Left-Hand Strength Workout for Upright Bass

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00:00 Intro
00:29 Welcome and explanation
05:20 Real time demonstration
07:16 Variations examples
08:45 More variations
10:44 More benefits
12:38 Putting it all together
15:11 Closing thoughts

[@pstanwood]

I’ve been doing this exercise lately, and I really enjoy it. Not boring in the least! Some of the things I notice that I also pay attention to while I’m doing this exercise are: posture, pressure of my fingers on the string, how hard is my thumb pressing on the back of the neck, overall level of tension in my neck and shoulders as I’m playing, how my right hand is addressing the strings, and, maybe most importantly, my breathing. I notice that I have a tendency to hold my breath sometimes when I’m playing. It’s amazing what you can pay attention to when you’re “bored.“ Great lesson, and a valuable new practice tool. Thanks!

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Wow! You really captured a brilliant cross-section of the kinds of benefits from something like this. Thanks for the comment!!

[@monkfishmondfinsternis3162]

Surprisingly great exercise! The steady string change and wandering of the Hand/wrist leaves no time to get bad habits. It actually eliminated one of mine over the last few days. 😊

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Oh that’s *fantastic* to hear!!!

[@chainofsounds]

I recognise that one. Smart transition to Upright! 👍 Strength and stamina is necessary even if its not musically exciting at all. Great sound btw!

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Thanks so so much!

[@JamesTheGoatJamerson]

Great lesson, never boring. Thanks for all your knowledge. Keep it coming.. Cheers Matt 🍺

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Thank you!

[@yekri2398]

I am not a fan of these kind of exercices but this one is not boring for me. It makes work intonations and rythm and chromatic licks. Very cool !

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Great!

[@davetuttle9701]

I was looking for something like, thank you!

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Cool! Thanks Dave!

[@johnmontalvo9537]

This is interesting. Years ago, when I began and only knew licks and not scales or arpeggios, or moving bass patterns like the bogie when I could keep moving with melody. I would do just this, over and again, discovering octaves and extended "Blueberry Hill" patterns to octaves of each root I would start from. Yeah it got nonsensical at times, but I wanted up and down that neck as soon as I could. Which still took a awhile. Now I see the help I get in half and first position from the nut an plumber notes but back then I wanted altitude from those nurse rime an turn key church notes as soon as I could. Looking to join the hipsters. I feel performers have laced up a bit beginig in the 70's, with increased harmonic ability which is good, but less travel up and down that four string highway known as the fretboard. More closed string action and less "use of the open string."

[@MrDanilop45]

Going to find the time. I was doing the Max’s magic. Good to have all the variation on it. Loved it as always.

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Thanks as always!

[@jameskirk2417]

I always appreciate your videos, good exercises and technique.

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Thank you Captain!

[@bobmurray8729]

Greeting from Kalamazoo, MI. Matt, this is great for all the reasons you talk about. But I worry about repetitive stress injury to my hand, elbow etc. Any suggestions on how often to do this exercise? Every day? Couple times a week? How to keep your hand relaxed during?

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Thank you so much for your comment and question. This is ABSOLUTELY something I should've mentioned in the video. Great, great points. One definitely has to take a break if you're trying to do the long version of this. In general I just pause when it starts to get more than a little uncomfortable. I should've said that in the video. I would recommend actually doing it every day (or at least every practice day - but even if you do just this exercise as your daily thing it will warm you up). But you don't have to do the long version! Just do *some* amount of time and it should help!

[@tristen_jarvis_music]

Greetings from Ithaca College, Matt! Just wondering what Interval Timer app you are using here? Love this exercise!

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Thanks! It’s called “Interval Timer - Tabata Timer” apps.apple.com/us/app/interval-timer-tabata-timer/id406473568

[@danielandrades5238]

Great video as always! Any recommendations on a good warm up exercise?

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Thanks! Can you tell me more about your question? For example this exact exercise is one of my warm up exercuses

[@joshmcdzz6925]

what you just watched is good warm up.. what else are you looking for?

[@danielandrades5238]

So would it be ok for this exercise to be the first thing I play when I start practicing or would you do something a little bit lighter on your left hand first?

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

​​⁠ I think it would be an awesome first thing - just don’t actually hurt yourself haha. I forgot to mention in the video that it’s not uncommon to just take a break once or multiple times during it. Or just do a little bit. I think just a couple minutes even helps

[@joshmcdzz6925]

In classical I had a couple of excercises like this from pieces I read and played.. just got lazy recently ( no motivation, life's wrenches at me etc.. ) .. I hope to get back to shedding again.. BTW what's your bass setup like ( string, bass type and amplification method )? I really dig your sound..

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Thanks for watching! Here’s a vid I did about strings where I also talk about my stuff. kzbin.info/www/bejne/l6WqmmiMbJWBh7ssi=D5bmCqIjXa8SBDKW