Does practicing on a thicker neck make it easier to perform on a thinner one?

[BASSATTACK]

1. I just read that Jaco used to do this (current thread on Bassists forum). He'd pratice on a P neck and perform on a J.
2. He'd also practice fretted and perform fretless, because he thought this added to his precision in performance.
3. I've also heard it argued that it's better to learn to slap with narrow string spacing and then to transition to wider, which is easier
4. Same logic with respect to learning guitar, if anyone's been through that. They say to start acoustic and then switch to electric.

What do you guys think? Better to practice on your performance instrument, or to make it more challenging on yourself intentionally?

Should I be practicing on my Warwick instead of one of the J necks?

[johnk_10]

IMO, i think it's always better to practice on your performance instrument.

[Martin89]

It's important to practice on your performance instrument but I think "cross training" is helpful to make you more proficient, at least as much as playing different kinds of music. By having to deal with the dissonance of something different, you'll feel better coming back to your performance instrument or even choice of music.

[EtoG]

Originally Posted by Martin89

It's important to practice on your performance instrument but I think "cross training" is helpful to make you more proficient, at least as much as playing different kinds of music. By having to deal with the dissonance of something different, you'll feel better coming back to your performance instrument or even choice of music.

+1 +1 +1. This.

-EtoG

[Chrisk-K]

IMO, i think it's always better to practice on your performance instrument.

+1 billion!

[zachoff]

I don't think so. I played my Reverend for a long time & it has a super thin neck... I switched to my BB and also the my T-40 and both have a much wider fretboard and an all-around thicker neck. Now it feels weird to play my Reverend.

[sloasdaylight]

Originally Posted by johnk_10

IMO, i think it's always better to practice on your performance instrument.

This, exactly.

Playing an instrument isn't like lifting weights or training for a sprint.

[Stilettoprefer]

I use my schecter (thicker neck) for performing and school stuff and my fretkess ibanez (really thin neck) for practice at home. Having fretless practice on all of the peices i play really helps a lot with the precision of fingering on my fretted. I have huge hands so neck thickness isnt really an issue

[P. Aaron]

Is practicing on a small drum kit going to prepare you for the 20 piece you use live?

I always play on/with the gear I use live.

[kevteop]

+1 to all the above. I can't see any benefit in spending all your time familiarising yourself with an instrument that is different to the one you're intending to play.

At home I'll relax with whatever bass I feel like playing, but in band rehearsals I use the one(s) I'm going to gig with. I certainly never considered buying a total dog of a bass to practice on, that sounds ludicrous to me.

[Martin89]

Originally Posted by kevteop

+1 to all the above. I can't see any benefit in spending all your time familiarising yourself with an instrument that is different to the one you're intending to play.

At home I'll relax with whatever bass I feel like playing, but in band rehearsals I use the one(s) I'm going to gig with. I certainly never considered buying a total dog of a bass to practice on, that sounds ludicrous to me.

1-It's not spending all your time with a different instrument, it's just variety.(like what you do at home)

2-The idea isn't to use a dog, a P and a J are similar enough and both quality instruments. The idea isn't necessarily to be able to play all variations of bass at equal skill, but more so reinforce the positive feelings you have for your main player(Wow, I'm glad it has this p/u configuration, spacing, string number, etc).

Playing other instruments like this could also... dare I say it... prevent G.A.S.

[darkstorm]

No. The big diff between the thin and extra wide necks just means you might develope a bit of extra stretching ability across the neck and in how large you hold your lightly curcled hand. That doesnt benefit finger dexterity. Only working on nimbleness does that. What the guy probably experienced was the "this feels so much better I caqn enjoy myself some now" and so he played better on a neck better suited to them. Due to the nat high of better feeling neck after struggling with cumbersome one.

He'd be much better off working at breaking his own barriers on the more comfortable neck and ditching the clunky over wide one.

[Sifl]

I wish I could practice with my performing instrument, but I like bright strings. I play with a P, but practice with a J neck. Doesn't really make a difference to me though, except I really like my new P bass!

But practicing with your performance bass would be ideal.

[spiltcoil]

Originally Posted by johnk_10

IMO, i think it's always better to practice on your performance instrument.

Yep. For example, a band I used to play in, one of the guitarists would constantly be trying new guitars at rehearsal. When he'd finally stick to say...a PRS for a while, he'd show up to the gig with a Chet Atkins We watched in horror as the PLINK POINK WAYANG (unpronouncable death noise) ensued...

So glad I'm surrounded by knowledgable, experienced musicians these days.

EDIT: What I forgot to mention is that when one is adept at transitioning multiple instrument dimensions, by all means they should go for it. Novice players should probably not attempt this on the fly or at paid gigs, etc...

[M.R. Ogle]

I would not think so, it's not a "strength" thing so much as a muscle-memory thing, learning where the strings are and the minimum amount of movement and effort to fret each note.
"Training" on a different spec instrument would just be forcefully adapting your motions to THAT instrument. Then, going back to your "more familiar" bass will feel more comfortable, but you won't be any "better" at playing it... probably temporarily a little WORSE.

[somegeezer]

Going from my 5 string to my 4 seems harder for me. My 4 has a neck thinner than a Jazz bass and my 5 string has a neck about as thick as a Warwick. I think if you wanna get good on a certain neck, practise on that neck.

[bassguitar808]

I switch constantly when practicing at home

The each have slightly different tension, action, response

They all have different strings, flats, rounds, pressure wounds

When my arms feel fatigued, I take a quick break and grab the next one

[M0ses]

If you don't play it right while practicing, you sure ain't gonna play it right while performing.

In other words, what you practice is what you perform.

[spiltcoil]

Originally Posted by bassguitar808

I switch constantly when practicing at home

The each have slightly different tension, action, response

They all have different strings, flats, rounds, pressure wounds

When my arms feel fatigued, I take a quick break and grab the next one

I do this alot at home too. When I have material I need to learn for a gig, I pretty much stick to one bass. I do like to try out the songs I'm learning on all my basses though...It's fun

[Bassforyourface]

Originally Posted by P. Aaron

Is practicing on a small drum kit going to prepare you for the 20 piece you use live?

I always play on/with the gear I use live.

no, but dennis chambers used to practice on pillows so he built up wrist strength that a drummer wouldn't normally get from letting the sticks just bounce off the drums...
just a thought...

obviously training like this might not help your musical ability but i think it can have positive effects on your physical techniques.

but ya, you deffinitely want to be MORE than comfortable on your main axe