Zennstick Bass
ZENNSTICK WORKSHOP NO.1 -COMING IN FEBRUARY
This will be the first official roll-out of the "technique as language" for all bass players, a formal introduction to the Zennstick language and all its core functional elements. the event will take place on Zoom. To qualify, it is recommended you be familiar with the very basic rudiments of "slap and pop" on the bass guitar. No special knowledge of harmony or rhythm is needed. The workshop will be structured so that beginners and advanced players can all benefit alike.
All parrticipants will get a free PDF copy of the instruction manual laying out the basic.
WORKSHOP DETAILS :
Date: Sunday February 15th 2026 on Zoom (link via email)
Time: 10am PST - 1pm US Eastern - 7pm Central Europe - 11:30pm in India)
Cost: $80.
Duration: 120 min plus time for an open conversation.
TOPICS :
1. I will demonstrate the technique showing what it can do.
2. Introducing the building blocks, unpacking the language (see Visual)
3. Workshop portion: Guided mini-practice sessions.
4. Discipline and Focus ! Building a solid practice routine (across all bass related topics).
5. Open conversation with Q&A
I am exited about this (first ever) class on Zennstick bass and look forward to meeting you all on Zoom, Sunday, February 15th.
-Kai
Cancellation Policy:
_If you change your mind, I will refund your money in full until one week before the class.
_Cancellations on (or after) February 9th will cost 20 dollars. I will refund 60 dollars.
_There will be no refund if you miss class without giving notice before class begin.
In-depth Introduction to the world's first Electric Bass Language :
The best ideas come from outside the box. Yet, what happens inside the box cannot be discounted as a thing of lesser importance. It is where "the rubber hits the road". Slap bass has always been my favorite style, mainly for practical reasons: It's the most satisfying when it comes to releasing pent-up energy while the low notes resonate with the body in a harmonic way. But staying in the box meant repeating what has been said and done. It meant stagnation. Being fortunate to encounter the South Indian rhythm system known as "Konakkol" opened the door to a new dimension.
Take the three ingredients: Slap bass, bass-chords (jazz harmony) - and Konakkol. There you have the killer mix ! You will never run out of ideas again as long as you live. intellect and emotions can both meet on middle ground. The original Zenstick "keisaku (警策)" is a light cane that a monk gets slapped with during Zen meditation if the posture starts to sag and the monk is in danger of falling asleep. It's meant to call your attention and not to cause injury. To distinguish from the Japanese tradition, I added an extra "n" to the word Zennstick. When you see this word, it means the bass language.
The secret of Zennstick lies in its core simplicity, a direct translation of the human heart-beat - into a slap bass pattern. This "root module" then expands into eight basic numerical patterns which can be mixed and matched after some practice. Further more, all modules can be molded into any chord change of your choice, with access to three part harmony and independent voice-leading. This level of flexibility opens the door to countless forms of self-expression for a truly satisfying experience.
I waited 5 years to go public with Zennstick because I wanted to find out first hand what kind of expressions are possible and what effect this new discipline would have on my musicianship. The results were beyond positive, exceeding expectations. To make the style resonate, each of the eight core modules first have to be trained into long term memory by ways of repetition (ranging from 3 to 5 minute loops). Then you start going for longer sessions of unbroken concentration. The effects on mental and physical health will become apparent.
Given the open-endedness of such a modular approach, every player will eventually gravitate towards their own style, making room for true uniqueness. The technique provides the language and you get to tell the story. To summarize, there are several advantages this new language brings which I hope you will soon be able to discover for yourself. I think we all need to start looking again at innovation as the world could benefit from a fresh influx of ideas that hit the mark..
