Intense practicing for bass

Leftybass12 · #1 08-17-2010, 03:25 PM

Hello. I recently broke one of my plucking fingers and after 5 weeks it finally feels really good. Enough for me to really start practicing again. However, I have a problem. I don't really know what to do. I'd like to get 3 hours of practice in everyday, but I don't know where to begin...well sort of. Here's what I have been doing for the past two days. I have started to use a three finger technique for plucking, so what I do is this: I play a D dominant 7th scale, 16th notes for every beat @ 80 bpm. This is an exercise I have done before, originally with two fingers, and I usually do it for 30 minutes one time, then at a later time I do it for another 30 minutes. After that I will do scales for another 30 minutes. Really this just repeats for a while and I don't know where else to go with it. If you have any suggestions or new technique or theory exercises please tell me. Thank you very much.

fu22ba55 · #2 08-17-2010, 03:34 PM

I think three hours a day (of intense exercises) might be too much, healing finger or not.

I think 20-40 minutes per day, every day for 6 months will do more for you than three hours a day. You could develop long-term issues. (tendinitis, etc...)

Maybe 30 minutes of "exercises" per day, then spend the rest of your playing time either noodling, or learning tunes... something less strenuous.

phillipkregg · #3 08-17-2010, 03:37 PM

Give the scales a break and try just doing arpeggios.

Pick a key such as C and play the arpeggio of the ii chord - which is D dorian. Then play the dominant V arpeggio - which is G7. Then transition to the C Major arpeggio - the I chord.

After you get this down, then do it in another key. Keep moving this pattern around to different keys until it's comfortable.

After that, you can add more arpeggios - such as the iii, IV, vi, vii.

This should keep you busy for a LONG time.

Oh, and no need to do this for hours a day - especially if you have an injured finger.

EDIT:
This is the thread you need to view: HOW TO PRACTICE ARPEGGIOS. Great stuff here my friend.

Hollywars · #4 08-17-2010, 03:38 PM

At my peak, I was practicing 2 1 hour sessions a day or more. With an injury, I would DEFINITELY err on the side of caution. What I would do is 10 mins with a new mode every day, maybe spend 2-4 days per mode or something, 10-20 minutes learning a song, 10-20 minutes learning a solo, and then maybe 30 minutes or 40 minutes doing exercises.

codeinedreams · #5 08-17-2010, 05:46 PM

start learning some songs. through sheet music, tab, or playing along to recordings. part of practicing involves making fretting decisions, developing your ear, and building techniques to accommodate the requirements of the various styles of music, not just playing scales etc. and consider joining a band if you're not in one. being in bands always gave me a push to grow and expand my skills.

mat b · #6 08-17-2010, 05:58 PM

Sight read ten minutes per day. Run through your scales and corresponding modes and their respective 7th chords, to get your fingers warmed up. Then fifteen minutes of a particular technique... Plucking, slapping, sweeps, tapping... Whatever you want to get better at. Then ten minutes of a piece of music, improvising over chord changes, soloing or walking lines... Whatever just have fun with it

devine · #7 08-18-2010, 04:42 AM

Hi leftybass12, if your looking for things to practice check out my lesson site i'm sure you'll be able to find loads of stuff on there to be working on. Just look under 'video tutorials'.

http://www.scottsbasslessons.com/

Also, if your practicing scales etc try to do it within a context, for example within a chord sequence or groove etc. By doing this it'll help you to develop your ear as you'll be hearing the different degrees of the scale against a harmonic backdrop.

Easy man,

Scott.

http://www.scottsbasslessons.com

http://www.scottdevinemusic.com