Is this too much

i practice every moment i can get. it is hard to practice that much when you get out of school & get a job so i would say do as much as you can now. you won't regret it.

 

If you want to teach, working on theory, different techniques and formal ear training are also very beneficial.

 

I wouldn't say it's too much - just make sure you're practicing the right techniques and whatnot, otherwise your muscle memory would be set playing something the wrong way.

With 3 hours a day to practice, I'd set up a routine, like 30 minutes playing scales. 30 minutes playing arpeggio/runs. 30 minutes playing chords & melody. 1 hour playing along with music. etc etc. doesn't have to be that - but just as an example. better than 3 hours of noodling.

Wish I had 3 hours a WEEK to practice sometimes!

 

Learn how to read and sing too, if you have time. Transcribing bass lines is an essential part of getting a "vocabulary" but it's not all there is to it.

Becuse you are transcribing Jaco's and Stu's pieces by ear, right ?

 

It is not too much, but make some warm ups and stretches, otherwise you can get some real bad problems on your body and then you won't be able to play at all. If you feel pain in your tendons on anywhere else, stop right away and only play again when the pain is completely gone. Also, eat bananas, they help to avoid tendonitis.

 

An old Jazz pro I took lessons from said a being a musician is no different from any other job you need to play 40 hours a week. That breaks down to about 20 hours a week gigging and 20 hours a week practicing. So three hours a day six days a week you're in the ballpark.

Actually the amount of time isn't as important as how much of that is quality focused practice. Some talk about long hours of practice but get nowhere because they are noodling around, and in general just going thru the motions. So if your getting more than an hour serious practice that is great.

Keep a practice journal and log what you are doing, tempo, and other pertinent info. That helps you cover everything in your plan even if you stop short one day and pickup from that point the next. Also it will show your progress. Those times you feel you not making progress you can look at your journal and see you have progressed.

 

Huge +1. There's a huge difference between constantly challenging yourself and working on your problem areas and just playing.

 

Really...you are healthy and you didn't know There are some other things to eat too. It is the potassium that helps, so it is not necessarily bananas. But bananas are ok, they don't taste that bad.

 

Don't forget to take some breaks. About every 45 mins, get up and do some stretching.
Walk around some and drink some water.

Be sure to use a metronome.

Also, make of list of the all the things you want to learn (and at what tempo) and set up a practice plan.
When you move on to new things, spend part of the time cycling through all the previous things.

If you make a simple worksheet:

Practice Item ! 6/20--6/21---6/22---6/23--6/24--6/25--6/26
--------------------------------------------------------------
Scales______!______!______!______!____!_____!_____!______!


It not only is a plan but becomes your journal as you check off each item, day by day.

 

Don't knock transcribing silly stuff. I've transcribed a lot of Christmas carols, jingles, famous broadway songs because:

a) They're memorable and you usually have the melody ingrained in your head after a few listen.
b) You learn how to write more melodic lines (how to have your bass lines ingrain in the head of your listenenrs).
c) It's easier so you don't get frustrated (everyone has to start somewhere).
d) It'll make it easier later on for relative pitch recognition (Top Gun anthem = perfect 4th for example)

Also, transcribing grooving basslines from a band setting will show you the role of the bass player in most music. Solo pieces aren't all that useful in that regard. Jamerson, is especially important. He is the Paul Chambers of R&B.

 

That's a great amount of time!!

Just follow the recommendations above for practice routines.

 

I have never seen it, but I don't think it is a bad thing. The good thing about "landing" on the next string is that you mute this string, so you don't get ugly notes.

 

The thing is that you limit your playing by muting with your left had. You will find a lot of things that you won't be able to play that way. It depends on how far you want your skills to go, if you want to be a really technically proficient musician, stop doing it and do it the usual way.