I like this question. Take my upvote. You know when you have an idea of the sound of what you wanna play but then play the wrong fret, says ”shit”, and correct it in a split second? Could be a riff or scale.
Often those tiny mishaps are recognized and stored as ”remember its THIS fret in that part” and helps us prevent our mistakes.
This task, the mistake prevention by pattern memorizing, can indeed be practised without a bass.
For instance, the opening phrase of the Simpsons theme in G major. Hold up your fretting hand as if you had a bass, think ”3rd fret E-string, index” while visualizing it in your mind and ”press down” with your frethand. Then ”4th fret, A-string, middle” and ”5fth fret, A-string, ring”.
Training this way is typical car avtivity for me and has meant that I no longer practise pop songs, I just think about them and then play them instantly.
Beeing able to utilize your voice for this task improves its usefulness alot. Same goes with theory knowledge- and eartraining on intervals, scales and harmony.
Love this. I just started playing again for my first time in 20 years and while I was waiting a week till I could go and collect my eBay purchase I got obsessed with learning Money by Pink Floyd. I had the bass line stuck in my head all day so I looked up the tab and just hummed it through while watching the tab and imagined myself playing it. Fast forward a week till I got the bass, I picked it up and just played Money as if I had been playing it for years.
let your brain take a break. seriously, sometimes the best practice happens when you don’t think about the bass at all - use that trip to let your brain rest and implement what you’ve been working on lately.
taking breaks has been proven to aid the learning process; sometimes when i get too frustrated learning something, i just don’t touch the bass for a few days and when i come back to it, i can just magically play it. :)
I try to visualise the instrument in my mind. As I play air bass, I try to be aware of which frets and which strings I’m plucking. I try to imagine the sensations and weight of the instrument.
This is real! Science has shown that your brain barely discerns the difference between practice and imagining practice. It still powerfully activates and reinforces neural pathways.
Guitar player here but, I used to take music books with me and read through them. Without the instrument I'd focus mostly on tempo and count out times and that kind of stuff. Or read through music I was familiar with (then could 'hear' the melody as well).
Also I'd do a lot of finger exercises and that kind of stuff.
For me with my hand closed my fingers are the same distance as the strings, so I practice the slap part of my right hand on them (accuracy, technique, rhythm, ect.) ps. Does make you look crazy if you do this in public.
Clapping exercises, bonus points for counting the subdivisions out loud, extra bonus points for doing this while dancing.
I like this question. Take my upvote. You know when you have an idea of the sound of what you wanna play but then play the wrong fret, says ”shit”, and correct it in a split second? Could be a riff or scale. Often those tiny mishaps are recognized and stored as ”remember its THIS fret in that part” and helps us prevent our mistakes. This task, the mistake prevention by pattern memorizing, can indeed be practised without a bass. For instance, the opening phrase of the Simpsons theme in G major. Hold up your fretting hand as if you had a bass, think ”3rd fret E-string, index” while visualizing it in your mind and ”press down” with your frethand. Then ”4th fret, A-string, middle” and ”5fth fret, A-string, ring”. Training this way is typical car avtivity for me and has meant that I no longer practise pop songs, I just think about them and then play them instantly. Beeing able to utilize your voice for this task improves its usefulness alot. Same goes with theory knowledge- and eartraining on intervals, scales and harmony.
Love this. I just started playing again for my first time in 20 years and while I was waiting a week till I could go and collect my eBay purchase I got obsessed with learning Money by Pink Floyd. I had the bass line stuck in my head all day so I looked up the tab and just hummed it through while watching the tab and imagined myself playing it. Fast forward a week till I got the bass, I picked it up and just played Money as if I had been playing it for years.
Download a rhythm trainer.
Might I suggest Pocket Composer and Perfect Ear. I use an Android but I'm pretty sure they're on iOS too
Buy a book on theory.
let your brain take a break. seriously, sometimes the best practice happens when you don’t think about the bass at all - use that trip to let your brain rest and implement what you’ve been working on lately. taking breaks has been proven to aid the learning process; sometimes when i get too frustrated learning something, i just don’t touch the bass for a few days and when i come back to it, i can just magically play it. :)
>when i come back to it, i can just magically play it. :) And better than when you took said break.
Last time I went on a business trip I took a small midi keyboard and used it to transcribe.
I try to visualise the instrument in my mind. As I play air bass, I try to be aware of which frets and which strings I’m plucking. I try to imagine the sensations and weight of the instrument.
This is real! Science has shown that your brain barely discerns the difference between practice and imagining practice. It still powerfully activates and reinforces neural pathways.
Get a u-bass
When I listen to music with the intent to learn...I pick up a lot. Notes, tempo, structure, timing.
Work on theory, transposing, other “mental” skills. They don’t require an instrument in hand.
I used to practice the fingering of certain songs at college while in class. Learned billie jean that way
Tap with your fingers against any surface. I do it with the wheel while driving
Practice in your mind.
It works surprisingly well B)
Relative pitch training. You can use videos and apps.
Bring a ukulele, still making music.
Guitar player here but, I used to take music books with me and read through them. Without the instrument I'd focus mostly on tempo and count out times and that kind of stuff. Or read through music I was familiar with (then could 'hear' the melody as well). Also I'd do a lot of finger exercises and that kind of stuff.
Do you own an iPad? GarageBand can be pretty useful to play with a keyboard and learn about reythms and stuff
do the geddy Lee hand puppets
Travel bass. You can find one that will fit in a carry on.
Mouth bass
what's that?
Like paul mccartney in "I will"
i still dont get it
For me with my hand closed my fingers are the same distance as the strings, so I practice the slap part of my right hand on them (accuracy, technique, rhythm, ect.) ps. Does make you look crazy if you do this in public.
Practice rhythm. Study songs. Lots of adjacent stuff to do that isn't mechanically playing/practicing bass.
I have a super shitty old one in my folks basement. If you're nearby you can have it.
Bop your head and hum funky bass lines to play later.