How Do We Get Better Faster? 3 Game-Changing Concepts For Bass

This is one of the simplest approaches to accelerated learning in my entire process of being a better bass player, and also one of the most effective.
You can apply these ideas to any source material, and it will improve the intent with which you practice and learn, as well as turbo charge your practice routine.
if you want to dig deeper into the books mentioned in the video, you can check them out here: janekgwizdala.com/store
There are a limited number of signed copies that are shipping worldwide, ebooks that you can enjoy immediately, and they all come with standard notation, bass TAB, play alongs and videos where applicable.
Join my Newsletter if you want more free content like this: janekgwizdala.substack.com/

[@_B_E_A_D_G_C]

The amount of free information you give away should be criminal. Thanks for everything, Janek.

[@SaschaOnBass]

I agree! Thank you Janek!

[@keenanjacobs9949]

Even during the pandemic when he started The Practice Room videos was awesome it was like I couldn't wait for the next episode lol Thank You Janek blessings to you🙏💯

[@mikerobinson9030]

Sharing is what we are supposed to do 👍

[@ajaystephen869]

I strongly agree Thank u sir

[@jimb213]

As a lefty, THANK YOU for saying "plucking hand" and "fretting hand."

[@peterfischer9993]

I love the “foundational” nature of this: Regardless of what you’re working on, how to get better faster!

[@R_o_m_u]

Kwowing how to build a practice routine is a key to keep the will and the motivation. Thank you Janek.

[@Garyu712]

I’m not good in English, but you make it easy to me to understand the skills and knowledges who ever never told me in past 20yeats

[@soundsolutions]

Thank you Janek for reminding us to take a break every 90 mins or so. This is very important for our mind and body.❤

[@HondoFelder]

Such killer advice. Appreciate it!

[@fishdogg44]

Wow! This is phenomenal!

[@stevegarneau8673]

Great concepts! Thanks friend.

[@IsmaelWorship]

This was a great lesson !!!

[@previllazz]

Thank you Janek. Great lesson. Peace ✌

[@allefmateus1728]

Informative and great as always. I love your content here, Janek. THANK YOU.

[@MarkMarxonsBassChannel]

This is such a good lesson! Thank you

[@bdtoel]

Fantastic stuff! Hope to buy a book soon.

[@BartoHomy]

Another great source of inspiration, as always. Thank you so much for all the material and content you bring to us.

[@stephenleyte8423]

Been watching your videos everyday for the past weeks. You're a great instructor man and great content always! Thanks for the free information!

[@MrPrincebass99]

Great lesson, Janek! Eye-opening and useful. Thanks very much.

[@diegopacheco-bloch8791]

Great video, both books are excellent.

[@kennycorrea5062]

Just jumped into this channel, great content. Thank you sir! You got a new sub!

[@kristischbein3485]

I appreciate all of the great information you share, thank you from Canada.

[@dominiquegrisanti8643]

Thank you Janek ! You gave me some very nice exercises to work on during my daily routines

[@petebedrock]

this was a good one. i look for brief yet profound lessons all over you tube. many times theyre over my head. This one is particularly useful. Thank you.

[@LiquidDubLover]

The root + 10th is my favorite interval! Thanks for the tips to make it even better 🤘

[@BassStevie]

Really great advice. I’m working on a difficult piece right now and im going to take this approach to nailing it. Thx dude.

[@user-cf7oq7zn7m]

Great lesson. Really starting to tune into your wavelength now and getting so much from your work. Thank you.

[@glennhm8142]

I love this vid, I use the II-V exercise a lot in my warm up routine, and I think it was in your first book as well. Well definitely use the tenth exercise, thank you Janek

[@mozr5053]

Thanks for elevating my game sir! I've always been a fan of yours. Also, your pentatonic book is awesome for those who don't have a copy.

[@wallace_nelson]

WoW... New to Bass. Looking forward to getting better to be able to apply this. Thanks for sharing.

