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Working out and Bass Playing

A

azian32

Sep 11, 2012
61
0
35
Sydney, NSW Australia
#1
Hey fellow TBers.

I was wondering does working out help play bass? What i mean by this is, i have skinny wrists/fingers/arms. I play bass 3 hours a day BUT! not "play" i study theory, learn my modes etc and i learn songs slow tempo to get my timing right. So because im not playing fast stuff yet or anything that will get my fingers muscles buff would working out help?

Cheers
 
#3
manolo578 said:
It could only help your stamina if you had bigger muscles. not saying body builder big but just work out twice a week on your back, shoulders and arms and you should see a difference eventually
Click to expand...

Yeah thats all i wanted it for :) Since whenever i have time off work i like to practice my theory and really nail a section of a song so i don't have much time to do fast licks. Well ill give working out a go because i can do that in the morning when its cold :)

Thanks
 
#4
Exercise is extremely important.

You don't have to make fitness an obsession, but exercising should be as normal as eating, sleeping and brushing your teeth. It's what intelligent people do to maintain themselves.

Pretending that your body doesn't need these things is like pretending that you don't need to be concerned with bacteria and viruses. It's not really debatable -- if you take precautions against microorganisms, you'll be healthier. Likewise, if you maintain your brain and body the way it was meant to be maintained, then you'll be healthier and they'll function better.

A lot of people are still working out in an archaic, obsolete way -- like you're stuck in a factory, and it's your job to churn out X number of widgets in an hour. It's incredibly boring and demoralizing to exercise that way ... counting sets and "reps." It's no wonder so few people stick with it. It's a grind.

A far better way is to exercise with variety and short bursts of high-intensity. CrossFit is the most popular brand name for this modern mode of training, but there are tons of others.

My personal routine is to focus on short-burst exercises, with sessions that are no more than about 5-10 minutes of warm-up, followed by only 15-25 minutes of actual exercise (with short 30-second to one-minute rests throughout). Almost all of the exercises I do consist of sprints and bodyweight exercises. The only equipment you need is a pull-up bar, which can be found in a park, which also gets you outside in the fresh air.

The grip strength you develop will improve your playing. Your mood, mental focus, and overall stress-tolerance will, too.
 
#5
You will notice the most benefit from working out when you go do 3- to 4-hour gigs.

Be careful to not overwork your hands and wrists in an effort to gain faculty. It is rumored that Robert Schumann, the great classical composer and pianist, ruined his career as a pianist by over-exercising his hand with a contraption designed to strengthen the pinky.
 
#7
Phinn said:
Exercise is extremely important.

You don't have to make fitness an obsession, but exercising should be as normal as eating, sleeping and brushing your teeth. It's what intelligent people do to maintain themselves.

Pretending that your body doesn't need these things is like pretending that you don't need to be concerned with bacteria and viruses. It's not really debatable -- if you take precautions against microorganisms, you'll be healthier. Likewise, if you maintain your brain and body the way it was meant to be maintained, then you'll be healthier and they'll function better.

A lot of people are still working out in an archaic, obsolete way -- like you're stuck in a factory, and it's your job to churn out X number of widgets in an hour. It's incredibly boring and demoralizing to exercise that way ... counting sets and "reps." It's no wonder so few people stick with it. It's a grind.

A far better way is to exercise with variety and short bursts of high-intensity. CrossFit is the most popular brand name for this modern mode of training, but there are tons of others.

My personal routine is to focus on short-burst exercises, with sessions that are no more than about 5-10 minutes of warm-up, followed by only 15-25 minutes of actual exercise (with short 30-second to one-minute rests throughout). Almost all of the exercises I do consist of sprints and bodyweight exercises. The only equipment you need is a pull-up bar, which can be found in a park, which also gets you outside in the fresh air.

The grip strength you develop will improve your playing. Your mood, mental focus, and overall stress-tolerance will, too.
Click to expand...

I agree with most of your post except the part high lighted. Grip has no part in playing the bass. In fact quite the opposite applies, i.e. the lifting of the fingers off of the fretboard and placing them where ever they are required next. This requires stamina and agility, which are different from strength. One of the first things a beginner learns concerning technique is to have both hands relaxed.
 
#9
You don't need a death grip to play Bass. If you're finding it hard to play take the Bass to a good guitar tech and have them readjust the action to a more playable setting. I wish I did this when I was younger, I gave myself a bad case of tendinitis playing the crap out of an old Bass with action about a foot high.
 
#14
Cardio work seems to really help me. I was mountain biking every other day for a while and I could see the improvement. My head was clearer and I felt like I was learning songs more easily(By Ear). As far as strength goes, I always play standing up. I play a few hours each day even on rehearsal days. So some days I play for 7+ hours standing up with the bass strapped on. Thanks to that my arms and chest stay pumped up.
 
#16
I have no idea if there's any scientific absolute, but I do know that I play better when I feel better. I've found that taking the time to work out before a high-pressure studio session makes for a better day in general. I focus better and can relax while 'in the red' more easily. Finding time to work out when touring is mentally and physically helpful too!
 
#17
i no plenty of really good really skinny players. working out is just a good idea in general. it makes your mind and body feel better, builds confidence and is just healthy in general. i encourage you to do it regardless :). if you start once or twice a week, eventually you will go more just because you literally cant wait a whole week to go
 
#18
Man, for me playing bass IS working out..... (live anyway). Here's what you do. Just load your gear in and out of your car about ten times a day. You'll build up the only muscles you really need to play.
 
#19
No.

If you want to develop stamina for bass playing then practice long and hard. if you want to develop stamina in general then get in to aerobic fitness like swimming or running.

If you just want to get buff then lift weights.

That said... when I started out I used to strengthen my hand/wrist muscles with a stress ball or similar and that seemed to help.
 

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