Advice: Practice routines

[mlopbass]

I want to create a more consistent practice routine, is there anything specific anyone would recommend? maybe a specific exercise.
I want to take my playing to a new level and wanted to know what helps you get there.
Thanks.

[wrathofgod]

subscribed!

[HeadyVan Halen]

1.) Warm up (scales, runs, licks)
2.) Work on song(s) you have to learn
3.) Solo over songs you will solo over
4.) Work on 16th and 32nd notes until hand starts to hurt. Do 10 sets of those and call it a night

[purpletornado]

Interested to hear some input on this.

[Matthew_84]

Yeah, like Van Halen said, you should really start out with some sort of routine, but it should be a routine specific to you and what you think you need to work on. I decided to do this a couple of months ago, I recorded myself playing, and before I listened to it, I made of list of things I wanted to improve, I then listened to my recording and edited the list (mostly added new things on to it, lol).

Once I made the list, I wrote it out in order of how to accomplish it, I started with the most basic technique that needed work and then built up to a slightly harder technique once I had the first one down. If it was an advance technique, I'd set 2-5 smaller techniques I needed to improve to get to that level.

I then started to write down my sessions, and my progess and it helped sort out the new knowlege in my brain. And I made sure to keep progressing. I'd keep on a technique sometimes for a week until I got it down, and then moved on. If I decided I'd start on the next goal the next session, then for that session the first thing I'd practice was what I just learned.

Now everytime I start I have about a 15-20 minute warm-up that combines all of the techniques I have worked on so far. Just different gooves that incorporate everything, and obviously this changes every couple of weeks. I've only been doing this for two months or so, but my playing has improved more than it did the three years before.

[BassChuck]

Something Old: familiar songs, scales, techniques... things you've worked on that can do well.
Something New: What you need to play. Techniques you are learning. Songs you need to know, but don't yet.
Something Borrowed: Bach Suites, melodies from songs you know. Things you've heard, but don't think you'll ever need in a gig. Things that bass players are 'supposed' to play.
Something Blue: Music you know and love. Something that says, "This is why I play bass.... this is why I play music."

[ErikP.Bass]

Sound advice that I got from a teacher at Musicians Institute in CA:

The first thing that you need to grasp is that you do not need to practice for s long time on each subject. Studies show that small, focused practice times per subject are actually more effective. For example instead of studying reading for an hour a day (leaving little time and energy for the other subjects) you should practice your reading 10 minutes every day. It is through daily practice that is consistent that you will see progress without burning out. Here is a suggested practice routine:

1) Warm-Up (5-10 minutes) - Use fingering exercises to warm up and build up your technique. Start slow and gradually speed up.

2) Reading (10 minutes) - Alternate between rhythmic reading an melodic reading. Read something new every day.

3) Chord Studies (10 minutes) - Pick one chord quality and one root (i.e: D major 7) and practice arpeggios all over the neck. Change the root and chord type each day.

4) Scale Studies (10 minutes) - Pick one scale type and one root (i.e: A Phrygian) and practice it all over the neck. Change the root and scale type each day.

5) Jazz Walking (10 minutes) - Take a tune and practice a walking bass line. Play through a fee times using chord tones only. Then expand your lines to include scale and chromatic tones.

6) Specialty Techniques (10 minutes) - Practice your slapping, tapping, chordal playing.

7) Ear Training (10-20 minutes) - You can either work on formal ear training or pick something to transcribe.

8) Playing (Unlimited) - Just play baby. Have fun.

[dalconthenovice]

hey erik, i had a quick question in regards to ear training, i'm actually deaf in one ear so this one is hard enough but is there any like tips, websites, etc that can help me out with ear training and transcribing?

[RedLeg]

Originally Posted by HeadyVan Halen

1.) Warm up (scales, runs, licks)
2.) Work on song(s) you have to learn
3.) Solo over songs you will solo over
4.) Work on 16th and 32nd notes until hand starts to hurt. Do 10 sets of those and call it a night

Pretty much sums it up nicely. I will add do not "feast or famine". Do play everyday even if it is just your warm up exercises for 10 min.

Originally Posted by ErikP.Bass

Sound advice that I got from a teacher at Musicians Institute in CA:

The first thing that you need to grasp is that you do not need to practice for s long time on each subject. Studies show that small, focused practice times per subject are actually more effective. For example instead of studying reading for an hour a day (leaving little time and energy for the other subjects) you should practice your reading 10 minutes every day. It is through daily practice that is consistent that you will see progress without burning out. Here is a suggested practice routine:

1) Warm-Up (5-10 minutes) - Use fingering exercises to warm up and build up your technique. Start slow and gradually speed up.

