Position:Home >> News

Products Category

Products Tags

New Year’s Resolutions: 9 Ways to Become a Better Bassist

Date:2020/1/9 12:05:05 Hits:

Though I’m no fan of New Year’s resolutions (when I’ve made them in the past, they seldom last more than a week or two), the end of the holiday season can be a fine opportunity to look at ways to improve your playing. Here are some items to consider working on in 2020:

Technique

Technical proficiency is a journey rather than a destination; as long as I’m playing bass, I’ll be working to get better at the mechanics of playing the instrument. Some bass techniques, including slapping and 2-handed tapping, I don’t use as much, so I’ll spend less time on those. But I’m occasionally asked to play that way on a session, so I’ll work on them.

Time

This is another practice item that’s a journey rather than a destination. I’ve practiced with a metronome for years and will continue that practice for the foreseeable future.

Tone

I tend to leave my tone settings fairly constant and the controls on my basses more or less the same. In the studio, if I want a different sound, then I’ll simply change basses. But I’ve built a couple of different pedalboards in the last year, and I have a few basses that I want to play more. So in 2020, I’ll spend more hours experimenting with sounds.

Ear Training

As a college student, ear training was a big part of my freshman theory class. As a professional, the ability to hear melodic lines and chord changes is really important. Unless you have perfect pitch, you should set aside some time every week to work on this skill.

Reading

Though I’m not called upon to sight-read notation on a regular basis, it happens often enough that I need to improve. So I’ll be spending time sight-reading everything from orchestral bass parts to Broadway scores.

Repertoire

You can’t know too many songs. As a freelance musician, getting (and keeping) gigs depends in large part on knowing whatever songs an artist or band happens to call on the gig. In 2020, I intend to spend time every week writing charts or memorizing songs that are likely to be called on the gigs I play, whether those songs were originally done by Frank Sinatra or Black Sabbath.

Musical Styles

While learning songs that I’m likely to play is good for making a living, learning to understand musical genres outside of my current knowledge will make me a better musician. Start searching YouTube; you might discover gamelan music, a Bulgarian folk ensemble, majika from Mozambique, Burundi drums, or one of many regional styles from North America, including zydeco or banda. Learn how to play it, and you’ll be able to use those ideas in your own playing.

Get Out

Like everyone else, I’m pretty busy, and once I get home, I’m tempted to relax. But next year, I intend to get out more to hear more music. The scene here in Fort Wayne, Indiana, is vibrant, and I want to know more of the folks who are part of that scene. Besides that, if I want an audience when I play, then I need to return that favor and be part of the audience when others play.

Prev:Sine Systems BETABRITE-CLASSIC

Next:WorldCast Manager WCM50

Leave a message

Message List

Comments Loading...

Products Category

Products Tags

Fmuser Sites

New Year’s Resolutions: 9 Ways to Become a Better Bassist

Leave a message

Message List