5 ways to practice bass without your bass [ AN's Bass Lessons #16 ]

[@RCAvhstape]

Wish I could get that sweet tone out of my forearm. Guess it takes practice.

[@EversonBernardes]

The forearm is only 30% of the tone. The rest is how you play it.

[@KoenZyxYssel]

Most forearm players discover during fractice that they're not good enough to flay but forearm flayers don't play. (Forearm flaying is serious)

[@Bleach.Angel.Edits40]

If you peel the skin off your forearm and pluck the tendones with your right hand it would be much more convenient

[@alfradiquelucas]

God, the piano app part had me laughing out loud

[@CanelonVegano]

You are the basst.

[@hubertcumberdale2078]

Apetecan7 get out!

[@CanelonVegano]

Hubert Cumberdale hahaha m8

[@spacemanpope1805]

My arm is more like an upright bass. Fat and fretless.

[@DrZpook]

I just tried practicing bass entirely in my head, I was tired within two minutes

[@saulo4302]

You should think about working out for more endurance. lol

[@laurynasmotekunas7095]

I'm not a musician but i used to play bass a lot. There was few times in my life when i had no oportunity to practice for few months, but then I imagined fretboard and how I would play every song I was listening. That realy improved my playing.

[@boxdenfresh]

Feel super icky anytime I try to play a bassline I know on guitar.

[@Keanu.J]

I actually did this on accident, I was listening to a song and it was really late at night so I couldn’t really try learning it but apparently I’ve been so in tune with my instrument at the time that I had the entire fretboard in my head, so I literally learned it and then I still remembered like 98% of the song.

[@hyperplayability6290]

stuff similar this has worked hilariously i took a 3 year break from drums but the song i was learning last i thought about playing it and air drummed around and then once i finally got back on the kit i was able to play it pretty well mostly (aside from the fact that my technique regressed massively from not playing for 3 years, can't do fast doubles anymore ;c)

[@TylerMillsftw]

Dude wtf I've been traveling for almost a week and a half, get back home Friday and you're just now putting this video out? :P

[@finalscore2983]

"I sing!" "I play trumpet!" "I play, uh, my right forearm..."

[@saulo4302]

"Good, we're really needing a forearm player. Is it T H I C C or prosthetic?" (Upright or electric)

[@brandonthebass]

One thing I got from my professor Richard Drexler was to try and write charts--whether it was just the bass or actual lead sheets/arrangements--to test all of the elements of your musicality. He got this idea from Thad Jones and I watched him write out charts during our lessons, which was pretty intense, especially when he would refer to these Latin American rhythms and how to play bebop heads over them, especially with regards to changing the meter. Drexler (along with Jeff Berlin) is a master of mental practice. And lobsters. Especially lobsters.

[@manny75586]

My double bass professor knew my bus ride to and from lessons was about an hour. He would often email me material a few hours before lessons and tell me to have all the fingerings worked out for some/all of the piece as well as the chord Roman numerals and modulations by the time I got there. Just those few hours really did wonders. Even with new material it felt like I had played through it a few times before. As for the right forearm, if I’m not playing bass my right arm is usually in use for other reasons...I’m a sad lonely single man, Fellas.

[@stevenwarner9156]

At the Bass Institute/ICMP in London when I studied in 2005-2006, one of the first things we learned was visualising to practice when on the go or away from our bass which was cool and pretty helpful. Oh god, I remember going to audition for a metal band years ago and wanted to learn all their recorded tunes online. All I had was an acoustic guitar and was on holiday/vacation in Norway when I got the audition invite. Was awkward doing it pizzicato on the acoustic like that, but then after getting back and picking up the bass I could just do them and got the gig. Cool to see you doing well, Adam; it's Steve (katana_manatee) from the sputnikmusic forums from back in the day. Doubt you remember me as we never talked much but good to see you on here.

[@thehomeofsexual3154]

2:36 *the voice of an angel*

[@smaklilu90]

I WOULD SAY DRUM IS THE MOST CONVENIENT INSTRUMENT TO PRACTICE WITHOUT HAVING THE ACTUAL INSTRUMENT. TAP ANYTHING THAT IS AROUND YOU LOL

[@AE-yp4kc]

Tapping anything that is around you... gets two thumbs up from Charlie Sheen! :-)

[@georgf9279]

Don't have a drum laying around? Just play the saxophone - with sticks instead of mouthpiece.

[@Mr.Nichan]

Anything can be a percussion instrument if you really want it to be.

