PRACTICE ROUTINE CHALLENGE (2023)

[@AnthonyMuthurajah]

Hey everyone! I’m noticing some of you are confused with me saying that the video I’m referencing sucks. Please know that the bassist in that video IS ME 😂 that’s me in early 2011.

[@InGrindWeCrust2010]

Yeah, but I didn't think it sucks. That means I'm way more horrible than I thought. 😞

[@DavidJohnson-pp4sy]

Speaks to me like no other teacher. No BS, just honesty and self-reflection. Also gave me a road map for the next six months. Brilliant session, Anthony Much appreciated. Wish you all the best in this new chapter of your life.

[@dandiango1856]

he says i used to suck then plays something I wish I could play. sick playing man

[@debanjanbhattacharya1956]

Mann you hv developed almost the most perfect intonation on our fretless bass... You played this bass so perfect that Firstly i thought it was a fretted bass with certain kind of tone or like a dominic di piaza bridge or something like that.... Just wonderful 👍🏼

[@1234drums]

Being able to have the discipline needed to make new year's resolutions is a great achievement itsself 💪

[@pleximanic]

happy festivus

[@aarsyl]

Oh, my! You are speaking things that I tell EVERY bass player that asks me for tips, and I've been saying this for YEARS. Learn your scales, forward, backward, on two strings, on one string, on 4 strings. Learn and practice your scales.

[@aarsyl]

And I just made it to the point of the video that you just said that exact same thing about one string.

[@Reapwhatsown]

Hahaha. Thanks for that memory bro, I hear ya. Im still trying to escape. 😂 Knowing that you improved so much since 2011 just reinforces how much discipline I still need. Been a bass player for 20+ yrs, still not playing at my level of taste. Thanks for your awesome channel.

[@patricktelfort]

Bet!

[@lindahector-bedrockcreations]

Thano you!

[@JeffSeaIndustries]

So good to have the regular videos back. You were the first bass channel I subscribed to and I have made great progress since. Thank You.

[@VictorMalasquez]

Los videos de Anthony son buenísimos. Si eres principiante NO sigas este reto. Ningún poeta empezó a hablar de niño repitiendo palabras de memoria mil veces. Aprende primero el sentido melódico de tu instrumento, repite frases que te gusten, el estilo que te guste. Recién entonces anda por más. Saludos. Anthony's videos are great. If you are a beginner DO NOT follow this challenge. No poet started talking as a child memorizing words, repeating them a thousand times. Learn from the beginning the melodic sense of your instrument, repeat phrases that you like, make up phrases, the style that you like. Only then go for more.

[@clemensrichter5737]

Just discovered your channel...I'm in with your last year's challenge. Thanks for that, so easy but helpful

[@charlieburns1385]

Thanks Anthony Glad l found your info 🎶👍

[@rhylennaicker1598]

We got this golden information from you for free! Thank you sir ! Contact you once I get this down.

[@asimchristie3320]

How did he suck 😩😮‍💨🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🤦🏾‍♂️ I must be buns cause he sounds awesome

[@victoranuriam408]

Thanks Anthony, I'm following up the channel. Love from Nigeria ❤️🙌

[@davidfox7983]

Scales are fine

[@jasonclark9851]

Happy Holidays no matter what you smell like!

[@FvdWSeatbelt]

what a great explanation and motivation if bass players want to take playing seriously! am a big fan of yours!

[@garrettlowell7637]

Love that early vid-you should go back to that cool hairstyle! Anyway, thank you. I have added this to my practice routine.

[@Bahimo3154]

This video is a treasure ! Ty Anthony

[@MBonnerAtGatech]

What should we be thinking/memorizing while playing the scales? -the fretting patterns? -the actual notes? -the intervals / how many semitones between each step? -something else?

[@AnthonyMuthurajah]

Think about all of the above. Don't focus on memorizing. With repetition comes good memory retention, so the memorization becomes a byproduct of regular practice. Hope that answers your question!

[@Boethius4748]

On point about being honest with yourself. Imo, the greatest tool a person can have is self-criticism

[@venusspacey9685]

It was a settle way of bragging. You, me and I know most players can't play like that. It's all good, relax it's just the truth

[@ohugomartins]

self-criticism can also be your worst enemy...

