Bass Line Breakdown Club
Workshop 5
Badge - Cream
Build a confident, band-ready bass line for Cream’s Badge in two live online sessions - then add the melodic fills, connecting lines and tasteful Jack Bruce ideas that make the part come alive.
Cream’s Badge is a brilliant lesson in melodic rock bass playing.
The song has a memorable groove and a clear chord progression, but Jack Bruce does far more than just follow the guitar. His bass part connects the changes, adds little lifts and fills, and gives the whole track a sense of movement without ever losing the song.
That makes it a great tune to learn, but not necessarily one you want to tackle by trying to memorise every note from the original recording.
In this workshop, we’ll build a strong, simplified “stock” line first: a version that sounds right, feels good and will work at a jam, rehearsal or gig. From there, we’ll pick out some of Jack Bruce’s best ideas and show you where - and why -you might use them.
Join This Monthly Workshop – £27 / $34
What we’ll cover
In this monthly workshop, we use Cream’s Badge to explore melodic rock bass playing in a real song context: song form, chord movement, timing, note choice, fills, dynamics and building lines that support both the groove and the harmony.
What you’ll learn
- Play a solid, gig-ready version of Badge from beginning to end.
- Understand the song form and confidently navigate its main sections.
- Lock in the core groove and bass movement that makes the song sound right.
- Use chord tones to connect changes more musically.
- Add selected Jack Bruce-style fills and melodic phrases without overplaying.
- Learn where to leave space and where to add movement.
- Improve your note length, phrasing and dynamics in classic-rock playing.
- Get simplified and more detailed options, so the workshop works for different levels.
How this particular workshop runs
Session 1 – The Gig-Ready “Badge” Bass Line
We’ll map the song, learn the core bass line and build a dependable full-song version. The focus is on form, groove, essential chord movement, timing and the notes you really need to make Badge work in a band.
You''ll leave Session 1 with a version you can confidently play along with.
Session 2 – Jack Bruce’s Melodic Ideas
We’ll look at selected licks and phrases from the original bass part, including chord connections, melodic movement, fills and rhythmic details. You’ll see how to add personality to the line without making it feel over-busy, then put it together in a full-song play-through.
No fancy tech needed – if you can join a normal Zoom call, you’re ready.
Michael Lyons
"I don’t even know if it’s legal in the United States to learn Skynyrd from a Brit but Greg taught this first workshop like he was born in the South. From beginner to intermediate to pro he walked us up in levels of difficulty of play. Chord charts, tabs, backing tracks (slowed and at speed) were available. A lot of preparation went into this workshop and it showed"
Dates, time and price
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Two live Zoom sessions at 3pm UK time (BST) on:
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Session 1: Wed 9th Sep, 3pm–4pm BST
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Session 2: Wed 23rd Sep, 3pm–4pm BST
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Around 60 minutes per session.
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Join from anywhere – if you can get on a normal Zoom call, you’re set.
Price for this monthly workshop
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Standard price: £27 ($34) for this monthly workshop.
There’s no long‑term commitment here – this page is just for the 'Badge' workshop. You’re booking this one workshop only.
Join Cream's 'Badge' Workshop – £27 / $34
Merle Peters
"I just wanted say how much I enjoyed the recent workshop GBS did on Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Gimme Back My Bullets.
Busy southern rock line, but Greg did a great job of breaking it down and giving options that may not be the original line, but certainly something you can play along to.
The workshops are new and you can pick and choose which songs you want to work on. No long term commitment. Two hour long zoom lessons with replays if you can’t make the lesson time. Love it."
The workshops will be presented by myself, and if you don't know me yet, I'm Greg Hagger, a professional bass player, educator. and creator of Greg's Bass Shed.
I concentrate on teaching bass players real-life skills, with a focus on feel and confidence, rather than speed or flashy, busy playing.
Whether you're a bedroom player, attend jam sessions or a seasoned musician, you'll get a lot out of these sessions and have fun at the same time.