[@soundcanvas1450]

Just released a new music project and now in that quiet time before beginning something new. The best time to learn more , so I'm very grateful to stumble upon your videos online. Your quality of playing & teaching are both enjoyable and inspiring. Thank you

[@Pek8983]

I just subscribed to your channel. All your videos are very informative. Be blessed, Sir!

[@stefanbogner6237]

Infeel very comfortable watching your videos. The lighting is nice, how you record your voice and of course your theory/practical advice. Inspiring me to practice more.

[@justintolley9912]

Excellent exercises approach and knowledge share with a beautiful production touch. New subscriber let’s GO!

[@dariuszdembski1660]

great video / content

[@charlieburns1385]

Great Thanks👍

[@situacionando]

Yeah🤙🏾 more lessons 🙏🏽 like the old days

[@Neko_Boa]

New to bass, this is an inspiration.

[@bleigh6562]

Just thank you for all you contribute to letting people make music 🎵🎶🎵😊

[@Hzfyld]

.....book 2. 5 1..love it.

[@mark-stefaniw]

Another very inspiring vid Gwiz! Thank you. Here's another fingering idea for 10ths, that I use on upright bass, is: M10=1-4 and m10=1-3 This helps to reinforce the major and minor harmony of the scale degrees.

[@malcolmmellon8692]

Goodness I'm a beginner bass player who just got back to it after a gap (because a solder broke!) and for some reason it all clicked much better... and here you are with what looks like an excellent approach, glad the algorithm came across you!

[@raynosti]

Legend!

[@Eldude2112]

That is some insanely helpful advice...Having fun is the #1 thing. Thanks Janek! I'm struggling to just get "slapping" down right. I've been looking for just basic techniques/exercises to become better at it.

[@mrmatthew2443]

There’s lots of beginning slap videos out there Good luck

[@SooHungry]

I love that you are using the P Bass, so that other bass players don't have an excuse. Haha.

[@janekgwizdala]

😂😂😂

[@zionbandhyo]

Muchas gracias

[@Ekip1994]

Thanks❤

[@muddlemore]

Great tips!!! If I could piggyback with an accelerator, one of the best tips I got and try to pass on is a rhythm component. If you’re doing eighth notes, run it three ways: straight, dotted 8th 16th, then 16th dotted eight. This really helps especially with cleaning up shifts. I’m sure you know this, but I feels it’s underutilized, or rarely spoken of. Great vlog!! ❤

[@memeteamdreamteam3990]

Hey Janek, I've been watching your content for years and I love your approach to music. You've inspired to me to start transcribing more, but can you explain the process of getting the ideas developed and part of your ear/music you hear before you play?

[@OlandoMcCall]

You talking creativity, inspiration?

[@mdspman000]

On top of doing these type of exercises the thing that allows consistent progress with them is doing them daily for at least a short period. Even 10 minutes focused on one thing every day and rotating new challenges in over time has a huge cumulative effect that you can't get by jumping around and doing many different things or trying to cram learning into one long practice session.

[@ricoeurkhino]

GUYSSS, this is the secret of how to get better at any instrument faster. Practice what this man is preaching. This video is 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@elsargento9543]

Badass! I hope you are doing well. 💯

[@gabehinman6917]

That beginning riff!!!

[@SaschaOnBass]

Janek, you have the technique to play all the fast stuff! How do you manage to NOT fall into the trap of your fingers to play fast and, instead, listen to melodys in your head and take your time? Thank you, you're a big inspiration!

[@janekgwizdala]

I think that has come from spending most of my life listening to and admiring music that had nothing to do with how fast or slow it was played. I understood from a young age that some of the worlds greatest technicians are also the worlds worst musicians. I care about melody, harmony, song form, communication, interaction, and the experience of live music with an audience. The only reason I have developed the technique necessary to play incredibly fast, is because some of the musical ideas I hear end up containing elements that require a wide range of basic technique to execute them. I was never driven by technique though. It was always by melody.

[@SaschaOnBass]

Thank Janek!

