Years after the onset of the pandemic, some remarkable shifts can still be traced back to a simple catalyst: Covid. One unexpected outcome? You can now take online bass lessons from Joe Lally, bassist and co-founder of Fugazi, the fiercely independent post-hardcore band that emerged from Washington, DC’s vibrant punk scene. From 1987 to 2003, through six studio albums, numerous EPs, and countless live performances, Lally showcased his unparalleled skill in crafting intense, driving bass lines.
Surprisingly, despite his accomplishments, Lally didn’t always feel secure in his musical knowledge. “During my time in Fugazi, I struggled to articulate musical ideas clearly with the band,” Joe reflects. “It was frustrating, and at times, I even considered leaving because I couldn’t communicate what I wanted musically.”
When Fugazi went on indefinite hiatus, Joe realized he needed to expand his musical understanding to continue creating. “I took a few lessons at Flea’s school in L.A., the Silverlake Conservatory,” he recalls. “I studied with Tree, the dean, who introduced me to songwriting basics on the piano. At first, I thought I was just learning piano, but I was actually grasping the sounds of major, minor, and dominant 7 chords—essential building blocks of music theory.”
These lessons resonated with familiar songs: the major sound was the Beatles’ “Here, There, and Everywhere,” the minor came from Santana’s “Evil Ways,” and the dominant 7 from James Brown’s “I Feel Good.” “Playing those chord changes on piano helped me understand songs better and refine my own ideas,” Joe explains.
Joe’s approach to learning was rooted in curiosity. “I learned by asking questions,” he says. “That’s what I hope to instill in the students I teach. There’s a lot to dive into with music theory, but you don’t need to master it all to create or play music effectively.”
Over the years, Joe has released three solo albums, collaborated with John Frusciante and Josh Klinghoffer in Ataxia, and co-founded the Messthetics, an instrumental jazz-punk trio with Fugazi drummer Brendan Canty and guitarist Anthony Pirog. The group has toured extensively and released three albums. In addition, he joined forces with Ian MacKaye and Amy Farina to form Coriky.
During breaks from touring, Joe supported himself through various roles in DC’s independent music scene. But when the pandemic struck, he began offering online bass lessons, promoting them through social media and flyers.
“I’m not teaching formal theory because it can feel abstract and disconnected,” Joe explains. “Formal theory takes years to fully understand how concepts interconnect. Most of my students are adults who’ve been playing for a while but want deeper insight into what they’re doing.”
Joe emphasizes that everyone interacts with music theory, whether they realize it or not. “When you decide a note sounds right or wrong, you’re unconsciously engaging with theory—drawing from the music you’ve heard over time.”
Reflecting on his earlier apprehensions about theory, Joe admits, “When I was in Fugazi, I avoided theory books, thinking they’d stifle my creativity. A friend once joked, ‘Has teaching theory ruined your playing yet?’ But studying theory doesn’t harm creativity. Playing is about letting go of thought—jazz players practice scales to internalize sounds, so when they perform, they can rely on intuition. My playing hasn’t changed; I still create the way I always have.”
To experience Joe’s evolving artistry, listen to The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis, the 2024 release featuring saxophonist James Brandon Lewis. This collaboration merges Fugazi’s powerhouse rhythm section with two innovators from the improvisational jazz world.
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