How Many Practice Electric Bass Unplugged?

[amper]

I have noticed that sometimes I just want to grab the bass and sit on the edge of the bed and practice unplugged. It's so simple and easy with no cables, no headphones or wireless electronics to worry over.

I was wondering how many other folks do this and if it is considered an effective way to practice?

Thanks.

I don’t see why it wouldn’t be effective. It’s not like an unplugged solid body electric bass is silent when you play without it being plugged it. I find corded headphone practice to be cumbersome, but I still do it on occasion, and in fact, I’m preparing to do it more often, since I now live in a multi-unit stick-framed building and my bass amp literally rocks the whole house.

Maybe I should try that new Boss wireless headphone deal.

Somewhere around here, I even have a Dragonfly stethoscope practice device, which is also kind of cool.

 

[Frank Vozak]

I have noticed that sometimes I just want to grab the bass and sit on the edge of the bed and practice unplugged. It's so simple and easy with no cables, no headphones or wireless electronics to worry over.

I was wondering how many other folks do this and if it is considered an effective way to practice?

Thanks.

I almost always practice unplugged--my wife doesn't like to hear music in the house especially if she is on a zoom call

 

[Marlon Carbone]

The most important thing to consider: you will perform the way you practice.

If you have an amp you use when you perform, you should use that amp to practice. Or you should use an amp that is very close to that tone and response. If you normally perform unplugged, then practice that way. Otherwise, if you're playing an electric instrument unplugged, you aren't really fully interacting with your whole system. It will create bad habits and you will be surprised by things that should be run-of-the-mill. Only practice unplugged if you have no other choice.

Caveat: If you're only a simple, root-note kind of player... you can probably get away with practicing unplugged. If you use more advanced techniques (slap/pop, tapping, flamenco, etc...) you need to know how the amp is responding to your technique.

 

[thisonegoestoeleven]

I do. Hearing myself not an issue...just enjoy feeling the bass sometimes. Close my eyes and let the fingers walk.

 

[bedrockhead]

Probably 95% of my practicing is without an amp anywhere near me. Lots of times I just pick up a bass and start playing, or I bring one to work and doodle around during lunch. I've written many basslines unplugged.

 

[Steve Forman]

I sometimes play unplugged if I am trying to learn and perfect a new run. But most of the time, I just use my headphones.

 

[Fuzzbass]

99% plugged in*. The only exceptions I recall have been warming up for a gig in a green room, no amp available. But I hardly ever do that... usually the first few songs in set 1 are my warm up! I'm mainly a support bassist in cover bands; don't play any prog fusion or whatever.

*My basses sound as good as any others I've played unplugged. I just prefer amplified.

 

[MPat]

95% for me, too! I keep a bass on a stand within reach of my recliner, and grab it when a cool lick is heard on TV, YouTube, or music playing. I've always done this since I was much younger and now I'm 68, still have a bass in my hands for an hour or more a day, even though playing out has stopped cold since march 2020. I can hear it fine unplugged.

 

[JeffChap]

I do it sometimes just to exercise my fingers, not for the sound.

 

[PWRL]

Not if I don't have to.

 

[David Lakin]

I do pretty much all the time. I read once where Geddy Lee practiced unplugged all the time. I’ve found the volume on an iPad works great in conjunction with my unplugged bass. I’m hoping maybe someday I’ll get a GK PLEX or an Ampeg preamp, but till then I’ll keep trudging along unplugged.

 

[Peter Hess]

Many, many years ago when I got my first bass I couldn’t afford an amp. I had to put my ear to my bass. I would listen to the song I wanted to learn bar by bar. Once I got it I would go onto the next bar. It could take hours until I finally learned the song. Then I got a cheap tape recorder that I could play through. That’s how a lot of us kids learned back then.

 

[The Hook 1988]

Sure ,why not? Sometimes I will during commercials while watching TV with the wife. Good for muscle memory stuff like slap/tap/pop. or just running lines/scales. My basses are almost all neck-thru and resonate very well even unplugged. If it sounds good unplugged, it always sounds great when you do plug -in. If you're doing it right should be the same amount of attack. I've never found it to make me play "too hard".
I have a couple of different headphone amps I use sometimes too. Same thing, It doesn't change my touch when I go to my larger practice amp or my full rig.

 

[TJL]

Never. You will end up playing way harder than necessary, and be unaware of the noises you are making. Always best to practice as loud as is possible so you learn that pulling the string like a chimpanzee is for chumps. It makes you slower, noisier, and can overdrive the pickups.
By practicing at a fully audible level, you will lighten your touch, gain finesse with your tone, hear if you are clicking or clacking, and you will find that you can play more complicated lines with less fatigue.
If you have to keep things quiet, just use a headphone amp.

 

[Nebadon2000]

Never. You will end up playing way harder than necessary, and be unaware of the noises you are making. Always best to practice as loud as is possible so you learn that pulling the string like a chimpanzee is for chumps. It makes you slower, noisier, and can overdrive the pickups.
By practicing at a fully audible level, you will lighten your touch, gain finesse with your tone, hear if you are clicking or clacking, and you will find that you can play more complicated lines with less fatigue.
If you have to keep things quiet, just use a headphone amp.

That's a strong assertion put upon your fellow Bassist. Maybe it would be more palatable if you Changed all the 'You's' to I; especially when it comes to words 'Chimpanzee and Chumps'

 

[BruceG63]

Mainly when im just playing runs,scales,trying to write new songs,noodling around but when im learning covers I use a Vox bass plug with headphones.

 

[dasherf17]

Mainly when im just playing runs,scales,trying to write new songs,noodling around but when im learning covers I use a Vox bass plug with headphones.

I have one of those Vox headphone amps, too...pretty neat little device...works great as a modeling box for a bigger amp.

 

[Nebadon2000]

Mainly when im just playing runs,scales,trying to write new songs,noodling around but when im learning covers I use a Vox bass plug with headphones.

I use Tascam Bass Trainor

 

[Sid Fang]

I have one of those Vox headphone amps, too...pretty neat little device...works great as a modeling box for a bigger amp.

Very handy little things. Sometimes I bring one with me when I'm on vacation or on the road for my day job, and rent/borrow a beater bass to practice with. Counts as an amp for the purposes of this conversation, AFAIAC. But "modeling box for a bigger amp"? Not any bigger amp I've ever heard or would want to use! The Vox is perfectly serviceable for hearing what I'm playing, but the tone isn't anything I'd want to present to an audience.

 

[Demented]

I used to, but when my 220 watt peavey amp stopped working , I payed £20 for Gear for Music 20 watt practice amp . . . . It is not baasy enough but I can practice and hear myself with the neighbours complaing . . . . with Covid here in England, I have only had one band rehearsal since late Feb 2020 so hearing what I am playing means I shouldn't be too rusty when we rehearse again . .whenever that may be !