Learning bass parts · Updated 2 October 2026
Isolate the bass from a song
and learn the line by ear.
Isolate the bass from a song in the stem splitter, solo it, and save it as its own WAV to learn the notes, the feel and the timing.
Learning a bass line is about more than which notes to play. You need to hear where each note starts, how long it rings and how it walks into the next chord, and that’s hard with a kick drum and two guitars on top of it. Use the exact recording you’re learning, album version or live take, so the bass you hear matches what your band is playing.
Split the song and solo the bass
- Choose your song. Open the stem splitter and select Choose a song, or drop the file onto the page.
- Wait for the mixer. The song opens as four tracks: Vocals, Drums, Bass and Other. Without a plan you’ll hear the first minute. A Day Pass or Pro splits the whole song.
- Press S on the Bass track. That solos it, so the other three go quiet. Press play, then click or drag on any waveform to jump to the verse or chorus you want.
- Download the bass. Click the download arrow on the Bass track to save it as a WAV. Downloads need a Day Pass or Pro.
- Keep the full song next to it. The bass file is named after your song, so the two sit side by side in your folder and you can flip back to hear the line in context.
Learn it one phrase at a time
Start on the first note of a phrase and follow it to where it settles, usually where the chord changes. Hum it or play it slowly before you worry about slides, repeated notes and passing tones. Then listen to the gaps. When a note stops matters as much to the groove as when it starts.
Every so often, bring the drums back. Press S on Drums as well and you’ll hear bass and kick together; a note that sounds odd on its own often makes sense against the kick. Want to play along? Press Reset mix, then M on Bass to mute it, and you’ve got the band without the bass. With a plan, Download your mix saves exactly what you’re hearing.
Slow it down without changing the notes
For a fast run, open the bass WAV in the audio cutter and save just that passage. Start a bar or so early so you can hear how the line leads into the hard part.
Then open that clip in the pitch changer. Leave Pitch (semitones) at 0, set Speed (%) to 80 or 90 and press Play. Download the slower WAV to practise with, and work back up to 100% before you call it learned.
Write down what you worked out
Jot down the section, the note it starts on and any timing quirks, like a note that pushes ahead of the beat. Next time you pick up the song, play along with the full track at normal speed first, and only go back to the isolated bass for the bits that still trip you up.
Hear the first minute of your own file. A Day Pass or Pro processes the whole thing.