Practicing

Welcome to TalkBass !

I have been playing for 15 years, and I have been changing practice routines from time to time. These days I start with some exercises for left and right hands, and scales (all modes in all keys) for 1 or 2 octaves, arpeggios, following certain mode with 4ths, 5ths, 6ths, etc. (6ths Ex. C, A, D, B, E, C, etc.), and things like that.

Some times I also use some exercises from Haslip, Pastorius, and Patitucci.

 

My suggestion would be - get into a band or a group that jams recreationally.

Being in two bands and doing some stand-in jobs, I always have fresh material to nail down. It's practice or die.....no showing up at rehearsal cold.

Moreover, when you know your playing is going to be critically judged every week by a slew of people you don't know, the pressure helps.

The only catch is discipline. There's no, "Maybe later."

 

i agree with rick, playing with other people and having a little pressure to get better is always a good incentive to play and practice more foten,

 

Yeah, I also agree.

I know my practice routine gets a lot more intense and involved when I have to learn new material or tighten up what I already know. I'm going to be trying out for a new band next week and, even though I have three gigs this week, I will be spending a lot more time in the wood shed.

 

If nothing else, just play the bass once a day. at least. no set time, just play it. If you really like the bass you will really WANT to play it.

 

Now, that sounds familiar - you're plateauing???

I've hit those periods over the years. It's like I'm in a comfort zone - I can play what I need to but there's no challenge, no excitement, going on.

What gets me off of it is to listen to music I haven't been paying attention to or totally ignored.

What really helps me is to go see some famous bass monster live. Last time I plateaued, I saw California Guitars with Tony Levin on bass. That was a real kick in the butt!

 

what do you mean rick, go see someone who is waay better than you are, get really pissed at yourself for not practising enough and being as good as that guy and then going home and playing the bass like youve never played it before, with an enthusiams unrivled by the tartan army,

is that about right??

 

That's it red-hot. Nothing like a humbling bass experience to keep the TV turned off.

 

when u bought my fisrt (and only) primus cd i decided i would like to play very well , and got pissed off cos the guy on the cd was realllgood, i tried to slap my way to china, my thumb really hurt, ive never had any instructioon so my technique probabaly sucks but i am learning all the time, and my thumb bled and bled for about 3 days, there was little skin on the side and my strings minged.
that is my story.