Practising when you have no bass

[keefbaker]

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?

[Geek99]

Yes all the time
I bought s hohner b2 and keep it in car

[sarah thomas]

I visualise playing chord tones - this can last forever on a 12 bar blues, even you just stick to the one key. It really shows up the holes in your knowledge too.

[cheddatom]

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

[discreet]

[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.

[Highfox]

Sounds like a bit of air guitar.
Sometimes I have been know to scribble down chord sequences that have suddenly entered my head during boring meetings

[Old_Ben]

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!

[cheddatom]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1458733657' post='3010249']
...and you annoyed the crap out of your colleagues for a couple of years.
[/quote]

yeh but that was more to do with my awful sense of humour and love of smelly food

[ped]

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

[TheGreek]

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.

[lowhand_mike]

i also sometimes pluck along to the bassline of a song with my right hand, been trying to bring in three finger plucking, other than that i have zero theory training so i cant really do much else

[Nicko]

I often used to learn new songs on my underground commute. MP3 player, tab and an ability to look a bit daft making sure I could do right hand rhythm and the correct left hand finger according to the tab.

[discreet]

[quote name='cheddatom' timestamp='1458736946' post='3010307']
yeh but that was more to do with my awful sense of humour and love of smelly food
[/quote]

[Norris]

Visualise yourself playing it as you listen along, maybe accompanied by a bit of fret hand twitching

[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.

[Roger2611]

[quote name='Norris' timestamp='1458747394' post='3010480']
Visualise yourself playing it as you listen along, maybe accompanied by a bit of fret hand twitching
[/quote]

A bit of air bass never hurt anyone

[Bilbo]

Practice reading.

[keefbaker]

[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.

[leschirons]

Especially if I'm driving, I'll take a song I know in my head that I've never played before (even one I don't like) give myself a key and then work out all the chords and what bass line I'd play. I find that an interesting exercise.

[darren]

[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.

[Wonky2]

I have literally worn holes in steering wheels with my right hand 4 finger dexterity excersizes at thumping along to tunes with my figer tips.

[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

[Funky Dunky]

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.