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Practise makes perfect
- Thread starter leehutch
- Start date
There is no "one size fits all" when it comes to what to practice, as everyone is at a different point along the learning journey, have different goals, and have different strengths and weaknesses that may need to be addressed. Learning songs by ear (i.e. no tabs) is always well worth while. Scales are important, but equally so are chord tones. Learning some basic theory in bite sized chunks is also beneficial, as is learning to read music.
I like mixing scales and chord tone arpeggios off of each scale tone, helps me mentally map out the neck.
Something old - scales or songs I can play well.
Something new - things I need to work on for upcoming shows and/or rehearsals
Something borrowed - Try something outside the normal 'bass thins'. Cello or bassoon music, melodies, TV commericals.. whatever.
Something blue - music I really like, whether I'm going to perform it in public or not.
Something new - things I need to work on for upcoming shows and/or rehearsals
Something borrowed - Try something outside the normal 'bass thins'. Cello or bassoon music, melodies, TV commericals.. whatever.
Something blue - music I really like, whether I'm going to perform it in public or not.
Same old same old equals same old same old. Which results in disinterest, apathy and constipation.
Always look for new challenges and ways of playing something.
Playing scales for hours, for example, is to me a waste of time. I mean is it necessary to be super really good at playing scales? No...it isn't. There are any number of other things of more importance that one could learn in that time.
Always look for new challenges and ways of playing something.
Playing scales for hours, for example, is to me a waste of time. I mean is it necessary to be super really good at playing scales? No...it isn't. There are any number of other things of more importance that one could learn in that time.
i do run through scales and arpeggios, I play along to an ever changing array of tunes (i'm a jazzer so trying to memorize standards) and I always have a transcription in the works usually some type of horn solo.
I do some ear or singing exercises with an app, finger exercises to improve my technique, and then I usually have one or two songs that I am learning. In addition, I play through 1-5 songs that I already know, to keep them in active memory. I also work with techniques like picking and slapping. All this in 3-5 minute sequences at a time.
Never stop working on learning new songs.
Exercises and strategies focused on learning specific skills are great and greatly important.
But always be working on learning a new song. Thats what its all about, right? Songs, playing songs.
The purpose of other exercises is to hone a specific skill in order to play it in a song, right? So find a song that challenges you in a way that forces you to find exercises to play it.
Exercises and strategies focused on learning specific skills are great and greatly important.
But always be working on learning a new song. Thats what its all about, right? Songs, playing songs.
The purpose of other exercises is to hone a specific skill in order to play it in a song, right? So find a song that challenges you in a way that forces you to find exercises to play it.
