Finding the Time

[bigdaddybass12]

$100 bass I keep at my office. works for scales, play along with a YouTube. I need a 500w amp !! Seriously i need a headphone amp or plug into my pc and run a music app

 

[Runlikegregg]

Congratulations!
First, I will say that with having a kid it will get easier and you'll have more time as they grow up. And it happens pretty fast (especially after the first couple years).
The first year is definitely the hardest, so don't use this year as a gauge.

For me the answer is - Headphone Amp & Headphones, and playing at night after my kid goes to bed.
We always stuck to having a consistent bedtime so it doesn't necessarily have to be so late at night. Especially when they're old enough to have a bedtime (coming soon for you) and young enough to have an early one.

 

[LBS-bass]

My teacher tells me he gets up at 4AM to practice for 3 hours before the wife and kids get up and everyone needs to go off to work and school.

In his defense, his work is at home as teaching and playing are what he does. So his time is a bit flexible. But I think it does require a commitment that includes carving out a regular time slot, even if that's just a half-hour before or after work. And it's like rehearsals and gigs - you have to do it even if you don't feel like it just then.

 

[OllieVT]

One for a few years down the line: buy your daughter a drum kit and make practising a joint process (even just for holding each other accountable, not necessarily always practising together).

It's working well for me, even though the motivation was the other way around in my house with the drum kit coming first and the bass seeming to be a good idea once that was in. Mine was 11 when we got it, but I think quite a few years earlier than that would've been fine too. Probably not a whole decade earlier though.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

My teacher tells me he gets up at 4AM to practice for 3 hours before the wife and kids get up and everyone needs to go off to work and school.

In his defense, his work is at home as teaching and playing are what he does. So his time is a bit flexible. But I think it does require a commitment that includes carving out a regular time slot, even if that's just a half-hour before or after work. And it's like rehearsals and gigs - you have to do it even if you don't feel like it just then.

I am not a morning person! I had an old bass player friend that got up early most days to practice.

 

[KeepItMoving]

Sometimes practice can be done without an instrument.

I am ALWAYS listening to music and figuring out changes and fingering while I'm listening. Sometimes I "practice" while driving the car by running through the circle of fifths, relative minors, and accidentals mentally. Sometimes, my "practice" is "hearing" arpeggios and naming the notes as I'm listening to chord changes. Sometimes, my practice is hearing roots and calling out the chords, or hearing chords and calling out their names.

There's always more than one way to achieve goals.

This is really good advice about utilizing time away from an actual bass! Another thing I found helpful was mentally reciting all the notes on the fretboard — going fret by fret until I internalized it, and then giving myself random positions to name (like, third string 9th fret or whatever). And when you're waiting to make a turn in your car the turn signal can serve as a metronome for playing little rhythm passages with your hands or fingers (subject to all road safety considerations, of course). Best of luck with your studies!

 

[brianrost]

If you're a morning person and willing to use headphones, practice first thing in the morning before going to work, at least 30 minutes but an hour if you can.

 

[Terry_R]

Your daughter comes first. A bass guitar will never love you back

Absolutely! Apologies if the tone in my post came off a tad complain-ish, certainly was not my intention. I just am interested in hearing how others have managed to cope!

 

[dalahorse]

I wake up much earlier than the rest of my family. After I'm dressed and ready for the day, I practice with headphones while having coffee for about 30 minutes before going to work. Even if I'm too busy to do my desired afternoon practices, the mornings are almost always available.

 

[Terry_R]

This is really good advice about utilizing time away from an actual bass! Another thing I found helpful was mentally reciting all the notes on the fretboard — going fret by fret until I internalized it, and then giving myself random positions to name (like, third string 9th fret or whatever). And when you're waiting to make a turn in your car the turn signal can serve as a metronome for playing little rhythm passages with your hands or figures (subject to all road safety considerations, of course). Best of luck with your studies!

This sounds like a great idea! Thanks for the tip!

If you're a morning person and willing to use headphones, practice first thing in the morning before going to work, at least 30 minutes but an hour if you can.

Oddly enough I am! I’ll typically drink a cofffee and scroll these forums/Reverb/Reddit in the mornings before the house is awake. I think I’ll look into the headphone route!

Thanks for the replies, congratulations, and tips everyone, I appreciate it!

 

[themickster]

Absolutely! Apologies if the tone in my post came off a tad complain-ish, certainly was not my intention. I just am interested in hearing how others have managed to cope!

Nothing for you be to be sorry about. I was unhelpful in what I said.