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What do you practice that really works?
- Thread starter jallenbass
- Start date
There are so many aspects to playing, there is no one thing you can do to improve it all. Scales and arpeggios with a metronome will improve your timing and help you learn the fretboard which is essential to playing well. Transcribing other people's bass lines will help develop your ear and improvisational skills. Learning theory/reading will help you understand what you are playing and help you break the habit of playing the same stale, go-to licks.
There's no magic to excellence and being a well rounded player, there is just a lot of hard work. No shortcuts, tricks, or gimmicks. But the day you realize that you are really, really good makes all the hard work worth it.
There's no magic to excellence and being a well rounded player, there is just a lot of hard work. No shortcuts, tricks, or gimmicks. But the day you realize that you are really, really good makes all the hard work worth it.
^THIS^
I'd also like to add "pushing your limits". Complacency is the enemy of progress. You've got to push yourself to learn things that you find difficult or even impossible to play--whether it be scales, songs, techniques, etc.
Right now it's Anthony Wellington's MILLPAD approach to modes. Brilliant system and I thought I already knew the modes.
I try to work on things that I messed up the last time I played a rehearsal or gig.
Also, for me, working on the same thing 3 days in a row is a waste of time. I have to mix it up and go after technique, reading, and gig preparation in a different way (same goals, different path) to get maximum results from practice time.
Also, for me, working on the same thing 3 days in a row is a waste of time. I have to mix it up and go after technique, reading, and gig preparation in a different way (same goals, different path) to get maximum results from practice time.
P.S. I still remember your discussion with JB and his advice for you on your D note on Beat 4 before Bb7.
I've found a very similar bass note choice and decided to post it for you here, because
JB has completed his marketing "spiel" at TB.
Transcribing has the most benefit by far. That said my self discipline needs some work as i dont often have patience for the more intricate lines.
For me, working on music which i have a purpose for (gig, recording, whatever) and expqnding my playing through that vehicle. Personally i need that motivation to truely be productive. The most effective practice method i stick to is recording myself and listening back critically. Errors seem to stick out and get fixed easiest this way.
For me, working on music which i have a purpose for (gig, recording, whatever) and expqnding my playing through that vehicle. Personally i need that motivation to truely be productive. The most effective practice method i stick to is recording myself and listening back critically. Errors seem to stick out and get fixed easiest this way.
Ah, So, MILLPAD is just an acronym for the modes in order of the circle of 5ths,
the order in which you move through the diatonic "uber pattern"
the order in which you move through the diatonic "uber pattern"
Groove Master
Commercial User
- Apr 22, 2011
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- Author of Groove 101, Slap 101 and Technique 101
This is very jazz soloing specific, but i've been working on phrases much more than I ever used to. I think its a matter of growing up in a lot of ways that has let me work on this. For a long time I've wanted more patience in my playing and this method finally (i think) brining that into my playing.
This video is awesome, when my instructor was commenting on modes I started whipping them out using Ant's technique from this video, he was truly amazed that I could simply do it. Now, putting them into practice is a whole nuther story, lol. I still don't truly understand when to apply modes in my playing.
Life is too short - don't waste your practice time without a metronome/click!
+1.
I've gotta say - in all my years of playing, NOTHING has made as much of an impact on my musical skills as reading and especially playing written music. Mindblowing. I wish I had started sooner.
Anytime I ran across something that felt alien to me - and I decided to claw my way through it until I finally saw some light. I practiced on until it became second nature and emerged as a better bassist.
This could be as simple as playing a note that I personally would not have placed there, had it been my job to write the bassline - or something bigger like a rhythm that I could not grasp with my gut feeling and had to count out. I can't play groovy when I'm counting so it means play it until it leaves the head and arrives in the gut.
This could be as simple as playing a note that I personally would not have placed there, had it been my job to write the bassline - or something bigger like a rhythm that I could not grasp with my gut feeling and had to count out. I can't play groovy when I'm counting so it means play it until it leaves the head and arrives in the gut.
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