Practice, practice, practice

[mdsmith]

I'm sure this isn't the first time you,ve heard this question, and I did use the search bar. I was wondering how you guy devoloped your practice routine. As a beginner, I need to practice everything, but have a limited ammount of time to do so. So I guess the question is, how do you prioritize what's most important, and where do you start. I do have a couple of tunes under my belt(ie, stir it up, walking on the moon and come together), but I don't just want to learn to play songs, I want to learn the bass itself.

[Deacon_Blues]

Did you see the sticky with the same name as this thread? Just wondering...

[timmbass]

I hope you read this thread:

Practice Practice Practice

I break it down into:

Working on notes (fretboard, scales, and chord tones)
Working on bass clef reading
Working on songs (only by ear, never to tabs)
Working on creating original bass lines

And every few weeks change what I actually do within any part of that, because you can't do everything all the time.

And if you have limited time, simply focus on working on one scale, one arpeggio, four measures of a single song, and playing along to one short chord progression.

You are better off focusing in on one thing and learning it well than you are if you spread your self thin and play everything poorly.

[Dmanlamius]

I was lucky, really. My band did quite well at an early stage, and were gigging a lot. This meant I was able to practice 4-6 hours a day, and then gig in the evening. I did that for a long time...

I never practised anything theoretical, really. No scales etc. I did everything else, though. Our own songs, other peoples. Just jammed.

I used to be vigilant with myself though. I had to to keep stamina up for gigs. So i'd go through whole songs (a lot of people only practice parts of songs when they are by themselves.) but also do leg stretches etc at the same time, lol.

Now, as a teacher, i'd say learn your scales, and go through them, also. Even as a warm up. Focus your practice. Twenty minutes of focused practice is better than two hours of just messing and fiddling around. Keep it interesting for yourself, and then you'll keep motivated and WANT to practice. Never let music lose it's magic for you.

There is plenty of great info on this forum to help you out...

+ 1 on that thread, timmbass. Truly sage advice.

[DocBop]

When comes to practice a plan and journal are very important, but need to add how you approach practicing. A lot of people say they practice hours a day, but you hear them playing and say it ain't working. If/when you practice multiple hours be sure to take a ten minute break every hour. A break means putting down your instrument, getting up and getting out of practice room, drink something. Doing this you will find you'll be able to keep your focus and not just end up aimlessly jamming or screwing with your gear.

The journal is real important to track you progress, but more important to log where you end a practice session so you can pickup from that point the next session. This is very important if you can only do short practice sessions. Don't just start at the top of your practice plan each day start where you left off.

Learning how to practice effectively is as important as practicing.

[timmbass]

A lot of people say they practice hours a day, but you hear them playing and say it ain't working.

Most wonder if many people don't actually practice at all. They say they practice x hours per day, but maybe they actually simply sit there and blow through song after song after song, and never ever learn any part of one song correctly, or maybe if they do, they simply learn the fun part and don't actually learn the song note for note from beginning to the end.

So, yes, maybe the first advice is to actually practice during your practice time. Pick one small part of the whole concept of bass, and repeat that over and over, while you critically listen, and don't move on to anything else until you have absolutely mastered that one small thing, even if it takes weeks.

[Jake of Bass]

Practice your arse off. And make it meaningful.

[Stumbo]

You might want to get a teacher to lead you through the beginning stages.

Or check out some beginning bass books:
http://www.amazon.com/Bass-Guitar-Du.../dp/0764524879
http://www.bassbooks.com/shopping/default.asp
looking for "the bass guitar bible!" Looking for the Bass "Bible"
http://playbassnow.com/recommended-learning-materials/

Or possibly check out some online bass lessons:
A LOT of Free Lessons, how to's and other stuff from me! Dman had videos
Who do you think has the best lessons on youtube? Who's the best youtube bass teacher?
http://www.studybass.com/
http://www.activebass.com/
http://www.playbassnow.com with MarlowDK

Or some online music theory lessons:
Online study of music theory/ear training.
http://www.teoria.com/ Check out the tutorials, exercises and reference(dictionary).
http://www.good-ear.com/
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...lineScreen.swf Test your ear
http://www.musictheory.net/index.html Xlnt visual Beginning Music Theory (Power Point type lessons), ear trainer, chord calculator, more

Or some other links that I've found useful:
Learning stuff
Pacman's sure-fire scale practice method How to practice bass

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f30/creating-bass-lines-8154/#post80043 Creating bass lines
Bass Line Construction: Target Approach Creating bass lines - Target Approach
what is in front of/behind the beat? Playing behind/ahead of the beat

Reading Music Learn to read music
I need to learn how to read music for bass, how do i do it? Learn to read music
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f22/sight-reading-486398-post6521582/ Improve site reading
Need help reading bass clef Read bass clef
Modes...How to use them practically in music. Using modes
Modes...How to use them practically in music. Practicality of using modes
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showpo...53&postcount=4 learning modes

Introduction to Scale and Chord Theory Intro to scale and chord theory
I need basic music theory help... Learning Theory
Book list for GI Theory Links Theory Book Links
Music Theory/General Instruction Links TB Gen. Instruction Theory links list

Knuckleheaded question of the day Learning to play jazz
jazz scales? not played bass in over a year Jazz Scales
Theory Forum FAQ and Links Theory (from the DB side of TB)

Blues Turnarounds Blues Turn arounds
http://www.music.vt.edu/musicdiction...ogression.html Blues Progressions explained with samples


Must reads:
If only I knew then what I know now... If I only knew then
Best musical advice you ever got Best musical advice
Things every bassist should know? Things every bassist should know
Most common mistakes? Beginners common mistakes/where to start

[ZeSharc]

Very informative...

I'm currently facing a bit of a dilemmaf when it comes to practicing. I had 12 years of my adolescence and college years to hone my guitar playing, but having recently picked up the bass, I'm learning on what I already know on guitar to help me - I WISH I had the time I had when I was 16 to endlessly practice the bass now.

As it stands, right now, I'm just mostly running drills to open up my right hand, with some time dedicated to learning a song that might have a part I'm having difficulty playing. Half an hour a day is really all I can afford right now, my job keeps me well occupied.

Stumbo, great links.