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When is your most productive practice time(s)?

catcauphonic

High Freak of the Low Frequencies
Mar 30, 2012
6,221
45,710
Seattle WA
I don't know about you guys (& gals), but I consistently get my best practicing in very early in the morning.

On a normal workday I'm up at 5am. After 2 cups of coffee while I do some catch-up on TB, I'll plug in and practice for about an hour & a half, pausing only to have a quick breakfast, before heading out the door for work at around 7:15am.

I spend 80% of my workday driving a 30' truck in and around the city. I usually get home somewhere between 3-5pm ... the start time of the afternoon rush. At that point I'm pretty stressed. If I try to pick up my bass as soon as I get in, my fingers and my brain aren't on the musical wavelength, and my sound really suffers. I usually can't get it back until after a few hours of just relaxing. Then I'll plunk around for at least another hour before bed. Luckily, the Wife doesn't mind if I practice lightly while we watch a movie or something at night.

So on workdays I'm rockinest' from 5:30-7am. Weekends I can play almost all day with very productive results.
I really hate being more than 2 hours away from my bass at all times!

When does your most productive practice time(?) happen?
 
+1 on the mornings for getting into a routine. It's good to get at least one hour every morning.

There are times late at night that I have some great practices, but the morning is the most consistent.
 
LOL Do you play louder when the Notebook is on? for me it's early afternoon then I take a break and come back in the early evenings before all of my shows come on.

Ha - I didn't know what that was before I just googled it :rollno: Luckily, my Wife prefers weird/artsy/gory films.

Sadly, I can't really practice at any time with much volume.
We live on the 3rd floor of a 6 unit apartment building, so my 200watt 1x15 is hardly ever turned past 2 :hmm:
 
We all have a best time. Mine is early in the morning. Afternoon after work, forget about it.

Vox, bass headphone amp is one soultion for this.
41u7cCzVzCL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
 
My best times are when I'm really feelin it. I play several times throughout the day...most intense in the evening as I try to be "ready" for shows at those times. I use headphones most of the time while alone. Our band puts in an average of 10 hours per week rehearsing.
 
We all have a best time. Mine is early in the morning. Afternoon after work, forget about it.

Vox, bass headphone amp is one soultion for this.
41u7cCzVzCL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

Thanks, but my problem with the 'phones is the tones. I'm shy to get spendy on a quality pair that doesn't sound awful. I have not been pleased so far with the $20-$30 pairs that I've played through (and in this case it's not my playing :D)
 
I'm not a morning person so my best practicing is somewhere in the afternoon when I don't have classes or work, and then just after supper at around 7-8.

+1

For me productive practice is not about time but direction... Unless you just noodle away I find time to be of no concern - it's wether you practice something with intent or not.

My playing is usually best in the evenings, and on rainy days. Sounds weird but I always sound better on rainy days. Crazy, isn't it...
 
wow - I am just the opposite. The good thing is that you know when your best time is. For me, it is at the very end of the day (near midnight). The house is quiet and the day is done. One good thing that I found is that when I can't sleep - for whatever reason, I get out of bed and quietly play - ten or fifteen minutes and I'm in a better and more relaxed space. Usually can go right back to sleep.
Your routine sounds great - keep it up.
 
The afternoon of a show. That's when I finally get around to making charts, and learning songs. Waiting until the last minute produces some quality practice time. I get a lot done in a very short time.
 
My best practicing is usually about 3-5pm or like 9pm-midnight. My favorite time to write music is between 11:30pm and 2:00 am. Usually don't have an amp plugged in but I do work at those early hours.