Tag Archives: practice

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How to Find Time for Bass Practice

You have a busy life- how are you supposed to find time to play some bass everyday? Here are some tips so that you can make time for a daily practice time.

Wake up Earlier

This may be the hardest thing I suggest! Consider setting your alarm 10 or so minutes earlier and playing as soon as you wake up. A little morning bass never hurt anyone.

Go to Sleep Later

Also try going to sleep 10 or so minutes later. If you add the earlier wake up time with a later sleep time, you’ll have 20 extra minutes to play.

Cut Out TV Time

Turn off the television and play some bass! It’s that simple.

Multi-Task

Instead of quitting television, try to play and watch tv at the same time. It’s great for when you need to do warmups or easy exercises, without much thought. It’s better to NOT multi-task if you have to really focus on technique.

Focus on Better Practice

Instead of trying to get more time, try to become better at practice. How does one become better at practice? FOCUS. Work harder to maintain a high level of focus while you are playing, so you get more skill for less time.

Got any time saving strategies? Leave a comment below.

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Unconventional Items For Your Practice Space

This post will talk about the different things I have around my practice place. Consider adding some of these things to help make your space more productive.

Water

I like to have a glass of water near me when I’m practicing, as long as the water has not chance of spilling on anything! It keeps me hydrated and feeling great while I’m just sitting there and playing.

You can choose whatever you want to drink, but water is much better for you than soda or alcohol.

Paper and Pencil

I like to use a pencil to jot down any song ideas or any other ideas for that matter. I choose a pencil over a pen because I can quickly erase or rewrite something if I come up with a better idea.

Drum Software

I like to practice with the hydrogen drum software, even if it’s just a simple pattern getting repeated. This helps me write new material and think of writing as a “whole band” thing, not just the bass.

Sweatshirt

It is really important to be comfortable when you are playing, and that includes temperature too. My room can be cold, so I fight that with a nearby sweatshirt I can throw on and keep rocking.

Hopefully this helps you out some, and if you have some other suggestions, let me know!

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3 Strategies For Better Practice

beginning bass practiceThese 3 simple practice strategies will help you grow as a bass player, in all aspects!

1. No Distractions

It helps if you know what you want to accomplish, and how, before you even pick up the bass. Consider turning your cell phone off and keeping only sites related to bass guitar on the internet open.

This will help you focus in, whether it’s learning a new song or learning a technique. Just do it, without being distracted.

2. Pick The Right Environment

This goes hand in hand with no distractions. You need to practice in a comfortable environment, not too hot or cold. If you are too hot, that’s all you’ll think about, and you will sweat! Too cold, and your hands will take a while to fully warm up.

Set the room to a comfortable temperature. If it’s too hot, bring a fan in your room, that’s what I’ve found works the best. The right environment will help you remain focused on your goals for that practice session.

3. Try Something New

Keep your hands and fingers guessing by mixing up your practice with new riffs and techniques to master. If you usually play rock, try learning some jazz riffs, you get the idea.

The best way to grow as a player is by better practicing, and by using these three tips, you can achieve just that! Leave any comments or criticisms below.

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Setting A Daily Practice Time

Setting aside time to practice bass guitar everyday is the easiest way to get better faster.

I practice about 30 minutes around the same time, each day. Often I’ll end up going way longer than 30 minutes if I have a song idea or if I am working on a technique. Sometimes I will only play 5 minutes and put my bass back in it’s case.

But 5 minutes of practice will always beat 0. Every time.

If you are not already practicing bass guitar everyday, I encourage you to give it a try. Write down in your calendar or just make a mental note that you will take 30 minutes each day to practice, in between 6:30-7:00 pm (Any convenient time will do).

Don’t make excuses, practice. If you’ve got to be somewhere, take 5 minutes to play. It keeps your fingers limber and your bass mind sharp!

How much time are you spending on practice?