• 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 Much Do You Practice?

#82
For more years than I can count, i wake every morning at 3:00 am so i can get in 1-1.5 hours in before work. "Practice" usually takes about a quarter of my playing time and includes warm-up and exploring a different key or technique. The rest of the time is for exploring ideas, working them out and just jamming...
 
#85
Rarely. Usually if I need to learn a new song with unfamiliar licks and have to get them in my muscle memory. I was Blessed by the Lord with the ability to pick up music very quickly. "Hum a few bars and I'll fake it" if you will. Not trying to sound arrogant but I've always found practicing at home by myself boring (unless I need to learn something difficult). In some ways I envy people that practice a lot by themselves but it's just not me. I enjoy the interaction with other players in a band and that's where I prefer to practice.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MonetBass
#86
TerribleTim68 said:
I'm sure this has been debated a million times, and I know a bunch of you are going to say "If you can't dedicate the time required then you shouldn't bother...." But seriously, for those of you who play as a hobby, guys who are NOT in a band, have no intentions of playing live, just like to sit at home and noodle on a chunk of wood, how much do you really practice? How often do you pick it up and how long do you goof around on it before you set it back down?

I'm not looking for any sort of "This is how long you need to do this" answer. I'm just curious. My days of playing in a band are long behind me. Been there, done that. Now days I just occasionally like to sit in my room and thump out some notes or goof around on some rhythm I came up with in my head at 2am when I couldn't sleep. I work a full time job, have a wife who I like to spend time with and have some other hobbies that eat up some time too. I'm just curious, of the guys out there like me, how much do you sit down and play, and for how long?

And to cap it off, for the guys like me who are NOT in a band actively playing and have no intentions of going down that road, where do you turn for improving your skills? Or do you bother with instruction at all?
Click to expand...
I practice as much as I need to. I intend on practicing everyday. However, in my life anyway, that's not possible. So I usually practice about 3 nights during the week (M-F) for about 3-4 hours at a time. On the weekends I go hog wild and usually practice from around 11:30pm until I start getting goofy tired... 3 or 4am.
 
#87
I usually play a couple 4 hour gigs a week, so I guess I'm not the target of the OP. I play 30 to 60 minutes a day, about 80% bass and the rest split between guitar and synth, or occasionally percussion/drums. Sometimes I take a few days off if I'm really stagnating.
 
#88
I actually "practice" more when I am in between projects. While I am in an (original) band most of my limited practice time outside of rehearsals is focused on writing new material and keeping sharp on the bass parts for the band's set. I don't usually do much work on my technical abilities unless it is necessary in order to comfortably play a particular bass part in one of the band's tunes. If I am not in a band, I'll typically brush up on theory and do more intricate technical work since I'm not spending time on rehearsals or any particular band's songs.
 
  • Like
Reactions: onda'bass
#90
I would love to practice for at least an hour a day, but all life affords me with all my other competing priorities and hobbies is around 15-30 minutes a day...more on the weekends.

If I'm in the rotation to play in church on a given Sunday, I'll shift priorities and some other things fall by the wayside for a few days while I prep for the upcoming Sunday's set list.
 
#91
eJake said:
I used to run a practice log. It really helped me measure if I was doing the work that I set out to do.

Now I set goals for the week and check in every Monday to see if I met/failed my goals for the previous week.

I switched methods because the log, though great for telling me what I had accomplished, told me nothing about what I set out to accomplish in the first place.
Click to expand...

I know what you mean. Practice without a goal will kind of leave you hanging. I guess my goal is to apply what I'm studying to actual music instead of just playing exercises but that's easier said than done.
 
  • Like
Reactions: eJake
#94
Not enough.

However, I must begin stepping up very soon. I just joined a new orchestra/jazz band and was given a few songs I need to learn. They provided sheet music which I've already printed so I just need to sit down with them for awhile. I'm looking forward to this. Having played rock & metal pretty much all of my music past, I wanted to step out of my comfort zone attempt something different.
 
  • Like
Reactions: wesonbass and MonetBass
#95
I've been learning for 6 months now. I do not yet play in a band.
I practice between 45 min and 1.5h every day.
I also take lessons, an hour every week. My teacher says I'm progressing quickly. I take his word for it, since I don't really have a point of comparison.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back