practicing Archives
SmartMusic: A Look at the New Music Education App
SmartMusic’s website is already a fantastic resource for students and educators, and they’ve recently started to expand their software to the iPad. If you already have a Smartmusic account, you can use that login to gain instant access to the full library available to you as if you were operating through the web portal. Future... »
Right Hand Technique for Bassists: Expanding Your Finger Patterns
Q: How do I improve my playing by using the three-finger technique and yet maintain the groove with my thumb? A: Something I’ve come across with many students is a preconception of how they want to use their thumb. With some students, this has actually stood as an obstacle to their growth. I think this... »
I Ain’t Superstitious: Personal Quirks and Why They Work
It’s 6pm… time to get the gear in the car, enter the club’s address into the GPS, and get on the road. It takes exactly five minutes and three trips to pack: one trip for each cabinet (the two fit side by side in the trunk), and one trip for the amp head, bag o’... »
Consistency: From the Practice Shed to the Bandstand
Photo by kmlz Q: I seem to have an issue with consistency. I seem to be able to pull certain licks and lines together when practicing, but it always falls apart when I’m actually playing with the band. Any tricks to develop consistency? A: Tricks? No. But I do have some thoughts. 1. Context I... »
Instinct vs. Learning: Ideas for Musical Growth
Q: I’ve been learning to play the bass for about a year now, and I have a concern: I am a very instinctual bassist. I tried playing guitar when I was younger, but didn’t connect. I took to the bass right away. I “hear” a groove in my head, and I’m able to reproduce it... »
Refresh Yourself: Some Thoughts on Musical Growth
As we grow and develop as bassists, we tend to go through different stages of learning. Sometimes we feel inspired and creative, other times we feel as if we’ve plateaued or burnt out. During the good times, it’s easy to find new concepts to work on, specific ideas to write about, or ways to make... »
Bass Harmonics: Middle of the String Harmonics
We’ve found where the most common harmonics are at the end of the fingerboard, and also toward the nut. Today, let’s find the most common harmonics in the middle part of the string. In the examples below, the lower staff tells us where to put place our fingers and find the harmonic. The upper staff... »
Last time we found some of the most common harmonics as they are played at the end of the fingerboard. Since the placement of harmonics on the string “mirror” themselves from the mid point (i.e. you find the same notes toward the nut as you do toward the bridge) we can find the harmonics from... »
Expanded Harmonics: More on Locations and Patterns
Last time we talked about how to find out where harmonics occur on a string by dividing the string into equal parts. Below you will find a more straightforward representation of the specific harmonics that can be found at the end of the fingerboard on each string. We will be placing the thumb on the... »
Setting Yourself Up For Success In The Practice Shed (Part 2)
If you are really serious about improving your bass playing, at some point you are going to realize that you need to have a solid practice plan in place. Merely working on a random variety of exercises or picking up your bass arbitrarily between performances will not put you on the fast track to solid... »
The Bass Solo: A Guide to Soloing More Freely 
Fabienne Gilbert: Come On Come Over 
Performing Live: Memorization vs. Reading vs. Improvisation 
Nikki Sixx Selling Stage-Played Basses from Motley Crue Concerts 
Eric Avery Quits Nine Inch Nails 
NHØP: Autumn Leaves 
Capturing Your Ideas: Transform Your Musical Inspiration into Reality 
Ibanez Introduces Mike D'Antonio MDB3 Signature Bass 
Andrea Lombardini: By This River 
