Organizing Practice

[jblmusic1994]

I recently bought an app for my iPhone that allows me to keep track and organize my practice time.
I mainly just like the idea of looking back on how much I practiced pieces.
I was just wanting some suggestions of how to organize it.

So far I have "electric bass" and "piano". The two main instruments I practice on.
I can make as many sub-groups as needed.
Any suggestions?
Example: under "electric bass" could be "technical practice" and under that could be "scales" and "arpeggios".
Just looking for friendly advice.

Thanks.

 

[carldogs]

Your practice routine would change as you progress, new projects that you would have to learn and focusing on week points in your playing would change what you do.
As a start divide your practice up into sections of about 15 mins per section and take short break after 30 or 45 mins, this will help you keep your concentration.

15 mins warm up exercises like spider patern and chromatic runs.

15 mins scales, modes.

15 mins arpeggios up and down the neck and in modes from a single key, for example in the key of G; Gmaj7, Amin7, Bmin7, Cmaj7, D7, Emin7, F# half dim 7.

15 min timing exercises with metronome, building up speed and also slowing down, learning to keep very slow rhythms solid and in time.

15 mins note reading.

End practice with learning and playing songs.

Make notes of week points that need to be worked on and given extra time for. Example; 1) Slow rhythms
2) Note reading

This is really a guide to get you started, if there is a book you are working through that would form part of your practice, keep notes of page numbers to work on, metronome settings and problem areas that need more attention or advice from a teacher to correct.

Best of luck.

 

[jblmusic1994]

Your practice routine would change as you progress, new projects that you would have to learn and focusing on week points in your playing would change what you do.
As a start divide your practice up into sections of about 15 mins per section and take short break after 30 or 45 mins, this will help you keep your concentration.

15 mins warm up exercises like spider patern and chromatic runs.

15 mins scales, modes.

15 mins arpeggios up and down the neck and in modes from a single key, for example in the key of G; Gmaj7, Amin7, Bmin7, Cmaj7, D7, Emin7, F# half dim 7.

15 min timing exercises with metronome, building up speed and also slowing down, learning to keep very slow rhythms solid and in time.

15 mins note reading.

End practice with learning and playing songs.

Make notes of week points that need to be worked on and given extra time for. Example; 1) Slow rhythms
2) Note reading

This is really a guide to get you started, if there is a book you are working through that would form part of your practice, keep notes of page numbers to work on, metronome settings and problem areas that need more attention or advice from a teacher to correct.

Best of luck.

Thanks for your input!
How specific should my routine be? (Subgenres)
Should I keep track of how long in a day I practice scales and arpeggios? Or should I keep track of them separately?

Example:
-Today I practiced scales for 15 minutes and arpeggios for minutes.

Or

-Today I practiced scales and arpeggios for 30 minutes.

 

[ChunkyMunky]

Thanks for your input!
How specific should my routine be? (Subgenres)
Should I keep track of how long in a day I practice scales and arpeggios? Or should I keep track of them separately?

Example:
-Today I practiced scales for 15 minutes and arpeggios for minutes.

Or

-Today I practiced scales and arpeggios for 30 minutes.

A Cmaj7 arpeggio is going to be the same in Jazz as it would be in Reggae. If you're referring to specific genre studies, why not study the greats and see how they composed their bits and pieces? I do this as part of practice away from an instrument, personally. I like to call "Active Listening".

 

[MalcolmAmos]

A practice time table depends on your personality. Of the four basic personalities types two of them will welcome a time table and two of them could care less.

I'm one of the latter two.

 

[carldogs]

Thanks for your input!
How specific should my routine be? (Subgenres)
Should I keep track of how long in a day I practice scales and arpeggios? Or should I keep track of them separately?

Example:
-Today I practiced scales for 15 minutes and arpeggios for minutes.

Or

-Today I practiced scales and arpeggios for 30 minutes.

I like to split them up, the times are a guide one would adjust them to suit your needs. The reason I split scales and arpeggios is; with scales I work on a key for 2 or 3 days at a time then go on to the next one, so I list the key I'm working on.
With arpeggios I work on shapes so I note the shape I'm working on ie; min7 from index finger position
min7 from pinky position
I practice arpeggios ascending, descending then combined (going up one then down the next working up and back down the neck)
If I practice arpeggios from the modes of a single key I'll try combine the shapes as much as I can.

If you would like me to TAB the shapes I'll put them in a reply.

 

[Dug2]

Could u tab that out for us carl? Thanks man

 

[carldogs]

Sure, these are 7th arpeggios, the numbers represent fingers and start from the 5th fret (A on E string) to show the shapes.

