STOP looking at your fretboard! | Bass Q&A 4 | Thomann

It's Bass Q&A time again! Julia answers some more of your questions, this time: how not to look at your fretboard while playing, how to get your plucking fingers up to speed and Julias's preferred pickup height... if you have another question don't hesitate to leave a comment!

Interesting bits and pieces:
0:00 Intro
0:16 Do you actively not look at your left hand?
1:56 Do you look at the audience?
3:16 What in-ears are you using?
4:35 How to get your plucking fingers in sync with the fretting fingers?
5:50 Your preferred pickup height?
6:56 Thanks for watching!

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[elducko]

It's always a treat to see you and hear you play.
The content of your vids is always relevant and informative to me, and I've been playing since 1966
Have a great weekend

[havardgomo]

Do a Rig Rundown with your private gear (bass, fx.amp), please Julia.. 🙏🏻

[JozefOtters]

I remember playing my fretless (with lines) for the first time on stage and figured I could see the lines to correct it…you can guess the outcome haha..after that I practiced a lot in the dark and tried to hit all the notes by ear and correct them if needed. Helped me a lot! Keep up the nice video’s!

[waynefrance]

100% agree with playing slow until you can play fast. It really works. Playing to a click is key. Playing to a drum machine track is not the same as playing to a metronome. Both are useful activities but not interchangeable.

[josephhughes]

Julia,
You are just incredible. Love your videos and how you play while riding a unicycle. A great bassist and beautiful. Awesome combination

[tgsiii]

Another reason for not looking at fingerboard on cello, (or any other classical instrument) is because you're looking at music and the conductor.
Since I play bass and guitar by ear, I learn the music, and then play it over and over a million times (slight exaggeration) until it becomes second nature. I "usually" know where I am on the neck at any time, and only rarely look at my hand when making great leaps up the neck. It all boils down to practice, practice, Julia.

[hearpalhere]

Great tips! When I was getting ready to play a show, I specifically practiced playing my guitar with my eyes closed to help me feel more comfortable, hitting the changes, not having to look at the fretboard, etc. I really liked your tip about playing super slow to ensure proper hand synchronization. That's what works for me personally too!

[boomerbassmeme]

Practicing in the dark will also prepare you for really dark clubs with terrible stage lighting! 😎👍

[cappucciobass]

I can relate in that with my having 10 basses in differing scales including my primary instrument which is contra bass and reading music so you can’t look at your left hand, you learn proper fingering and scale your fingers naturally as you travel up the fingerboard. I do play and perform regularly in the dark. Being trained to constantly take your eyes off the music to follow the director I am able glance around to interact with the audience and watch for ‘Qs’ from band mates. I always learn and reaffirm what I am doing and why as I watch your videos. Many thanks Julia.

[gregorydonohoe]

Thanks for the tip about playing in the dark. I have been practicing it.

I play string bass in an orchestra; like the cello, you “feel” for the notes instead of looking. Occasionally we have a piece that calls for electric bass, like selections from the movie “Grease!”. I really struggled with it, then realized I couldn’t find the notes on the bass without looking. You can’t sight-read your part, watch the conductor, and look at your instrument at the same time. Thanks to your tip, I’m learning to play by feel.

I also play bass guitar in a Latin/Salsa band, but that is by ear and memory, not sight-reading, so the issue didn’t arise.

[SombraDeLaMosca]

Thank you again for sharing your insights =)
I remember during one gig the complete lightning went off, but we still somehow managed to navigate through the song in complete darkness, it really felt great! Greets to Austria!

[williamdeming]

I played an acoustic 34” scale for almost ten years. It was just more intuitive to look at from behind, I could glance at the side dots when needed but really brought more feel into the music. Totally get it. Going to try it out, great video.

[mirceadolineanu]

I actually practice scales in the dark. And by practice scales I mean trying to listen to how the intervals sound and what the overall chain feels like, so I guess I'm doing ear training in the dark. It's definitely helped my confidence, to the point where I'm rarely looking at my fingers.

[StuartdeHaro]

Poo Ninja. The man, the myth, the legend!

[RobsAquariumRoom]

Thank you for your answers for the Q&A it helped me a lot for a person who is being a self taught person. Thank you for your help.

[stephenshoihet]

If I play from memory or from tabs, I don't look at the fretboard much unless I'm playing above the 12th fret or so. When I'm working on sight reading and theory I often need to look at the fret board because there's too much going on in my head :-)

[DennisVlaanderen]

The practicing slower part is a huge help for and has been for a few years by now.
Started using it practicing Hysteria. But recently when practicing some of Joe Dart's lines it has been a huge lifesaver for getting them down properly. I also find it helps you figure out some dexterity things a lot easier this way. (Like using a finger to doublepluck two strings in a run-down)

[homeworldmusic]

I tried not looking at my fretboard and discovered that in my mind I was looking at my fretboard so what was the difference except impressing someone watching me from the audience? I also discovered that I really enjoy watching my fingers dancing across the fretboard: mesmerizing, almost out of body experience.

[tadybass]

You are damn good teacher for us .. bass groovers :). Be so simple as you are. Thank you J. Br. Tbass.

[jamesnusky]

Love all your videos Julia. Very helpful. New player . Thank you