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Practising when you have no bass


keefbaker
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If, like me, you work for a living then I'm sure there's times when you wish you had a bass to practise with, whether it be at lunch, on the bus or even in a 2 hour meeting you know will not affect you or need your input but you've been dragged into anyway.

So, what techniques do you use to practise in these situations?

All I've currently managed is some right hand stuff like finger plucking on my right knee or slap patterns.

Does anyone else run into this, and if so, what do you do?

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[quote name='cheddatom' timestamp='1458733209' post='3010244']
I used to want to be able to play really fast so I practised a three finger technique on my right hand while at work for a couple of years. It worked but now I have no desire to play that fast any more.
[/quote]

...and you annoyed the crap out of your colleagues for a couple of years. :lol:

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I created some drum patterns(on the pc and exported them to my phone) to come up with melodies or just to practise my timing, or to help me with anything I'm struggling with. Just focusing on the rhythm is easier to do without a fretboard at your disposal!

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I just listen to music and visualise the bassline, or my own interpretation of it. I have a playlist on iTunes that I add songs to that I want to play when I'm next sitting at my computer bass in hand and same on Youtube.

I think some time away from the instrument is a good thing because playing bass is as you know all about listening

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I always have nervous energy which manifests itself in continuous right hand tapping, thumb slapping.

When I first started playing a friend showed me an exercise where, using the left/fretting hand, you "fold" your first and third fingers down, alternating with the second and fourth - helps muscle memory and strengthens fingers.

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Guest bassman7755

I have a various apps on my phone to practice note location, ear training and music reading, which I use daily on the tube.

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[quote name='bassman7755' timestamp='1458750961' post='3010521']
I have a various apps on my phone to practice note location, ear training and music reading, which I use daily on the tube.
[/quote]

Which apps? They sound like a good shout.
[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1458805970' post='3010963']
Practice reading.
[/quote]

Also a good shout.

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[quote name='keefbaker' timestamp='1458731843' post='3010223']
If, like me, you work for a living then I'm sure there's times when you wish you had a bass to practise with, whether it be at lunch, on the bus or even in a 2 hour meeting you know will not affect you or need your input but you've been dragged into anyway.

So, what techniques do you use to practise in these situations?

All I've currently managed is some right hand stuff like finger plucking on my right knee or slap patterns.

Does anyone else run into this, and if so, what do you do?
[/quote]

Not sure I'd want to sit next to you in a 2 hour meeting. Not as bad as constantly clicking a pen I suppose.

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Guest bassman7755

[quote name='keefbaker' timestamp='1458807433' post='3010981']
Which apps? They sound like a good shout.
[/quote]

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wgo.bnw&hl=en_GB
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=es.virtualcode.musictutor.sightread&hl=en_GB
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kaizen9.fet.android&hl=en_GB

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I drum patterns with my LH fingers on desks/chairs/my leg, just working different permutations. Index-middle-ring-pinky, index-ring-middle-pinky, middle-pinky-index-ring, etc etc.

Also, Chunkymonkey recommended Greg Irwin's Finger Yoga videos on YouTube as a great dexterity builder. Worth a look.

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