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Anyone else practice acoustically?
- Thread starter Parzival
- Start date
When we play an electric instrument, part of the sound is the amplifier.
If we are working on tone, how can we ignore how the amplifier interacts with our touch, tone, and dynamics? Additionally, what we hear coming back informs us about what to play and how to touch the string. If you are serious about working on tone, an amplifier must be part of what we use to judge good from bad.
Another reason not to practice without an amplifier is that it increases the likelihood of overplaying and muscling down, putting needless and potentially harmful stress on your joints.
My style is low action, light touch, and a powerful amp, letting the amplifier do the work. This produces the sound of studio bass playing, which I have worked to emulate my entire life. Some styles of music demand a more muscular approach. How can you work on muscular sound without hearing the grind of an SVT, for example, and how does that sound interact with how you strike the string?
In the words of Vince Lombardi, "practice as you play, play as you practice." I think that is solid advice.
If we are working on tone, how can we ignore how the amplifier interacts with our touch, tone, and dynamics? Additionally, what we hear coming back informs us about what to play and how to touch the string. If you are serious about working on tone, an amplifier must be part of what we use to judge good from bad.
Another reason not to practice without an amplifier is that it increases the likelihood of overplaying and muscling down, putting needless and potentially harmful stress on your joints.
My style is low action, light touch, and a powerful amp, letting the amplifier do the work. This produces the sound of studio bass playing, which I have worked to emulate my entire life. Some styles of music demand a more muscular approach. How can you work on muscular sound without hearing the grind of an SVT, for example, and how does that sound interact with how you strike the string?
In the words of Vince Lombardi, "practice as you play, play as you practice." I think that is solid advice.
It makes zero sense to me. And such nonsensical justifications! Unless you plan to PERFORM acoustically, you’re only practicing 50% of what you need.
I’ve been playing for 55 years. People were using the same bullspit excuses then that they use now.
I’ve been playing for 55 years. People were using the same bullspit excuses then that they use now.
I used to, but I stopped when I needed more well-articulated speed across strings, which meant I needed to play softer. Now I just practice using my audio interface, or I use the Spark Go from Positive Grid so I can play while I'm watching TV. Playing hard was my sound for my entire metal career, but when I stopped playing metal, a different touch was required.
I had an opposite experience to some of the folks on this thread.
For many years, I played 90% of the time unplugged, for the reasons the OP mentioned.
But I found that when I got plugged in to play with people or record, I couldn't get a good sound. My technique was all adapted to sounding good acoustically, but the bass had a whole different sound and response when it was amplified.
At some point I had to make a rule for myself, that I couldn't be lazy, that I HAD to plug in and at least use the headphones every time, even if I was going to pick up the bass "just for a minute". It has changed my playing, in a way that now, I sound how I want to, when it actually counts!
That said, I miss the acoustic sound! In particular I have a couple of basses that sound great to me acoustically, but I just can't get a sound I'm happy with from them amplified, despite fussing with pickups and eq and all that. To the point that I'm musing on installing a piezo pickup or something...
For many years, I played 90% of the time unplugged, for the reasons the OP mentioned.
But I found that when I got plugged in to play with people or record, I couldn't get a good sound. My technique was all adapted to sounding good acoustically, but the bass had a whole different sound and response when it was amplified.
At some point I had to make a rule for myself, that I couldn't be lazy, that I HAD to plug in and at least use the headphones every time, even if I was going to pick up the bass "just for a minute". It has changed my playing, in a way that now, I sound how I want to, when it actually counts!
That said, I miss the acoustic sound! In particular I have a couple of basses that sound great to me acoustically, but I just can't get a sound I'm happy with from them amplified, despite fussing with pickups and eq and all that. To the point that I'm musing on installing a piezo pickup or something...
I was just thinking about this. I started playing laying down and making sure the bass body touches my rib bones and occasionally if you tilt the upper bout can touch your chin. You feel vibrations even more. Firmer mattress or even just a yoga matt on the floor. Of course if you have health issues talk to your doctor first. 
Figuring stuff out or casually noodling I'll play unplugged. But that ain't practice to me.
Practicing material for a gig I always plug in to something, and strap on and stand up.
I believe you should practice like you gig,
to familiarize yourself with as many possible variables as you can.
.
Practicing material for a gig I always plug in to something, and strap on and stand up.
I believe you should practice like you gig,
to familiarize yourself with as many possible variables as you can.
precisely
.
I would add that, counterintuitively, I find that, the heavier the music, the lighter the playing that works (for me anyway). It's when I'm doing heavy punk and metal that it works best for me to use a light pick and touch and let the amp do the work. It's gentler, more acoustic-sounding music where I'll play heavy (and that's where the unplugged playing is least misleading).
Yes - but such a bad habit for me.
Truthfully for me it is the laziness of plugging into my pedals and stuff, I know they sell desk amps or small devices that are very straight forward but no funds right now...
It is bad for me because I pluck too hard with my amp on and have to take a good 10 mins warmup to realize no need to pluck hard and hurt my wrist.
Though I want to invest in a Ubass for this reason. Hence why Upright is so fun, just get a stand for it, and to push myself to practice in free time, rip it off the stand warm up.
Truthfully for me it is the laziness of plugging into my pedals and stuff, I know they sell desk amps or small devices that are very straight forward but no funds right now...
It is bad for me because I pluck too hard with my amp on and have to take a good 10 mins warmup to realize no need to pluck hard and hurt my wrist.
