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Playing versus practicing for new players

Billyzoom

Billyzoom

Supporting Member
Mar 1, 2011
856
1,313
Bay Area
#1
I've played guitar off and on for a good amount of years, and took up bass a couple years ago. I studied with a teacher for about 6 months, then stopped playing altogether. I have a basic understanding of theory and chord construction.

Last month I decided to pick up the bass again. What I did this time, rather than seek a teacher immediately, was just try to play along with music.

I created a playlist for a family party that was R&B heavy, but included "simpler" stuff like Stax and oldies as well as more funk oriented stuff like EWF, Ohio Players, TOP, etc. After trying to play along with one or two songs, I decided to try and play along with every song as they shuffled. No skipping. Occasionally a song would be too far above my head, but I generally push myself to just try to get the basic framework of the song.

I'm finding I am enjoying playing bass much more than I did the first time, and I'm progressing pretty well. I know I'm just getting the framework of many of these songs, as I'm already finding lots of subtleties that I missed the first few times around. But I'll keep challenging myself. But I found it interesting that when I pushed myself, I could generally get the gist of the song and sound decent.

For me, the trick was learning and playing stuff that appealed to me, and making myself try to go beyond my ability. One of the first songs I had to try was "I want you back" by the Jackson 5. I tried for 2-3 minutes, then SKIP. Next time it came up, SKIP. The next time, I made myself keep trying and I learned it enough to get enjoyment, get through the whole song and sound decent.

The bottom line is that I know I'll want to seek out a teacher again (and will soon), but the first time around I think I focused too much on studying and not enough on playing. And I just didn't get enough enjoyment out of it.

Keep in mind I know that playing to some degree can be interpreted as practicing, teachers are a good thing, etc. I'm not trying to get into that. And I'm not saying "don't get a teacher", or any other "either/or" stuff. Just that I didn't try to play enough and now that I am, I'm progressing much faster, my ear is getting much better, and I'm having more fun. And that is what I want.

Thoughts? Did any of you find yourselves in a similar boat? How do you balance the two?

Either way, I'm really excited about the bass, and I haven't picked up my guitar since. Ha.
 
#2
Pushing yourself just beyond your ability is one of the keys to making progress. I've used a similar method to yours too and it does work.
But, if you really want to take your playing to the next level, join a band with players that are better than you. When I did that, I had a stressful first month or two, but my playing progressed immensely.
 
#3
Billyzoom said:
I've played guitar off and on for a good amount of years, and took up bass a couple years ago. I studied with a teacher for about 6 months, then stopped playing altogether. I have a basic understanding of theory and chord construction.

Last month I decided to pick up the bass again. What I did this time, rather than seek a teacher immediately, was just try to play along with music.

I created a playlist for a family party that was R&B heavy, but included "simpler" stuff like Stax and oldies as well as more funk oriented stuff like EWF, Ohio Players, TOP, etc. After trying to play along with one or two songs, I decided to try and play along with every song as they shuffled. No skipping. Occasionally a song would be too far above my head, but I generally push myself to just try to get the basic framework of the song.

I'm finding I am enjoying playing bass much more than I did the first time, and I'm progressing pretty well. I know I'm just getting the framework of many of these songs, as I'm already finding lots of subtleties that I missed the first few times around. But I'll keep challenging myself. But I found it interesting that when I pushed myself, I could generally get the gist of the song and sound decent.

For me, the trick was learning and playing stuff that appealed to me, and making myself try to go beyond my ability. One of the first songs I had to try was "I want you back" by the Jackson 5. I tried for 2-3 minutes, then SKIP. Next time it came up, SKIP. The next time, I made myself keep trying and I learned it enough to get enjoyment, get through the whole song and sound decent.

The bottom line is that I know I'll want to seek out a teacher again (and will soon), but the first time around I think I focused too much on studying and not enough on playing. And I just didn't get enough enjoyment out of it.

Keep in mind I know that playing to some degree can be interpreted as practicing, teachers are a good thing, etc. I'm not trying to get into that. And I'm not saying "don't get a teacher", or any other "either/or" stuff. Just that I didn't try to play enough and now that I am, I'm progressing much faster, my ear is getting much better, and I'm having more fun. And that is what I want.

Thoughts? Did any of you find yourselves in a similar boat? How do you balance the two?

Either way, I'm really excited about the bass, and I haven't picked up my guitar since. Ha.
Click to expand...
practice is still important.....the better you know things the faster you can call them up when you need them when playing....i find i can run through a lot of that stuff on auto pilot while doing other things ......maybe think about converting that basic understanding of theory/chords to a master thesis.....to me the better i play,the more fun i have....
 
#4
Great way to develop your ear! I spent most of my teens picking apart entire albums that way.
But I think you will make really good progress by playing with people. Players that are good. Players that you can learn from and be challenged by in a live setting. Join a band, man!
 
#6
Agreed with all of the above. The only thing I would add is to find a teacher that is strong on technique. Been playing for 35 years and learned much from other musicians and instructors, but never had a good teacher for technique. When I began taking cello lessons a few years ago there was so much focus on my hands, positions, muscles, even breathing! I began to transfer those concepts to the bass guitar and found my playing and primarily, my consistency improve at a greater rate. These are the areas I've found to be lacking with many of my students who come to me for help. Happy to drum up some resources for you if you're interested, but gotta go get my kids up for school:-). Press on!
 
#7
Learning songs by ear and playing them with your friends is the #1 most important musical skill. Everything else is just icing on the cake. I'd encourage you to take lessons and learn theory in addition to your current practice regimen, but it sounds like you are already heading down the right path!
 
#8
why is there "VS" in the title of the thread? It's not like you must opt for one or the other.

learning by ear is awesome, no question. but after you learn this way, you can "balance playing vs practicing" by asking questions

What are the chords of the song? how does this bass line support these chords?
what notes are roots, which are other chord tones, passing tones, which are chromatic? where are the arpeggios?
What key is the song in? Can I play it in another key? Can I play it in all keys?
Can I notate this rhythm? Is it using any common rhythmic ideas?

great questions to challenge yourself, as well as bring to a teacher, to keep your lessons from becoming "practice"
 
#10
mambo4 said:
why is there "VS" in the title of the thread? It's not like you must opt for one or the other.

learning by ear is awesome, no question. but after you learn this way, you can "balance playing vs practicing" by asking questions

What are the chords of the song? how does this bass line support these chords?
what notes are roots, which are other chord tones, passing tones, which are chromatic? where are the arpeggios?
What key is the song in? Can I play it in another key? Can I play it in all keys?
Can I notate this rhythm? Is it using any common rhythmic ideas?

great questions to challenge yourself, as well as bring to a teacher, to keep your lessons from becoming "practice"
Click to expand...


Not only that .. with the right tools "practicing" .. even soemthing as mundane as scales can become fun. I use the rhythm section on my B3 when I practice scales and it opens up a whole different dimension .. It kind of prompts me to try to play the scales musically in a groove.. and makes it a lot of fun... instead of a routine drudge.
 

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