Practicing As A Beginner ?

[Mikel9478]

Everyone has been a huge help with my prior posts so I figured id see if I could get a bit of direction on this one. I've just started playing and would like some insight to getting better. My goal is to get better overall. Thanks to all for any help.

 

[Jay-Double-You]

Divide your practice time into several section:
For example: warmup, rhythm, scales, technique and songs/licks.
Find for each section material to practice. I like to use different books. Everyday I have new exercises.
Use a metronome. Start slow. You notice that you learn if you can do it faster and faster (its not a race though). Play with backing tracks.
Find a teacher to get inspiration, who can check your technique and provide material.
Find other musicians to play together.

 

[jvanoort]

Like above. And also always be aware wether you are in Practice mode or in Play mode!
Be critical towards yourself in practice mode, but have fun and play in Play mode!

 

[Gurnmagic]

Listen to all different flavors of music, especially songs you’ve never heard before. If you got a voice sing what you play and play what you sing. Take some piano lessons. Find a drummer you like and start grooving!

 

[Phil Smith]

Take advantage of as many opportunities to play with other people as you can. Even if you suck, it will benefit you because you learn what you need to know to function in a situation making music with other people.

 

[Malcolm35]

Ditto the above, we learn playing with other musicians. So, play with others, live if you can, taped, CD, etc if you have to. IMO better to do one thing well than to suck at a bunch of stuff.

My point. If they play Country where you live learn how to play Country. Jazz, Pop, Rock, etc. can be in your toolbox, but, get what musicians in your area are doing, first.

Happy trails.

 

[mambo4]

Songs, always be learning songs, complete from start to finish.
As you practice scales and arpeggios , and learn components of theory,
you will start to recognize them in the songs you know
and even be able to translate ideas form one song to another

It's the one thing I wish I had done more early on.
Actually its learning to read but learning a ton of songs is a close second

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

Everyone has been a huge help with my prior posts so I figured id see if I could get a bit of direction on this one. I've just started playing and would like some insight to getting better. My goal is to get better overall. Thanks to all for any help.

If you're for real big picture serious, study music as a whole with bass as your primary. Learn to read and write. The theory and all that. That's a lifelong study. It's an end in itself, but it will give back.

 

[Snarf]

Everyone has been a huge help with my prior posts so I figured id see if I could get a bit of direction on this one. I've just started playing and would like some insight to getting better. My goal is to get better overall. Thanks to all for any help.

In my experience, getting better is usually achieved by improving on the instrument.