Mental Practice . . . Without a Bass?

[Mcabe]

you guys are WAY smarter then I am LMAO !!! I play by ear more then anything.

I mostly play by ear/feel, but recently I have been trying to learn theory as well. The problem is that when I have my bass in my hands, I prefer playing over studying theory or drilling myself. I am glad to hear that others find these mental exercises useful. Has the added benefit of making my runs go faster too!

 

[CenTexThumper]

I quite often listen to music, on radio and in my head, and mentally visualize my left hand. It just goes with the territory. I'm always playing bass, if only in my mind.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

While on a run this morning I was playing a game where I would look for musical notes on the license plates of cars that I passed. Then I would imagine the bass, and find that note on each of the strings. Then from the last note I would work down the fret board and name each note on that fret.

For example, car with license plate JBM-634. Find B: seventh fret - fourth string, 2nd fret - third string, ninth fret - second string, fourth fret - first string. On the fourth fret going down (1st to 4th string) notes are B, F-sharp, C-sharp, G-sharp.

This is likely pretty basic for many of you, but have you ever tried mental practice like this? Find it useful, or should I just go back to thinking about gear on my runs?

JBM 634

Just B Minor for 6 minutes and 34 seconds

 

[Dis Tournear]

While on a run this morning I was playing a game where I would look for musical notes on the license plates of cars that I passed. Then I would imagine the bass, and find that note on each of the strings. Then from the last note I would work down the fret board and name each note on that fret.

For example, car with license plate JBM-634. Find B: seventh fret - fourth string, 2nd fret - third string, ninth fret - second string, fourth fret - first string. On the fourth fret going down (1st to 4th string) notes are B, F-sharp, C-sharp, G-sharp.

This is likely pretty basic for many of you, but have you ever tried mental practice like this? Find it useful, or should I just go back to thinking about gear on my runs?

Music theory is very valuable for most musicians. If you don't have some sort of understanding of it you will be limited, but still maybe awesome I have no clue. It can't hurt and it can only help. Learn to read etc.

 

[themickster]

While on a run this morning I was playing a game where I would look for musical notes on the license plates of cars that I passed. Then I would imagine the bass, and find that note on each of the strings. Then from the last note I would work down the fret board and name each note on that fret.

For example, car with license plate JBM-634. Find B: seventh fret - fourth string, 2nd fret - third string, ninth fret - second string, fourth fret - first string. On the fourth fret going down (1st to 4th string) notes are B, F-sharp, C-sharp, G-sharp.

This is likely pretty basic for many of you, but have you ever tried mental practice like this? Find it useful, or should I just go back to thinking about gear on my runs?

That would be healthy for your mind. Keep with it.

 

[cnltb]

While on a run this morning I was playing a game where I would look for musical notes on the license plates of cars that I passed. Then I would imagine the bass, and find that note on each of the strings. Then from the last note I would work down the fret board and name each note on that fret.

For example, car with license plate JBM-634. Find B: seventh fret - fourth string, 2nd fret - third string, ninth fret - second string, fourth fret - first string. On the fourth fret going down (1st to 4th string) notes are B, F-sharp, C-sharp, G-sharp.

This is likely pretty basic for many of you, but have you ever tried mental practice like this? Find it useful, or should I just go back to thinking about gear on my runs?

Sounds realy good!

 

[zubrycky]

Cool thread!

BTW, the instrument is an illusion.

 

[Dis Tournear]

Sounds realy good!

Save some of that attention span for dumb people in cars. They run people over and some how it isn't their fault!

 

[cnltb]

Save some of that attention span for dumb people in cars. They run people over and some how it isn't their fault!

Obviously

 

[Dis Tournear]

Cell phones are a god given right!?!

 

[-Asdfgh-]

While on a run this morning I was playing a game where I would look for musical notes on the license plates of cars that I passed. Then I would imagine the bass, and find that note on each of the strings. Then from the last note I would work down the fret board and name each note on that fret.

For example, car with license plate JBM-634. Find B: seventh fret - fourth string, 2nd fret - third string, ninth fret - second string, fourth fret - first string. On the fourth fret going down (1st to 4th string) notes are B, F-sharp, C-sharp, G-sharp.

This is likely pretty basic for many of you, but have you ever tried mental practice like this? Find it useful, or should I just go back to thinking about gear on my runs?

If listening to music, I will often 'play along' in my head.

 

[bolophonic]

I use “creative visualization” to practice in my head all the time. I’m not into the interval training/theory side of it, as much as I am the “muscle memory” memorization end of things, but I can definitely attest to the idea that you don’t need a bass in your hand in order to keep improving, but it still requires focus and attention.

 

[Plain Old Barry]

This is likely pretty basic for many of you, but have you ever tried mental practice like this? Find it useful, or should I just go back to thinking about gear on my runs?

Absolutely useful! It's similar to flash cards. Random prompts can be very helpful memorizing things.

License plates I passed while driving and cycling are how I learned the phonetic alphabet during pilot training. Very similar to what you're doing, I'd see BEZ-604, and recite Bravo Echo Zulu. It worked great.

You could also use the numbers. Using my plate above, name all the notes at the 6th and 4th fret. I'm assuming the open strings are known.

 

[ceetee]

I like the radomness in your exercise. By taking notes from a licenseplate you train flexibility by random starting points instead of kinda saying a prayer by heart.

I love mental exercises. I remember the first time I could tie my shoelaces one morning after dreaming about tying my laces.

 

[Honkey tonk]

I play finger ramp triggers / bass cab in my head whilst driving , I concentrate mostly on drums , "can play that not this" yada yada...

 

[Smooth_bass88]

There is probably some sort of benefit to doing mental exercises without a bass in your hand, but ultimately you have to pick one up and play it for many many hours to be a good player.

 

[mambo4]

ultimately you have to pick one up and play it for many many hours to be a good player.

True but how many hours do you spend not holding a bass that can be put to musical pursuit?

 

[Dis Tournear]

That would be a shame, they are still fine musical instruments that you can probably sell for = or more than what you paid for it so decent investment thats meant to be played and maintained.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

True but how many hours do you spend not holding a bass that can be put to musical pursuit?

not exactly sure. I'm usually out playing 3-5 nights a week plus I practice a lot at home. Part of that practice may be listening to a song over and over as to memorize it before a show. But in terms of 'mental practice' of music (as the OP puts it), you can only do this so much. You'll never build finger dexterity, muscle memory and/or solid technique unless you put in hard time with the bass in your hands.

 

[Dis Tournear]

I would just consider it as an effort to learn more when ever you can. You can't rely upon this alone of course. Its something you can do anywhere. That's the good part. You know your cycle of 5ths and all sigs? Get crackin ....