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How do you discipline yourself to go through a bass book?

#5
villarddefender said:
I like messing around too much ever since I've started playing bass: I would either play the same little things I know over and over and sometimes random stuff but I'm not making any major progress. I know that going through books will pay off more but for those who did it, how do you set your mind to do it? Why does it seem so hard?
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Great question that I wish I knew the answer to. I've been playing for quite a while now and I do the same thing. I'll read a bit in the book I have (Music Theory for the Bass Player by Ariane Cap) and do an exercise or two then I go off noodling and put the books down. I can't seem to stay focused on learning from a book or video's at all. I'd love to know how to stay more focused on the lessons.
 
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#7
Goal setting is a skill in and of itself.

Your goal might be to finish the book, but that might be too big and ambitious of a goal. Maybe it's more reasonable to divide that goal up and say you will do one lesson or chapter a week. Set a date and time when you'll do it each week and then stick to it. It'll be easier to hold yourself to that rather than to say you just want to make it through the book without a clear path on how you'll do that.
 
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#9
jmattbassplaya said:
Goal setting is a skill in and of itself.

Your goal might be to finish the book, but that might be too big and ambitious of a goal. Maybe it's more reasonable to divide that goal up and say you will do one lesson or chapter a week. Set a date and time when you'll do it each week and then stick to it. It'll be easier to hold yourself to that rather than to say you just want to make it through the book without a clear path on how you'll do that.
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Now that's what I'm talking about and call discipline! Thank you :)
 
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#11
It's tough and I do not have the answers.
This year opened up with absolutely nothing on the horizon and I decided it would be a great time to set up the electric upright and get serious about jazz standards and arco. Then I came across a frontman and the blues band was back on track and I had to learn 12 originals. A classic rock opportunity materialised - learned 15 new songs - and then it evaporated again. Seems like every time I think I can get serious about theory and technique, I need to learn another 20 songs. Spent the money on Ray Vogt's DVD series hoping that investment would help me get serious about it - I haven't watched Lesson One even as I _know_ it would help me become a better player. I signed up for a Jazz Workshop to work on upright technique and Jazz Standards and that is helping... As much as I have learned everything in my technical career (RIP) from motivated self-study, I haven't found a way to make it click with music. I do learn a bit here and there so the resources are not totally wasted, but it's hard...
 
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#12
Either you want to get better, and that motivates you to focus on the material....or you're happy with where you're at. There's nothing wrong with either of those options so long as you understand your expectations and limitations.

If you lack motivation/focus, then you're not going to get good at anything that requires the time to do so - music or otherwise.
 
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#13
villarddefender said:
I like messing around too much ever since I've started playing bass: I would either play the same little things I know over and over and sometimes random stuff but I'm not making any major progress. I know that going through books will pay off more but for those who did it, how do you set your mind to do it? Why does it seem so hard?
Click to expand...
My reason for buying a book is usually to get something specific from it. When I get that, I see no reason for going over the same exercises over and over that are listed in the last 12 pages of the book.

Long story short. When I get what I bought the book for I have no problem moving on to something else.
 
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#15
I got the 3 Mel Bay beginner book compilation last Christmas - some of the fundamental stuff, like reading, I don't know well. The last year, I got through a page or two. I apparently have too many gigs to prepare for (I practice every day) to learn how to play bass. I probably knwo 90 percent of what's in the book, and probably a lot in more advanced books ( I am getting better), but there are gems that'd probably be easier to learn via the book method.

I know this is a non answer, but it's good cautionary info - if you want to learn how to do things by the book, set your mind to it before you start to get gigs. Bassists are often very busy!
 
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#20
Found an instructor who recommended a method he knew well. Ed Friedland's 3 books. The instructor would assign lessons, test (had to play all the tunes) answer questions, adjust bad habits each session. In essence the fun of improvement, discipline and cost made me focus. As time went on other supplemental books were added mainly reinforcing reading and rhythm skills. Joined the University Cincinnati Conservatory of Music Jazz program 19 months later. My instructor was the key. MUST PRACTICE EVERY DAY (GAS does not count) and use the MoltoMusic Practice Planner to keep track.
 
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