[@thisoldmanchannel]

Man, the only way to move a mountain is one stone at a time.

[@milracing73]

I Love that you make mistakes in your videos. It makes you seem almost mortal

[@paulbordenave]

Thank you so much for your videos, man. So much useful content. Definitely inspired by what you're putting out there. I picked up the upright last year and've been working a lot on it, and was starting to feel like I was neglecting the electric bass, this video made me change my mind, so I'm refining all of my practice routine for the upcoming year ! Wishing you all the best for the new year, from France ! Merci beaucoup :)

[@Bassdriver71]

Happy New Year 😊

[@meaviad]

This is very inspiring . I immediately sat near the piano :) thanks

[@flydopekidd11]

three of the 12 keys have enharmonic spellings. Cb/B, Gb/F#, Db/C#

[@lesliegataua4111]

Hey Anthony! I'm keen to give this a go... and really try to understand what I'm playing lolz... I kind of get found out when we do freestyle jams with other muso's... I avoid soloing, just sit in the pocket lolz

[@edennard1]

Nothing wrong with that.

[@pedrobaeztorres4401]

Great info,very simple to follow and visually accessible 👍

[@Tom-xd5fo]

Just what I was looking for. I was sent here from Mark at Talking Bass. You have anew subscriber/follower. Thanks to you 🎸

[@AnthonyMuthurajah]

Mark's the man! I love his channel.

[@gregmoore2875]

Bless you brother, keep inspiring us!

[@bullfunkstudios3856]

Always inspiring, always on point

[@kenithmunion3164]

♥️♥️♥️

[@sertacbass]

Merry Christmas Anthony. Wish you a great year!

[@naiyalexic]

Happy holidays, no matter what you smell like.

[@JorisPosthumus]

happy newyear:) in some days or so, great channel, keep em commin

[@jamesmurff193]

Just “discovered your channel. I will endeavor to doing what you have said in this video.

[@nicolinogiancola9644]

I really liked the solo . I know what your getting at, I just don't agree. solo was great.

[@steverixon7708]

Happy New Year to you Anthony....& everyone out there Great exercise....I've certainly got some shit to do !

[@Marekki2202]

Quick question: do you suggest to „just“ learn and know the fretboard shapes? Do you know every single note by name when you play those scales up and down in different positions?

[@mattfoley6082]

Welcome to NY USA!

[@mjmorgan-maloosefingers9135]

welcome to new York

[@Horsujbass]

On point ! Are you planning to make a video about fretless bass and how you're working on intonation? Just bought one a couple of weeks ago ! Thanks again for your awesome content.

[@AnthonyMuthurajah]

I most definitely will do that eventually!

[@dominicduvalbass]

Thank you!! 🙏

[@mr.t382]

Grrrr8 Video lesson Anthony (as usual!) Quick question bro; when practicing those Triads, and scales etc. as you play are you thinking CEGC/ etc. or, once you’re familiar with the shape and the “tones” in your head do you think in “shapes” as you go?…. If that makes sense / if not I’m sry….lol Thank you, 🙏🙏🙏

[@vincentm4717]

Hi Anthony, great video content and I asked before, what type of fretless jazz is that?

[@GospelMusic4Life]

He’s right. If you can do those scales and the triads in every key and from a gospel stand point the pentatonic/blues scales you can pretty much get around on any instrument pretty well. Discipline is the hard part. 😃

[@micheldindaine8403]

that could not be more accurate. it is like a full stuffed hyper-protein bar to chew every day (we all have at least an hour or two a day). You chose to settle in big apple on the coldest winter of all time. I spent 2 years in NY and I know that the winter can be harsh but this one is a real "m.ther f..ker". Take care man and HAPPY NEW YEAR🎸🍾🍷 By the way, was it really you playing on the short video ?

[@shakeelraza]

Great lesson thank you - do you have any plans to put a PDF together to assist with these exercises please? I would purchase this from your site if so. Many thanks.