[@josep43767]

most convenient without the instrument, least convenient with it

[@TheWalkingRaven530]

​@@josep43767This is actually so true

[@iKentEven]

I will do these for Marimba and Vibraphone music. The thing where you learn an entire song without your instrument is crazy. And very very true. Thanks for your work!!

[@denniswalsh8476]

I reconditioned a 20 year old 27 inch MinKorea "Memphis" bass my cousin got when he was around 12 YO. Very small, thin body and a rather thin/narrow neck. Fret level/crown/polish and new pots. Played and sounded FINE with good intonation and playability, (and about 6 pounds). Lucky tone because the body was so thin a different PU wasn't in the cards. Then I reconditioned a 30.4 inch 60s Hagstrom, same deal, small body, trim neck, very light, (finding missing parts was a nightmare and $$). Guess the Hagstrom was not an unusual size since there are plenty of 30 +- inch basses. Both were LOTS OF FUN to play, both feel strange at first but not "icky" (except the looking at the neck too much part) and hangs in positions that feel a little odd. Maybe using a guitar might be a little icky. Great channel.

[@ElvannReacts]

THIS IS SO TRUEEE! I say that to all of my students. I've actually experienced this when I was studying in University. I didn't yet have a pedal harp at home to practice, so what I would do is I would practice on my cletic harp instead (no pedals), but would very consciously think of all the pedal changes that I needed to do. (I was visualizing them with the most possible clarity) It showed itself to be actually very very efficient. I might even say it allowed consolidate the pedal changes so much better than if I practiced them on a pedal harp because I was so much more more aware of them in my practice, and my brain, I figure, didn't learn any wrong movements in the process.

[@lairlair2]

My first teacher told me to lay my left hand flat on my thigh when I'm sitting and try to control which finger I want to lift. It's more of a beginner exercise though.

[@joelrivardguitar]

Good video. The non-instrument practice I found the most helpful overall was memorizing standards while riding the subway every day.

[@ElvannReacts]

I'm sharing that video with my community and my students right away, that was awesome. It support a point that I've been talking about for so long!

[@kaya_y.]

While i do play a bit of bass, I am mostly a saxophone player and these methods can very easily be adapted to saxophone. Thanks for a great video.

[@mikehughes6582]

It's comforting to know that even you make mistakes. I really like your videos.

[@ayzack2361]

your videos are making me be very interested on getting a bass

[@adrenalinegroove]

I've learn many a setlist just by listening to the songs while working and mentally "playing " along. It was a mind blower when I found out I could do that. Kinda makes me feel like I'm getting away with laziness though

[@Teuts2000]

Great tips Adam, exactly what I have been looking for to keep myself in the groove at work.

[@MrLogjammer]

Practicing sub divisions with a metronome is good. Set your metronome to 60bpm and tap out quarter notes for four bars, then 8th notes for four bars, then triplets, 16th notes, quintuplets etc and back down again.

[@steelman774]

When I’m in the house and want to work on some bass music, I tend to grab an acoustic guitar and run over my parts using KZbin as a click track. I find it easier to capo the guitar to match the original track than a bass. Plus, this saves me going out to the practice room and firing up the gear just to make a pass over a few songs (for church we only play about 5 songs for a service). Anything longer and I’ll go out and make it a dedicated workout.

[@LilTumorboii]

while i was on a camping trip, i learned toxicity on the drums by listening to it and air drumming along for a whole week; and when i came home, i was able to play it very fluently. Its a lot like the forearm trick you mentioned

[@howdyyuvraj]

Wow, that forearm trick is new to me. Thanks for packing all your videos with valuable takeaways.

[@chriscarlisle8997]

sweet! im leaving for a spring break vacation but cant take my bass...luckily you made a video for this! thanks adam ;)

[@garysnowdon1918]

Yeah man I totally agree. We are in the territory of self hypnosis and visualisation here. I do all of those things. I always carry sheet music.When everybody else is looking at face book I am reading music. I make Rythms a tactile thing, run a finger over three of your fingers on the other hand. The action is like a lolly stick in a bicycle wheel,123 123 123ect. Tap in reps of 50 your pinky and 4th finger both hands, build up the strengths. They think I am working but I am really playing ;-)

[@diegomonteirobatera]

I love you for this!

[@OmniTron1000]

The whole bit about grabbing a guitar and feeling icky absolutely killed me...haha. Awesome tips though, I need to try some of these, thanks Adam.

[@LeFloidfan4ever]

great video as usual :) keep up the good work

[@KoenZyxYssel]

The best one I know is just tapping your fingers in varied patterns to the beat currently stuck in your head. thumb + knee = slapping

[@cnflct]

I've been there on the Icky comment. It feels wrong! I sit all day and listen to a metronome at my office job, I vary the counts and count it out throughout the day at different tempos. Practice leftover from my drumming days.

