Practise in your head

[Roger2611]

Having been playing bass for a good many years now I have noticed recently that I seem to have developed the ability to visulize a bassline, I don't actually need the song playing to visulize the bassline I can hear that in my head and just close my eyes and see my hand playing the bass. I learnt Going Underground last night, been listening to it since it came out but had never played it before, now today I can close my eyes and see note for note the bass part.

Am I weird or should I consult a doctor?

Edited February 8, 2013 by Roger2611

[Highfox]

Think this kind of thing came up before?
Composing I can sometimes hear in my head what I want to play, but can't always get it
I think most of us that have played a few years (and those fortunate people that have a good ear from the start) can hear and visualise what notes are being played in a lot of Pop/ popular music.
I could be wrong...

Edit: Yes your definitely a nut case.

Edited February 8, 2013 by Highfox

[lurksalot]

I was quite chuffed when I first realised that I could 'see' a bassline when hearing it , I think it just is as much like training your ear.

[SteveK]

[quote name='Roger2611' timestamp='1360350274' post='1969219']

Am I weird or should I consult a doctor?
[/quote]Not weird and asolutely no need for a doctor. I assume that what you see in your head is correct. It goes with being adept at interval recognition.

[essexbasscat]

This kind of mental rehearsal is central to the concept of an art known as Creative Visualisation (a book was written on this topic by Shakti Gawain some time ago). Artists and performers of many different skills and sports have been doing it for centuries

[BILL POSTERS]

I do it all the time. Always have to practice stuff I,m familiar with.

Working stuff out though, its usually wrong when I try to play it for real. Probably different for real musical people, compared to some I feel like I,m tone deaf..

[Roger2611]

It's a pleasing feeling, it feels like I have advanced again as a player, I like that it motivates me to play more

[Dingus]

The problem with practising in your head , although very worthwhile in certain ways , is that it only improves the parts of your playing that are in your head . To get your basslines out to the general public you need to translate any improvements in your understanding into your hands and onto your bass . Being able to recognise and visualise what you hear being played is a big step , but you have to practise with a bass in your hands to turn it into real improvement in your own playing .

Edited February 8, 2013 by Dingus

[steve-soar]

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1360353053' post='1969287']
The problem with practising in your head , although very worthwhile in certain ways , is that it only improves the parts of your playing that are in your head . To get your basslines out to the general public you need to translate any improvements in your understanding into your hands and onto your bass . Being able to recognise and visualise what you hear being played is a big step , but you have to practise with a bass in your hands to turn it into real improvement in your own playing .
[/quote]Amen brother. Muscle memory is a big part.

[seashell]

I used to be able to practice tap dancing in my head. I could sit on the bus going over and over a difficult step. It definitely helped me improve certain things I was trying to perfect.
I can't do it with bass playing though. I think you have to reach a certain level of competence to be able to visualise it in your head, and I am really not there yet.

[Roger2611]

I fully agree but it's nice being able to work during the day get paid and all the time being able to concentrate on what really matters, when I get home and actually pick up the bass I have had a full days mental rehearsal easing me into the physical side

[Lord Sausage]

I read something somewhere about a large portion of any practise is all in the brain, it may have been 2/3, and the rest physical so if you spend a lot of time visualising practising when you are unable to practise it will help. It was in New Scientist i think!

[SteveK]

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1360353053' post='1969287']
The problem with practising in your head , although very worthwhile in certain ways , is that it only improves the parts of your playing that are in your head . To get your basslines out to the general public you need to translate any improvements in your understanding into your hands and onto your bass . Being able to recognise and visualise what you hear being played is a big step , but you have to practise with a bass in your hands to turn it into real improvement in your own playing .
[/quote]
I think it goes without saying that it's not an alternative to actually picking up your instrument and practising in a proper fashion.

[BassTractor]

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1360353053' post='1969287']
The problem with practising in your head , although very worthwhile in certain ways , is that it only improves the parts of your playing that are in your head . To get your basslines out to the general public you need to translate any improvements in your understanding into your hands and onto your bass . Being able to recognise and visualise what you hear being played is a big step , but you have to practise with a bass in your hands to turn it into real improvement in your own playing .
[/quote]
.

I notice my language limits are showing, but:

If you're only talking about improving one's playing abilities in general, then I'm with you.

However, I get the idea that you're also saying that one can not (almost) totally prepare a certain song or piece for a gig or concert without having played it.
In case, I disagree.
Or: in fact, it's wrong.
When one reaches an adequate level of mastering the instrument and the visualisation, this is not a problem, provided the visualisation doesn't stop in the vision department, but also incorporates "visualising" the necessary movements and tensions: as in programming the brain with the signals it will have to send to the muscles later (yes, my English isn't adequate here - I hope you still understand).

Exactly this was my preferred concert preparation: always saving time by preparing one of the pieces without playing it, only reading it on the commuter train, thinking about it and making notes - - with the exception of the last few days before the concert, which were used for ironing out some mistakes and quirks.
A process like this would normally take three months or so, but I was a slow one, and could easily use five to six months on a concert programme.


best,
bert

[Lord Sausage]

[quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1360355947' post='1969388']
.

I notice my language limits are showing, but:

If you're only talking about improving one's playing abilities in general, then I'm with you.

However, I get the idea that you're also saying that one can not (almost) totally prepare a certain song or piece for a gig or concert without having played it.
In case, I disagree.
Or: in fact, it's wrong.
When one reaches an adequate level of mastering the instrument and the visualisation, this is not a problem, provided the visualisation doesn't stop in the vision department, but also incorporates "visualising" the necessary movements and tensions: as in programming the brain with the signals it will have to send to the muscles later (yes, my English isn't adequate here - I hope you still understand).

Exactly this was my preferred concert preparation: always saving time by preparing one of the pieces without playing it, only reading it on the commuter train, thinking about it and making notes - - with the exception of the last few days before the concert, which were used for ironing out some mistakes and quirks.
A process like this would normally take three months or so, but I was a slow one, and could easily use five to six months on a concert programme.


best,
bert
[/quote]What he said!

[Dingus]

There's plenty you can do to help yourself improve and to make a better job of playing the bass without a bass in your hands , but the final yard i.e the actual execution of the playing , is the bit that counts in the end . That's all I'm trying to say . For example , I started recording my practise sessions and listening back to them the next day and making mental notes of where I need to improve things when I get on my bass again that the evening , and I have found that has been very helpful to me making some improvements in certain areas . Preparation can help , but there is no substitute for playing .

[BassTractor]

I presume we're on different tracks here, coz I still don't exactly get what you are and are not talking about.

Right now I get the impression it's about improving the playing quality on a track you do already know. In case, I agree with you on that as well.


I realise there are many fine lines here as to what one talks about.


Anyway,

best,
bert