I try and visualize in my mind where I am going. So in a way I am still looking, just not with my head. It is easier to get good on notes where you don't have to move your hands across several frets (left or right). Sometimes, you just have to look and that's ok. I think it is most important to play the right note. So look if you need to.
When I studied under my teacher, he had me setup a mirror to watch my hand when needed. It helps in getting the "feel" for where you are on the neck. Playing without looking at my hand much came natural from doing that.
i put pieces of tape on the back of the neck where the 3rd, 5th and 7th frets are. that way i can see the markers from behind the bass, in stage light and even feel the tape with the thumb in case i get lost. i saw this on another bass player and its work well for me since then
I noticed this a few months ago when I started to learn to read music. Focusing on the written notes and not my fretboard, after a while muscle memory takes over. Of course it helps that everything was in the first position. 😀 Thanks Luke.
Hi Luke I can play without looking most of the time but I would not play live the same way as you did going from B to G. I would quickly move my hand position by moving pinky from 7th to 5th or putting it where my first finger lay therefore ensuring that I land on the G. So if I can I walk my hand into position. Even if I needed up playing the B with my first finger I would transition the B to a pinky if it could but if not then I would use my fretboard memory to land on the G. André
I put duct tape on the marked fretts so it would feel different and duct tape on the back of 1st, 7th and 12th fretts so my thumb knows where it is in the dark. btw your videos always help me become better, I literally learned how to make pentatonic scale solo within a week or so thanks to your vids
I was trying to get away from looking by simply getting the sounds in there. Get some VERY basic songs with not many notes in them and start playing. No looking. When you miss, keep searching. Preferably a long song.... Then go on and again and again. Do this for like, 10 minutes a day and after a month you'll know which note is where.
Hi Luke! I just signed up for and started going through the BAB starter pack, while my family is waiting for me to complete the house band. To me, your page, channel, lessons are very good and seem trustworthy. But we have a discussion with the sceptics here at home. Why did you ask for my email, that I had to confirm, to give access to your stuff? How do you make money? I argue you do it from your dedication and goodness of the heart, that it's idealistic. Combined with generating income with youtube, maybe even giving you student lists that you can refer to applying for funding. The opposition say you probably sell the email addresses. I think it's your own business why you give these great stuff out, I'm grateful. But maybe you don't mind telling! Anyway, thanks a lot! Best regards, Cathrin.
I played without looking very quick. Though I may be cheating as I use a modified Strat as a bass and the fret spacing isn't that far Also because I like playing in the dark, dunno why tho
@@yeoldefoxeh254 just imagine a stratocaster, with bass strings. I can't send any because I left it in my band member's studio before the quarantine. So I'm stuck with my old acoustic guitar with bass strings.
I try and visualize in my mind where I am going. So in a way I am still looking, just not with my head. It is easier to get good on notes where you don't have to move your hands across several frets (left or right). Sometimes, you just have to look and that's ok. I think it is most important to play the right note. So look if you need to.
When I studied under my teacher, he had me setup a mirror to watch my hand when needed. It helps in getting the "feel" for where you are on the neck. Playing without looking at my hand much came natural from doing that.
That's a really cool idea! Thanks for sharing!
i put pieces of tape on the back of the neck where the 3rd, 5th and 7th frets are. that way i can see the markers from behind the bass, in stage light and even feel the tape with the thumb in case i get lost. i saw this on another bass player and its work well for me since then
Lots of us do even the pros.
any suggestion for type of tape? painters tape? the blue stuff?
@@josht1901 i got adhesive foil for advertising purposes. that can be removed easily.
I noticed this a few months ago when I started to learn to read music. Focusing on the written notes and not my fretboard, after a while muscle memory takes over. Of course it helps that everything was in the first position. 😀 Thanks Luke.
Absolutely! It's super important if you have to read music - then you're kind of forced to rely on muscle memory. Thanks for watching Thomas!
Hi Luke
I can play without looking most of the time but I would not play live the same way as you did going from B to G. I would quickly move my hand position by moving pinky from 7th to 5th or putting it where my first finger lay therefore ensuring that I land on the G. So if I can I walk my hand into position. Even if I needed up playing the B with my first finger I would transition the B to a pinky if it could but if not then I would use my fretboard memory to land on the G.
André
Do you have other ideas or methods for learning to play bass without looking? Let us know in the comments so we can all learn from you!
I put duct tape on the marked fretts so it would feel different and duct tape on the back of 1st, 7th and 12th fretts so my thumb knows where it is in the dark. btw your videos always help me become better, I literally learned how to make pentatonic scale solo within a week or so thanks to your vids
I was trying to get away from looking by simply getting the sounds in there. Get some VERY basic songs with not many notes in them and start playing. No looking. When you miss, keep searching. Preferably a long song.... Then go on and again and again. Do this for like, 10 minutes a day and after a month you'll know which note is where.
I like your bass guitar
Me too!
Thanks for making all these bass vids man i started like 1 month ago and your vids have really help me
I good song is riders on the storm, its really repetitive - but cool. Once you got the riff down you can let your fingers do the work without looking!
Nice video! Thanks for the lesson!
My pleasure! Thanks for checking it out!
Hi Luke! I just signed up for and started going through the BAB starter pack, while my family is waiting for me to complete the house band. To me, your page, channel, lessons are very good and seem trustworthy. But we have a discussion with the sceptics here at home. Why did you ask for my email, that I had to confirm, to give access to your stuff? How do you make money? I argue you do it from your dedication and goodness of the heart, that it's idealistic. Combined with generating income with youtube, maybe even giving you student lists that you can refer to applying for funding. The opposition say you probably sell the email addresses. I think it's your own business why you give these great stuff out, I'm grateful. But maybe you don't mind telling! Anyway, thanks a lot! Best regards, Cathrin.
hello luke how do i master songs sequence on my bass
I have fretless, so ... yeah. Still not looking always, just when it's a lot of movement.
quick question to anybody out there. What are the X's on a bass transcription?
Ghosted/muted notes! I talk about them in this video: ruclips.net/video/UvkeY87QvDA/видео.html
@@BecomeABassist Thanks Luke. I started work on them last night.
Could you please help. That easy example in the video sounds familiar. But I can't remember the song.....D A B G
Can someone please tell me what the intro song is? Thanks
It's a song of mine from my live album. You can get the whole thing here: lukemcintosh.bandcamp.com/
Track one! Great tribute ditty!
I played without looking very quick. Though I may be cheating as I use a modified Strat as a bass and the fret spacing isn't that far
Also because I like playing in the dark, dunno why tho
Do you have any pix? What's the hardware? I'd love to hear and see more about this monster! :D
@@yeoldefoxeh254 just imagine a stratocaster, with bass strings. I can't send any because I left it in my band member's studio before the quarantine. So I'm stuck with my old acoustic guitar with bass strings.
@@yeoldefoxeh254 I use a budget amp and a second hand strat
One six-string bass player disliked this video.
I pretty much play most of the gig with my eyes closed :/
Then this video is not for you.
Not not want to create stereotypes but how was it blind people they good musicians?
music is about hear and feel, see is just a shortcut
Sorry but your biceps is kinda distracting 💪🏻💪🏻😁
Haha no kidding! Nice work Luke!
Gotta get huge, gotta stay huge! Haha!