Though I want to invest in a Ubass for this reason. Hence why Upright is so fun, just get a stand for it, and to push myself to practice in free time, rip it off the stand warm up.
Well, that might explain my heavy handedness years ago. Interesting. But, although I mostly use a lighter touch these days (enjoying not having to buy strings as often), it’s nice to have the dynamic range when needed. But, since almost all of my gigs have FOH support, I don’t use it much for fear of wrecking the mix. Hell l hath no fury like a sound man’s scorn.I have always just grabbed a bass, turn on a song and play. I firmly believe it has molded my style. Every band I’ve ever tried out for, their first comment was, wow! You play hard!
I did it just because I’ve always had wife or kids around, but even back to my teenage years, I was just too lazy too hook everything up.
Even now, I really only hook everything up when I’m trying out or adjusting pedals and amps. Practice, just pick up bass and play.
So what? Well, it really doesn’t mean anything, but it has definitely been an influence on how I play. And I love gigs even more because when I get to the gig and play with everything full on, it is pure bliss.
I sold a cab and amp to a guy locally a few years back. I told him to bring a bass if he wanted to test them out. He was a great player and so soft and smooth. I grabbed my jazz and plugged in and started playing and he looked at me like I was an alien.
Just curious if I’m the only one.
I practiced unplugged for about 35 years, to avoid waking up or annoying roommates or family. I used the "chin on upper horn" method alluded to earlier.
I injured my back in 2005, and since then have been very careful about my posture, at all times. Playing hunched over is NOT a good thing for me. So, I started sitting up straight and plugging in (or at least staying unplugged, but focusing more on feel than sound).
One of my old tendencies was to focus on note choice, theory, dexterity and time more than sound, thinking, "Well, when I use an amp, the sound will take care of itself." But in recent decades, a lot more of my practicing time has been allocated to trying different amps, settings, strings, etc. to work on my amplified sound.
I injured my back in 2005, and since then have been very careful about my posture, at all times. Playing hunched over is NOT a good thing for me. So, I started sitting up straight and plugging in (or at least staying unplugged, but focusing more on feel than sound).
One of my old tendencies was to focus on note choice, theory, dexterity and time more than sound, thinking, "Well, when I use an amp, the sound will take care of itself." But in recent decades, a lot more of my practicing time has been allocated to trying different amps, settings, strings, etc. to work on my amplified sound.
Jazzdogg
Less barking, more wagging!
I believer that, as espoused by jazz double bassist Ray Brown, getting a consistently good sound from your instrument is critical for professional bassists. I also believe that repetitive stress injuries should be avoided. Practicing electric bass without an amp is contrary to both objectives.
The makes sense if your rig is used to conceal flaws in your technique. But the sound I want from an amp is very bright and revealing. As I mentioned in my last post. Playing acoustically tends to help me feel more connected with the sound. With an amp, it feels sort of like the sound is delayed. But I find that a bright tone with lot's of air and glass greatly reduces the feeling of delay. However, I typically play clean so my tone does not have a lot of gank, string, noise, or fret rattle, unless I want it to.
No, I find bass playing to be much more enjoyable when I don't have to rely on my fingers to make myself loud enough to be heard, if you know what I mean. I used to pound the strings like Geddy, had blisters, and still couldn't hear myself. Then I read something that was attributed to Tom Kennedy that said to use way more amp than you need so that you can play with a light touch and still be heard. So when I play with a group now, I set my amp so that it's basically "too loud", and then use my hands and the volume knob to dial it in. I play much better when I'm relaxed, and in most cases I prefer the tone. So I practice that way at home too, with an amp, but I don't crank it, I just turn it up enough that I can clearly hear myself. You could have a conversation in the same room if you wanted to.
I think one should practice in a way that closely mimics how you're going to perform. Since I perform with amplification, I practice with it too.
I think one should practice in a way that closely mimics how you're going to perform. Since I perform with amplification, I practice with it too.
When I play at home I use a chambered fretless which is way ‘louder’ than a solid body. I play along with whatever I’m watching or listening to. Over the last 18 months or so I’ve added a whole new technique with a right hand that approaches an upright configuration resulting in beautiful fat mwah tones that are useful as I gig with the fretless rather than lugging the upright around. It’s not for Classic Rock, more like American Songbook…
The fallacy behind plugging in to improve is that an amplifier will actually make it EASIER to hear if your fundamentals are not good. It's easier to hear if you have excess string noise, easier to hear if your 1/4, 1/8, 1/16 notes aren't even, easier to hear if each note is not an equal volume. It gives you a much wider range of dynamics. Those are just fundamentals and no amp, pedals or gimmicky is going to fix that. That's so basic I really find it hard to imagine why people continue to argue against it.
of my 53 years playing, i can count the number of days on 1 hand that i practiced through an amp.
the subtlety & intimacy of learning new material and shedding technique stuff works for me in a quiet zone with the bass unplugged. it's a more pure connection for me, personally.
that's not the same as testing new gear, pre-gig gear checks or having a great day of discovery with a bunch of new pedals etc.. that cool exploratory stuff is all full-on amp & volume.
the subtlety & intimacy of learning new material and shedding technique stuff works for me in a quiet zone with the bass unplugged. it's a more pure connection for me, personally.
that's not the same as testing new gear, pre-gig gear checks or having a great day of discovery with a bunch of new pedals etc.. that cool exploratory stuff is all full-on amp & volume.
I practiced unplugged in my early years. Later on, after getting my carpal tunnel surgery, I developed a much lighter touch. Most of the time, my tone palette is better with the lighter touch, and I can always still dig in when it works.
