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How do you practice?
- Thread starter Whale guy
- Start date
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- practice habits
How much do you practice?
-Trying out for a band I will do 2 or three practice sessions.
-I prefer to learn new songs on the fly, but sometimes I will run through a new song a couple/three times.
-Other than that I do not practice in between gigs.
What do you practice? -New songs.
% of practice is finger exercises? 1%
% of practice is sightreading? 0% (once in a great while charts)
% improvising? 5% (for original material)
% band music? 94%
Etc. -If I was more motivated I would structure my own practices based on parts of songs that include interesting parts/techniques that I know I would benefit from by adding to me skill set.
What do you spend the most time on? - Gigging
If one is over the age of 21 and is still spending a significant amount of time practicing compared to gigging, then that person and I see things quite a bit differently.
-Trying out for a band I will do 2 or three practice sessions.
-I prefer to learn new songs on the fly, but sometimes I will run through a new song a couple/three times.
-Other than that I do not practice in between gigs.
What do you practice? -New songs.
% of practice is finger exercises? 1%
% of practice is sightreading? 0% (once in a great while charts)
% improvising? 5% (for original material)
% band music? 94%
Etc. -If I was more motivated I would structure my own practices based on parts of songs that include interesting parts/techniques that I know I would benefit from by adding to me skill set.
What do you spend the most time on? - Gigging
If one is over the age of 21 and is still spending a significant amount of time practicing compared to gigging, then that person and I see things quite a bit differently.
These days nothing but fundamentals. Slides, arpeggios, scales, some real book run-throughs. I was working on the band book at the beginning of lockdown, but I've lost my mojo there. Feeling kind of adrift, if I'm honest. Tired of multi-tracked at a distance recording projects, and no clear line of sight to playing bars and restaurants. So I'm just making sure I don't lose my basic skills, and might even be a better bassist when it's over. (Only working on sets of songs definitely cuts into fundamentals time, so this is actually a likely outcome.)
maintenance.
i'm an old guy with old parts (
) --- knowing that the parts still work brings an enormous amount of personal satisfaction. 
i play something (not tunes!) every day, so: i'd say that nearly 100% of my efforts fit into the "finger exercises" category. scales/reading/tunes are skills i can still take for granted.
I get in about an hour or more a day, and I like to vary it up through the week with different styles of practicing. Keeps it fresh. One day will be fundamentals and technique, the next will be new scales and modes, the next will be figuring out an existing song, etc, etc.
JeezyMcNuggles
Inactive
- Feb 23, 2018
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- I suck, but nobody really notices
I practice with my bass in my hands...most of the time.
Truth, I just play most of the time. Other times, I'm recording. Other times, I'm jamming. Playing is how you get better. Simply playing. If you have a routine, change it up periodically, and keep playing.
My practice at the moment looks like:
50% bass - repolishing 4 hours of cover material because the band is finally getting back together
15% bass - noodling on original material
15% guitar - noodling on original material
10% technique - working something new or playing a know section with a new twist
10% gear - because playing with gear is fun
50% bass - repolishing 4 hours of cover material because the band is finally getting back together
15% bass - noodling on original material
15% guitar - noodling on original material
10% technique - working something new or playing a know section with a new twist
10% gear - because playing with gear is fun
Exercises - 1%, Reading - 0%, playing along with random stuff on SiriusXM or other online music services - 10% for fun and picking up riffs and grooves and ear training. The rest is all off of our setlists, particularly the songs I sing myself, which is about 20% of them, at about 40% of the remaining time, maybe?
Time: depends. I've sucked during this shutdown, sometimes going a whole week without playing. I have however spent a LOT of time watching videos, tutorials or the listening to original artist videos to learn stuff, and also a lot of equipment research. Or just listening to the original vocal techniques and details on the covers I sing. But now that we're starting outdoor well-distanced gigs I'm back up to the normal 1-4 hours each the last couple of days before rehearsal or the gig.
In addition, of the band songs time, right now 50% of that is spent on learning keyboard, which we're incorporating into our shows. ("Split" keyboard function, bass line on the left hand.)
Oh, the exercises being 1%; it's a learning disability. Unless it's an actual song I distain doing them, to the point they aren't productive. But I'll put on something complex, like Cream Crossroads for example, and try until I absolutely nail Bruce's line . . . on the fretless. Or play 4+ chord songs using every position on the neck I can find, going up and down. Or play one song using EADG, and then BADG, and then CADG. Or change the pitch a couple of steps on a song and play along on the fly.