[@AlexandarShmex]

Thank you for the advice man, I'm doing something similar, I practice two octave scales (major, minor, harmonic and melodic) through 2 octaves in 3 different ways, then I play the minor and major triads in 3 ways and I do it with a metronome in all 12 keys, but I move chromatically. I will implement the diminished scales as well and augmented and diminished triads, going trough circle of 5ths or 4ths. But I have a question regarding playing scales on 1 string, so for example if I'm playing C major on E string, I'd simply start with an open E and play every single note that's in the scale until 20th fret C (I have a 20 fret bass)? I shouldn't start with the root? And for the 4 note per string scales, there's only one way to play them, if I'm not mistaken? Thank you again for all your hard work!

[@rogerioreckel6335]

I would like to play like that...😮..

[@mattfoley6082]

Anthony, any gigs planned in the Philly area where I live?

[@AnthonyMuthurajah]

Hopefully this coming summer if not earlier!

[@Steadyworking864]

Well now your 14 hrs from me now my man welcome to the states.

[@urmero67]

True, practicing triads can get pretty boring for seasoned players and for that I suggest; Practice them by learning about triad pairs to make things more musical and to incorporate a new concept to your skills. I suggest Jerry Bergonzi's book "Inside Improvisation Vol.7 Hexatonics" for this.

[@AnthonyMuthurajah]

Triad pairs definitely have great mileage. However, often times those who try attempting such ideas are weak with their triads to begin with. Then again, if you get your basics down, you should be able to gauge your progress.

[@SquashDaBeef]

I used to think I knew my scales until I met my bass teacher. I didn't even know what I didn't know.

[@owenmurphey1865]

What is the main idea behind playing 4 notes per string?

[@SunderlandMorrow]

How do you feel about Jeff Berlin being anti scales? Yeah he's all about chord tones. Is it wise to learn what you are saying as well as what he says? You both are phenomenal bass players

[@machtigekijker]

Hi did you mean 3 notes per string are 4

[@mattdickun6145]

Dude, I'm having my first winter in like four years. Every time, I sneeze my nosebleeds.

[@desmorga6757]

Thanks for this! Just a question, how would you set the metronome? Would it be in quarter notes, or just on the first beat, every other beat etc?

[@AnthonyMuthurajah]

I personally wouldn't recommend using the metronome just yet. This routine is purely for navigation within the context of knowing the notes of scales and triads. Once you feel confident, you can introduce a metronome to the equation.

[@desmorga6757]

That’s good to hear, whenever I try to do scales with strict metronome time, it always adds extra pressure to think about time while getting not getting an unfamiliar fingering right, which can really be too much (to start off with anyway)

[@Genson50]

Hello! If to start from F on 3 string than I can’t play 2 octaves on jazz bass. What to do?

[@skineyemin4276]

Learn the various positions and if it's a 4 string and you can't go third octave of F go back an octave and play it from there. Obviously, play from the the pattern from F (1st fret) on the E string, learn that really well, then apply that to the next octave F (13th fret) on the same string (on the E string) because it's the same pattern, then ton F from the 8th fret on the A string. Once you know the patterns and the notes, try in on F (3rd fret) on the D string and figure out the patterns from there and its will be more difficult; you may not even use that position when you're soloing but just learn it anyway; learning arpeggios cross stringed or on the same string will help. You have to just learn the pattern from the easiest position first, then challenge yourself from different parts of the neck. There is no easy fix.

[@sarajamus]

Hey brother, I moved from Dubai to Turkey; to Cali (in 2003), so I know the struggle of learning the imperial system after knowing metric forever lol Keep me in the loop if you are ever in the west coast & I’ll try & see play live if you ever tour! Cheers brother!

[@KirkDickinson]

Don't know who says there are 15 keys. I only see 12 on the circle of fifths. I guess if you start including enharmonic keys, you can get more. There isn't a logical end to that.

[@otekootieno3707]

What do you mean 15 keys?!!

[@porkchop2471]

👍🎯

[@FBEpromotion]

Where is your cat !

