How do YOU practice bass?

[jadenjazz]

Hi Everyone,

I was curious how other people practice bass when they're at home alone... what's the set up? Jam with iTunes? Jamie Aebersold play along cd's? You and a metronome? Loop pedal? All the above?

My current setup for practicing is Band-In-A-Box (with Real Tracks) sent from my computer to a mixer along with my pedal board signal; listening is then either through a PA system or through my Shure SRH840 headphones.

I'm just looking for other creative ways of practicing when I can't get the band together. Thanks for the input!

 

[msaone]

My amp is in my office. Use the computer with iTunes.

When I'm don in there, I bring my bass in the living room and play while watching tv.

 

[NotTylerHendley]

Since my smaller rig is at the practice space, and I don't want to blare my whole house with my live rig, I often just play unplugged

 

[mmoore2490]

live rig is to loud for my apartment complex so i usually just use sansamp to mixer to headphones and run computer into mixer as well.

 

[Jhengsman]

Normally through a TASCAM guitar trainer

 

[two fingers]

Little Fender Bassman 25 amp. It has RCA inputs so I use adapters to run my computer into it and play along to songs I am learning for upcoming gigs.

 

[RxFunk]

I play through an Ampeg BA-108 and use HL and Mel Bay books.

 

[polyrhythmia]

Been playing to iTunes and YouTube, making up my own bass lines. Had been using a 1X15 combo amp, but now run the computer, the bass, the keyboard and a mike through a 4-channel Behringer Xenyx mixer. If I need to keep it quiet I can use headphones. The output of mixer usually goes to my home stereo.

 

[stratovani]

I usually either play MP3s on my computer using Winamp, or play along to YouTube videos. I have my amps in my music room set at low volumes, and that's my practice setup.

 

[AaronVonRock]

At home, I play through a combo amp along with CDs on my stereo.

 

[Renaissance]

Bass and computer into a mixer and out to headphones. I use Audacity to play MP3s. I used to practice with an amp and home stereo. I've been amazed how much better practice has been using a mixer and headphones.

 

[marchone]

I use YouTube on my PC as an audio source through a Phil Jones Bass Buddy into a pair of Sennheiser HD 650 headphones. If I can't find what I want on YouTube I play a CD on a Tascam Trainer and source from that.

 

[Beano_z]

When I'm alone:
YouTube on iPad using airplay to a set of small speakers, bass plugged into a tiny 20W Eden amp

When my wife is watching TV:
YouTube on iPad, bass and headphones all plugged into Cafe Walter

 

[sammyp]

I use windows media player and a guitar pod ....if i'm in the mood i'll hook up my Tech 21 VT bass pedal but usually settle for the pod .....i like to do alot of technique stuff while watching movies ...sometimes i'll run a metronome on my phone while TV if i'm serious about something.

I've made a habit of using media player as a slow downer to make sure all my rhythms and movements are precise for tough stuff! Firm beleiver in "if you can't play it right slow it's never gonna be solid full speed ahead" For example YYZ ...instead of using a metronome by myself i'd rather just practice with Rush slowed down a bit ....as a young guitar player learning shred in the 90's i blew this off far too much and don't make that mistake as new bass fanatic!

For material, i've been thru the whole scale/ arpeggio thing as a guitar player so i prefer mostly right hand stuff for bass or a funk groove from Marlowe or Scott Devine! other than that ....band tunes!

 

[ngh]

i never practice electric bass without the band for better or for worse. but i often throw on a bebop record and play along on my upright. but I practice every other day with the band so I get my fill of EB that way

 

[knew45]

Usually I just keep my bass on my lap while I watch tv and play during commercials or whenever I get bored.

 

[Spaldo]

I grab a bunch of discs and jam for hours! Usually my bass is plugged into a GK combo which sits on my rack with a Blackbird interface, so I'm ready to record if inspiration hits or I come across a good loop. Sometimes I use my Sennheiser HD2200's which are the best I've used for learning basslines, they have a nice presence around 3 to 4k. They've been invaluable for learning Motown tunes lately. And after 20 years, I still keep my real/fake books handy.

 

[hufe]

Come back home, put on the headphones, connect my Zoom B3 to the computer and some days play the tunes my band is playing or is about to play, other days do exercises. That's pretty much my routine.

 

[Makatak]

Sitting in front of the home theatre , stack of cd`s on one side , a table for my Bourbon and Coke on the other , and my rig next to that , pick out random cd`s and nail the basslines . Gold ! BTW I live in the country so can go as loud as I want !
When its quiet time its through a Pandora & headphones

 

[Anthony32]

I have a bass lecturer who teaches me how to operate a bass guitar. The give me daily lessons and also little assignments fr practice.



Invalid Link Removed