A Bassist’s Perspective on Basic Practice

Hello! I’m Mieno, the bassist for the Hammond organ trio Banana Needle.
Today I want to talk about basic practice.
In music, basic practice is similar to the kind of training in sports.

Just like a baseball player doing swing practice every day, consistency is key.
I once read an article about Jaco Pastorius (the famous bassist) where his family mentioned that he would play bass every day while watching TV on the couch.
I’m not sure if that’s exactly what it said, but it stuck with me.
I believe there are two types of basic practice.

1. “Basic Practice: Becoming Friends with the Ball”

It’s like that famous line from a soccer anime.
If you’re unfamiliar, apologies!
The character was always with the ball,
even kicking it on the way to school.

The same goes for instruments:

Always keep your instrument nearby, even if you’re not playing it.
Living with your instrument.
This allows it to become part of you.
I believe this alone is already a sufficient form of basic practice
—having your instrument always by your side.

2. “Basic Practice: Facing Yourself”

This type of basic practice is the more common kind.
It involves practicing phrases you can’t play yet, gradually increasing the tempo, and pushing yourself to improve your level and get closer to the musicians you admire.
Now, the question is, how should we do basic practice?

(1) Practice with a metronome
(2) Practice with a drum machine
(3) Practice with a song
(4) Practice with nothing playing

Which do you think is best?

Thinking time!!
…
………
…………
Ready!?

The answer is…

Drumroll...
All of them are important!

What, you think that’s cheating?
Well...
It really depends on the type of musician you’re aiming to become.
Interestingly, people who succeed in exams like the University of Tokyo don’t take breaks for a change of pace—they might switch to studying English after getting tired of math!

I don’t really understand it, but when it comes to practicing your favorite instrument, it’s a different story.

If you get bored with metronome practice, try switching it up by practicing along with a song.
By the way, drummer Dennis Chambers mentioned that he finds practicing with a drum machine more fun than with a metronome.
I might be saying “by the way” more than usual today...

Singular Sound BeatBuddy MINI 2/Footswitch+

Recently, pedal-type drum machines have become available!

Korg KR mini Rhythm Box

Simple devices like these might be easier to approach at first.
While many people have music programming setups on their computers these days, the simplicity of pressing a button and immediately getting sound is crucial for daily practice.
It can be a hassle to start up a computer!
A metronome with both electronic beeps and pendulum click sounds offers variety, and having both options can help keep things fresh during practice.

BOSS DB-90 Dr. Beat

Yamaha MP-90BK

You might think one metronome is enough.
However, the differences in sound length or reverberation—whether it’s a beep or a click—can help you recognize any discrepancies in timing.

Korg IE-1M In-Ear Metronome

When you walk while listening to the metronome through earphones, your body naturally adjusts to the tempo.
The key to practicing without external sounds is training at tempos that a metronome or drum machine can’t produce.
This helps develop finer timing adjustments.
Not everyone can land exactly on a count of 100.
For some, their count might be something like 100.565421.
This is faster than 100 but slower than 101.
This ambiguity—whether it’s closer to 100 or 101—is what makes music and humans unique.
The fun in practicing lies in feeling and adjusting to these subtle nuances.

Recording your practice without listening to anything else can help identify good and bad habits.
Music is about everyone contributing to the groove, not just the drummer.
If you can’t keep the tempo without a drummer, it means you’re also likely to struggle with timing when playing with one.

Well, that’s enough for today!
Let’s all have fun and improve together! See you next time! :)

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