[@gabrielanicola1680]

as someone without a bass who doesn't play bass (yet), I'm ready to practice B)

[@dasaggropop1244]

I am thinking of a band that plays what i say and how i like it. i think it works better than actual practise. amazing

[@OleksiiTheAngry]

that killing-perfect vocal pitch!

[@vladimirorevic8947]

Hi Adam. I absolutely love your videos! They helped me a lot, inspired me to pursue my passion for music, totally changed my perception of art and kinda improved my playing style, in general (I play bass guitar, my main instrument, but I know to play guitar quite good too). Anyway, I have one question: What do you think of so called ''POCKET STRINGS (6 FRET MODEL)''? I'm not even sure if they are called like this, but I'm thinking about some mini version of guitar, that you can carry around in your pocket and practise, like, anywhere. :D I really hope that you know what I'm talking about and I'd appreciate your opinion on this. Thanks in advance and good luck. Cheers! Your big fan, Vladimir. 😆

[@finalscore2983]

Until next time... *RIGHT FOREARM!*

[@SzymonSzanczuk]

Just gonna start listening to my metronome everywhere I go now. On walks, in the car, in my sleep. Perfect.

[@LeonidasKaragiannis]

Slapping my belly, torso and foot is what helped tons to learn slap bass

[@mangobalaclava3329]

Leonidas Desert ... you... you slapped your foot?

[@CraighBand]

Thanks for this lesson, i have a lot of time practicing without a bass while being in trains.

[@feetbowl3376]

1:35 luke skywalker: t r i g g e r e d

[@JackieRompana]

I sorted your videos by first uploaded. I'm not disappointed :)

[@mrmapegothe13th]

Hey Adam, great videos, super informative but fun to watch. Stupid question, what is the music you use in your videos? Not the intro but the background music. I love it. Thanks!

[@thebaconwheel]

can i get that singing thing by itself. i want that as my ringtone so i can hear adam go aaaaah aaaaah aaaaah while getting a call

[@danielfmyers]

The forearm idea is actually really great for learning to keep your wrist straight.

[@methylene]

My highest in the metronome game is 855, will I improve just by practicing?

[@pianobeard6403]

Was that "Piano Man" by Ghostland Observatory, and not the Billy Joel song? If so, you're the coolest cat ever.

[@andrewdeck7945]

Another method of practicing without a bass is listening to the music you want to learn. If you are familiar enough with your bass you can even begin to visualize playing it along with the song.

[@neonbrownpear9168]

what kind of metronome do you use on your tablet. I really like the way it visualizes the time

[@jonathanvaknin8760]

maybe another tip if you have access to the chart and to hear the song doing it simotaniously* will probably be a help for artists to try and think about practicing without practicing *grammar/spelling nazis not allowed to point out if I spelled it wrong

[@maxmeszaros9527]

gotta love the op

[@ray.bonanno]

Hey Adam! What's the song at 3:40? It's super dope!

[@ampthebassplayer]

Doing God's work here.

[@ManelRuivo]

this is awesome! im subscribing!

[@NoctorialMysteries]

I use the seam of my pants or coat (Carhartt in the winter) like it's a string to practice my right hand galloping and other oddities.

[@magnusk5860]

Probably just me, but I couldn't focus on what you were saying, cause I was oddly distracted by how the message on your shirt was trying to decide whether to be visible or not. :)

[@PeperMintification]

Adam, which software did you use to make your intro video?

[@NelsonMontana1234]

This is a technique developed in the 60's originally called "Psycho Cybernetics" and I've applied throughout my life. I have a bass channel, though it's all music -- multi instrumental interpretations of songs emphasizing bass. But I like your vids -- simple straight ahead tips and advice.

[@theaddictofgaming9174]

Wait, you think of Piano Man in 6/8. I usually think of it in 3/4. Are these actually any different?

[@CVGuitar]

4:12 fucking hilarious dude !!

[@gerabassman]

nice channel

[@leonk6950]

also: buy a u-bass! super portable and good for learning songs, scales and such and well-... they are damn awesome

[@timworley3235]

nah but in all seriousness a video on how to practice using an acoustic 6 string would be neat. like where do i put my thumb without a pickup there? etc

[@einarabelc5]

Um - The first twenty hours by Josh Kauffman states that this works as long as you ALSO practice. I'd like to see your sources because it would be interesting to know.

[@AdamNeely]

Linked in the description!