[@lionicquotes]

Sound of the voice is amazing

[@meloncreek]

Ok, I’m motivated!

[@hillblocksview]

We could skip all these concepts (which are great BTW) and just get right to the _meat and potatoes_ and that's the *Bass Face* The best way to get *better faster* is to assume the role and get in the groove! by locking in on a *Bass Face* we can achieve this better & faster! but proper *bass face* is crucial, and proper timing for the *bass Face* is imperative. Would love to see a video exclusively on *Bass Face* technique, You my friend are the master, and exhibit it even while teaching, well played 👏

[@matthewsntlele]

🙏 gold thank you

[@geneevans7885]

You had me at like a saxophone player.

[@ari-el3702]

Best regards, gentleman Gwizdala, I find its content fabulous and it has helped me a lot in my practice with the bass, which I must be grateful for; I was wondering if you know anything about bass sounds, what type of strings sound best and on what type of instrument and genre? Once again, best greetings and see you always.

[@geofharris5546]

Hi Janek, Firstly thank you for your calm and grounded manner in yr wonderful presentations.. a welcome break from many other hyped-up presenters who are trying too hard to be clever/funny, rapidly becoming insufferable.. (eg. a famous SW London music store - tho great content etc..).. We have too much noise in our lives as it is..! :) Your video: At first it had me doing my head in finding the ref chords (key) until I noticed that I'd somehow missed seeing the chart.. @1:37.. but.. by visual & ear your first note was 'A' whereas on the chart it is Bb.. in other words you were starting the performance exercise on the second bar..(??) Then it all fell into place. I wonder if anyone else had the same problem? Best regards to you and many thanks for your generous guidance. Geof Harris, Southend on Sea, Essex UK - active bassist for approx 55yrs - aware that there's no point of arrival..! :D

[@dancassidy7471]

I seem to be a slow learner on the four instruments I play. I will need to study this approach intently..but believe I already have been doing this

[@micaiahnavarrete3793]

Thanks for posting this! As a self-taught bassist, I'm always on the hunt for new ideas and techniques to add to my playing. This was a great find. A sub for you! Are there any books you might recommend? I've been playing for 20 years and I'd like to grow on my playing via method books and exercises in the same way I did at University when I studied clarinet.

[@janekgwizdala]

Appreciate you taking the time to comment. In terms of method books, it all depends on your level and what you’re looking to improve right now. All my books available here janekgwizdala.com/store accommodate all levels of player. If you’re looking to improve jazz vocabulary, chords, sight reading, or just dial in your warm up there’s something for everyone.

[@pavele.6304]

great video and explaining!!! I will defenetively order your books! btw what strings are on that bass?

[@hugocuandon1319]

JANEK, know that you are appreciated and listened to from Puerto Morelos just south from Cancún Mexico. I want to get your books as soon as i figure out the way to purchase them. YOU ARE THE MAN!

[@xeode]

you ledge you, youtube needs to put these videos in front of more noses, such great info so well put together

[@Calcprof]

I often practice the scale in 10ths on my fretless for intonation. (Also scale in octaves). My other big exercise for scales is broken thirds.

[@Bazzguit]

Great exercises, spot on for improving on the instrument by deliberate practice. Thank you Janek 🙏. I do have a question tho. Do you have any resources on left hand technique? I've been playing bass for 15 years (really intermittently lol) and I think I got very close to be an intermediate with the instrument during the first three of four years (in which I developed a left hand mild swelling in the muscle below the pinky on the outer edge of the hand which I never properly addressed). Long story short, life happened and I rediscovered my love for bass last year so I've been taking it seriously since then, thing is, recently I learned a song my private instructor suggested (Better by Cory Wong) and it triggered that swelling along with a mild cramp on the outer edge of the wrist and it hurts in some specific points along my forearm all the way to the elbow, nowadays I stopped playing bass for a few weeks until I completely recover from this pain and in the meantime I'm looking for exercises and resources to resume my practice by re-learning the fundamentals and playing really really slow but with a healthier left-hand technique. (I think it may also happen because I grip really hard with my left hand when I'm playing a challenging song for me, like 'Better'). Any help will be heavily appreciated. Greetings from Colombia!

