bonzodog Posted October 1, 2015 Posted October 1, 2015 Working full time and with young kids I find it hard to dedicate as much time as I would like to practising the songs for my covers band. I have now taken to lying in bed at night reciting the words in my head to the songs I sing lead vox on and picturing the bass lines on an imaginary fretboard. Anyone else do this? At least it's a good way of sending me to sleep. Quote
discreet Posted October 1, 2015 Posted October 1, 2015 Something like that, only I stand up with my bass plugged into my Zoom B1on along with my phone which has my mp3s on it. I find playing a real bass and actually listening to the music helps a lot. Quote
Thunderpaws Posted October 1, 2015 Posted October 1, 2015 shoxking title for a thread. I'm sure lots of people rehearse many things in bed, for me, bass isn't the first thing I thought of! Quote
Slipperydick Posted October 1, 2015 Posted October 1, 2015 Not in bed. But something similar. Apparently there are two kinds of thinkers, some people visualise everything, some don't. Quote
cybertect Posted October 1, 2015 Posted October 1, 2015 Not in bed perhaps, but if I'm learning new songs I often sit and listen to a recording on the train to work and mentally run my left hand through the bass line fingering and my right hand traces out the correct rhythmic pattern. Quote
colgraff Posted October 1, 2015 Posted October 1, 2015 [quote name='Thunderpaws' timestamp='1443731136' post='2877334'] shoxking title for a thread. I'm sure lots of people rehearse many things in bed, for me, bass isn't the first thing I thought of! [/quote] That's what to call it when the Good Lady catches you with your old chap in your hand! Quote
toneknob Posted October 2, 2015 Posted October 2, 2015 [quote name='bonzodog' timestamp='1443728740' post='2877290'] Working full time and with young kids I find it hard to dedicate as much time as I would like to practising the songs for my covers band. I have now taken to lying in bed at night reciting the words in my head to the songs I sing lead vox on and picturing the bass lines on an imaginary fretboard. Anyone else do this? At least it's a good way of sending me to sleep. [/quote] Do you use sheet music? Quote
xgsjx Posted October 2, 2015 Posted October 2, 2015 [quote name='colgraff' timestamp='1443734921' post='2877369'] That's what to call it when the Good Lady catches you with your old chap in your hand! [/quote] Fine if you play with a pick. Quote
ras52 Posted October 2, 2015 Posted October 2, 2015 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1443729500' post='2877305'] I find playing a real bass ... helps a lot. [/quote] That's why I often get up for a P in the night. Quote
bonzodog Posted October 2, 2015 Author Posted October 2, 2015 Also a good time to read my Jazz mags too Quote
CamdenRob Posted October 2, 2015 Posted October 2, 2015 This wouldn't work for me... when I get into bed it takes approximately four seconds for me to fall asleep. Quote
jonnythenotes Posted October 2, 2015 Posted October 2, 2015 'Er in doors sometimes acts as my glamourous assistant while we 'rehearse in bed'. Why she has to dress up as a French maid to demo her microphone holding technique has always puzzled me a bit though..... Quote
ras52 Posted October 2, 2015 Posted October 2, 2015 [quote name='jonnythenotes' timestamp='1443769108' post='2877471'] 'Er in doors sometimes acts as my glamourous assistant while we 'rehearse in bed'. Why she has to dress up as a French maid to demo her microphone holding technique has always puzzled me a bit though..... [/quote] "It looks just like a Telefunken U47..." Quote
lowhand_mike Posted October 2, 2015 Posted October 2, 2015 i'm not going to partake in these terrible puns as its pillow me Quote
ras52 Posted October 2, 2015 Posted October 2, 2015 [quote name='lowhand_mike' timestamp='1443775604' post='2877539'] i'm not going to partake in these terrible puns as its pillow me [/quote] Quite right, don't duck down to that level. Quote
vmaxblues Posted October 2, 2015 Posted October 2, 2015 I have one of these if you are interested? http://www.shredneck.com/?page_id=119 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYTpPp9G3ig Quote
vmaxblues Posted October 2, 2015 Posted October 2, 2015 and it's the red one, and it has a gigbag! Quote
ras52 Posted October 2, 2015 Posted October 2, 2015 [quote name='toneknob' timestamp='1443760053' post='2877440'] Do you use sheet music? [/quote] [quote name='Norris' timestamp='1443780348' post='2877590'] Sheet music? [/quote] I presume that's one underneath and one on top.... Quote
Norris Posted October 2, 2015 Posted October 2, 2015 (edited) Bah! Missed that one, beaten to it Edit: I'll raise you "Do you use your continental quilted maple bass?" Edited October 2, 2015 by Norris Quote
Stylon Pilson Posted October 2, 2015 Posted October 2, 2015 Yesterday I found out about an experiment in which a bunch of basketball players were split into two groups, one of which practiced taking shots, while the other group just visualised it. The second group actually showed more improvement, because in their imagination they were landing the shot every time, whereas the first group would miss sometimes. Which means that OP's method of rehearsing without a bass in his hand actually makes a lot of sense. In his mind, he's a virtuoso. Obviously we all know that in the real world, you need to build up strength and speed in your hands, and there's no way of doing this without physically playing. But I wouldn't immediately dismiss bonzodog's method as worthless. S.P. Quote
bassbiscuits Posted October 2, 2015 Posted October 2, 2015 i had to learn a bunch of songs for a dep gig and realised that the bus trip to and from work was 30 mins each way to work thru stuff. i managed to sketch out the songs in my head based around the key i estimated them to be in (which was more often than not correct), with all the various nuances and changes etc, so that when i sat down with a bass i had it 90% in the bag. Quote
Dad3353 Posted October 2, 2015 Posted October 2, 2015 [quote name='Stylon Pilson' timestamp='1443783529' post='2877631']... Obviously we all know that in the real world, you need to build up strength and speed in your hands... [/quote] Surely that depends on repertoire, no..? I'd offer as example most of the early Roger Waters stuff; speed was seldom of the essence, I'd suggest. I'd agree for that there flashy stuff, but there's more to bass playing in the real world than [i]that[/i], I hope..? Quote
Paul S Posted October 2, 2015 Posted October 2, 2015 Having first worked out where they are in real time on an actual bass, I will usually visualise the notes on the fret board while I am listening to the tune with earbuds when I am doing a morning walk or at the gym. Sometimes accompanied with a mime of how to play them. And often I'll start humming the notes, too, which must seem a bit worrying to people close enough to hear. Quote
Pukie Posted October 2, 2015 Posted October 2, 2015 [quote name='Stylon Pilson' timestamp='1443783529' post='2877631'] Obviously we all know that in the real world, you need to build up strength and speed in your hands, and there's no way of doing this without physically playing. [/quote] that's what I said to the judge!!! Quote
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