How do you get better on bass?
I've just returned my 78 Jazz Bass from tenor to standard tuning. I have a hipshot bass extender and I am really enjoying those low notes. When I put my bass in tenor tuning years ago, I took about 4-6 months to relearn the neck in this tuning. I built up a collection of solo pieces too. This never effected my double bass (which is in standard tuning), but I became more familiar with tenor bass guitar notes than standard tuning notes. Now I need to do some practice to readjust the way I see the notes on the bass guitar... won't take long as I'm not afraid of putting in the hours. It made me think though, as a teacher, we're all constantly trying to get better. Maybe we could share ideas on how we strive to improve our 'chops'.
Don't get me wrong, I can go out and do a gig on the standard tuned bass guitar (as I will tonight), but I like to get really inside the instrument.
I'll start my new practice by running major scales all over the instrument... moving to new keys a fourth away. I'll also check out triads. On my DB the most important scales I practise (besides, obviously, arpeggios) are major, jazz minor (for augmented sounds) and diminished. Bach cello suites definitely make me feel like I'm getting better on the big fiddle.
Let's talk about getting better!
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