Warm up on Bass Guitar

If you play the finger-style bass, you know it can take a little time to warm up. Here are a few exercises you can do to get ready to play.

Steps

  1. Begin with chromatics at a tempo of 120 BPM (or 60 BPM if you're just starting out), one note per beat. Do this for a minute or two, using one finger per fret on your fretting hand, and using at least two fingers on your plucking hand, alternating each one.
  2. After the chromatics, do whole-steps on each string, four notes per string, one finger per note per string, to help with the stretching and warming up. Do this at 120 BPM (or, once again, at 60 BPM), one note per beat. Do this for one or two minutes.
  3. Go to the 12th fret of your highest pitched string and begin doing 8 full bends with each finger on that string, alternating after every four. Do this with every string. After that re-tune your instrument, if needed.
  4. Begin playing chromatics again at 160 BPM (or 80-100 BPM), one note per beat, one finger per fret.
  5. Begin playing scales, in one key, at 120 (or 60) beats per minute, one note per beat. Any real scale (any scale besides the chromatic) will do. After playing each mode in succession move it up or down half a step and proceed doing it in the next key. Keep doing this until you have done every mode of every key you know, this will not only physically warm up your muscles and stretch your muscles, joints, and tendons out, but it will also give your ears and brain a good warm-up.
  6. Begin playing different scales in one key and different positions at 120 BPM without skipping a beat. This will warm you up and help you get used to different scales.
  7. Take a scale you know all modes of, and choose a key. Play this scale using the hopscotch method.
  8. Find the fastest tempo you can play in time and chose and scale and play every mode of it. Do this for a minute or two.



Tips

  • Do not use effects when warming up or practicing scales. It makes things sound cool but it hides your mistakes.
  • Use all fingers on your fretting hand, index through pinky. On your right hand learn to at least use your index and middle finger, even if you are straight-forward slap+pop or playing with picks, it is still good to learn to use your fingers well.
  • If you buzz press down hard and strengthen the fingers, or move your finger closer to the fret. If you are still getting buzz, try tightening your truss rod (by inserting a hex wrench and turning to the right) or raising your action (usually by inserting a small hex wrench into the screws on the saddle and turning to the left). Always check your intonation after raising or lowering your action.
  • Play in time. The job of the bass is to stay in time and hold down the beat and the low end so everything else connects well with each other. If you have trouble playing in time, then start playing chromatics at a much slower or slightly faster tempo, or play with a drum machine, and other musicians.
  • If you do not know any scales, then learn as many as possible. They help you musically and physically.
  • Exercise Regularly, As often as possible. and remember, practice makes perfect!
  • You can do all this or you can play the Beatles song "Birthday". It warms you up well.
  • If you find that the you cannot lower your action without excessive buzzing, it could be due to the nut at the head of the neck. File it down slightly and that should do the trick.

Warnings

  • If it hurts, do not do it until you can find a way for it to be comfortable. This includes your fingers, hands, wrists, arms, shoulders, and back.

Things You'll Need

  • A bass guitar, and a bass amplifier if it is electric.
  • A metronome or drum machine with adjustable tempo settings. Here is a free online metronome - http://www.metronomeonline.com/ .
  • Bass tuner (no use in practicing or warming up with an out-of-tune instrument ). Here is an online bass tuner for tuning by ear - http://www.tunemybass.com/ .

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