My practice routine

[sir juice]

I've been putting a lot of hours in recently. But I don't think it's been as structured as it should have been. So it came up with this. (I just typed this out into word for my own use, I've got pretty specific with this stuff). As the amount of time changes that I have to practice each day, I've divided exercises into fractions rather than times.

1/6 - Fingerstyle Speed – Working on piece to get as fast as possible (try and work to speed faster than original recording) – Current Piece: Teen town

1/6 - Intonation – Finding specific tone on all 4 strings with eyes closed.

1/6 - Timing – Slowing down certain grooves to snails pace, playing them exactly on time before speeding up slowly.

1/8 - Reading – Working on various pieces from certain books without listening to recording, then later, finding recording and listening for accuracy.

1/8 - Chart reading/walking – Program Real Book chord sequences into guitarpro – walk along repetitively – repeat until very little mistakes made. Speed up slowly

1/8 - Rhythmic parts – Play exact drum/percussion parts using various percussive techniques. Speed up slowly.

1/8 - Thumping Speed – Working on piece slowly to get as fast as possible (try and work to speed faster than original recording) – Current Piece: Teen town

Any advice on how to improve it?

[Stereo Joe]

Originally Posted by sir juice

I've been putting a lot of hours in recently. But I don't think it's been as structured as it should have been. So it came up with this. (I just typed this out into word for my own use, I've got pretty specific with this stuff). As the amount of time changes that I have to practice each day, I've divided exercises into fractions rather than times.

1/6 - Fingerstyle Speed – Working on piece to get as fast as possible (try and work to speed faster than original recording) – Current Piece: Teen town

1/6 - Intonation – Finding specific tone on all 4 strings with eyes closed.

1/6 - Timing – Slowing down certain grooves to snails pace, playing them exactly on time before speeding up slowly.

1/8 - Reading – Working on various pieces from certain books without listening to recording, then later, finding recording and listening for accuracy.

1/8 - Chart reading/walking – Program Real Book chord sequences into guitarpro – walk along repetitively – repeat until very little mistakes made. Speed up slowly

1/8 - Rhythmic parts – Play exact drum/percussion parts using various percussive techniques. Speed up slowly.

1/8 - Thumping Speed – Working on piece slowly to get as fast as possible (try and work to speed faster than original recording) – Current Piece: Teen town

Any advice on how to improve it?

I don't have any advice to give, but I'd be curious to know how this works out for you? Lately I've changed my routine to work on the 3 weakest components of my playing. I'm taking a break from the stuff I'm good at to just work on what needs improving. It's not a lot of fun and it takes a lot of discipline, but I'm hoping it will work for me.
I'm curious about your more 'all-encompassing' approach though...
Good luck!

[JonathanD]

I now only work 40 hours a week so I have plenty of free time. I have been spending my time differently each week.
(hours in weeks)
4 hours a week in band practice settings.
4-6 hours writing with the singer, and doing harmonies while playing.
8 hours on Hitting random on Itunes and playing along by ear, running tunes in the real book, reading melodies, reading chord changes and working on getting to know the fretboard better and play without looking.
2 hours on scales, writing melody lines over changes, modes and theory.
2 hours on how to use Logic pro the computer program and play on the midi keyboard.

compared to your practice routine I have to say I don't think I am a bassist! Maybe I should take more time on playing exat rhythms. And ed Friedland rhythm book was just suggested to me and I will have to take 1/2 of my real book time to really work on rhythms. I do slow songs down and work witha metronome, but I don;t have a lot of experience with latin and bossa type music and would like to know how to change rhythm patterns like I change scales/keys.

Thanks for posting, it have me a practice mirror of reflection.

Joanthan

[KayCee]

Originally Posted by sir juice

I've been putting a lot of hours in recently. But I don't think it's been as structured as it should have been. So it came up with this. (I just typed this out into word for my own use, I've got pretty specific with this stuff). As the amount of time changes that I have to practice each day, I've divided exercises into fractions rather than times.

1/6 - Fingerstyle Speed – Working on piece to get as fast as possible (try and work to speed faster than original recording) – Current Piece: Teen town

1/6 - Intonation – Finding specific tone on all 4 strings with eyes closed.

1/6 - Timing – Slowing down certain grooves to snails pace, playing them exactly on time before speeding up slowly.

1/8 - Reading – Working on various pieces from certain books without listening to recording, then later, finding recording and listening for accuracy.

1/8 - Chart reading/walking – Program Real Book chord sequences into guitarpro – walk along repetitively – repeat until very little mistakes made. Speed up slowly

1/8 - Rhythmic parts – Play exact drum/percussion parts using various percussive techniques. Speed up slowly.

1/8 - Thumping Speed – Working on piece slowly to get as fast as possible (try and work to speed faster than original recording) – Current Piece: Teen town

Any advice on how to improve it?

I'd suggest that more time working on transcribing/ear training would be very useful.

[Tslicebass]

+ a ton for ear training and transcribing

[sir juice]

what ear training exercises what you recommend?

I end up transcibing a lot anyway, or at least working out by ear, as I HATE tabs and don't have a lot of money for sheet music. All I have is my real book and whatever band leaders give me. Anything else I learn is all from my noggin.

[phektus]

Originally Posted by sir juice

what ear training exercises what you recommend?

I end up transcibing a lot anyway, or at least working out by ear, as I HATE tabs and don't have a lot of money for sheet music. All I have is my real book and whatever band leaders give me. Anything else I learn is all from my noggin.

I'm a bass newbie, and I heard the linux program Solfege is used for ear training and reading too. I wonder how I'm going to learn properly with that (is there a good way to go through the modules?).

[KayCee]

Originally Posted by sir juice

what ear training exercises what you recommend?

Sort of the reverse of your reading exercise:

Learning chord changes, bass lines, melodies and solo parts on various pieces by listening to recording, then later, finding a written version and checking for accuracy.

Also one of my favorites to assign to students is the "radio exercise". Since I'm old, I'll often assign oldies radio, which includes lots of music that actually has bass lines, such as motown, Beatles, etc.

As each song goes by on the radio, learn the chord changes to each section (verse, chorus, bridge, intro, outro) and the essence of every signature bass line as they go by in real time. When the song ends, game over, next song.

When they go to an advertising break, better hit the john and grab a drink, coz you're back on in two minutes.