What is your practice routine?

[Jason Hollar]

After a brief warm up or “calibration”, I focus on material for the upcoming gig.

This week it’s a Calypso/Latin jazz trio Thurs on 5 string, an Americana/bluegrass acoustic gig Fri on upright, and a straight-ahead jazz cocktail/dinner set Sat also on upright.

 

[Kmonk]

I have always compared music to sports. Maybe it's because in addition to music, I've also played Pro-Am hockey. I believe that if being good was just a matter of practice, we could all play in the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Or, we could all be a virtuoso on our instrument. I believe it takes some natural ability. Practice can help develop your natural ability but there is no guarantee that you will be good. I have a friend who started playing guitar before I did. He practiced 8 to 10 hours per day and took lessons. He never got good enough to play in a garage band. I practice 2 to 3 hours per night about 2 to 3 times per week. That works for me. Some people might find that it is too much and other might find that its not enough. It really depends on your ability.

 

[Booty Shaman]

I am not taking lessons right now and because of a lot of stress in my life, I have settled into a practice routine that is not as rigorous as I would like it to be - I spend a lot of time playing along to music that I like - learning the bass lines. I try to get 1-2 hours of practice 5-6 days a week. I use the app Chordify to get chord charts for each song. I usually practice the scales of all of the chord changes in the song before starting. Then I listen through the song once or twice to practice my listening skills - I often hear things in the bass line that I missed before. Then I'll run through a song as many times as necessary to get the bass part down - I experiment playing with different positions on the fret board.

Two books that I use for practice are "Progressive Steps to Synchopation for the Modern Drummer". This is a great book for practicing rhythm and learning to read rhythm. The other book I am using for practice is Yusef Lateef's Repository of Scales and Melodic Patterns. I'm just slowly working my way through the book. I like to meditate on John Coltrane's circle of fifths for a few minutes everyday to put my head into the metaphysical realm - maybe someday it will all make sense.

 

[rohi]

I'm practicing every day by actively listening to music. As a musician, I think it's easy to overlook this little aspect-- we need to all listen more. If I'm particularly inspired by what I heard that day, I'll try to learn it. I recently did Sig Raggas Matata horn-line transcribed to bass.

When I used to watch TV a lot, I'd sit on the couch and practice 3 finger plucking for hours and hours on end, but now-a-days I just play to keep my chops up. Also, I don't watch nearly as much TV, ha.

 

[Slevage]

Title is confusing.

 

[Dan Sheets]

I try to get in 1 hour before work - and 1 hour in the evening. I also have met quite a few people and have weekly jams now it seems so i count that as extra practice.

I keep my routine pretty organized. I have 2 basses - one EADG with regular strings. One half step down with Extra Large strings. It's tougher to play on the fretting hand (The tendons get a little sore if I over play it - still building up strength for it).

In no particular order I work on the following each day.

Fun Stuff

Songster Songs - ( Stuff I am still learning, I pick a new song and just try to play along with it. )
I keep this to about 10-15 songs per day.

Youtube Songs - Once I have the song fully memorized from songster I play along to the real song on youtube. Once the song gets here I only play it once a week as it's pretty well memorized. I have a playlist made on youtube with all the songs and on the weekend just run through the whole thing.

Difficult Riffs - If i have a part of a song that needs extra attention I slow it down with guitar pro. The middle of Def Leppard Let it go is one I had to spend extra on.

Yousician - This is an app. Currently going through the Bass and Vocal courses. This is a really good app and has gotten my daughters interested in guitar. The free version gives you 15 mins a day of instruction per instrument which is enough for me - it is definitely helping me progress.

Boring Stuff

Spider Walk - I try to do 10 mins a day of this. I have 2 variants I do - 1 that stays first 7 frets - and one that goes down around 12.

Chromatic Walk - I do this every day for about 10 mins. Just play every note up to the 12th fret and then back down.

Scales - only a few times a week. And I only know 1 scale.

Theory - I've enrolled in a theory course and learning some on yousician. So far havn't done much though. It's low on my list right now.

