When it comes to learning bass, 11-year-old Ellen Alaverdyan is wise beyond her years, nailing grooves by Geddy Lee, Victor Wooten, and Paul McCartney.

By Jon Liebman
July 14, 2023

Every time I interview a bass player, it’s inspiring. There’s always a new insight, a new perspective, a new way to look at playing bass and learning bass.

I found this week’s interview especially inspiring. It focuses on learning bass in a way that supports the band by laying down the foundation with the drummer and having a good time.

Truthfully, I hear that a lot during my interviews. The reason this one hit me like a ton of bricks was that it came from an 11-year-old girl.

Her dad started her off early

Ellen Alaverdyan is a bass prodigy. Somewhat of a social media star, Ellen has become widely known for her portrayals of iconic bass grooves by some of her favorite bass players, like Geddy Lee, Victor Wooten, and Paul McCartney.

Ellen, who’s a fan of funk, classic rock “and sometimes disco,” she says, discovered music through her father, Hovak, a music producer.

When I asked her what she thought the role of the bass player should be, she said, “Support. And to kind of hold the groove. That’s kind of the job of the bassist and the drums.”

Wow. That’s what I hear myself preaching all day long. I cut her some slack for the “kind ofs.” She is, after all, 11. What’s important is that she gets it. She understands the gig and is focused on doing it well.

Teaching kids (and everyone else) what to learn

One of the things that’s especially impressive about Ellen is how happy she is to lay down the groove, without getting too busy or showy.

I couldn’t help but wonder what she thought of some of the videos on YouTube of people doing all kinds of technically impressive feats that, at the end of the day, have nothing to do with the true role of the bass player. 

I asked Ellen if she found it satisfying to be a bass groover, just layin’ it down, as opposed to trying to emulate some of the stuff she might see on YouTube.

“Yeah, I’m happy with just that,” she said, to my delight. “Maybe one or two, like maybe some really hard stuff, but I’m not going to really go into that.” 

It looks like her dad has been a good teacher and a healthy influence when it comes to learning bass. 

Keeping the goal in mind

With her sights set on a professional career in music, Ellen and her dad have a strong partnership. “We’re starting a band,” Ellen says, “but we’re still trying to find a drummer.”

Ellen, who learned most of her bass grooves by reading tabs, is also working on strengthening her sight reading abilities. “Right now,” she says, “I’m still learning how to read rhythms and how to read notes.”

I asked Ellen what advice she has for someone who wants to learn bass. “Enjoy it,” she said, without batting an eye.

How about you?

Do you want to learn bass in a way that’ll have you laying down the groove, setting the foundation for the band, and having a whole lot of fun in the process? If an 11-year-old can understand those concepts, surely you can too! Your first step is to join the Bottom Line Club. Start by clicking here.