Thursday, April 27, 2006

Maidink practicing the bass

I've figured how to read the music bar. I was so used to treble that switching to bass was a little tough. But I did it. Cool.

The practice piece is 16 measures long. It's pretty easy. It's all open strings (no fretting). Fine.


The beat is 4/4 for each measure. For those who don't know what that means, it's 4 beats per measure and each beat is a quarter note. Easy.

The tempo is 100. That's 100 beats per minute. No prob.

Set the trusty metronome up and begin.

Now, I have to count out the beats as I am hitting the strings. So, I have to say "1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4, etc." til the end of the piece. Goody.

I can only use fingers 1 and 2. That would be 1 is the pointer and 2 is the middle. And you must alternate. 1, 2, 1, 2, etc. Cakewalk.

Here is go.

1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 41, 2

Damn.

Start again.

1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 23, 4

DAMMIT!

It's not just the tempo I keep screwing up, it's the alternating of the finger plucking.

1, 2, 1, 1, 2, 1, ,1 ... crap

This goes on for over 30 minutes.

This happens each time.

I admit, the duration is getting longer and longer between mistakes. If I can complete the piece ten times in a row without a mistake, I know I've pretty much mastered it.

The next step is fretting.

Then I get to do the mistakes all over again.

*sigh*

Okay, more interesting post later.

6 comments:

Kyahgirl said...

I'm so impressed that you're sticking to this! way to go. :-)

S.I.D. said...

Keep it up. Don't fret!

Jaded said...

Welcome to the wonderful world of learning to be a musician. It's more frustrating for adults, I think, because we don't wanna be on the same level as a 10 year old trying to learn the same thing. But, the beginning is the beginning for everyone. Keep it up!!!

Maidy said...

Kyah ~ Thanks for the encouragement! :)

SID ~ I'm trying, I'm trying

Jade ~ You are so correct. I'm seeing kids going in my music store with their basses for lessons and they are more advanced than I. I think, "Grrrrr. I QUIT!" Then I remember, "Oh yeah, I'm almost 40. Shoulda done this 3 decades ago." Then I go back to counting.

And as always, thanks for the encouragement my friend!

Rowan said...

do u have any music to play along with to help you keep time? aside from your metronome that is?

Maidy said...

Rowan ~ For now, I'm not doing any music accompaniment. I'm trying to get just basic beats downa nd learn the neck. Then I'll step up to my majors and minors with a little music thrown in.