[@oefibass]

6:50 - I'd rather go with right hand that way: Right Hand Technique: I - Index finger M - Middle finger S - Slide P - Pull-off Three-String Raking Pattern: IIIM - Index finger on the first string, index finger on the second string, index on the third string and middle finger on third string IMIM - Alternating between index and middle fingers on three strings. Articulated Version: SIIM - Slide with the index finger on the first string, followed by the index finger on the second and third strings and middle finger on third string PIMI - Pull-off on the third string, followed by index, middle, and index fingers on the third, second and first strings.

[@francescofalcone4423]

Hello there! Hope everything's alright! I really liked this lesson, but I'm wondering... is there a "right"/proper way to place your fretting hand thumb on the neck? Or is it "just" a matter of doing what feels comfortable? Don't know if it makes any sense, but I'm finding myself having troubles keeping a consistent placement while playing :/ Thx in advance!!!!! You rock!!

[@carlosvillarroel6665]

For me technique was not difficult. The difficult thing was been awareness that the root isn't the first note of the phrase. Hahaha. Thanks for sharing your knowledge Janek 🙏

[@techsquirrel]

Great tips, great video, thank you!! Will be trying these runs today. Question, what strings are you using? You’ve got a beautiful sound.

[@janekgwizdala]

These are very old (15 years?) nylon tape wound flats.

[@techsquirrel]

@@janekgwizdala Right! I wondered because they are dark. That's what I would have guessed. Great sound! Thanks. Already ran the 4/4, 2/2, 1/1 reps today, excellent. Much appreciated.

[@nowhearthis5067]

OMG. Look at the lengths of his fingers. I’m embarrassed to show my stubs for digits. Great video :)

[@jayandgem]

Janek, thank you for the incredibly detailed and informative content. I have an ergonomic question: Are you holding your bass with a stand? Where are your feet positioned? I struggle with shoulder pain and would like to transition to how you hold your bass. It looks far more healthy for the anatomy. 🙏

[@janekgwizdala]

I use a classical guitar style position with my left leg raised slightly by a foot stall. Almost all of the weight of the bass is on the leg, freeing the upper body of stress.

[@jayandgem]

@@janekgwizdala Thank you, sir.

[@hahabass]

Question. Great video. So helpful.but is there a reason why you use a P bass for some of these lessons? You also used it on the 'Altered' vid. I'm guessing it's the fundamental nature of the instrument?

[@janekgwizdala]

It's to make sure no one feels left out. When people who consider themselves more "advanced" players see a 5-string strung E-C they immediately do one of two things: 1. Freak out that they don't have that exact tuning and move on to the next video 2. Freak out that they don't have that exact tuning and move on to the next video and the complain in the comments that the video should have been made for a 4-string. And when a beginner sees the video, they might just not understand what a 5-string with a High-C is right away, so it helps take away anxiety from the process for newer players which I think is a positive thing. The irony (for the "advanced" player at least) is that the concepts in literally every lesson-video I've ever made can be transferred not just to any bass tuning, but to any instrument. At some point, it was pointless holding on to "my" thing (the 5-string), and it's also a nice change of pace to play language on the 4-string that I don't normally practice in that setting. A win win for everyone I think.

[@hahabass]

@@janekgwizdala Totally makes sense. Thanks for taking the time to respond and for continuing to inspire. Be well!

[@JuanDaringMann]

Dropping a 🍪to feed/reward the algorithm for the recommendation.

[@jupitor919]

Which of your books is the first sax 🎷 like speed building lesson in?

[@janekgwizdala]

My jazz vocabulary book: janekgwizdala.com/store/p/jazz-vocabulary-251

[@drintro]

I'm having great difficulty fretting the 10th exercises. One key difference I can see is that you seem to be holding the bass more like a classical guitar from what I can see. I don't see a strap, so how are you supporting the bass?

