What do you do for a warmup?

stratovani · #1 07-21-2010, 11:54 AM

Lately as a warmup exercise I've been playing Rush's Hemispheres Prelude, sometimes the whole thing, other times the first two or three minutes. I play it clean, and I don't care if I nail it or not. It's a great warmup, you're using all four strings and are playing all over the neck, slow and fast passages, simple and intricate lines, and different meters. Geddy is an amazing bassist, with an intuitive feel and depth of knowledge few of us can attain. I'll be playing this next time I go shopping for a new bass, it'll make a great "test drive"!

Subsist · #2 07-21-2010, 11:58 AM

If I happen to be at home usually I just grab a bass and didle around while watching TV or something for a while to warm my hands up.

Though at a band setting I usually try to make sure I can get my hands pretty loose and do anything with a lot of string skipping and wide root -7th style funk riffs. Not the hardest thing by any means, just what works for me when I want the hands to be a bit limber. Slow scales of course are always in rotation

bassbrad · #3 07-21-2010, 12:11 PM

After setting up I wash my hands, do some stretching, play around walking blues in F and then play the melody to Well You Needn't or So What and I'm ready to go.

Atticus · #4 07-21-2010, 02:27 PM

There are a few exercises in the exercise thread I use to get my fretting hand warmed up. I also do a string-skipper for my plucking hand. I don't spend too much time warming because I'm usually ready to play.

Burlington · #5 07-21-2010, 02:29 PM

Drink.

jelpo · #6 07-21-2010, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burlington

Drink.

Nice.

cnltb · #7 07-21-2010, 03:25 PM

scales, "contradanza" by Paquito D'Rivera, Arpeggios etc.

RDT · #8 07-21-2010, 03:38 PM

Stretch my forearms and fingers, then play a blues walk in anything besides E (this is usually done during sound check), then play the "Devil's" part(Bass line) in "The Devil went down to Georgia."

Distant Cousin · #9 07-22-2010, 05:24 AM

I play around a few scales and modes, and a few chromatic exercises (Frets 1-2-3-4 across all strings etc.). I play some RHCP songs as well, they seem to help me warm up pretty well and they hold my attention a lot better than scales etc. do!

Gawd · #10 07-22-2010, 11:27 AM

I go through the modes, two octaves, starting each on the same note.

I go through the Maqamat that I know, usually in a melodic way.

Than I run through this warm up http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ycgLQXxtT8 playing through two octaves of intervals up to 11 usually.

And than I just rip and groove through the fretboard on impulse, sometimes I'll play a cool lick that I'll stop and go over.

4StringGroove · #11 07-22-2010, 11:34 AM

This might sound weird coming from a bassist, but I twirl drumsticks in each hand. It's a great warm up. It's a little something that I picked up from some drummer friends of mine over the years.

thelostuba · #12 07-22-2010, 11:34 AM

I usually play some of the melodic stuff from Mueva Los Huesos (Gordon Goodwin), then some blues w/ the rest of the band.

Kenner · #13 07-22-2010, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burlington

Drink.

+1

JackANSI · #14 07-22-2010, 11:39 AM

It doesn't make a difference for me. I usually just jump right in.

Personally, I also consider 'warming up' through your amp at show volume just wanking.

jnuts1 · #15 07-22-2010, 11:44 AM

jumping jacks

Billnc · #16 07-22-2010, 11:53 AM

Play something I am learning and can't play fast at all. Two birds with one stone.

Yerf Dog · #17 07-22-2010, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JackANSI

It doesn't make a difference for me. I usually just jump right in.

^ ^ ^ ^ ^
That there.

markkoelsch · #18 07-22-2010, 04:32 PM

It depends on how much time I have. If I have time my usual warm up would be something like this.

Single octave major scales for a minute or two followed by the same thing with pure minor scale. Any key as long as I play it in a closed position preferably around the third to fifth fret.

I then usually progress to two octave major and minor scales.

Then the same thing going faster and doing in sequence/ladder patterns.

All in all it takes about 10-15 minutes. I think it is time well spent. When I was younger and was not as deliberate in warming up, and my duration of full out playing I developed tendonitis. This is something you can avoid if you are smart, and I highly recommend being careful with your hands (and ears) as you only get issues one pair of each.

the general · #19 07-22-2010, 11:02 PM

play simple songs that i know, flip the radio on, and play. lately i've been starting warm ups with CCR - Down on the Corner, The Pixies - Monkey Gone to Heaven, and Blink 182 - What's My Age Again. just enough movement to limber up my fingers

HaVIC5 · #20 07-22-2010, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JackANSI

It doesn't make a difference for me. I usually just jump right in.

Personally, I also consider 'warming up' through your amp at show volume just wanking.

This. I only "warm up" if it's cold out and my hands are physically cold. Otherwise, it's a waste of time for an instrument like electric bass.