I have been playing for over 30 years so I usually do not have to practice very much. If I am not gigging or recording, I practice every Saturday night for about 4 hours. If I am gigging or recording, I practice as much as I need in order to feel comfortable. I recently had shoulder surgery and couldn't play for 4 weeks. When I picked up my bass again, I played as if I had never taken a break. I think everyone is different but sometimes too much practice can be a bad thing.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
How many hours a day do you play bass?
- Thread starter FBS1996
- Start date
As much as I can without hurting myself. Anywhere from 30 mins to 6 hours. If my wrists feel good I try to do a solid 2 to 4 hour session.
I'd like to be able to play for at least 15 minutes a day. But, there are some days I just don't have time. 
It takes at least 1 hour of playing a day for the voices in my head to stop telling me to kill things.
i practice all day,.. (inbetween rips)
if i have to work that day i think about my bass all day. i miss my bass when i travel and think to myself....
what am i doing with these dorks when i could be playing my bass. if i didn't have a bass i would proably be a messed up individual.
girls hate my bass,... my bass hates girls!!!
if i have to work that day i think about my bass all day. i miss my bass when i travel and think to myself....
what am i doing with these dorks when i could be playing my bass. if i didn't have a bass i would proably be a messed up individual.
girls hate my bass,... my bass hates girls!!!
So far, no one on average spends a lot of time practicing every day. The ones that are practicing their arses off are too busy getting better than the rest of us to post.
I used to play during my school days, but had many years without playing.
A couple of years ago I picked up the guitar again, and now the bass.
I practice about an hour, 4-5 days a week, and divides the time between bass and guitar (mostly bass lately, since I have very rusty noob skills on that instrument). Not very targeted practice, I play what I feel like. It is kind of a meditation thing. Wouldn't mind finding someone to jam with, though.
A couple of years ago I picked up the guitar again, and now the bass.
I practice about an hour, 4-5 days a week, and divides the time between bass and guitar (mostly bass lately, since I have very rusty noob skills on that instrument). Not very targeted practice, I play what I feel like. It is kind of a meditation thing. Wouldn't mind finding someone to jam with, though.
When I was sixteen I attended a clinic with Maynard Ferguson (really just him talking off the top of his head for an hour, which made me question his sanity), wherein, he told the audience that your instrument is a "toy." While I don't agree with the terminology of a "toy," I do think that you need to keep your bass out and ready to go, just in case the lust hits you then and there.
1 hour of relatively structured practicing (scales, etc.), 2 to 4 hours of playing along to mp3's, and winding down with 1 hour of free form noodling/jamming to have fun.
3 or 4 times a week.
3 or 4 times a week.
I've been playing for 40 years. The only time the bass gets played is at the weekly gig at a local pub in France. Up to my early 30's, I'd practice an hour a day.
1-2 hrs a day, it's a stress reliever for me I love playing! 
Sometimes uni work does get in the way though... :/
Sometimes uni work does get in the way though... :/
I'm playing around 30 minutes at the least everyday on the non gig - weekday. I play around 2-3 hrs a day on weekends. not really any structure practicing, just fiddling around.