[@mattfoley6082]

Anthony, I am LOL at your brutal honesty about your own playing. It takes guts to be so critical of yourself. But to be fair your playing back then is still better than 99% of bass solos at a bar. Also, I wouldn't say your playing per se sucked but you were a bit out of tune.

[@AnthonyMuthurajah]

For me personally, besides the tuning, the feel and note choices are very poor. The only thing I sort of had going for myself was rhythm.

[@mattfoley6082]

@@AnthonyMuthurajah Fair enough but at least you cared enough to become a better player. Lots of guys are lazy and never bother to work to get better.

[@WTHFX]

That early video featured some fairly remedial soloing but it was all basically in time and in key. I guess it depends on how long you had been playing at that point as to whether you "sucked." Someone who's been playing for a couple of years or less can't really "suck" - they're just "not good yet." Whereas someone who's been playing 10 years and can't play chord tones, that person can reasonably be said to be failing with the time they've had and demonstrably suck. Noticed when you were playing a C major scale at the end that the E and A strings sounded a little out of tune between pitches on the same string while your fingering looked like you were being very conscientious - has this instrument been intonated in the last 6 months?

[@AnthonyMuthurajah]

Like I mentioned, to my ears TODAY, it is beyond remedial/rudimentary. I shouldn’t even have chosen that tune to play over in the first place 😅 Good bulk of the lines I played were sort of modifications of a transcription of the original soloist. I didn’t go into great detail about that clip in particular, but yeah. At that point, I’ve been playing music for 7-8 years already. Bass just a couple of years, nonetheless, I ignored the importance of a sound foundation.

[@WTHFX]

@@AnthonyMuthurajah ignoring a sound foundation is probably the most common issue with bassists - and I'm no exception. The instrument is easy to get passably ok at and much of western popular music doesn't demand much of the bass so it reinforces laziness. But when you want to get good you realize that the geometry of the string tunings don't lend themselves to easy melodicism or chording; even walking basslines efficiently become like difficult tongue-twisters without a solid foundation. I was curious: when you are playing symmetrical scales like whole-tone, full and half diminished do you find yourself thinking pattern shapes or notes? I find myself falling into patterns with them but it can create problems when bouncing around between neck positions or between chords.

[@Bibblebabbler]

Painfully out of tune hoss Great vids but new years buy a clip on tuner 😂

[@AnthonyMuthurajah]

I have a clip on tuner, but I never tune my basses haha. Such a bad habit, but thankfully it's only when i'm home

[@almendratlilkouatl]

U forgor diwali

[@AnthonyMuthurajah]

I forgot a bunch of holidays. It just shows how "in touch" I am hahah

[@almendratlilkouatl]

@@AnthonyMuthurajah it was a joke, I love your channel!!

[@fufubass]

Okay, but why did that vid suck? It sounds a bit arrogant. Juxtapose that with one of your own solos and tell us what you're hearing and why.

[@nikoladragovic2087]

Cheer up a bit. You play good but your attitude is not. Be more concrete!

[@giodimojo7633]

too much talking but thx anyway for the efforts, also playing scales up and down without metronome is stupid you could scales and timing at once, such a waste of time like your video

[@apollo3479]

Instead of trying to find the perfect video that will instantly give you everything you need, go and practice m8.

[@giodimojo7633]

@@apollo3479 true, less youtube more playing

[@laithhart4013]

@@giodimojo7633 what do you want from a lesson if not talking lol, would you rather he wowed you with incredible playing and didn’t explain how he got there? lol you’re on the wrong type of video

[@Yash42189]

Isnt this just mindless noodling up and down the fretboard? I thought it would be better to spend your time transcribing solos and walking lines, or whatever you want to transcribe. I guess i just dont understand the point of playing scales

[@sean9792]

Scales are the bas of everything. Transcribing solos and lines are really important too but mindfully practicing scales and triads up and down the neck is always good practice. Practice 1st and 2nd inversions, 2 notes a string, 3, 4, etc. for me playing through all 12 keys in one session is too much to be 100% mindful of each one, taking 3 or 4 per session could be a better pace but at the same time it’s whatever you’re comfortable with

[@alvinluke7626]

Boring!!