I graduated a few months ago and now I don't have a bass teacher...but I can still play...:cool:

Anyone have any ideas on WHAT I should be practicing apart from the scales/sightreading? I just read the thread about practicing and one guy practices 40 hours a week...just wondering, SURELY I can't just play along to my favourite CD's for god knows how long every day can I...? Besdes, being into Indie it wont advance me much technically...Should I just start downloading albums FOR playing along to and not for enjoyment? Has anyone got any tips or recommended albums to get??

(I also read in the same thread that some people WANT to practice for 8 hours a day but have to juggle a job and family...so I figured whilst I'm still fresh out of uni and only working part-time it'd be the PERFECT time to do it whilst I still can...)

Playing to CD's and learing bass lines is good, playing with other musicians is the best. Always try something new though to keep from getting in a rut.

taking my first bass lesson on thurs night .. been at it about a month ..

one thing i've found i practice about 2 hrs a night .. and what keeps me from practicing instead of playing along and learning tunes are changing chord progressions .. using arpeggios sometimes .. or the such ..

work up and down scales with various types of progressions:

1 - 4 - 5

1 - 3 -5

1 - 3 - 5 - 8

etc ... things like that .. last night i was doing this one:

1 - 3 - 2 - 4 - 3 - 5 - 4 - 6 - 5 - 7 - 6 - 8 - 7

then back down again .... doing it in one key .. then going back and forth.

i find it very helpful :)

Now it's time to practice the real stuff!
Practice TIME and GROOVE with others or with a Click Track.
Play your scales with a sequence and improve lines and solos over it....etc.
Transcribe basslines and solos!
Work on technical stuff and work on your speed and endurance.
When you're on your own, discipline is the key!

SB

Now it's time to practice the real stuff!
Practice TIME and GROOVE with others or with a Click Track.
Play your scales with a sequence and improve lines and solos over it....etc.
Transcribe basslines and solos!
Work on technical stuff and work on your speed and endurance.
When you're on your own, discipline is the key!

SB

What is a Click Track?

What is a Click Track?
Sorry, it is a term used in studio for a metronome.

SB