Interesting advice from Richard Bona

[Dr. Cheese]

https://youtube.com/shorts/mI9iRDA-Mbg?feature=share

I can sing stuff and play it, but I am no Richard Bona!

 

[fretlessbass]

….And when I ascend to Richard Bona's heights, I'm 100% confident that I will be able to practice without MY bass!
However, I can't even think—about anything at all—as fast and fluidly as Mr. Bona can make music.
No wonder the interviewer is laughing: he, too, is a mere mortal.

 

[mahsidivad]

….And when I ascend to Richard Bona's heights, I'm 100% confident that I will be able to practice without MY bass!
However, I can't even think—about anything at all—as fast and fluidly as Mr. Bona can make music.
No wonder the interviewer is laughing: he, too, is a mere mortal.

I am no Richard Bona either but visualization is a great practice aide. I know there are folks out there who can't visualize anything (another fascinating topic altogether, but off-topic for TB) but you should try it nonetheless.

Cue up a song you know inside out (I'd usually do this while driving-highway zone, it falls apart if I were backing into a spot). Whether you know it or not, you're already in a heightened state of concentration and it's not a place where you can actually practice, so a great use of downtime. Then, (eyes on the road) visualize the notes you'd play without moving fingers (or with if that's too much). 10 & 2 on wheel and think about your attack, where your plucking hand is (near neck or bridge), etc. Depending on how well you know a song or instrument, advance to visualizing without the music playing, then without a song at all, write your own basslines, songs, in your head...

I've fortified my preparedness many times helping me nail songs I've just barely learned on the bass, imagining playing while driving.