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How do you practice your endurance?
- Thread starter Samuel J. Lagueux
- Start date
Just like a runner gets up to marathon distances, You push yourself each time you play, play a little longer each time. Set goals, "I'm going to play this whole song" next time play 2 songs or the same one twice or "I'm going to play for a half an hour" next time 45 minutes, next time an hour. Just keep pushing yourself!
What happens after 5-6 minutes? Finger/wrist cramps? Left hand, right, or both? Is your string spacing good for you (too close, or too wide apart)? Tips: Keep a close eye on your posture, strap length and general ergonomics. Take regular breaks. Do regular stretching:
Try gadgets to strengthen fingers and wrists:
As others said, keep extending the length of your practice time. Keep trying. I play 'Whirlwind' by the band Transatlantic every other night and it's 120 minutes long, with no breaks. It takes time to build up strength, that's unavoidable. Just don't give up! Good luck.
Endurance will come with playing. Play as long as you can, but also allow adequate rest in between. Your playing time will increase as time goes on. Just keep playing. If you give up you'll never make it 
Also, make sure your action isn't too high. Check your setup (or have a tech do it).
just keep playing it,eventually you'll last longer and longer.
Play FIFA15 in between, that strengthened my hands as much as anything,I used to cramp up at half time, now I can play 5 games in a row, same with music.
The first time I tried the Allman Brothers' Jessica , all 7 minutes of it I cramped up half way through. Two weeks later I could play it three or four times in a row. Rest between the workouts.
Play FIFA15 in between, that strengthened my hands as much as anything,I used to cramp up at half time, now I can play 5 games in a row, same with music.
The first time I tried the Allman Brothers' Jessica , all 7 minutes of it I cramped up half way through. Two weeks later I could play it three or four times in a row. Rest between the workouts.
Speaking of songs to train your hands. I use one song and one song only. Ian Dury - Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick. 16 notes per bar of aweseomeness.
Makes playing reggae cake work. I'll play that song a few times in a row to warm up (especially since it's still hard for me to nail it perfectly).
I play that on the 5 string as but play it like I'm playing it on a 4 cause I learned it on a 4. I learned it watching this guy's hands and also a tab I found. But I play some of the notes in a different than him.
Beast of a song lol.
Makes playing reggae cake work. I'll play that song a few times in a row to warm up (especially since it's still hard for me to nail it perfectly).
I play that on the 5 string as but play it like I'm playing it on a 4 cause I learned it on a 4. I learned it watching this guy's hands and also a tab I found. But I play some of the notes in a different than him.
Beast of a song lol.
The most important step is to play the songs often. Pick songs that have interesting bass lines that make you work beyond your comfort level. If you only play easy, uninspired bass lines you wont ever improve beyond them. For 3 finger gallop exercise I highly recommend Iron Maiden songs. They are simple enough for a beginner to learn on but have enough notes and speed to build your muscles and coordination. When you get done with the song, start it over again. Play until you can't play anymore and then rest a day or so.
Strength - Play HARD. One way is to play unplugged along with music. Make yourself force your fingers passed ever string hard so that as each note plays, your finger tips touch the body or pickups underneath. Setting your action really high on a beater bass would be good too. Force yourself to move mountains so that the boulders feel effortless. Alternate fingers. Play a whole song with index only, THEN middle finger only, THEN ring finger only. I like to plug unplugged like this when I have built up energy. You'll feel the burn in your forearm for sure. Play with high gauge, high tension strings. If you make sure they are stainless steel and round wound, it will build your callouses faster.
Stamina - When driving or listing to music away from your instrument, drum your 3 fingers to songs. If the band has a slower bassist, use those fingers to drum every note of the double bass. Try different patterns. 3 fingers ring to index, index to ring, index and middle only, middle and ring only.
This stuff together over time will add to your coordination.
Strength - Play HARD. One way is to play unplugged along with music. Make yourself force your fingers passed ever string hard so that as each note plays, your finger tips touch the body or pickups underneath. Setting your action really high on a beater bass would be good too. Force yourself to move mountains so that the boulders feel effortless. Alternate fingers. Play a whole song with index only, THEN middle finger only, THEN ring finger only. I like to plug unplugged like this when I have built up energy. You'll feel the burn in your forearm for sure. Play with high gauge, high tension strings. If you make sure they are stainless steel and round wound, it will build your callouses faster.
Stamina - When driving or listing to music away from your instrument, drum your 3 fingers to songs. If the band has a slower bassist, use those fingers to drum every note of the double bass. Try different patterns. 3 fingers ring to index, index to ring, index and middle only, middle and ring only.
This stuff together over time will add to your coordination.
For the 2 days leading up to gig day, I use hand grippers, and I also play sixteenth notes continuously for a minute and a half, for multiple times a day. Since I have already rehearsed songs and melody with my band at an earlier time, the only thing left to do is to build up my hand endurance, which really improves my live playing by a few notches.
Skip the gimmick grips and stuff. They don't work. The only way to build stamina on the bass is to play more bass.
+100...especially those gripping gadgets. Gripping forms no part in playing the bass.
the basic gist of what everyone is saying is. Play as much as you can whenever you can where ever you can! practice while watching TV, go to open jams, play genres you are unfamiliar with. jam with friends, take as many gigs as you can.
Doing a 4 hr gig doesn't happen over night. and if you are out of practice it will show in your hands. then will become sluggish and slow and fatigued. if you can dedicate time to rehearsal and to noodle around and learn songs you will have endurance to play for 5 hrs straight no problem.
Doing a 4 hr gig doesn't happen over night. and if you are out of practice it will show in your hands. then will become sluggish and slow and fatigued. if you can dedicate time to rehearsal and to noodle around and learn songs you will have endurance to play for 5 hrs straight no problem.
[QUOTE="Boom762, post: 17339416, member: 251415"
Strength - Play HARD. One way is to play unplugged along with music. Make yourself force your fingers passed ever string hard so that as each note plays, your finger tips touch the body or pickups underneath. Setting your action really high on a beater bass would be good too. Force yourself to move mountains so that the boulders feel effortless. Alternate fingers. Play a whole song with index only, THEN middle finger only, THEN ring finger only. I like to plug unplugged like this when I have built up energy. You'll feel the burn in your forearm for sure. Play with high gauge, high tension strings. If you make sure they are stainless steel and round wound, it will build your callouses faster.[/QUOTE]
I don't agree with this recommendation. I see the logic, and I suppose it might help to develop finger strength and stamina. However, doing this means practicing playing too hard, when you should be practicing the technique and touch that you'll actually use when playing.
Strength - Play HARD. One way is to play unplugged along with music. Make yourself force your fingers passed ever string hard so that as each note plays, your finger tips touch the body or pickups underneath. Setting your action really high on a beater bass would be good too. Force yourself to move mountains so that the boulders feel effortless. Alternate fingers. Play a whole song with index only, THEN middle finger only, THEN ring finger only. I like to plug unplugged like this when I have built up energy. You'll feel the burn in your forearm for sure. Play with high gauge, high tension strings. If you make sure they are stainless steel and round wound, it will build your callouses faster.[/QUOTE]
I don't agree with this recommendation. I see the logic, and I suppose it might help to develop finger strength and stamina. However, doing this means practicing playing too hard, when you should be practicing the technique and touch that you'll actually use when playing.
