Jim Stinnett
Bassist, educator and author. For thirty years Jim taught bass and arranging at Berklee College of Music, and his books have been used by bass players all over the world.
Originally from Eugene, Oregon, Jim was a first-call bassist in Seattle, performing with Phineas Newborn Jr., Jean-Pierre Rampal, Clark Terry, Ernestine Anderson, Kai Winding and Sam Rivers. From 1978 to 1980 he toured with the legendary North Texas State One O’Clock Lab Band, and in Texas he worked with Red Garland, Buddy DeFranco, Anita O’Day and Roy Haynes.
He went on to record and perform with Lionel Loueke, Joe Diorio, Phish, Tal Farlow, Michael Manring, Gary Burton, Rufus Reid, Diane Schuur and the Boston Philharmonic, among many others. In 2019 he won first place in the Brooklyn Bass Competition.
“Less talk, more music. If you can’t play it, you don’t know it.” Jim Stinnett, on the principles behind his teaching
A life in the classroom
- 1969–73Private guitar and bass instruction at a music store
- 1978Stinnett Music founded; first books published in 1980
- 1986–2016Professor of Bass and Arranging, Berklee College of Music, including Berklee in Japan (1989, 2003)
- 2014–18Private and ensemble instruction in Brazil; director of Stinnett Music at EM&T São Paulo
- 2015Founded Real Bass Lessons on YouTube (over 25,000 subscribers)
- 2016–2021Private bass and guitar instruction, and a burst of new books: more than 40 titles from 2018 to 2020 alone
Where Jim studied
- 1973–75Lane Community College, Eugene, Oregon
- 1975–77University of Washington, Seattle, with James Harnett
- 1978–80North Texas State University, One O’Clock Lab Band
- 1981–86New England Conservatory of Music, Boston, with Ed Barker and James Hoffman. Bachelor of Music in Performance.
More than a bookstore
The Bass Workout
Intensive weekend workshops in New Hampshire, run for twenty years: jazz, Motown and R&B, and summer sessions, plus editions in Austria. “An intensely focused learning environment of serious study, and some fun.”
Visit the Bass Workout →New Hampshire Bass Fest
Jim founded and directed the New Hampshire Bass Fest, which brought bassists together for performances, clinics and master classes.
Stinnett Music Online School
Twelve-week online courses in jazz, electric and double bass, reading, guitar and theory, with Certificates of Merit for focused programs of study.
Real Bass Lessons
Free video lessons on YouTube, used by students and teachers in their own curricula.
Watch the lessons →Recordings
More than 28 albums produced and released, many featuring bass ensemble.
The work continues
Jim passed away in early 2021, still writing. Several books were in progress, and he had been publishing a new one almost every month. His family keeps Stinnett Music going so that his books, audio and teaching can keep reaching bass players everywhere.
Explore Jim’s books