I have 5 days to get better.

[dain bramage]

So I'm trying out for a new band on Saturday. What are some good ways to improve my playing, other than sheer practice?? Like, certain practice routines I should try? This means the world to me.

[dukerutledge]

Search for the spider exercise.

[dain bramage]

Originally Posted by mb1

My current band position originated like that. Originally, I'd been told I'd have 4 weeks to learn the material. But got a call on a Monday, saying they had to have me play the following Friday (4 days). An advanced or intermediate player could have probably done the job cold - it's classic rock and most stuff was pretty straight-forward. (there was an interesting thread here recently about getting better through taking these kinds of fill-in jobs), but I desperately needed practice - I'm still a beginning player. Fortunately, the folks I'm playing with are less than enthusiastic about 'busy' bass players

If you've only got 5 days, I'd recommend focusing on the specific material you'll be playing at the try out. If the band has CDs, spend as much time listening to them as you can. Pick out and work on the easy stuff first. On more difficult stuff that you're just not going to get by Saturday, at least know where the beat and root notes go.

Actually, he's gonna show me what to play when I get there. I just need help on improving my dexterity and speed and what not.

[thebassclef]

+1 on the spider routine

---From the "post your practice schedule" thread-------

Spider in the Key of C
Playing ascending C,E,D,F,E,G,F,A,G,B,A,D(9th),C,E(10th)
Playing descending C,A,B,G,A,F,G,E,F,D,E,C,D,B(dropped 7th),C

[Munjibunga]

Originally Posted by dain bramage

So I'm trying out for a new band on Saturday. What are some good ways to improve my playing, other than sheer practice?? Like, certain practice routines I should try? This means the world to me.

As far as I know, pratice is the only way to get better. That and drinking a lot of alcohol.

[thebassclef]

Or This. From Adam Niti's Mastering Right and Left Hand Technique:

Sequencing is when we break down a larger form or pattern into smaller pieces that can be played or approached individually. In the case of scale patterns, it is helpful to practice playing sequences of smaller fragments in order to avoid sounding as if all of our ideas are simply ascending and descending, like a rehearsed scale.

There are several examples of sequencing that can be applied to scale patterns. For example, our major scale reference position, as shown in Figure 1, is made up of 3 notes per string.

Figure 1


On a 4 string bass, in a single position, we have 12 notes total to work with. We have already become accustomed to playing this shape in an ascending and descending fashion without interruption. However, by breaking this 12 note shape into smaller fragments, we can create exercises that push our technique and endurance a little further.

We could sequence 2 notes at a time, 3 notes at a time, 4 notes at a time, etc... Each sequencing example would just be a fragment of the complete scale or pattern. Here are some examples of how sequencing exercises can be represented using scale degrees from any 7 tone scale:

Sequenced 2’s:
1-2,2-3,3-4,4-5, 5-6, 6-7. 7-8

Sequenced 3’s:
1-2-3, 2-3-4, 3-4-5, 4-5-6, 5-6-7, 6-7-8

Sequenced 4’s:
1-2-3-4, 2-3-4-5, 3-4-5-6, 4-5-6-7, 5-6-7-8

Sequenced 5’s:
1-2-3-4-5, 2-3-4-5-6, 3-4-5-6-7, 4-5-6-7-8

etc...

[natselection]

practice your scales and arpeggios, in all keys n modes

[dain bramage]

Originally Posted by thebassclef

+1 on the spider routine

---From the "post your practice schedule" thread-------

Spider in the Key of C
Playing ascending C,E,D,F,E,G,F,A,G,B,A,D(9th),C,E(10th)
Playing descending C,A,B,G,A,F,G,E,F,D,E,C,D,B(dropped 7th),C

I know this sounds stupid, but I don't know notes.... can this be tabbed out?

[KeithBMI]

Dun dun dun...

[west*coast*bass]

Originally Posted by dain bramage

I know this sounds stupid, but I don't know notes.... can this be tabbed out?

Ok, we know this will not happen by the weekend but it is really important to know what it is you are playing. Try to take care of this ^ as soon as possible.

[thebassclef]

Originally Posted by west*coast*bass

Ok, we know this will not happen by the weekend but it is really important to know what it is you are playing.

This is probably true, at least and be doing it effectively, but here it is tabbed for the first 6 positions:

|--------------------------------------------------0--1---------|
|--------------------------0--1--------------2--3--------2--3---|
|--0--1--------------2--3--------2--3--0--1---------------------|
|--------2--3--0--1---------------------------------------------|


|--------------------------------------------------1--2---------|
|--------------------------1--2--------------3--4--------3--4---|
|--1--2--------------3--4--------3--4--1--2---------------------|
|--------3--4--1--2---------------------------------------------|


|--------------------------------------------------2--3---------|
|--------------------------2--3--------------4--5--------4--5---|
|--2--3--------------4--5--------4--5--2--3---------------------|
|--------4--5--2--3---------------------------------------------|



|--------------------------------------------------3--4---------|
|--------------------------3--4--------------5--6--------5--6---|
|--3--4--------------5--6--------5--6--3--4---------------------|
|--------5--6--3--4---------------------------------------------|


|--------------------------------------------------4--5---------|
|--------------------------4--5--------------6--7--------6--7---|
|--4--5--------------6--7--------6--7--4--5---------------------|
|--------6--7--4--5---------------------------------------------|


|--------------------------------------------------5--6---------|
|--------------------------5--6--------------7--8--------7--8---|
|--5--6--------------7--8--------7--8--5--6---------------------|
|--------7--8--5--6---------------------------------------------|


My Head Hurts Now

[lemur821]

I don't mean to be a downer... but it's not gonna happen. You're not going to get drastically better in five (four now?) days. That's about enough time to practice really hard, work yourself into a tizzy, see a little improvement, then have a bad day right when it counts. Like it or not, what you've got now is what you'll have on Saturday.

