Does anyone practice with their amp without their bass? :)

[Foz]

Just touch the headstock to a lamp shade - and rock on with yo badself

 

[sludgetail]

not sure if it's been mentioned yet but I saw a video where billy sheehan is talking about practice (we talking bout practice here) and he was discussing how he mainly plays unplugged for practice and how it's a great builder for RH finger strength -- plucking harder and getting the bass to sing... and of course, mega convenient... I do this as well, but love the chest thump off a set of 10's when I can get it

 

[2tonic]

Oh, yeah! All the time!
In fact, I'm waiting to do it right now.
But I'm stuck on standby.

 

[40Hz]

Sure! Did it on SB Sunday.

9:00AM - Turn amp on.

9:01AM - Remember bass you wanted to play is in case in other room.

9:02AM - Phone rings. Important call regarding pending tech support issue you’re having with new internet service.

9:05AM - Back add forth in telephone hell with jr. tech, senior tech, and Level-1 support specialist.

10:45AM - Hang up phone. Get coffee - and two aspirin.

11:00AM - Dog needs walking. Says: “Grab my leash or grab a mop. Your choice.”

11:30AM - Return with dog. SO wants to discuss what to do about lunch over second cup of coffee.

12:00noon - Pizza run. (yay!)

12:30 - 1:30PM- Lunch and conversation with SO.

1:35PM - Return to still running amp.

1:35:25PM - Sister stops by.

4:00PM - Return to still running amp, power off.

4:01PM - Practice completed!

 

[The Thinker]

I practice without a bass all the time. I’ve even gigged without one. Because, you know, the sound is in your fingers.

 

[Ric5]

hollow body, semi hollow body and acoustic basses are great without an amp.

 

[Luckydog]

I practice without a bass all the time. I’ve even gigged without one. Because, you know, the sound is in your fingers.

I’ve found this to be very true. Its also helpful and saves your gear from unnecessary dings and scratches when someone wants to borrow your bass at a gig.

 

[Leonid Nidis]

For this I got an acoustic bass.

 

[Johnny Fingers]

Just plug the bass into the amp but forget to plug the amp into the wall outlet. Then start a thread with “Why doesn’t my amp work? I plugged into it.”.

 

[WestyBassBob]

I was wondering how this is working over here on the amp/cab side. Some say the other way, no amp, is bad because you get bad technique or play too hard. What do you and your amp experience?

Intense loneliness?
Sensitivity to that slight hiss?
Increased electric bill?
Wear and tear on the on/off switch?
Do you leave it on constantly?
Does your dog fart when you're learning new tunes?

I sometimes forget to turn my amp off. So it's kind of like practicing without me!

 

[WestyBassBob]

I live in a condo- (limited) space & not being able to ‘make much noise’ has me playing, quite a bit, w/o an amp. I ho have a nice headphone setup, etc.- but just easy enough to pull-a-bass of a wall hanger & play I want to avoid *this* from happening again... was during a gig after not have played (at all) for awhile... learnt my lesson (dang Roto SS 66’s)

View attachment 4160474

Ewww.

 

[skycruiser]

I live in a condo- (limited) space & not being able to ‘make much noise’ has me playing, quite a bit, w/o an amp. I ho have a nice headphone setup, etc.- but just easy enough to pull-a-bass of a wall hanger & play I want to avoid *this* from happening again... was during a gig after not have played (at all) for awhile... learnt my lesson (dang Roto SS 66’s)

View attachment 4160474

Not sure what we're looking at here but it is gross. I don't think I will ever own a black bass.

 

[Jazzdogg]

Jaco spoke of thinking bass all the time when you aren’t actually playing.

Whenever I listen to music, I silently call out the intervals and imagine playing the changes with my left hand; both shifts in hand position and note choices.

This process is doubly powerful when I teach myself to play old songs in new keys without picking up an instrument.

When reading sheet music, I may be seeing notes or chords, but I'm thinking of intervals and fingerings; this, too, makes it easier to learn songs in alternate keys.

 

[rtslinger]

yea not sure what is being asked? Please clarify not sure how to go about playing an amp????

 

[gumtown]

It's all about playing "Air Guitar" (or bass) and having it plugged into your amp and cranked up to "11"

 

[seamonkey]

Does reading the actual manual count?
There's a lot of good information to be had without actually touching your bass.

 

[xj98jeep]

Absolutely, fundamentals are critical. I like to put on a metronome and practice taking my tube amp from off, to standby, to on with an even tempo. I also practice turning my knobs to the metronome as well.

 

[WestyBassBob]

not sure if it's been mentioned yet but I saw a video where billy sheehan is talking about practice (we talking bout practice here) and he was discussing how he mainly plays unplugged for practice and how it's a great builder for RH finger strength -- plucking harder and getting the bass to sing... and of course, mega convenient... I do this as well, but love the chest thump off a set of 10's when I can get it

That seems so backward to me. The issue with bass isn't plucking harder, it's not an acoustic instrument, it's about plucking with consistent, purposeful attack. I don't know how anyone achieves that playing unplugged, but I have noticed that many greats in both music, sport and other fields develop their own, unorthodox methods that most people would be well advised not to copy. But hey, if it works for you have at it.

 

[sludgetail]

That seems so backward to me. The issue with bass isn't plucking harder, it's not an acoustic instrument, it's about plucking with consistent, purposeful attack. I don't know how anyone achieves that playing unplugged, but I have noticed that many greats in both music, sport and other fields develop their own, unorthodox methods that most people would be well advised not to copy. But hey, if it works for you have at it.

For sure lol