[@plus41pseudonymus]

With this technique the bass is holding with the legs, you need to place it correctly but it is with the legs

[@janekgwizdala]

This position is very much from my days as a classical guitarist. The leg supports the entire weight of the bass, and leaves the hands and arms with a very low amount of stress.

[@landonh3535]

How do you like tapewounds on your PBass? I was thinking about doing the exact same thing, so the timing of this video was wild to see.

[@janekgwizdala]

I love them. Super responsive and an incredible fat and warm sound. I’ve had these on this bass for almost 15 years without changing them.

[@landonh3535]

Awesome, thank you. I must try some now.@@janekgwizdala

[@stephenclarke9512]

How do i get your chord book, you make this soo understanding

[@janekgwizdala]

janekgwizdala.com/store

[@BenD_Bass]

I was on a Carnival Cruise last week and the bass player had that same p bass

[@seanstoltz6957]

Playing 10ths… gonna have to try that one thx

[@aaronreece5617]

What kind of strings are those? They look like Black Beauties but don’t have the bite, but the clarity is insane.

[@michaelanthony9068]

I wondered that too. I think they’re tape wounds.

[@aidanriess4946]

pretty sure they're xl Black Nylon Tapewounds

[@janekgwizdala]

These are an old set of D’Addario nylon tape wounds from about 15 years ago.

[@aaronreece5617]

@@janekgwizdala thanks Janek!

[@boogie404]

Do you like that dt880 headphones for bass?

[@janekgwizdala]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@mainsblanches8793]

At 7m14s = the basic idea behind "Blackbird"!!...

[@ajdoesbass]

Unrelated to the message, but I’d love to know what headphones you’re wearing in this!

[@janekgwizdala]

I know they're Beyerdynamic, and I think they're the DT PRO range, but I forget which number. maybe the 1990's?

[@torro7009]

Enjoying is FUN-damental 🤣

[@williamperri3437]

Are you playing Flatwounds? I’m not hearing sliding

[@janekgwizdala]

Nylon tape wound flats.

[@williamperri3437]

@@janekgwizdala I clearly love that upright bass classic sound, but my old drum teacher who also plays bass and my buddy who kills it on guitar both are against me learning with flat wounds… thoughts? I like the tone so much better!

[@webkluns]

Which keyboard is in the background?

[@janekgwizdala]

Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S88

[@webkluns]

@@janekgwizdala Thank you.

[@michaelanthony9068]

Thank you Janek, I have your II-V-I book but I haven’t opened it in a couple months, but I’m inspired to get back into it. Btw, I took it to an office supply store where they cut off the binding and put a spiral binding on it so it will lay flat. Maybe you should offer the option of a spiral binding for an up charge? It cost me about $12-14 to have it done and was well worth it. Peace !

[@janekgwizdala]

Great idea, and it’s something we’re looking into for a new book that’s in the works right now.

[@robgeller1]

in the chordal segment it took me a minute or two to realize the 10th's are B phrygian

[@christophercheney1006]

I try to pick every note in the II-V exercise, because I am a glutton for punishment.

[@flowbius]

😁🤙

[@richardkrainak2106]

Incredible content, I’ll definitely “steal”, but…could have been a 6 minute video with a lot of dialogue cut out, but understanding the what’s and why’s are as critical to getting the ability to do it.

[@AlexandarShmex]

Man, that ring-pinky chord fingering is demonic...

[@janekgwizdala]

😈It's not that bad when you get used to it, and it's super useful in the long run.

[@AlexandarShmex]

@@janekgwizdala It's still early for me, I gotta get the shapes down the "regular" way 1st. Thank you for the lessons man.

[@NoName-fo7mz]

Sucks

[@janekgwizdala]

👍

[@davidrobertson5881]

Dude,, you TALK WAY too much

[@joepaquet4332]

nope, just right!

[@janekgwizdala]

You do have the option not to watch the video…