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newbie help

L

liquidation

Feb 1, 2010
15
0
#1
As a newbie how long would you advise I practice a day? Then how much would you advise I increase my practise, say over the next year? I have pretty much unlimited time to practise and I am very keen, but I dont want to injure myself.
My aim is to eventually play around 6 hours a day, spread over three chunks, thanks
 
#2
Proper stretching and warm up exercises are the way to go to prevent injuries. Listen to your body, if something starts to hurt STOP!! Your endurance will build up naturally.

Hope this helps,
smogg
 
#3
Logical question is do you have an instructor/teacher, are you currently in a band ? When you are in a band then many hours of practice is not possible. Point is the bass is an ensamble instrument, so the quicker you are playing with other people the better. Music minus one is great as well.....................;)
 
#4
20 hours a day practising the wrong stuff will hurt more than it helps.

Go out and buy the 'rock bass' series by David Overthrow and not only will you learn the fundamentals including what AND how to practice, but at the end of it all you will have a sound musical education.

Good luck.
 
#5
Before I retired I was involved with adult education. Long sessions do not lend themselves to increased learning. It would be best to break your practice into shorter segments - I did not teach music so I bow to those that do to give you the recommended time per segment. Here is a Sticky on the subject http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=79878

I never went more than an hour and a half before calling a break. During that time period I would have had at least one group discussion to keep the students focused.

I know you are excited right now, but, that schedule will lead to burn out. Practicing for the sake of practicing is not the goal.

Slow down and enjoy you bass. :bassist:
 
#7
Length of practice ╪ great musician

What you practice matters. +100 on getting a good bass instructor.

There's theory, standard notation, sight reading, ear training, scales along with learning tunes, riffs, etc. Here's one method of practice that may help: http://www.joesolomonbassworkshop.com/article.htm

Playing in a band/jamming(and recording your performances) is probably the best way to test what you've learned. Otherwise you may become a "legend in your own mind if you stay in your room"! :bassist:

Since you're so new to the whole music thing, planning such long practices is counter productive. Music is to be enjoyed; even practicing should not tax you physically or mentally. Rehearsing with a band helps a lot.

Since learning is a life-long process, playing steady for 30 years will be better than getting burned out after a year or two. It's not a race.

The better you define your goals, the more focused your practice will become.
Good luck.

P.S. You might want to check out the links in my sig. below for some excellent TB bass info that may help you along the way.

P.P.S Let us know how it's going. Check back in every month.
 
#8
To avoid potential physical injury later on, make sure you master good L/H and R/H technique first. You wont have any problems when your practice time starts to increase, if your technique is good. A teacher would be best for this, otherwise check out You Tube. Also, as "smogg" says, warm up (and down) exercises and gentle stretches are also crucial.
 

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