[@einarabelc5]

For some reason youtube minimizes the Information on the video, I see the links now. Thanks!

[@Thedeadbeetsband]

I started playing bass on my right arm while driving with my knee. Do I get extra brain motor skill development from that?

[@simonprokop1302]

Funny realisation: Listening to songs with "4 on the floor" beat (disco, acid techno, house... edm) is kinda same things as the tip number 4... :D #lazypracticing

[@xo_sunnyside_ox]

I need this cuz i can only ask my mom to buy a base when i don't fail my big exam this year 😂

[@RockyStonester1]

whats the background music?

[@Joey-uv5pd]

Thanks I’m now a professional bass player but I’ve never played a bass

[@bobbydixon4484]

hi, can you tell me what your were playing on you forearm at 1:52 in this video. I really liked the way that sounded.

[@brytewhajah]

Bobby Dixon It sounds like playing the Cycle of Thirds descending.

[@SnerMerNer]

It's a major scale exercise. You start on octave of the root and go back three notes, then start on the 7th and go back 3 notes, then the 6th etc.... carry on until you get to the root

[@brytewhajah]

SamBielski Exactly. That's the Cycle of Thirds explained.Cool.

[@khronscave]

4:46 "No, no, no - FINGER prints!.." :D kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXicXoZ5i8hge5I

[@anonymous4711_]

I recommend not doing too much "practice" outside of practicing. Say, at work. No matter how boring and easy the job is...multitasking is exhausting and you'll suck at the job. Plus, obviously that kind of practice is nothing like the real thing. Better come home relaxed and fresh and get a quality hour with the bass.

[@leomorales1764]

man i do this in class for like 5 hours a day

[@ThePuertoricanBeastJonathan]

now I know what to do in class

[@ThePuertoricanBeastJonathan]

and i am a guitarist 😆

[@thomazbarreto7322]

What if you put your hands on some TUBA shiet music?

[@AdamNeely]

+Thomaz da Silva isn't all tuba music shite music?

[@thomazbarreto7322]

+Adam Neely Maybe you are a indeterminist composer. Sheetless tuba music is also nice tuba music

[@DuncanEscNJ]

Thomaz da Silva ~as a former tuba player, these jokes had me scurred sheetless

[@westter8164]

I want to learn bass but unfortunately I don't have a bass

[@dahnger]

Eternal loop on 4:31

[@billyherrington2415]

2:36 holy shit lmao

[@reevesgolda5072]

4:15 i feel icky every time i touch the guitar.

[@sulaymanjones245]

My cello teacher told me to do that to with my forearm

[@bobsmith-ov3kn]

Showing "increased brain activity in the motor cortex" does NOT equate to "the practice time between the thinking versus the doing group was of equal benefit". Like, seriously, that does not validate in any way the effectiveness of the practicing. The only way to do that is to have some sort of serious pre and post comparisons of objective things like how they actually play a scale or arrpeggio or whatever

[@PariahEarth]

Rule #2 buddeh!

[@tanemahuta7365]

now i wanna tattoo my arm to look like my 8 string guitar fretboard....

[@TheVerzification]

that one dislike.. maaan

[@kirkwahmmet8406]

You’re just jealous we play the. S U P E R I O R. I N S T R U M E N T.

[@sugmabass3743]

Kirk Wahmmet BE GONE! You thin stringed peasant!

[@mziv112]

your name and also your comment just made my day. thanks man :)

[@BenWatton92]

I'm dog who's just here for the jazz chords

[@yourboysylas]

Bass

[@kurtkroczaleskijr.7644]

i swear Andriy Vasylenko made this same video

[@drawntothefire]

BASS.

[@blastvid4646]

4:02 [being a college student white male with a guitar next to me]

[@CVGuitar]

All I ever wanted in life was a bass player that didn't play like a pussy -- and a drummer that didn't want to also be the lead singer -- aargh

[@h80np39]

2:35

[@The_PlagueDoctor]

2:37 Ahahaha

[@EnEmerson]

Guitar is for light fingered pansies, bass for life!

[@cookiesrawesomee]

I agree which is why I play guitar xD

[@EnEmerson]

at least you have acknowledged your fate!

[@danhinchliffe7622]

En Emerson What if I play bass, guitar, piano and drums?

[@wulfsunu7219]

you have lightly thick long fingers then. :P

[@danhinchliffe7622]

😂😂😂😂 Not really but I guess what you said would make sense😂😂

[@hhectorlector]

Why would I ask “any college age white male” for a guitar when I could just as easily ask “any college age black male” for a bass?