Practice Versus Playing

[bamma]

I know some folks who say one should, in the beginning, spend all of your time practicing all the basics, doing drills, exercises, scales, etc. Others will say just play, as that is more fun and leads to you spending more time with the instrument, which will lead to getting better. I am thinking the answer is somewhere in the middle, but not sure of what mix will work best for me.

What has worked for you guys?

[BlueTalon]

Yes.

[StKevin]

I spent a lot of time just playing when I first picked up the bass. I'm all self-taught and had never played an instrument before. It was a very foreign action to me, and I had very little direction at first. Once I was comfortable with the instrument I spent a few years practicing and learning. Nowadays I tend to mix them up quite a bit.

[Epitaph04]

I play a lot of prog stuff, so I get a lot of practice by just playing. However, sometimes I will just sit down, grab a pick, and work on some simple scales to improve my picking technique. Or I'll practice on my double thumb and slapping in general. Or I'll just play some Rush lines or noodle around...

[fearceol]

They are both equally important IMO. Practice is important for laying down a foundation for progress. Playing with other people is important as it hones the knowledge and skills obtained from practicing. The "versus" is obsolete in this case IMO.

[Yellom]

Playing is more fun than practicing. But practicing is really fun!
I'm playing in a soul/reggae/funk band with a lot of palm muted P-bass. I don't feel like improving this technique further because it develops itself whenever we play or rehearse.

But when I'm practicing by myself I try to work on the stuff I don't get to do in the band, like walking bass and soloing over jazz standards. I love discovering new stuff when I practice by myself!

If I lack inspiration or energy and feel like watching TV, I can practice slap, picking or playing scales in different positions, as these don't demand as much focusing.

Playing is probably more important, but practicing can be fun and inspiring. If you play seven days a week, maybe practicing is too much, but if you can spare the time, practicing is worth trying

[BadBassNo9]

I think you should practice first, then play. You need to develop technique and endurance. I've gone great guns considering i first started playing five months ago. Apart from a stint a few years ago.

[pedroims]

I need both, I like to practice scales, arpeggios, excercise, with / without metronome, playing along with cds, reading, theory and of course playing with my band. When I practice I do it in a way that I can create music and not just playing notes, something like MarloweDK's licks.

[MalcolmAmos]

You gotta know the fundamentals. You gotta run your scales so your ear knows the good notes from the bad notes and then there is that; "Where is that note on my fretboard." that we must get through.

But, after that we gotta know how to take all that and make some music. So we gotta play some songs.

After that we gotta know how to play those songs with others so we augment and not compete. That means we gotta play a bunch of songs in a band setting.

So as most have already said - it's a combination of both, plus if you are not practicing your licks and runs they never will get into your songs. Plus if you don't use some of the fundamentals they get rust on them and you lose something.

It never ends, we practice the new stuff so we can play the new stuff in our songs.

[Billnc]

Both, at the same time, from the very beginning. Learn something basic, like a blues, chugging the roots and then play it with someone else. Build from that. The practice never stops, learning never stops (or I'm just an idiot who NEEDS a lot of practice time after all these years) and hopefully playing with other people and gigging never stops.

[Raynier]

But are you Playing Your Bass or are u Playing Music?

[Already In Use]

I'm basically 20 months into self teaching myself to play. Learned music theory first along with the fretboard and chord structure. Playing music live has been the key. Its gives me the most practice and often has me having to really apply the basics. Lately I have just been playing to random tunes in a playlist without fake chord sheets working on my ear. For now thats a ton of fun. I play with 3 different groups of folks so I also practice the various songs for each. I use YouTube thru my PA and tune out the lows. More fun there.

[bamma]

Lots of great input guys. Thanks for all the responses!

[kylejamesbaker]

When I first started playing I did just that... just started playing. I had a book of the basics but never bothered to use it. I tried using tabs once and realized they were completely wrong so from then on I just listened to songs and figured them out by ear. I hate tabs and believe learning songs simply by listening will lead to a more developed ear. Eventually I started learning theory and applying it to my playing. Now my practice routine consists of running scales, arpeggios, and just different patterns in general to work on finger strength and speed (and intonation since I'm mainly a fretless player). I practice sight reading and improving with the Real Book. I also bought the James Jamerson book. His are some of the best bass lines ever and learning them will give you some amazing ideas for your own playing. Playing with a band is equally as important as a rigorous practice routine of course. This is the chance for you to apply what you have been working on by yourself. Simply jamming a lot of nonsense with your buddies will never lead to growth. But music basically is communication after all and the only way to practice that is by playing with others.

[Mojo-Man]

Originally Posted by fearceol

They are both equally important IMO. Practice is important for laying down a foundation for progress. Playing with other people is important as it hones the knowledge and skills obtained from practicing. The "versus" is obsolete in this case IMO.

Big +1.

[Katfish Krow]

great thread...

I've said it in another posting, but I assume it's like traditional martial arts. Even if you can do pretty kicks, punches and blocks, and even be a naturally good fighter, if you can't preform your kata (move sets) well, then you don't move up in belt ranks (even if you can beat up a bunch of yellow and purple belts)

For me, my church needed a bassist and I had a desire to learn how to play it (though no one could teach me) so I basically learned a note here and there, and by 2 weeks later, I was playing live...in front of our crowd of of 8 (its a small church for now lol) that was five months ago. Besides church songs (that I basically fumble through as I could find no sheet music or help till I came here) I can play a few popular songs like House of the Rising sun (easiest popular song?) Message in a bottle, Creep (the STP one) ect....but Im still learning how to read music and though I need to, I don't practice scales often as I should (I still get lost in the theory of them). So back to the martial arts comparison, Im like a white belt who has some ok natural skill at fighting and can pull a few advanced looking moves, but my technique, form and kata sucks...So im gonna stay a white belt until I get that down too

[Elrend]

Why is there a versus in the title?

[Ed Fuqua]

It all depends on how deep you want to get, but if you wanted to play basketball at any serious level, you don't work on it just by playing basketball.

Folks who do this at a deep level put A LOT of time into working on musical fundamentals; ear training, physical approach, understanding and conception. Playing music with other people can point out areas you need to work on in the shed but, just like you have to practice making left handed jump shots from the key and then move over a foot and making more, the thing that changes your playing for the better doesn't happen on the stand, it happens in the shed.

[So Low Bass]

Many, Many of bass guitarists are literally afraid of their own sound. They are so conditioned to “playing” (with others) that they don’t know what they doing by themselves… the slapping and banging in the music stores for example. It’s easy to spot the two-riff showmen from the serious student of ANY age or level.

Work with a GOOD teacher who will bring you along, step by step, and “Play” with the band. You get used to practicing alone and playing together, but you’re just dabbling on the surface once you stop, or never start, being a student of music.

Practice.

[So Low Bass]

Many, Many of bass guitarists are literally afraid of their own sound. They are so conditioned to “playing” (with others) that they don’t know what they doing by themselves… the slapping and banging in the music stores for example. It’s easy to spot the two-riff showmen from the serious student of ANY age or level.

Work with a GOOD teacher who will bring you along, step by step, and “Play” with the band. You get used to practicing alone and playing together, but you’re just dabbling on the surface once you stop, or never start, being a student of music.

Practice.