I want to eat my cake and have it too

[RJjr.]

My dilemma is this:

I need to workout my upper body with weight training to get the chops to play the bass the way I want to. I'm talking forearms (extensors and flexors), biceps, deltoids, and maybe triceps.

I also need to practice my various patterns each day with an incremental increase in tempo over a period of time.

My problem is that I can only seem to do one or the other. If I workout with the weights then I wreck my muscles to the point where I can't practice properly. I have to stop working out for a couple days to let the muscles heal before I can start practicing normally again.

Anybody have any suggestions? At this point, the only thing I can think to do is stop working out and just practice every day. That's a worse case scenario.

[fearceol]

Originally Posted by RJjr.

I need to workout my upper body with weight training to get the chops to play the bass the way I want to.

Could you explain exactly the way you want to play the bass ? I cant see how developing your triceps can help with bass playing. While I accept that being fit and healthy enhances your over all playing, I doubt if you need to go to these extremes, unless you have other reasons to do so.

I doubt if the likes of Carol Kaye or Jack Bruce etc went to such extremes. The former used to used to work in the studio for up to fourteen hours a day. Both of these bassists seemed to have done fairly OK without resorting to weights.

If weight training is your hobby, that is a different matter. If it is effecting your ability to enjoy or practice the bass, then the only solution I can see is to choose the one you like best, give that priority, and ease up on the other.

[bass rocks]

he wants to have mcdonalds and burger king

[Floyd Eye]

What does lifting weights have to do with playing bass?

[Joe Nerve]

You're doing something wrong either in your bass playing or your weight training. I've been working out hard 3 to 5 times a week for the past 10 years, and it's never affected my bass practicing or playing.

Also, you don't need to lift weights to get better at playing bass. You need to practice playing bass.

[Rockmusician]

Working out is not going to make you a better bass player. The only thing that will, is practice. I used to spend a lot of time in the gym because I played ice hockey year round in tournaments and pro-am leagues. None of this ever helped my bass playing. If you ever get a chance to see famous musicians up close you will see that most are very skinny and not muscular at all.

[waynobass]

No pain, no gain, bro. You want the size, you gotta put in the work. Light steroid use is good too.

[fearceol]

Originally Posted by waynobass

You want the size, you gotta put in the work.

Conversely if the OP wants to play bass he has to put in the practice...on the bass.

[Jonathan1990]

Originally Posted by waynobass

No pain, no gain, bro. You want the size, you gotta put in the work. Light steroid use is good too.

Hooray! Let's get him an addicted!

[Deathblade Eric]

Originally Posted by RJjr.

If I workout with the weights then I wreck my muscles to the point where I can't practice properly. I have to stop working out for a couple days to let the muscles heal before I can start practicing normally again.

You're doing it wrong.

Originally Posted by RJjr.

Anybody have any suggestions? At this point, the only thing I can think to do is stop working out and just practice every day. That's a worse case scenario.

Yup. Stop. Sounds like you're pushing things way too hard & setting yourself up for something nasty.

[RJjr.]

Originally Posted by waynobass

No pain, no gain, bro. You want the size, you gotta put in the work. Light steroid use is good too.

I thought about that. My basic problem is that the muscles are not healing enough overnight. Would this solve the problem or are you being facetious?

Also, I forgot to mention that I practice 3 hours a day which I think is enough. I just can't keep up the tempo in my exercises before my arm gets tired.

[knigel]

I think wanking is the answer to your dilemma. It will build up your playing speed and forearm/wrist strength.

[RJjr.]

Originally Posted by knigel

I think wanking is the answer to your dilemma. It will build up your playing speed and forearm/wrist strength.

I tried that too, but not being amibidextrous it's only good for the one hand.

[Tupac]

Originally Posted by knigel

I think wanking is the answer to your dilemma. It will build up your playing speed and forearm/wrist strength.

Listen to this man.


Although in all seriousness, my fapping arm is litterally the size of a body builder's, yet my left is skin and bone. Should I be worried

[iri5h_punk21]

Also if you consistently work out your body will adjust and not get so sore

[DeathFromBelow]

Originally Posted by Tupac

Listen to this man.


Although in all seriousness, my fapping arm is litterally the size of a body builder's, yet my left is skin and bone. Should I be worried

Worried? No.
Sore? Yes.

[Never_grew_up]

Originally Posted by Tupac

Listen to this man.


Although in all seriousness, my fapping arm is litterally the size of a body builder's, yet my left is skin and bone. Should I be worried

You should switch hands.
Either way, don't ever ask to play my bass and please don't shake my hand.

This also explains whey all the really great bassplayers don't have girlfriends.

[Never_grew_up]

...And I really don't want know how you warm up before a gig.

[Staccato]

If you're consistently working different muscle groups, and not overworking them-you'll be on track. It's not that you can't gradually increase the amount of weight on the bar/machine, but consistent workouts & gradual are the keywords. If the base amount of weight used during workout is 60 lbs., maybe this is too much at first...

[Audiophage]

You're playing bass guitar, if you need to lift weights to do it then you're working way too hard which will lead to problems down the road. Or maybe you like really big amps or something.

I'm not saying you shouldn't work out, but it should be for completely different reasons for playing bass.