Lesson Learned

[billjr]

I have been playing in a funk for the last few weeks, and just have had tired hands. My fingers haven't been as relaxed and accurate as usual, and I started practicing less and less. I sucked, and I felt like my bandmates new it too.

So finally, I decided to do practice right (sounds like a chicken plug, doesn't it?). Monday I started with some warm ups, Todd Johnson technique exercises, and Bunny Brunle's scale book. I also did some other scale work. My main focus was on precision, efficient/clean fingering, and note/pattern recognition. So I slowed down the metronone from what I had been playing these things at (whenever I last did them), and man I sounded like crap. It was like the first week I picked up the bass, my fingers were so sloppy. I guess part of my motivation problem was that I new I was getting sloppy, and just didn't try harder when I played alone between band practices.

Well, last night wasn't much better, although the pattern recognition for some of the exercises did improve, but tonight was way much better. I could feel my fingers hitting the strings in just the right spot much more often, and most all of the noise from poor finger placement was gone. It really felt good, and my muscle memory is returning with that precise, proper finger placement.

Then I stated playing some songs along with my iPod, and man I was really thumping better than I have in a while. It felt really great.

I have noticed in the last couple of years of playing that I really make some big improvements at times like this, when I get back and have practice time on the fundamentals. So now I'm hoping that several songs that have been just out of grasp will now be playable in a week or two. That's good for the motivation, as I'm already excited about practicing tomorrow night.

Just a little story from my world of being a mediocre bassist, trying to get a little better each day. Never forget the fundamentals. It's what everything else rests upon. The foundation of it all.

[davec629]

Good message! I've been slowing down and trying to sound as clean as possible alone and seeing the inprovments in a band situation. I practiced with a freind the other day and they sprung a Dave Mathews band song on me I've never played, lots flying blind and heavy on the ghost notes. Thanks for the advice!