What Bassists Should Practice With Only 15 Minutes

You've got 15 minutes. Maybe it's a borrowed bass in a new hall before soundcheck. Maybe it's your own bass at home, with life about to catch up with you. Either way: what do you actually practice? Bob DeBoo and Reuben Rogers open with a live Ray Brown Trio recording of "St. Louis Blues," proof that a great bassist sounds like himself on any instrument, then share Ray Brown stories from a UNT master class and the festival circuit. Reuben walks through how he gets to know an unfamiliar upright fast: finding his reference notes, singing intervals before he plays them, and targeting notes without cheating on intonation. Bob breaks down the melodic triads warm-up he uses to learn a new fingerboard, and how hearing ahead works on electric bass too. Plus: why the bow is its own instrument (after a tour of 25 cities, 25 basses, and 25 bows), and three rules for making any 15-minute practice session count. New episode the first Tuesday of every month. Subscribe to @UprightCitizensPodcast so you don't miss one. (00:00) What Do You Practice in 15 Minutes? (00:51) The 15-Minute Challenge (01:26) Listen to This: Ray Brown Trio (02:52) Why Ray Brown Sounds Like Ray Brown (03:57) Ray Brown's UNT Master Class (05:14) Ray Brown Practiced Every Day (06:28) New Bass? Find Your Reference Note (08:54) Ear Training: Sing Your Intervals (09:53) Target Notes: Don't Cheat Intonation (11:20) Hearing Ahead on Electric Bass (11:58) Melodic Triads Warm-Up Exercise (16:32) Be Intentional With 15 Minutes (17:24) One Tour: 25 Basses, 25 Bows (18:37) Short Sessions, Long-Term Reps (19:19) Takeaways: Focus, Sound, Be Realistic ABOUT OPEN STUDIO -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bob and Reuben both have their own in-depth bass courses on OpenStudioJazz.com (https://www.openstudiojazz.com/instru..., alongside Masters like Christian McBride and Ron Carter. Dig deeper into everything you hear on this show. As the premier online jazz education platform, with an ever-expanding course library and 20,000+ members, Open Studio (OS) has everything you need to excel and thrive on your jazz journey. Featuring everything from beginner to advanced lessons, engaging courses from A-list instructors, step-by-step curriculum, real-time classes and a thriving and incredibly supportive community, OS is the perfect platform to level up your jazz playing, whether you're a total beginner, or an advanced pro-level improvisor. Try OS Membership today! → https://osjazz.link/about #UprightBass #JazzBass #BassPractice