2) Reading (10 minutes) - Alternate between rhythmic reading an melodic reading. Read something new every day.

3) Chord Studies (10 minutes) - Pick one chord quality and one root (i.e: D major 7) and practice arpeggios all over the neck. Change the root and chord type each day.

4) Scale Studies (10 minutes) - Pick one scale type and one root (i.e: A Phrygian) and practice it all over the neck. Change the root and scale type each day.

5) Jazz Walking (10 minutes) - Take a tune and practice a walking bass line. Play through a fee times using chord tones only. Then expand your lines to include scale and chromatic tones.

6) Specialty Techniques (10 minutes) - Practice your slapping, tapping, chordal playing.

7) Ear Training (10-20 minutes) - You can either work on formal ear training or pick something to transcribe.

8) Playing (Unlimited) - Just play baby. Have fun.

This is just awesome advice! I used the same technique at the Army School of Music

[dalconthenovice]

i must say i did erik p basses recommended regiment and i feel far more productive during my practice than i ever had in a very long time

[ErikP.Bass]

Originally Posted by dalconthenovice

hey erik, i had a quick question in regards to ear training, i'm actually deaf in one ear so this one is hard enough but is there any like tips, websites, etc that can help me out with ear training and transcribing?

Transcribing can be really difficult at first so it may be best to start with hearing intervals. The below freeware is the best ear training software I have found and is very customizable.

http://www.miles.be/

With respect to the routine, I would also highly recommend using a timer as it will tell you when to stop and move on (if you listen to it). Also I'd recommend keeping a practice journal to remember what you've done (tempos, scales, chords etc.)

Another thing I found very useful as a warmup is playing every instance of all 12 notes on the fretboard and saying the note names out loud (using enharmonic equivalents too). When you start doing this exercise you'll likely have to do it arrhythmically and it may take a bit longer but you eventually want to work up to doing this in time. You'll be surprised how quickly you can do it after a couple of weeks.

Hope this helps!!!!

[subexpression]

What I suggest is 2 things:

1. Activity / Rest ratio
2. A diet promoting healthy brain chemistry

The material/exercises/drills you choose will only be as effective as your brain can process.

For the development of automatic muscle memory skills and lightning fast musical intuition, you must develop a regimented system of practicing and resting.

I use the 10 on/10 off method. Practice for 10 minutes, rest for 10 minutes. Each time you practice, you're requesting that your brain would memorize the material and optimize it for use with your brain's temporal lobe, auditory cortex, and motor cortex (among others).

During the short rest period, your brain is hard at work creating new neural pathways...the brain connections which make the free flow of information possible. If you have weaknesses in a certain area, it means the neural pathways between the corresponding lobes are thin, and so neurotransmitter information can't travel very efficiently. By practicing, you're encouraging the growth of both existing and new neural pathways...so that when you play, it's "second nature."

Rest is crucial. Over-practicing only results in frustration, mental exhaustion, and overworked fine musculature in your hands and forearms. You must rest to allow those brain cells to do their thing.

All this brain growth can't happen without proper nutrition. I suggest you ingest a healthy amount of complex carbohydrates, fiber, lean protein, specific fats (low cholesterol and saturated fat, high omega-3 fatty acids) and plenty of water.

That's my $0.02

[mlopbass]

I was thinking of maybe having two different sessions a day. like maybe session 1 focusing on fingering and session 2 working on slap. has anyone ever done this? if so, how was it?

[Calamity_John]

so much of this is great advice .. I would just add that playing things you know well is important .. it keeps these things under your fingers and more importantly is a great time to really think about your physical technique ... which is harder to do when you trying to learn the notes ...

[Icculus]

Originally Posted by mlopbass

I was thinking of maybe having two different sessions a day. like maybe session 1 focusing on fingering and session 2 working on slap. has anyone ever done this? if so, how was it?

This is never a bad idea. You can force yourself to do 15-20 minutes of scales and chords in the morning to get the "homework" out of the way, and you can practice again later in the day on some of the fun stuff like learning songs and new techniques.

It has to be fun, or else it's pointless and you'll stop doing it altogether.