaching a first-time band or preparing a student for the stage, he brings a wealth of global experience—having performed everywhere from the Paris Jazz Festival to the Montreux Jazz Festival, supporting legends like Victor Wooten and Sting.

Troy Doebbler has been writing and performing for over 30 years and is a recording artist on Napalm records and Nuclear Blast. He has been featured in Bass Player Magazine and Troy toured with Marilyn Mason, Static X, Devil Driver, Coal Chamber, and Cradle of Filth and shared Festival stages at Ozzfest, Soundwave, and Bloodstock, which featured bands like Judas Priest, Gojira, Johnathan Davis, Ozzy, Ice Tea, Rob Zombie and Machinehead.

Lucas Carillo, aka Stan Leonard on stage, is a seasoned musician and teacher at School of Rock San Antonio. He thrives at being a multi-instrumentalist, teaching guitar, bass guitar, drums and singing. With over 16 years professional experience and more than 2,000 live performances under his belt, Lucas brings real world insight into every lesson and band rehearsal. In addition to teaching and playing music, Lucas also works in studio as a session player, producer and engineer. His studio credits include working with Moe & Tom and a feature on Mothica’s charting single “Burnout”, among many others.