I've just run into this problem myself. I took up trumpet in a band about a month ago, and while I'm not awful, it's just not going to come together before the ninth. Another month and I'll probably be solid, but not yet, no matter how hard I practice this week. So it's guitar instead this time.

Five days is enough time to learn new songs for sure. If there's something good that you could play today except you haven't gotten around to learning it yet, that would be a good place to focus your energy. If you think that knowing some scales or the number of sharps/flats in common keys might be good, you've got enough time to make some flash cards and get a pretty good handle on that. Maybe learn your neck a little better. Learn some scales.

All those would be good. Now is the time to focus on specific preparation rather than trying to rebuild yourself better, stronger, and faster. Think about what it is you'll need to be doing, not about whether you're good enough.

On the day of, make sure you warm up before heading over there, and again once you get there. It's very important that you're in the right frame of mind and your fingers are limbered up. Don't rush your warmup because they're waiting on you either. Take your time, relax, and get in the zone. Ten notes and, "Okay, I'm ready," is probably not enough. The spider exercise, if you can get the hang of it, is probably a good part of your warmup. Something to get your fingers moving at their peak.

Following my advice to the letter won't necessarily get you the gig, and ignoring me won't mean you fail it. I'm trying to stress that crunch time is not the time to be attempting to level up. This is the time to make sure you're solid in what you can already do. Time for bug fixes rather than new features.

[audienceofone]

Originally Posted by lemur821

I don't mean to be a downer... but it's not gonna happen. You're not going to get drastically better in five (four now?) days. That's about enough time to practice really hard, work yourself into a tizzy, see a little improvement, then have a bad day right when it counts. Like it or not, what you've got now is what you'll have on Saturday.

I've just run into this problem myself. I took up trumpet in a band about a month ago, and while I'm not awful, it's just not going to come together before the ninth. Another month and I'll probably be solid, but not yet, no matter how hard I practice this week. So it's guitar instead this time.

Five days is enough time to learn new songs for sure. If there's something good that you could play today except you haven't gotten around to learning it yet, that would be a good place to focus your energy. If you think that knowing some scales or the number of sharps/flats in common keys might be good, you've got enough time to make some flash cards and get a pretty good handle on that. Maybe learn your neck a little better. Learn some scales.

All those would be good. Now is the time to focus on specific preparation rather than trying to rebuild yourself better, stronger, and faster. Think about what it is you'll need to be doing, not about whether you're good enough.

On the day of, make sure you warm up before heading over there, and again once you get there. It's very important that you're in the right frame of mind and your fingers are limbered up. Don't rush your warmup because they're waiting on you either. Take your time, relax, and get in the zone. Ten notes and, "Okay, I'm ready," is probably not enough. The spider exercise, if you can get the hang of it, is probably a good part of your warmup. Something to get your fingers moving at their peak.

Following my advice to the letter won't necessarily get you the gig, and ignoring me won't mean you fail it. I'm trying to stress that crunch time is not the time to be attempting to level up. This is the time to make sure you're solid in what you can already do. Time for bug fixes rather than new features.

I am pretty new to the bass too, but that sounds awefully wise.
IMHO (and every one has one )

[SnoMan]

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

As far as I know, pratice is the only way to get better. That and drinking a lot of alcohol.

The alcohol would be best brought for those he's auditioning for.

[vindy500]

id work on the fretboard thing, just learn the first five frests on the e and a string and remember the octave rule. otherwise when the guitarist tells ou it goes g c d c you wont have a clue what to do

[SnoMan]

Originally Posted by thebassclef

|--------------------------------------------------0--1---------|
|--------------------------0--1--------------2--3--------2--3---|
|--0--1--------------2--3--------2--3--0--1---------------------|
|--------2--3--0--1---------------------------------------------|


Spider in the Key of C
Playing ascending C,E,D,F,E,G,F,A,G,B,A,D(9th),C,E(10th)
Playing descending C,A,B,G,A,F,G,E,F,D,E,C,D,B(dropped 7th),C

|--------------------------------------------------0--1---------|
|--------------------------0--1--------------2--3--------2--3---|
|--0--1--------------2--3--------2--3--0--1---------------------|
|--------2--3--0--1---------------------------------------------|



A Bb Gb G E F B C D Eb B C A Bb E F G Ab E F



I'm confused on how the tab correlates with what you originally posted. Is the tab in a different key?

[morf]

You can definately see a big improvement in 5 days. Do exercise, dont noodle around, concentrate on doing things right. Good luck.

[VoteMedford]

i had a similar experience in my first band a few years back. luckily, they werent just fantastic musicians and they didnt expect me to learn all their songs in the 6 day notice i had. as long as you practice a few hours a day until then, and the band appreciates that you had a very limited time, you should be fine.
i played at a bar full of bikers, and i sucked. surely it wont be that bad

[MAJOR METAL]

watch and listen to as many different players as you can. Lock up your groove.

[thebassclef]

Originally Posted by SnoMan

|--------------------------------------------------0--1---------|
|--------------------------0--1--------------2--3--------2--3---|
|--0--1--------------2--3--------2--3--0--1---------------------|
|--------2--3--0--1---------------------------------------------|



A Bb Gb G E F B C D Eb B C A Bb E F G Ab E F



I'm confused on how the tab correlates with what you originally posted. Is the tab in a different key?

The notes were quoted from another thread. The tab is from what I know to be the spider.