ConCentration

Consentration a hard Technique... for a daydreamer!!!

This is one of my biggest struggles with Bass playing.

When I am learning a song I drift away and think about lunch and before long I have cocked up the line...MAN:mad: Not again.

I am sure at least some of you struggle with this...show you hands and make me feel better.....and any tips wouldn't go a miss:help:

You must have been daydreaming during the spelling lesson too :D

The word is concentration. ;)

As for tips I find it easier to tackle things in little bites, taking short breaks when my concentration falters. Maybe take a short walk or do some exercises/stretches and then come back to it. Overall I still spend the time but breaking it up this way seems to make my mind more receptive. I tend to do this when I'm trying to learn rather than try to crash through something in one long marathon session. This works for me but I'm sure there are many other ways :D

Try day dreaming about the bass while doing something else.

I am sure at least some of you struggle with this...show you hands and make me feel better.....and any tips wouldn't go a miss:help:

I've never had any problem concentrating on what i'm supposed to be playing... there must be something wrong with you like attention deficit disorder

go see your GP, maybe he can prescribe you ritalin or something... failing that, give up playing the bass

Try day dreaming about the bass while doing something else.+1, I like this!

Dream away! My mind drifts and wanders too. Used to bother me a lot - now I when I catch myself I stop and refocus or just let the daydream play itself out to its conclusion. I don't judge or belittle myself or worry making it a bigger deal than it is.

I do not recommend drugs. If it really bothers you go talk to a counselor or a pastor. Drugs should only be used for recreational purposes.

I'm fixing a hole where the rain gets in
And stops my mind from wandering....
What the hell is Paul playing?
And it really doesn't matter if its
Wrong or Right
uh....
I'm fixing a hole where the rain gets in
And stops my.......
A butterfly.....
And it really doesn't matter
Whats for lunch?

I've never had any problem concentrating on what i'm supposed to be playing... there must be something wrong with you like attention deficit disorder

go see your GP, maybe he can prescribe you ritalin or something... failing that, give up playing the bass

I think that you should be more careful with your diagnoses. Assuming, of course, that you are not a doctor (and I think that most doctors don't spend a whole lot of time here on TB). This is not the first time I have read a post of yours telling someone to give up playing bass. Frankly, I find your freely given negative advice highly offensive. Jest or no, it is still offensive.

:bassist:

Consentration a hard Technique... for a daydreamer!!!

This is one of my biggest struggles with Bass playing.

When I am learning a song I drift away and think about lunch and before long I have cocked up the line...MAN:mad: Not again.

I am sure at least some of you struggle with this...show you hands and make me feel better.....and any tips wouldn't go a miss:help:

I have good days and bad days. It depends entirely upon what is going on in my life at the time. Before you practice or play, try thinking about what may be causing you stress at the time. Then let it go for a time while you play.

Set short goals for yourself while you practice. Even if it is as simple as, "I am going to play a C major scale two times and then take a short break." Track your goal success and gradually make the goals longer.

From what you said, it sounds like your practice sessions are fairly unorganized. That may be the problem, not ADD.

:bassist:

Jest or no, it is still offensive.

:bassist:

well, at least he's not a jew

NOW THAT'S FUNNAY

I think that you should be more careful with your diagnoses. Assuming, of course, that you are not a doctor (and I think that most doctors don't spend a whole lot of time here on TB). This is not the first time I have read a post of yours telling someone to give up playing bass. Frankly, I find your freely given negative advice highly offensive. Jest or no, it is still offensive.

:bassist:

i'm flattered you're paying attention to my posts... can't say I remember anything about any of yours

maybe i've got ADD too... I intend to give up bass playing very shortly

Consentration a hard Technique... for a daydreamer!!!

This is one of my biggest struggles with Bass playing.

When I am learning a song I drift away and think about lunch and before long I have cocked up the line...MAN:mad: Not again.

I am sure at least some of you struggle with this...show you hands and make me feel better.....and any tips wouldn't go a miss:help:

If you are really bored with what you are playing, you need to either find a different band or approach your playing in a different way. Try to really hear and feel each note. Try to enjoy and love each and every note that you play, cuz if you don't, nobody else will. Plus, why do it if you're not enjoying it? Every moment in your life only happens once. Try to remain conscious and in the moment.

On the other hand, I used to have a similar problem when I first starting playing jazz. I would play by ear, and after a while of grooving along I would lose where I was in the form. This came from a disconnect between what I could intuitively hear, and what I knew theoretically. When I learned more, there was less separation between the two and I was able to relax and let my mind "wander" while I played. But I was still in the music, not thinking about lunch...

i'm flattered you're paying attention to my posts... can't say I remember anything about any of yours

maybe i've got ADD too... I intend to give up bass playing very shortly


Cool. If your basses are worth a damn then you can send them to me.