 

[IamGroot]

I have always compared music to sports. Maybe it's because in addition to music, I've also played Pro-Am hockey. I believe that if being good was just a matter of practice, we could all play in the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Or, we could all be a virtuoso on our instrument. I believe it takes some natural ability. Practice can help develop your natural ability but there is no guarantee that you will be good. I have a friend who started playing guitar before I did. He practiced 8 to 10 hours per day and took lessons. He never got good enough to play in a garage band. I practice 2 to 3 hours per night about 2 to 3 times per week. That works for me. Some people might find that it is too much and other might find that its not enough. It really depends on your ability.

I agree with you, but... a good coach will maximize your potential, by showong you what and how to practice.

Efficient productive practice, as opposed to noodling, will make a regular joe a monster player.

 

[Kmonk]

I agree with you, but... a good coach will maximize your potential, by showong you what and how to practice.

Efficient productive practice, as opposed to noodling, will make a regular joe a monster player.

I agree but even the best coach is not going to make you proficient if you do not have natural ability. Why was Michael Jordan better than other players who had the same coaches as he did? The answer is natural ability. Same for any other great athlete or musician. A great coach can help you develop your natural ability but you still must possess it in order for it to be developed.

 

[Acoustic356]

Title is confusing.

I blame waking up early in the morning and typing something out on your iPad...

 

[Bassic Needs]

No one works on their bass face?

 

[Bassist59]

My practice routine is very regimented. Set list songs are in plastic sheaths laid out alphabetically in a binder. I practice no less than 5 songs daily (sometimes more), each song given equal time, even if I've played it a million times. When I get through the binder, I start over. No noodling, no wasted time, 20-25 minutes daily. Sound boring to you? My end goal is to get through gigs playing the songs well, with no mistakes. So far this method has worked well for me.

Wow...I thought you were joking at first. However, that commands respect! I bet you sound great, keep it up.

 

[Bassist59]

This is a great subject. I just mapped out a practice routine for the next 100 days where I hope to get up early before work and practice and learn new bass material for 1 hour each day.

I did a very similar plan for practicing guitar almost 20 years ago. My goal then was to master “Speed Mechanics for Lead Guitar”. I trained hard for over a year, logged my hours, and my playing greatly improved. I didn’t finish 100% of that book because it’s really a “practice manual” but got a lot out of it. To this day, if I need to get the rust off of my guitar playing,I’ll practice some of those drills and it all comes right back.

This time it’s for bass - I really want to master everything in the book, “Extreme Metal Bass” by Alex Webster. I am about two thirds through the book and I think I can master all the technique examples and songs if I apply some discipline.

Now, let me say, that book is a challenge! I’ve been working on the d*#m thing off and on for about 4 years!!! I don’t think I’ll ever be able to play as fast (finger-style) as Alex, but I will definitely improve. The stuff I can’t do by 2 or 3 finger plucking, I might attempt with a pick.

We’ll see if I can maintain a level of discipline, get up when the alarm goes off, and stick to the plan. If I don’t - feel free to make fun of me, lol!

 

[Bassist59]

Not that I expect any of you guys to care but I’ve logged over 4 hrs of intense learning/practice in 3 days. So far, so good.

There is a difference in learning new stuff and practicing old stuff. Plowing through tabs and trying to master/memorize a page of music measure by measure is intense. I don’t know if I can keep this pace up. I think I’ll try 10-15 minutes or so of new learning, then go back and do tons of repetition on other stuff, come back to the new material, etc. etc.

Brutal!

 

[Peloquin]

I've just started and so far I'm doing around 1 hour a day. All I'm doing is trying to learn a few songs I like from tabs/YouTube etc...
They are, obviously, easy to learn songs that 99 percent on here wouldn't think about but I'm having fun and sticking with 3 or 4 that I can sort of do and 1 I'm struggling with. The ones I can do, (Another one bites the dust.... Blitzkrieg Bop.... Etc..) I keep going trying to improve on my timing and more quality. The one I'm struggling with (Fall back Down by Rancid) I'm actually enjoying the struggle. I know if I keep at it I'll get it so after getting some tips off here I'm having 10 or 15 mins each night dedicated to trying to get my fingers playing the same time my head is playing.

