How Much/ What To Practice

[cynical-rabbit]

I've been lurking here for about a month, but could find this info. specifically.

I've been playing bass for a few months, but have played several other instruments and can comfortably read standard notation from low "E" to high "F#" on the G string. I have a decent knowledge of musical theory, and am learning more in my lessons. I tried practicing bass for about 2-3 hours daily, and it lasted a week until the point where I began to hate my bass. I was more sick of the stuff I had to practice than the instrument, I really love playing if I'm in the right mood. I was mostly playing along to music with the guitar chords in front of me, and stuff from a stupid Snidero book. But now I'm just lazy about playing, and have trouble picking up my instrument.

Keeping in mind that I'm 13, a girl, have to go to school, eat, sleep, do homework, loaf, and do non-bass activities, what's a reasonable practicing goal? How much should I be practicing daily and what (scales, tabs, songs etc.)?

Sorry if there are threads like this or the answers are obvious. Oh, and I know about studybass.com, but I hate lessons online. I can't practice with a computer in front of me.

I put this in the wrong sub-forum by mistake, can someone move it? Sorry!

[Iv@N]

Hello!
Well, having trouble picking up my bass has happened to me too.
I started playing when I was 14 (16 now). I practice 2-4 hours everyday if possible and more on weekends.From time to time I look at my bass and think: pff, I know I have to practice but I've been doing the same stuff for weeks! dang!.

My solution is to grab the bass and play WHATEVER comes to my mind, just play. You'll notice what you can and what you can'tdo. Try to create little exercises to improve what you couldn't play.
...and most important: have FUN

[chicago_mike]

learn songs you like. ANd stuff thats tough, just go thru it, take it one note at a time if you have too. Pay attention to how similar many bass lines are, and how certain bass phrases are almot universal...theres theory there, but worry about that later and as you go.

When you feel ready to advance , then you can learn melodies, chord tones, blah blah blah....

[Mikio]

Originally Posted by chicago_mike

learn songs you like.

That's about it.

[jojobean39]

Play with people, if possible. Learn songs you like by listening to them and playing along, not getting tab off the net. Tab is a good resource, of course, but you will go farther by sitting and listening.

[tycobb73]

It is totally up to you how much you play. But every adult who played as a kid will tell you they had the most time to practice when they were kids.

[whitedk57]

Your profile says you're a boy. You might want to change that.