Practicing while on vacation/bassless

[PlanetNewJersey]

I almost never see my drummer without his drumsticks. In the classroom, at lunch, in the park- pretty much anywhere but church, he's got them with him. Recently, while he and I were at World Youth Day in Poland, I was watching him practice on his backpack. It made me wonder if there are any good ways to practice bass without having a real bass around. I suppose there's timing exercises, but is there anything else worth doing? I understand drumming on a backpack is a lot different than a drumkit, but at least he gets feel the sticks in his hands.
Thanks

 

[RoadRanger]

You do know about finger exercises?

 

[Remyd]

My kids think my right hand has some kind of neurological twitch from all the finger exercises. It's almost second nature anymore.

 

[RoadRanger]

Drives my wife nuts LOL.

 

[PlanetNewJersey]

I can't say I'm familiar with ones that don't require a bass. What would you recommend?

 

[mambo4]

My favorite bass-less thing to practice is to [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Lately I have been mentally visualizing the pentatonic scale on the neck and chanting the intervals of each shape.

 

[Salicete]

Kala U-Bass, small enough to take with you.

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[Thanantos]

Kala U-Bass, small enough to take with you.

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Lol, I saw some of those at a local guitar shop recently. Very cool, and big enough to get some sound out of.

 

[David A. Davis]

Read theory, practice sight reading notation.

 

[Photobassist]

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[fearceol]

Just relax and enjoy your holiday. Unless you are going to be away from the bass for a loooong time, it won't take you long to get back into it.

 

[BassIsBoss]

Dancing.....watch women move.....pet cats.....listen to the earth vibrate at midnight.....all of the above.

 

[Rev J]

C/S,
Rev J

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

noodle around in a music store on one of their basses?

 

[enricogaletta]

Rhythm and sight reading are the most powerful tool you can do without a bass

 

[lfmn16]

Just relax and enjoy your holiday. Unless you are going to be away from the bass for a loooong time, it won't take you long to get back into it.

+1

Time away from your instrument can be as valuable as time with your instrument. Recharging your batteries is way under rated.

 

[pedroims]

+1

Time away from your instrument can be as valuable as time with your instrument. Recharging your batteries is way under rated.

This, I practice almost everyday for 1-2 hours, the rest of the day is about other things in life: Work, wife, kids, soccer, beer, golf, movies, etc. etc. etc. Believe me, if I was on vacation the last thing I would like to think is about practicing bass.

 

[PlanetNewJersey]

Thanks for the responses guys!
When I see practiced yesterday, I didn't seem to lose much, so I think there's a point to what fearceol suggested.

 

[DavC]

a soft small ball for hand/finger strength ... use one every morning - arthritis = old fart

drummers can learn/practice the rudiments and paradiddle stuff anywhere ... those are good things to learn for all of us ... keys , bass , gtr , etc ...

 

[DavC]

i also used to practice finger stuff while laying on the beach in the sand .. !