What is Your Typical Bass Practice Routine?

This is mine. I have been practicing bass for about 4 months. I have practiced guitar for 16 months. I alternate between bass practice or guitar practice. Sometimes I practice both in the same day.

My practice sessions are a minimum of 45 minutes.

I play a 2008 Deltatone bass and normally I use my Fender B-Dec 30 30 watt amp. When no one’s at home, I sometimes use my AXL B60 60 watt bass amp.

My Bass Training Outline

Mine is typed. Even if you think you have memorized your routine, you have not?

1. Finger Warmup stretches.
2. Fender Play App module on how to hold neck with your left hand.
   • Thumb placement especially.
3. Fretboard finger stretches.
   • Primarily start at 5th fret and do 5, 6, 7, and 8 with your fingers.
   • Bridge the frets, don’t cheat with finger placement.
4. Four Song Warm-Up (as a beginner I have favorites).
   • “For What it’s Worth” by Buffalo Springfield.
   • “Every Breath you Take” by The Police.
   • “Jambalaya” by Hank Williams.
   • “This Must Be The Place” by the Talking Heads.
5. OTSFM (Old Town School of Folk Music) Bass I Exercises
   • or Fender Play App, depending on whether or not I am taking classes.

During Practice I Take Notes

Notes for today, February 14, 2025 (Valentine’s Day).

1. Purchase a suede strap for the bass. I need to hold the neck of bass up high for better finger reach.
   • Suede straps don’t slip on your neck and shoulders. That will keep the bass neck high as I need it.
2. Mentor. I wish I had a bass mentor that I could ping with questions?
   • Perhaps Eugene?
   • Perhaps Randy the bassist?
3. “This Must Be The Place” by the Talking Heads (Fender Play App).
   • Great fast tempo.
   • It forces me to reaffirm good thumb technique as I fret chords on the neck.
4. Pivot the Pinkie.
   • Playing fingers 1, 2, and 3 is relatively easy. I hold the neck high and my finger shapes are more angular with my fretting hand.
   • Pivot the “towards the fretboard” to bring it closer and easier to position for pinky notes.
5. OTSFM Page 5.
   • This is a handout forcing you to practice finger combinations like 1,2,3,4 or 0,2,4,1 and much more.
   • Use Metronome app for pacing.
6. Use Metronome.
   • For page OTSFM page 5 for Bass I, it’s an excellent pacing tool for both rhythm and fretting hand accuracy.
7. Enjoying my Fender B-Dec 30 bass amp.
   • Love it and I am barely scratching its potential.

That’s my Bass Practice Routine

Today I spent 45 minutes practicing. Sometimes it’s over an hour.

What’s your electric bass practice routine?

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