AMaj7

G |------|------|------|------|------|------|------|------|
D |------|------|------|------|------|---3--|------|------|
A |------|------|------|---1--|------|------|---4--|------|
E |------|------|------|------|---2--|------|------|------|


A7

G |------|------|------|------|------|------|------|------|
D |------|------|------|------|---2--|------|------|------|
A |------|------|------|---1--|------|------|---4--|------|
E |------|------|------|------|---2--|------|------|------|


A7 pinky position

G |------|------|------|------|------|------|------|------|
D |------|---1--|------|------|---4--|------|------|------|
A |------|------|------|---3--|------|------|------|------|
E |------|------|------|------|---4--|------|------|------|


Amin7 index finger position

G |------|------|------|------|------|------|------|------|
D |------|------|------|------|---1--|------|------|------|
A |------|------|------|------|------|------|---3--|------|
E |------|------|------|------|---1--|------|------|---4--|


Amin7 pinky position

G |------|------|------|------|------|------|------|------|
D |------|---1--|------|------|---4--|------|------|------|
A |------|------|---2--|------|------|------|------|------|
E |------|------|------|------|---4--|------|------|------|


A half dim7 index finger position


G |------|------|------|------|------|------|------|------|
D |------|------|------|------|---1--|------|------|------|
A |------|------|------|------|------|---2--|------|------|
E |------|------|------|------|---1--|------|------|---4--|


A half dim7 ring finger position

G |------|------|------|------|------|------|------|------|
D |------|------|------|------|---3--|------|------|------|
A |------|------|---1--|------|------|---4--|------|------|
E |------|------|------|------|---3--|------|------|------|


Adim7 index finger position (strech for bb7)

G |------|------|------|------|------|------|------|------|
D |------|------|------|---1--|------|------|------|------|
A |------|------|------|------|------|---2--|------|------|
E |------|------|------|------|---1--|------|------|---4--|


Adim7 ring finger position

G |------|------|------|------|------|------|------|------|
D |------|------|------|---2--|------|------|------|------|
A |------|------|---1--|------|------|---4--|------|------|
E |------|------|------|------|---3--|------|------|------|


Below the 3rd fret paterns from the index and middle finger would need to be used along with open strings on some of the arpeggios, above that these shapes are moveable starting from the E or A string.

Hope this will help.

 

[Dug2]

Thanks my man

 

[LM Bass]

I don't mean to be preachy (though it is Sunday morning here) but here's a few thoughts:

A private teacher who is educated and really organized is the best way to spend your money. Don't get a new bass, or some pedals, save up for a few lessons with the best teacher in your area.

For my students, I always like to give a set of tasks, and ignore the clock. Play Ab major in 6ths today, practise your new right hand technique today, learn to play "Bernadette" this week, find a new song you want to learn and start transcribing it. The clock is only there to remind you to take a mini-break every 20 minutes or so. You want to have a series of tasks that you can say "mission accomplished" to.

 

[jblmusic1994]

I don't mean to be preachy (though it is Sunday morning here) but here's a few thoughts:

A private teacher who is educated and really organized is the best way to spend your money. Don't get a new bass, or some pedals, save up for a few lessons with the best teacher in your area.

For my students, I always like to give a set of tasks, and ignore the clock. Play Ab major in 6ths today, practise your new right hand technique today, learn to play "Bernadette" this week, find a new song you want to learn and start transcribing it. The clock is only there to remind you to take a mini-break every 20 minutes or so. You want to have a series of tasks that you can say "mission accomplished" to.

I think I'm definitely past the point of a private teacher. At least one I could find anywhere near me.
I just really enjoy looking back at my playing.

 

[mistah_pynk]

So since this forum is the first one I found that mentioned what I am looking for, is genre studies mainly listening and trying to figure out what they are playing, covering a little ea training too? I watched a Scott Devine video where he mentioned it but didn't really explain what it entails. Like, is it learning licks, or songs or a little bit of everything?

 

[fearceol]

So since this forum is the first one I found that mentioned what I am looking for, is genre studies mainly listening and trying to figure out what they are playing, covering a little ea training too? I watched a Scott Devine video where he mentioned it but didn't really explain what it entails. Like, is it learning licks, or songs or a little bit of everything?

Instead of resurrecting a five year old thread, you might get more answers by starting a new one.

 

[mistah_pynk]

Instead of resurrecting a five year old thread, you might get more answers by starting a new one.

Yeah I saw the date i posted it lol. Thank you, with do.