systematic "workouts" on bass to acheive specific goals?

low5_er · #1 08-24-2007, 01:38 PM

Hello.

I have seen systematic workout regimens online for people who want to get their bodies into shape.

Now people say practice practice practice, but if my goal is to get really fast so that I can play complicated and really technical stuff easily using different techniques, where could I find a systematic "workout" so that I can acheive my goal on my bass? and what is really fast anyway? What kind of beats at what speed on a metronome? Anyone know of programs online set out to help a guy get there?

Another goal I have is to groove really well in any style of music. I realize that that means a lot of listening, transcribing and playing with records. but if a guy could systemize that too, at least you'd know that you could do a style of music if called upon. I suppose there is no real "arival" for the bass player, but you've gotta be able to set goals and acheive them, otherwise, you'd end up playing the same thing over and over again, which I suffer from badly.

Help please

Luc

DocBop · #2 08-24-2007, 02:37 PM

Real simple to play fast and have it worth listening to you have to practice SLOW and precise. Don't go faster than you can play it perfectly at. Then keep a practice journal and track your metronome settings and increase the setting, but only if you can play it perfectly.

What is fast listen to some Charlie Parker tearing up some Bebop. They were playing tunes at 300+ BPM, but playing clean and more important playing music. Get a transcription of one of Parker's burning solos, and play it slow. It will still sound great, amazing riffs and motifs.

tswd · #3 08-24-2007, 03:25 PM

If you want to work on speed, then just work on that. Get something you can play slow and speed up as far as you want. Heck, you could even take Unchained Melody and speed it up to 300 bpm if you wanted to. Nothing stopping you from doing that.

When you start getting really fast, you'll start hitting limits as to what you can actually do. For example, I'll never run a sub 10 second 100m dash no matter how hard I train. Same thing with playing some of the faster music. At some point, physical ability kicks in. If your fingers just won't twitch fast enough to play at 300 bpm, there's really not much you can do.

So, just find some of the technical stuff you want to play. Learn to play it dead solid perfect at a slow tempo and start speeding it up. That's pretty much the only way to do it. Any lessons about how to play fast in shorter periods of time are just shortcuts that will hurt you in the long run.

ras1983 · #4 08-24-2007, 10:47 PM

two words: Technical Exercises.

chicagodoubler · #5 08-28-2007, 03:34 PM

Doc is dead on with his advice here.

You can't sprint before crawling.

That being said, there's a ton of RH exercises in one of the stickies here or on the technique page.

The John Patitucci video has a series of exercises that will kick your butt, and all my students run them, as well as Alain Caron's 16ths workout. Every one of them has developed more right hand speed in no time.

BTW, right hand= speed. Left hand note choices are only going to come from studying music. Who cares how fast you are playing if what is coming out is meaningless?

+5,000 on studying Charlie Parker, the father of modern improvisation.

Supertanker · #6 08-28-2007, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by low5_er

Help please

Luc

I think I know exactly what you're asking.

To answer your question there is no definitive study or set of exercises that will accomplish that goal.

I believe this is what Stanley Clark was talking about when he accepted his lifetime acheivement award.
He ask the bass community to come together and compile a curriculum for bass players.

Being a classically trained pianist we have such an accepted device for virtuosity. The Hanon Studies. The Hanon Studies guarantee (that's right, guarantee) virtuosity on the piano if the recommendations are followed. The Hanon Studies build speed, indurance, dexterity, knowledge of theory, and general facility for playing the piano.

That being said, the closest book I've seen to the Hanon Studies in effect is "Bass Fitness". It's $10.00 from Amazon...

This book will get the virtuosity you need, but it won't teach you how to groove. I learned to groove on the piano from playing Jazz, Swing, Fusion and Gospel.

On the bass I try to play every style I can, Latin, R&B, Fusion, Jazz, Motown, Reggae, Soul, Gospel, Country, Blues, Funk, Hip Hop, ect. I have stacks of bass books dealing with different styles. Ed Friedland's books are excellent, to make a recommendation.

Hope this helps...

low5_er · #7 08-30-2007, 08:08 AM

Adam nitti has a course on musicdojo.com that's supposed to help too. Anyone try it?

Supertanker · #8 08-30-2007, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by low5_er

Adam nitti has a course on musicdojo.com that's supposed to help too. Anyone try it?

I have.

They have definetly helped me become a better player. I have also had personal lessons with Adam.

He is a great teacher. Some guys are great players, some guys are great teachers, Adam is both...

mutedeity · #9 09-05-2007, 01:13 AM

Along with what DocBop said about starting out slow and working your way up, I would say that regular repetition is vital as well. A lot of people get really frustrated that after having a few goes at something they aren't masters of the technique. I tell my students when I teach them a new technique that they have to go away and spend the time on their own to develop it. Every new thing you learn is a process of conditioning your mind and body to respond to what you want to do and that conditioning can take some time to develop. Even at that you still need to continue practicing those methods to keep in condition.

The other key element is precision, it's no point playing something at speed when you are sloppy. You should be playing every note as you practice at a slow enough speed that you can execute them perfectly before you move on to a faster tempo.

I don't agree 100% with chicagodoubler that speed is right hand and note choice is left though since when you are using techniques like two handed tapping or playing sweep arpeggios you really need to employ both hands for speed and, in the case of tapping, for note choice as well. I do agree with the point he is making there though that speed alone is really no substitute for having a good theoretical background to put those techniques into context with.

**WillPlay4Food** · #10 09-05-2007, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by low5_er

Hello.

I have seen systematic workout regimens online for people who want to get their bodies into shape.

Now people say practice practice practice, but if my goal is to get really fast so that I can play complicated and really technical stuff easily using different techniques, where could I find a systematic "workout" so that I can acheive my goal on my bass? and what is really fast anyway? What kind of beats at what speed on a metronome? Anyone know of programs online set out to help a guy get there?

Help please

Luc

Check out this article for building up speed.