Vacation - one week no bass

Fozzie1410 · #1 09-17-2008, 09:06 AM

Hello, this is my first post. I'm a bass newbie (I'm coming from over 20 years experience playing the saxophone). I've been playing bass for about three months and I'm really digging learning a new instrument.

I've gotten into a routine where I've been practicing 2-3 hours on workdays and around 4-6 hours on my days off.

Now moving past my short introduction and into my topic:

One of the benefits at my place of employment is that I get to have a 4 week sabbatical this year.

My sabbatical starts tomorrow - for the first week I will be traveling on vacation and I will not be able to take my bass.

After my vacation I'll still have three weeks off from work and I look forward to spending some serious time with my bass.

I've been a little worried about that first week, though. I do not want lose the progress I've made with my new instrument.

Do you have any tips I could use to 'practice' without my bass while traveling?

Some ideas I have already:
- bring my iPod listen and to the bass on the recordings, maybe even bring manuscript paper and try and transcribe some basslines
- bring my Standing in the Shadows of Motown book and mentally 'practice' the transcriptions

dan.ablett · #2 09-17-2008, 09:19 AM

transcription is always good... but man you can just have a week off and enjoy the break....
or you can just listen to a bunch of music purely for enjoyment. develop a deeper hunger to play...

i think that with the amount that you play, one week off wont hurt. you'll get back into it anyway, and you brain might just expand a bit. i found that when i was a 2-4hour a day practicing drummer that if i ever took a week off practice, although it took a bit of time to get back into the swing of things with stamina, chops etc, i came back with heaps of fresh ideas just from the music i was ENJOYING, not trying to learn, and from just life.

enjoy your break, then get back in the practice room.

von buck · #3 09-17-2008, 09:22 AM

I find it refreshing to get away from playing now and then. You'll come back fresh and more excited about practicing.

Andy

**Freddels** · #4 09-17-2008, 09:47 AM

As a beginner, I think you will lose quite a bit from the time off. Is there no way that you can pick up one of those small travel basses and take it with you?

Transcription? Well, you said that you've been playing sax for 20 yrs so your ears should be pretty developed. It's the physical aspect of playing the bass that I think you will be taking a few steps back on.

But . . . with the amount of practicing that you do, I would think you should be able to get back to where you are within a week or two of coming back.

scottbass · #5 09-17-2008, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddels

But . . . with the amount of practicing that you do, I would think you should be able to get back to where you are within a week or two of coming back.

+1 Enjoy your vacation! Playing bass isn't life & death

, just something we do for fun and (sometimes) money.

Fozzie1410 · #6 09-17-2008, 04:06 PM

Thanks for the advice! I'm probably worrying for nothing... it's not like I haven't ever gone a week without practicing my sax.

I will enjoy my vacation! I haven't had one in years.

Deefuzz · #7 09-19-2008, 03:44 PM

Will there be any music shops nearby where you are vacationing?

I'm a very new player and getting ready to go on a 5 day trip without my bass

But there is a Guitar Center close to my hotel so I plan on going in and messing around with a bass for a little bit, at least to give my fingers a work out.

DocBop · #8 09-19-2008, 06:33 PM

What do you mean you're never without your bass, the bass in your head. You can do a lot of practice using the bass in your head and maybe your forearm as a neck too. Workout scale fingerings, the mental aspect of sightreading (note locations and fingers), see yourself playing things. Work on note locations on the neck. All that will help and if you can get to a music store and work your fingers some all the better. People don't practice with the bass in their head enough a lot can be accomplish and some things are better to start there before picking up the physical instrument.

LowDown Hal · #9 09-19-2008, 06:41 PM

I have a vacation coming up myself. It will be the first one I've taken since picking up the Bass. My plan is to take the sheet music for a few songs I want to learn and an MP3 player. I'll be able to listen, read, and pretend I'm fingering....

Honk'n_down-low · #10 09-19-2008, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fozzie1410

Hello, this is my first post. I'm a bass newbie (I'm coming from over 20 years experience playing the saxophone). I've been playing bass for about three months and I'm really digging learning a new instrument.

I've gotten into a routine where I've been practicing 2-3 hours on workdays and around 4-6 hours on my days off.

Now moving past my short introduction and into my topic:

One of the benefits at my place of employment is that I get to have a 4 week sabbatical this year.

My sabbatical starts tomorrow - for the first week I will be traveling on vacation and I will not be able to take my bass.

After my vacation I'll still have three weeks off from work and I look forward to spending some serious time with my bass.

I've been a little worried about that first week, though. I do not want lose the progress I've made with my new instrument.

Do you have any tips I could use to 'practice' without my bass while traveling?

Some ideas I have already:
- bring my iPod listen and to the bass on the recordings, maybe even bring manuscript paper and try and transcribe some basslines
- bring my Standing in the Shadows of Motown book and mentally 'practice' the transcriptions

If you are near a GC or a Music store they may rent you a used Bass for the week. Just tell them you are only practicing to maintain your chops. Otherwise bring a Bass - when you played Sax would you ever bring it on Vacation - I know it can be harder to travel - but guess it depends on how much you want to play while you are away.

mikeyswood · #11 09-19-2008, 07:09 PM

Seven days without bass makes one week

lonestarwings · #12 09-19-2008, 07:57 PM

Listen to music but don't play for a week. I actually find this helpful to from time to time, and I'm a beginner too, only been playing for 9 months. If there are some bad habits you're looking to get rid of in your technique, taking a break then coming back to the instrument might even speed up the process.

bassist4dalord · #13 09-19-2008, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deefuzz

Will there be any music shops nearby where you are vacationing?

I'm a very new player and getting ready to go on a 5 day trip without my bass

But there is a Guitar Center close to my hotel so I plan on going in and messing around with a bass for a little bit, at least to give my fingers a work out.

+1. I went to Cali this summer with the family and I was desperate to play. So my dad and brother and I went to Guitar Center Hollywood

It was cool because I later got a magazine at home with a picture from that same place!! Haha sorry off topic +1 to music stores!

Gintaras · #14 09-19-2008, 08:26 PM

Pick up Bass Player and just read all of the music. My instructor has reiterated many times that when I have a few spare minutes then just read any music that you can find.

Also my previous instructor and present instructor insisted on learning how to sing. I have heard many times from them ....'if you can sing the part then you can play it'. Sing your practice drills when you don't have a bass'