Time: depends. I've sucked during this shutdown, sometimes going a whole week without playing. I have however spent a LOT of time watching videos, tutorials or the listening to original artist videos to learn stuff, and also a lot of equipment research. Or just listening to the original vocal techniques and details on the covers I sing. But now that we're starting outdoor well-distanced gigs I'm back up to the normal 1-4 hours each the last couple of days before rehearsal or the gig.
In addition, of the band songs time, right now 50% of that is spent on learning keyboard, which we're incorporating into our shows. ("Split" keyboard function, bass line on the left hand.)
Oh, the exercises being 1%; it's a learning disability. Unless it's an actual song I distain doing them, to the point they aren't productive. But I'll put on something complex, like Cream Crossroads for example, and try until I absolutely nail Bruce's line . . . on the fretless. Or play 4+ chord songs using every position on the neck I can find, going up and down. Or play one song using EADG, and then BADG, and then CADG. Or change the pitch a couple of steps on a song and play along on the fly.
I have very little practice time, and am a full on, non-performing amateur for about a decade now. But I do play every day with whatever time I have, like this:
1/3 - a technique exercise, or reading a page of Bach or orchestra excerpt.
1/3 - write, improvise, rough record anything promising.
1/3 - run through the riffs and songs I've already written, work them up, improve them.
It's a very satisfying and enriching routine, but it took me years to come to grips with the idea of committing to a regimine when I did not have enough time to get as good as I may want to be, and also work to steadily improve without a specific goal in mind. I'm happy that I am over that mental trap and can just enjoy what I am doing with the instrument.
1/3 - a technique exercise, or reading a page of Bach or orchestra excerpt.
1/3 - write, improvise, rough record anything promising.
1/3 - run through the riffs and songs I've already written, work them up, improve them.
It's a very satisfying and enriching routine, but it took me years to come to grips with the idea of committing to a regimine when I did not have enough time to get as good as I may want to be, and also work to steadily improve without a specific goal in mind. I'm happy that I am over that mental trap and can just enjoy what I am doing with the instrument.
50% of practice is finger exercises - trying new ways to fret, etc.
0% of practice is sightreading.
25% improvising - related to finger exercises really.
25% band music - da band is pretty much dead these days, but I still keep a few tracks ready.
0% of practice is sightreading.
25% improvising - related to finger exercises really.
25% band music - da band is pretty much dead these days, but I still keep a few tracks ready.
What you practice depends on where you are in your bass journey and what you need to get to the next level.
I have been playing music for 60 years and bass for around 25 to 30 years, so what I practice is not very relevant. But I normally do a lot of practice every day.
Practice perfectly.
Practice to get to the next level.
Practice to close your ignorance zones.
Ask a instructor or bandmate for what they think you need to practice.
I have been playing music for 60 years and bass for around 25 to 30 years, so what I practice is not very relevant. But I normally do a lot of practice every day.
Practice perfectly.
Practice to get to the next level.
Practice to close your ignorance zones.
Ask a instructor or bandmate for what they think you need to practice.
I do a quick cycle through most modes before I get to work. When I’m in the car with my Girlfriend, listening to music, I love seeing her expressions when I blurt out something like “hey, that’s Phrygian!” like it’s a race from Star Trek. Odds are that it probably wasn’t, but her reaction is priceless.
Otherwise, I’ve been working since the pandemic began, and have a couple of new basses that I haven’t had time to get properly acquainted with. So, I’ve been going over a lot more familiar material on them, and slowly murdering new material.
Otherwise, I’ve been working since the pandemic began, and have a couple of new basses that I haven’t had time to get properly acquainted with. So, I’ve been going over a lot more familiar material on them, and slowly murdering new material.
for me
.1% of practice is finger exercises?
0% of practice is sightreading?
3% improvising?
0% band music?
Etc.
What do you spend the most time on?
about an 1-2hrs a day. noodling with all the songs i've ever learnt, adding new ones occasionally.....
.1% of practice is finger exercises?
0% of practice is sightreading?
3% improvising?
0% band music?
Etc.
What do you spend the most time on?
about an 1-2hrs a day. noodling with all the songs i've ever learnt, adding new ones occasionally.....
I practice in my basement almost every day for between 20 minutes and an hour.
I have a list of bass lines/ song melodies I play, and just keep playing them until I feel I'm playing them very well.
Example: The bass line to Sir Duke, by Stevie Wonder.
I play every note exactly as it is on the recording. Nothing added or taken away.
Proficiency level: 8 out of 10. It's not such a hard line to play, but to play it fast is another story.
Spain, by Al Jarreau.
I don't play the bass line to this song, but rather the melody that Al is singing.
I play it at least twice per practice session, and sometimes I play it perfectly. Listen to it: The vocal line has a very Spanish Classical guitar feel to it.