 

[Spin Doctor]

I agree but even the best coach is not going to make you proficient if you do not have natural ability. Why was Michael Jordan better than other players who had the same coaches as he did? The answer is natural ability. Same for any other great athlete or musician. A great coach can help you develop your natural ability but you still must possess it in order for it to be developed.

What you call "natural ability" I just call a good work ethic. Jordan wasn't better because he had natural ability. He was better because he worked his ass off. He got cut from his JV squad because he actually sucked, and he decided then and there, that would never happen again.

You should check out this book. Very enlightening.

 

[Bassist59]

I've just started and so far I'm doing around 1 hour a day. All I'm doing is trying to learn a few songs I like from tabs/YouTube etc...
They are, obviously, easy to learn songs that 99 percent on here wouldn't think about but I'm having fun and sticking with 3 or 4 that I can sort of do and 1 I'm struggling with. The ones I can do, (Another one bites the dust.... Blitzkrieg Bop.... Etc..) I keep going trying to improve on my timing and more quality. The one I'm struggling with (Fall back Down by Rancid) I'm actually enjoying the struggle. I know if I keep at it I'll get it so after getting some tips off here I'm having 10 or 15 mins each night dedicated to trying to get my fingers playing the same time my head is playing.

Have you just started a dedicated practice routine or have you just started playing bass? Sounds like both, maybe?

If so, congratulations! Playing bass is fun. It’s funny you mention blitzkrieg bop - I learned that song in high school on guitar - that was 1981, lol. About a year later, I played it on bass with a different band and it was ROCKIN!! Big 15” bass speaker cab, Jazz Bass knockoff - we were rocking the neighborhood.

If you want to get a solid foundation down on bass, I highly recommend Playing everything in this book, no teacher needed. Don’t listen to anybody putting that book down, either. I still play some of the walking bass lines from that book to this day.

Good luck.

 

[Peloquin]

Have you just started a dedicated practice routine or have you just started playing bass? Sounds like both, maybe?

If so, congratulations! Playing bass is fun. It’s funny you mention blitzkrieg bop - I learned that song in high school on guitar - that was 1981, lol. About a year later, I played it on bass with a different band and it was ROCKIN!! Big 15” bass speaker cab, Jazz Bass knockoff - we were rocking the neighborhood.

If you want to get a solid foundation down on bass, I highly recommend Playing everything in this book, no teacher needed. Don’t listen to anybody putting that book down, either. I still play some of the walking bass lines from that book to this day.

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Good luck.

Yeah, just started playing. No intention of ever playing in front of anyone so decided to learn some of my favourite songs. The practice routine just comes from being enthusiastic and being rubbish..
I'll have a look at the book, thank you

 

[Bassist59]

Yeah, just started playing. No intention of ever playing in front of anyone so decided to learn some of my favourite songs. The practice routine just comes from being enthusiastic and being rubbish..
I'll have a look at the book, thank you

I tend to go on and on about Roger Filiberto’s book. There are a few reasons I like it:
1. It’s old school from the early ‘60s which I find to be fascinating. It’s not the first book but IMO, the first real book for beginning electric bass.
2. You’ll be able to do simple music reading in standard notation pretty quickly.
3. The “exercises” are stand-alone tunes that don’t need a guitar or any accompaniment to sound good when played.
4. You’ll be able to pick up a bass at guitar center and play the tune “Keep Movin’” from the book and look like a pro, lol!

The point is to have fun. Play what you enjoy.

 

[Bassist59]

Nobody cares but I’m at hour 16 of my 100 hour practice goal.

 

[Bassist59]

Ha! Y’all can’t make fun of me yet. I’ve been practicing for over an hour a day for the last week and a half.

24 hours 10 minutes of my 100 hour quest are COMPLETED!