Practicing while on vacation/bassless

[Groove Doctor]

Practice
- singing melody,
- sight-singing written music,
- learn a solo completely from memory by ear & be able to sing it out loud from memory,
- rhythmic sight reading ie. Clap or tap notes; increase the speed to develop better accuracy/fluency

But I love listening to a huge stack of new songs I haven't heard before. Expand your musical repertoire & learn to appreciate/absorb hundreds of songs from all genres. From Steely Dan to Iron Maiden, The Band to Yes, Miles Davis to Tower Of Power.

Ask a friend to put together a playlist of their Top 100
favourite songs, etc. Listen to older Albums in their entirety (when albums, not singles, were the focus).

 

[HolmeBass]

I personally love taking a bass with me on vacation. That's just me.

At Victor Wooten's bass camp they stressed the ability to practice mentally, through visualization, through singing, and just by maintaining a musical awareness of all things around you. What pitch is the door open chime in your car? Can you lock into a blinking traffic light? Of course just listening to material you need to learn/know is always a good thing to do away from your bass. If you already know it well, visualize playing it while you listen.

 

[Tanner5382]

Taking a break is actually one of the best things you can do.

 

[Grumry]

 

[catcauphonic]

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

One time after a book reading some lady behind me asked me if something was wrong with my left hand, as I was doing finger exercises throughout. Lol

 

[Rev J]

I personally love taking a bass with me on vacation. That's just me.

At Victor Wooten's bass camp they stressed the ability to practice mentally, through visualization, through singing, and just by maintaining a musical awareness of all things around you. What pitch is the door open chime in your car? Can you lock into a blinking traffic light? Of course just listening to material you need to learn/know is always a good thing to do away from your bass. If you already know it well, visualize playing it while you listen.

Interesting bit of trivia. On old Volkswagons the chime when you leave the door open is a first inversion major arpeggio.

C/s,
Rev J

 

[NKBassman]

I often find it beneficial to take a week or two off from constant practicing. Don't mind the chance to do so when I can get it.

 

[Milo Spleen]

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

Yes. Never go on vacation anywhere there's no music store.

 

[DanBass]

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.

Too the words right out of my mouth. Enjoy your vacation! You'll not miss a beat.

 

[bolophonic]

I use creative visualization to keep my muscle memory alive while I'm away from my basses. I have two little kids, so I don't get "vacation" right now.

 

[fearceol]

View attachment 920431

Hand grips have no use as far as bass playing is concerned. Far better for the OP to do some gentle hand/finger stretches every day while on vacation.

 

[QweziRider]

...but is there anything else worth doing?

Hell no! I enjoy vacation away from everything.

 

[catcauphonic]

I hear ya, OP ... I get separation anxiety when I have to leave my bass (and cat) for a night, let alone a whole week. I used to throw my back up bass in the work truck when I'd do the weekly overnighter, but flying somewhere is another story. If I know somebody in the town in visiting, I try to set up a borrow situation. Had to borrow a cat on my last weekly trip

 

[Grumry]

Hand grips have no use as far as bass playing is concerned. Far better for the OP to do some gentle hand/finger stretches every day while on vacation.

Yeah, maybe not the best for a short vacation, but when you haven't played in a long while(all my gear was stolen 3 years ago and I'm just now financially stable enough to buy new things) and like to build strength/endurance you once had. It might not help technique a whole lot but to say it's useless is a bit much.

And it keeps me occupied while driving.

 

[T-Funk]

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

LOL. I actually did this during a recent trip to visit my parents, who live in a different state.

 

[Pdaddy1978]

I have a bass guitar simulator for Android on my tablet. You can find them at the app store. I'm sure apple probably has one too. I like playing mine against the Muzak at the doctor's office.

 

[devnulljp]

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

I've been carrying a squash ball around now for going on 30 years. Started out due to a wrist injury, and just became a habit. I have quite strong fingers and wrists now

 

[PillO]

I just took my bass and headphone amp (and headphones) on vacation with me. Problem solved.

 

[HolmeBass]

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

Yes. Never go on vacation anywhere there's no music store.

LOL. I actually did this during a recent trip to visit my parents, who live in a different state.

Yes when I fly I try to do this. We took a 10-day vacation to London and planned in a visit to music stores at day 5, not just to play bass but to also find a place to see some local music.

I went to a conference in Las Vegas and by the end of the week I couldn't wait to go visit a GC there and play for about an hour.

 

[catcauphonic]

And it keeps me occupied while driving.

I prefer to use hand grenades

I have a bass guitar simulator for Android on my tablet. You can find them at the app store. I'm sure apple probably has one too. I like playing mine against the Muzak at the doctor's office.

Curious about what this is? (And how it works??)