:bassist:

A


D


D


no offence or anything lol.

no but on a serious note, if yer playing bass thats all that should be on your mind, just keep listening to the song and play the beat over and over in your head. Then you won't be able to think of anything else.

that might work!

good luck with it all.

ADD Ha ha ha .......you bunch of Jokers:D

and stop winding each other up....thats not cool.

That's spelled conCentration. Look it up in the dictionary. This ain't pre school.

English, a hard Technique, for a French-man. lol.

Plz don't get mad. Or do, I don't really care either way.

Maybe you can take a boat over and kick me arse?

That's spelled conCentration. Look it up in the dictionary. This ain't pre school.

English, a hard Technique, for a French-man. lol.

Plz don't get mad. Or do, I don't really care either way.

Maybe you can take a boat over and kick me arse?

No thats Ok....I'll just take a spelling class.

Try day dreaming about the bass while doing something else.

I daydream of strict practice when im not playing.

This sounds really bad (Dont get me wrong, it is)

But i was teaching my friend the Floating Thumb Technique, and where to place your hands for slapping (he likes my tone, and i taught him how to emulate it) so... id sit there with a ruler, id let him go, just solo make line's whatever, as soon as his hand slid into its "Comfortable" spot (Where he USED to play ;p) id whack the hell out of his hand with the ruler.

His tone is much better now, and oddly... he still asks for lessons now and then.

Back on the concentration thing, my bass teacher also happens to be a classically trained double bass player (and one of Australia's most in demand) and as such he's very strict on practice technique. I have to practice in half hour blocks, which is split into two fifteen minute divisions spent on different things. A minimum of 4-5 of those a day is great.

No thats Ok....I'll just take a spelling class.

I apologize for that rude post.

The only times i have problems is when the band is starting a new original idea and i am trying to listen to the singer to get a feel for what he is doing. But mainly me and the drummer in r own little world.

I think I know what you mean. I'm not very disciplined myself, being more into immediate gratification. I've always had a hard time making myself practice in a really constructive way. I was a bad student. I don't know that my mind wanders so much but sometimes I just don't focus and end up playing on auto pilot. I know I've heard others do this as well. When I do focus I play 100 times better. That's the discipline that I really want to work on. Be Here Now.

I apologize for that rude post.

No Problem....:D

The main time I notice a lack of concentration is when I am learning a new song. I practice the song over and over until I can play it all the way through no mistakes.....I start off by being able to play it through fine, after a few times through THEN my mind is off somewhere. I think this way of learning songs may not be working for me. How do others run through the tracks at home to keep up the chops without the spirit leaving the body????

I think I know what you mean. I'm not very disciplined myself, being more into immediate gratification. I've always had a hard time making myself practice in a really constructive way. I was a bad student. I don't know that my mind wanders so much but sometimes I just don't focus and end up playing on auto pilot. I know I've heard others do this as well. When I do focus I play 100 times better. That's the discipline that I really want to work on. Be Here Now.

THAT IS WHAT I'M ON ABOUT!!!!!

Focus...and .....auto pilot.....maybe these are better words to sum up what I am dealing with.......how are you working on it???

THAT IS WHAT I'M ON ABOUT!!!!!

Focus...and .....auto pilot.....maybe these are better words to sum up what I am dealing with.......how are you working on it???

I think focus, concentration, non-auto-pilot, whatever you want to call it, is like anything else. You can work on it and get better at it. Some people are naturally better at it, some people learn how to do it when they are young. But you can get better. Practice focusing on different aspects of the music. Focus on each note. Focus on the groove, focus on the song form, just work that focus muscle and it will eventually get stronger...

Well, I don't beat myself up about it. At least I'm practicing. I try to focus on one idea. I often play with a looper and just try to make it a live performance even though I'm alone with no audience. To me one of the hardest things about playing the bass is that it's an ensemble instrument. Not that you can't play solo pieces on a bass, but for me it's much more exiting with a group, especially a drummer. I hate my drum machine, it's like trying to make love to an unconscious woman(not that I have), no response, no interaction, zzzzzzzzz. I've been trying to record more of my tunes just to keep myself honest. Let me tell you, my slap technique is crap! Try to make everything an event.

Here is an interesting little read on the subject.

http://aebersold.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=EM&Category_Code=SELHELBOO