How To Build A Practice Routine

More than "what should I practice?", I get the question "How should I practice?". And not just how, but how much? how should it be structured? when is it too much? and so on.
This video is here to give some broad concepts on how you might start approaching a slightly more structured routine if that's what you're looking for.
Good luck, and happy practicing!
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[@honza_kriz_bass]

I’m currently working through the 10 minute manual & can highly recommend it! I’m definitely purchasing another one of your books as soon as I’m finished with it. I’d like to add 2 things that help me tremendously in my practice routine: 1) I do the same thing with these little snippets of music (licks, riffs, scales etc.) - I start slow (40-60 bpm), and slowly work my way up to my limit. (Ideally beyond the target tempo, so I’m more than fine during the show) After I’m done playing at my limit, I bring the tempo back down to where I started - this gives me a huge confidence boost, since I’m “all of a sudden slaying the part”, so to speak. Plus it’s a nice recap & a feeling of control that wasn’t there at all times during the climb up. 2) Between each tempo jump, I take a 60-90 seconds break of doing nothing. Not looking at my phone, not noodling, just sitting/standing there, letting my thoughts fly by. I got this tip while listening to Tal Wilkenfeld on the Lex Fridman Podcast. She said she always did this naturally, but recently she learned there’s neuroscience backing it up. Apparently, in those 60-90 seconds, your brain “plays back” the electrical signals that were just occuring for the past few minutes while you were practicing, and it “plays them back” 6 times faster! I am still amazed at how incredibly this works. Sorry for the long comment, but if you read all the way down here, give these 2 things a try. Guarentee it’s worth it!

[@drintro]

Another variation I used to learn rootless voicings (piano player now learning bass), is to move in minor thirds in addition to cycle of 4ths. Specifically C, Eb, Gb, A, Db, E, G, Bb, D, F, Ab, B. That covers all the key centers and gets out and will makes sure you aren't on autopilot. So I'll learn something like this example in cycle of 4ths and then move to minor 3rds.

[@DannoDemo]

And... physical copies (at time of me posting) sold out! Congratulations, and here's hoping to see them available again soon! Cheers

[@gabehinman6917]

Dude you’re the best. Thank you

[@stefanherbst9980]

Dear Jannek. Please use a Bass Cut for Your Mic.

[@alvarolblanco]

Do you think maintaining a practice routine of 4-5 hours a day while having a day job can make someone enough good to be able to pursue music professionally as a full time job? How many years would you say it could take?

[@janekgwizdala]

4-5hrs a day is a fantastic amount of time to spend with the instrument if you’re serious about improving. But more often than not it’s way more about the intent and the consistency that it is the hours. If you want to pursue music professionally, there are so many more elements than simply working on the instrument that take way more time and effort. Networking for instance: you could be a technically exceptional bass player but if no one knows about you you’ll never work. Experience plays a huge roll in development too. I would place way more importance on being out there and playing live than I would spending hours and hours a day practicing at all. Ultimately you need both, and only you can know where the right balance is.

[@alvarolblanco]

@@janekgwizdala thanks for your words. The thing is I want to achieve proficiency on my instrument, and I think that will help me on the goal of pursuing music professionally, but of course I’ll also spend time networking, hanging with other musicians, and gigging, I’m already playing gigs and jam sessions in my town, not a lot but getting more and more involved

[@jovanecordeiro9734]

Muito bom top❤

[@Dontloseyourlight100]

I truly appreciate how you work towards digging inside the musician's soul to inspire motivation for a meaningful practice session. Sometimes I just stare at my guitar and bass then look the other way...lol. Thanks brother!

[@arpitgershom2264]

Nice learning sir thanks very much

[@filipdaniel3193]

Hi janek! I have a question for you. I have been transcribing solos for a while, having also transcribed one of yours more recently, but I would like to know of a better way to internalise what I transcribed into my playing, to develop my improvisation.

[@OlettaLiano]

If you don't mind my input, to internalize bass parts better I find it helpful to sing the part before you try to play it. I was taught that trick way back in 1977 by my bass teacher.

[@carlosvillarroel6665]

Master Janek... I'm an intermediate average bass player... I look to learn and expand my musicality. If I wanna purchase only one of your books. Which is better for me? Option 1 pentatonics. 2 good stuff or 3 better stuff... And why? Sorry for my English. It's not my main language. Regards and thanks in advance

[@janekgwizdala]

I think bass players’s guide to pentatonics is a great one to expand your playing because it comes from all angles: groove, time, melody, harmony…

[@carlosvillarroel6665]

@@janekgwizdala thanks a lot

[@serjkirsanov4128]

Quick question. If you purchase physical book does it comes with digital copy? Also if you buy physical book if there link for backing track?

[@janekgwizdala]

Physical and digital versions of the books are separate purchases. But all purchases come with backing tracks and videos.

[@wallace_nelson]

Nice I need to check out this book. thanks

[@Mitsch76]

Could you take care of your plosives please? I love your channel, but whenever you say "page" or "talking", "tempo", "operational" and so on my speaker cones popp out. ;-)

[@dianeteeter6650]

Hi, thanks for this post. Could you recommend a metronome app?

[@matthewjones6836]

I would personally recommend any basic one that can just give you a click on the strong beats, I feel if you practice with clicks on the sub divisions you are relying on the metronome more than you should and it makes it harder to get the feel of the subdivions.

[@janekgwizdala]

I use pro metronome, and gap click. Both available in the App Store for mobile devices

[@spinomarxist2688]

Hi Janek, I might have missed the info, but where is the Janek Studio website located now? The link I used to use isn't available anymore. Thanks

[@OlettaLiano]

I never wast time practicing. I play songs to warm up.

[@janekgwizdala]

I “never waste time practicing”. That’s a new one…

[@OlettaLiano]

@@janekgwizdala I started playing way back in 1975 and my bass teacher told me you get paid for playing songs, not practicing. It's worked for me thus far.

[@Ansis99]

In old days, when Latvia was not free/ occupied by ZZ-land, we in music school learn Do/Re/Mi/Fa/Sol/La/Si and A/B/C/D/E/F/G type of thinking was not accepted at all... For me - today when all musicians use letters it is hard... :) (for me). I think, there are 2 types of peoples who use instruments - one type real artists, but second are peoples who just play instruments (I am at the middle, because I take my place at the piano/ bass only in Christmas time) sometimes. Fun is to do something together (which is problematic because in our "family" is professionals and not so "professionals" and it is like "how long your dick is?" type of thinking). Thank`s Janek for educational lessons! :)

[@MrThinkingahead]

Haven't watched the video yet, but I bet he's, like every video of his I've seen, trying to sell his books.

[@GaryBouch_]

Isn’t that the point of these???

[@janekgwizdala]

Had you bothered to watch the video, you would have found out that the most important thing about your practice routine is NOT one of my books. If you want to get better at music, the only things that matter are your intent and your consistency. Judging from your comment, it seems you have some grievance about the fact that, along with over 1,000 free videos about bass that I’ve uploaded to KZbin, I also have a product to sell.

[@janekgwizdala]

The point of these videos is to give anyone who’s listening/watching a chance to get better at something they love using simple ideas that can be integrated into a practice routine immediately. I’d the viewer would then like to go deeper into the process, there is a ton more material on offer in the form of books that I’ve written.

[@TheBombshelterBassSpace-gj9tw]

Maybe watch the video? Also, are you so offended that a musician is actually trying to make a living by actually helping other musicians get better? Janek gives away so much good information for free. My opinion.

[@ketongu]

Janek!! please ignore them!! you're too good a musician to be dealing with these losers. also I think your books are great