Proficiency level: Between 8 and 10. When I do play it perfectly, it makes my day.
There are other lines and melodies I play, this was just a short list.
If I don't feel like practicing, I don't.
Whenever I practice, it's because I want to.
Another thing that I find odd: For my entire life, if I practice too many days in a row, less sinks in.
If I practice diligently for 5 days in a row, and then don't practice for 3 days, when I practice again, my playing is usually a little better.
Perhaps because I'm relaxed?
A good topic.
Mike
I have a list of bass lines/ song melodies I play, and just keep playing them until I feel I'm playing them very well.
Example: The bass line to Sir Duke, by Stevie Wonder.
I play every note exactly as it is on the recording. Nothing added or taken away.
Proficiency level: 8 out of 10. It's not such a hard line to play, but to play it fast is another story.
Spain, by Al Jarreau.
I don't play the bass line to this song, but rather the melody that Al is singing.
I play it at least twice per practice session, and sometimes I play it perfectly. Listen to it: The vocal line has a very Spanish Classical guitar feel to it.
Proficiency level: Between 8 and 10. When I do play it perfectly, it makes my day.
There are other lines and melodies I play, this was just a short list.
If I don't feel like practicing, I don't.
Whenever I practice, it's because I want to.
Another thing that I find odd: For my entire life, if I practice too many days in a row, less sinks in.
If I practice diligently for 5 days in a row, and then don't practice for 3 days, when I practice again, my playing is usually a little better.
Perhaps because I'm relaxed?
A good topic.
Mike
Here’s my slant on practice.
First and foremost: learn how to slow down. If you can’t play it right at a slow tempo you’ll never get it right at performance tempo because your “muscle memory” will have embedded the mistakes. Practice slowly to play fast.
Given a one-hour practice session:
Warm-up 5-10 minutes - wake up muscles and joints and brain; absolutely not high speed; vary your warmups, i.e. not the same old scales every session
Etudes 5-10 minutes - technical exercises, new note patterns, different fingerings, two or three measures of something that’s been a challenge
New music 20-25 minutes - songs and parts you haven’t played before
Old music 15-20 minutes - songs and parts you’ve learned but aren’t yet proficient; review of songs you do know in order to keep your chops up
Reward - finish practice by treating yourself with a song you enjoy playing; easy or hard doesn’t matter, just something that’s enjoyable and satisfying to play
This doesn’t address reading, sight reading (yes, there’s a real difference between them), improvising, ear training, transcribing and everything else musical. It’s for you to decide what music you want to play then find what practice methods move you in that direction. Everybody learns differently.
First and foremost: learn how to slow down. If you can’t play it right at a slow tempo you’ll never get it right at performance tempo because your “muscle memory” will have embedded the mistakes. Practice slowly to play fast.
Given a one-hour practice session:
Warm-up 5-10 minutes - wake up muscles and joints and brain; absolutely not high speed; vary your warmups, i.e. not the same old scales every session
Etudes 5-10 minutes - technical exercises, new note patterns, different fingerings, two or three measures of something that’s been a challenge
New music 20-25 minutes - songs and parts you haven’t played before
Old music 15-20 minutes - songs and parts you’ve learned but aren’t yet proficient; review of songs you do know in order to keep your chops up
Reward - finish practice by treating yourself with a song you enjoy playing; easy or hard doesn’t matter, just something that’s enjoyable and satisfying to play
This doesn’t address reading, sight reading (yes, there’s a real difference between them), improvising, ear training, transcribing and everything else musical. It’s for you to decide what music you want to play then find what practice methods move you in that direction. Everybody learns differently.
What is this "Prac-teece'" you speak of? Is that French? Patois?
Kidding. A little.
I almost never practice bass . When I do, it's to quickly work out a part or to jam along with a song on the radio. 2 gigs and one rehearsal a week is most.
Good stuff on this thread though. I've been pretty comfortable with my abilities and very slow improvement for around the last 10 years, but I know that if I'm going to bring the upright back into the mix with my country group and get better at that Gospel that my church plays, I should probably get practicing again.
Kidding. A little.
I almost never practice bass . When I do, it's to quickly work out a part or to jam along with a song on the radio. 2 gigs and one rehearsal a week is most.
Good stuff on this thread though. I've been pretty comfortable with my abilities and very slow improvement for around the last 10 years, but I know that if I'm going to bring the upright back into the mix with my country group and get better at that Gospel that my church plays, I should probably get practicing again.
I'm not really practicing any instruments anymore and taking the time to rest from some nagging physical injuries both music and non music related. Instead I'm doing a ton of transcriptions.
I don’t. I just read talkbass and peruse the classifieds. Eventually I’ll have to actually play bass.
