Are there anything exercises I can do while away from bass (at work)?

[saeroner]

At work or driving - anywhere away from the instrument.

Are there any exercises to do without the bass in hands?

Thanks

 

[chuck norriss]

Stretch your fingers, wrists, & hamstrings.

 

[jallenbass]

Stretch your fingers, wrists, & hamstrings.

Hamstrings? While driving?

 

[jallenbass]

Sing intervals.

 

[MalcolmAmos]

At lunch or a break. Play where are you games with the notes on a photo of the fretboard.

 

[portpc]

Visualize yourself playing whatever you are working on (exercises, songs etc..)
Focus on the fretboard. It really works!

 

[JTE]

Work out arpeggios in your head so you know where the notes are all over the neck. Work on being able to correctly name the notes in any diatonic major scale.

Practice intervals and imagine how they sound and all the different ways one could finger them.

John

 

[matthewzarder]

Visualize yourself playing whatever you are working on (exercises, songs etc..)
Focus on the fretboard. It really works!

This is a great suggestion, and not just limited to practicing music. You could also pick up a hand exerciser and work on that finger strength. In no time maybe you can pick up a bus with your pinky, and sliding will be no trouble at all! Another thing that really helped me out when I was learning was to alternate between playing my bass and typing. This may be ideal if you work on a computer all day. Both require muscle memory at the individual finger level. Layering activities that require the same skill can put you on the fast track to developing that skill.

 

[Milestones]

Practice your theory. Recite your major scales (or whatever you need to work on) to yourself over and over again. Makes good use of the otherwise wasted time at work or school. Studying the notes on the fretboard like the other guys have said is also a good.

I like doing ear training away from the instrument. Pick out songs on the radio and try to transcribe the parts in your head. When you get home, use your bass to find the key and then see if you had the parts right.

 

[ProgRocker]

Touch each finger to your thumb (one at a time). Cycle back and forth from index to pinky and back. Do this on both hands. An alternative is hooking each finger under your thumb, with your finger and thumb pressing against each other.

This is good for dexterity and finger strength.

 

[mambo4]

practice reading notated rhythms.

 

[gard0300]

You'll probably laugh. But I was having trouble with my digital stamina playing long sets of Iron Maiden covers. I was trying to work on my stamina and my three finger technique both. Since I'm in my vehicle for several hours a day, I used the gear shifter as a thumb rest and practiced away. Believe it or not, I think it helped. Those 2 hour drives to Indianapolis were perfect for increasing my digital stamina. I think it may even helped my 3 finger plucking as well. Haha. Besides that, I tend to visualize playing while I'm driving as well.

 

[gre107]

Visualize every note on the fretboard by string and name their fret numbers. Eg.
C = E string 8th fret & 20th fret, A string 3rd fret & 15th fret D string... G string... etc...
D = E string 10th fret & 22nd fret, A string 5th fret & 17th fret D string... G string... etc...
This is very helpful.

 

[alfoders]

If you have a smartphone, there a dozens of apps available to help you learn scales, chords, ear training, notation and more.

 

[joebar]

I figure out tunes all day long in my head.
once you can distinguish distance between notes, you can figure out most songs without an instrument in your hands.