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How Many Practice Electric Bass Unplugged?

#161
So, if you tend to pluck harder when you’re not plugged into an amp or headphones are you aware that you’re doing that? Several of you have said that you are. Just what are you “practicing” if you’re oblivious to or you’re not correcting such a serious bad habit? You know you’re playing in a way that’s either wrong or not helpful to your playing, so DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! e.g. It’s not only about hearing yourself, you should develop awareness of your touch (both hands) when playing.
 
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#162
I used to a lot more than I do now. Part of that has been quarantine. I'm not playing out, so the head stays plugged into the practice cab all the time. Before, if the head was in the case, I'd grab a bass and practice without.

I actually think it *helped* my touch and approach to the instrument. I have a much more "acoustic" approach to my sound. Once I plug in, it's about making the things I want happen with more volume and less work.
 
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#163
I will check out a bass for heft/ergonimics/action in a shop or a studio without plugging it in, but I never practice electric bass without at least a headphone amp. How and where I strike the string relative to pickups makes a difference in tone that I want to have integrated with my practice and rehearsal. There *is* a downside to this, though. Most of my home practice is under headphones where I can ignore mechanical string noise on the neck that doesn't get transmitted through the pickups, so I've become a bit less careful about it.
 
#168
I do finger exercises unplugged before gigs, but not really "practice". I like to plug in for practice....so I can actually hear the tone/sound, buzzes, slop, etc., that I might miss unplugged.
 
#170
StatesideRambler said:
So, if you tend to pluck harder when you’re not plugged into an amp or headphones are you aware that you’re doing that? Several of you have said that you are. Just what are you “practicing” if you’re oblivious to or you’re not correcting such a serious bad habit? You know you’re playing in a way that’s either wrong or not helpful to your playing, so DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! e.g. It’s not only about hearing yourself, you should develop awareness of your touch (both hands) when playing.
Click to expand...
I don't play any different unplugged, because I can hear myself just fine.
 
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#171
Always, No hard attack, and my wife still hears every mistake I make ... Even when she's in another room (Why did I ever married a music teacher? :banghead: ) :laugh:

FWIW: I like the sound of my unplugged #1 Bass so much, I try to mimic it with my amp setting.... And yes, unplugged it still sounds as a Ray.
 
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#173
bassrique said:
Yes, but to develop proper muting, you'll need to plug and play.

When I first started playing, I didn't even have an amp and I played for about a year and I thought I was pretty good, however when I plugged in it was a disaster. I quickly discovered that much of playing is what you're not playing.
Click to expand...
Well who said anything about all your practicing being unplugged?

maybe somebody did, but if that happened I missed it.
 
#174
I always practice plugged in, mostly with headphones. My reasoning is that I want every string perfectly muted except the note I am playing and it is not possible to hear to that accuracy unplugged.

If I ever got to the point of having perfect instinctive muting technique then I’d loosen up, but that is very unlikely!
 
#175
I used to do this. But then I came to discover that it was a "mistake" - at least for my goals. Unplugged you tend to play much harder with both hands than you need to for proper technique and you'll also generate lots of unwanted noise and note bleeding.

I'd say to play with an amp and learn to play with a light tough and to control the dynamics and length of your notes and to play with a clean sound.
 
#176
Learning songs at home is about my only use for my acoustic bass. Its nice to be able to just grab it without have to plug in etc.
I find playing an electric bass unplugged doesn't give enough feedback to make practicing that way worthwhile.
 
#177
KerrywAZ1 said:
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.
Click to expand...

New to the "house"...
I do if I just want to plunk around. Usually I plug in to plunk...
 
#179
Sometimes I do, but it just sounds ughh.... I usually plug in to practice because it gives me just a bit more feedback on what I'm playing. The basses I own have pretty resonant bodies so it's not that I don't hear anything, but it's just differrent. Since I play bass in a (hard) rock band and a Gothic Metal kinda band it just doesn't cut it, I guess.
 

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