JuliusGroove Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 Hi there, As I spend a lot of time on buses and trains travelling to gigs/rehearsals and waiting around at venues, I figure I should utilise this time and was wondering if anybody else has found handy excercises to improve their theory/general knowledge? Maybe not theory specific but just activities/excercises that can be done without an instrument or with just pen and paper. Cheers! Jack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hector Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 (edited) Have a google of "bass visualisation practise" and some interesting stuff will come up. Edit - I personally love practising my scales in my head. For example, take a scale e.g. Db major and imagine yourself playing it in your head (I do this from first person view). Focus on how your hand would look on the fingerboard while you do this, what your fingerings would be and how it would sound. Try playing it with different fingerings, in thirds etc. Can be done with licks and arpeggios. If you can't visualise it clearly, try to slow down and work it out. Edited February 26, 2014 by Hector Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coilte Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 (edited) Joe Hubbard's chord tone sudoko would seem to be what you are looking for. Print it off, and tackle it when/where ever you wish. [url="http://www.joehubbardbass.com/852/chord-tone-sudoku-part-1/"]http://www.joehubbar...-sudoku-part-1/[/url] Edited February 26, 2014 by Coilte Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 I learned the note sequences of all the major scale by going through them in my head at bus stops. Similarly you can learn chord formulae and practice naming the notes, then visualise them on the fretboard e.g. major = R-3-5, so D = D-F#-A, Eb = Eb-G-Bb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted February 28, 2014 Share Posted February 28, 2014 Practice reading music - reading rhythms is easy without an instrument, reading notes accurately a little harder but you can try singing them quietly to yourself. A great skill to develop but years to really master. Learning chord sequences to standards is another 'silent' option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JuliusGroove Posted March 3, 2014 Author Share Posted March 3, 2014 Great stuff guys The sudoku thing is similar to something I have been doing, but reading through standards and rhythms is a great idea. Does anybody know of any books relating to theory and how to apply it? Jazz specific if possible? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 Mark Levine's Jazz Theory Book but it ain't what you'd call portable!! There is a kindle version but I can't speak for it was I have not seen it and a lot of these theory books don't work well on kindles because the screen is too small, rendering the musical examples unreadable. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jazz-Theory-Book-Levine-SpiralBound/dp/B00BQ21LIQ/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1394202575&sr=1-2&keywords=mark+levine+jazz+theory Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gareth Hughes Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 If you have an iPad I heartily recommend an app called 'Musicopoulos' fora mere £2 or so. It's gives a good, thorough explanation of theory basics and then has a practical test at the end of each section to really test your knowledge. Certainly filled in a lot of holes in my thinking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JuliusGroove Posted March 12, 2014 Author Share Posted March 12, 2014 I got the Mark Levine book a few days ago. Very interesting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PauBass Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 [quote name='Gareth Hughes' timestamp='1394222540' post='2389386'] If you have an iPad I heartily recommend an app called 'Musicopoulos' fora mere £2 or so. It's gives a good, thorough explanation of theory basics and then has a practical test at the end of each section to really test your knowledge. Certainly filled in a lot of holes in my thinking. [/quote] Great app!...It makes learning theory a bit more fun. I've been using it for the past two days and it's definitely worth it, my theory understanding has improved a lot already. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheG Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 I found an AMAZING website a while ago jazzadvice.com It has articles on everything to do with what to practice, how to practice, theory, visualisation, etc, etc. it has really helped me out. In the past I have printed articles out to read them later when Ive been out. If you register with them they send you a new article every so often. Well worth it for anyone to check out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JuliusGroove Posted April 9, 2014 Author Share Posted April 9, 2014 Ah I am familiar with Jazz Advice! Some great articles on there.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheG Posted April 9, 2014 Share Posted April 9, 2014 And then there are some ear training apps available for your phone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheG Posted April 9, 2014 Share Posted April 9, 2014 Sorry, that is what [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Musicopoulos is, as mentioned above. Ive just checked it out and I just might [/font][/color][font="helvetica, arial, sans-serif"][color="#282828"]download it myself. Cool.[/color][/font] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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