My endurance is total shit. I get cramps (if thats what you'd call the pain im not sure) in my hand when im playing As I Am. Yeah its that bad. Its basically the 2nd riff that kills me, or the riff where John first plays something mostly different. Could be the Verse, probaby is, but those riff names always confuse me.

This is the maybe Verse or whatever:

G|---------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------4-3-1-4-3-1-4---3----------4-3-1-4-3-1-3--|
E|---------------------------------------------------------|
B|-1--1--1--1----------------------1-1-1------------------|


anyways, now that we got that across, could anyone post some good endurance excercises or link me to some specific ones? please dont put just "oh go to activebass.com". Specific ones that are mostly guranteed to help me would be great, thanks

The most straight forward exersize is chromatic scales up/down and across the neck. Start off slowly until you nail it at that slow speed, then gradually build it up until your perfect in the next speed, and just keep practicing it, and stopping.. going back to it, and building it up to the required speed..

Or you could practice that 4-3-1-4-3-1-4 bit really really slow, and build it up gradually with a metronome and you will be sorted.

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a good left arm warm up that I use and that works is..(it's also good practice for the right arm..)

-------4-3-2-1-----------
-----3---------2---------
---2------------3--------
-1---------------4-3-2-1-

Then try the same pattern but on different strings or higher/lower on the fretboard.. also.. try sweeping (not really sweeping, but just practicing downpicking/uppicking at high speeds to evenually be able to sweep)the "1-2-3-4" parts and alternate pick the "4-3-2-1"s..

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obviously.. ignore my last post lol (the picking part.. ) unless you ARE using a pick...

but the finger practice still works for bass..

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learn plenty of warm ups, and do them a lot. Scales, chromatic scales, the spinder exercise.these would help you get rid of the cramps u get and at the same time will help in improving ur speed and dexterity also

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! just as i was gonna make a thread about endurance. ive been getting really really tired lately playnig bass. i shall practice these

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What's the Spinder exercise? And what does it help?

I think Disincarnate ment the 'SPIDER' exersize..

http://www.activebass.com/cgi-bin/page_view.pl?l=36

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yup spider not spinder

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Actually, the riff you posted from "As I Am" is actually a very good riff to develop endurance.
I find it gets tiring pretty fast too. That's when you keep playing it.

The reason it gets so tiring is that you're playing in the first fret position, which means there is somewhat of a stretch to fret the 4th fret with your pinky, and when you play that fret it is done fast.

I recommend this riff to pretty much anyone that plays finger style for another good reason. This is a perfect example of a riff where muting is absolutely VITAL. Once you've played the C's on the low B string and move up to the A string you MUST mute your B string or else you will sound like shit.
I use my thumb to mute it, or you could rest the index or middle finger (on your fretting hand) to mute it but this is difficult because at the same time you must fret with the pinky.
Do it slowly, and you'll find that your hand hurts in a short time. Stop when you must, then come back and do it again 10 mins later.

I think both muting techniques should be learned because in some songs you skip from the E string to the D or the G string and it is difficult to quickly mute the E with your thumb (because the B string is in the way, it just gets awkward).

Edit: the second time he plays
G|---------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------4-3-1-4-3-1-4---3--------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------------2----|
B|-1--1--1--1----------------------1-1-1-4-4-4--2-2------|

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i think activebass is going to get me alot better

2 YEAR BUMP LOLZ

And still after all this time i'm struggling to be able to play for a decent amount of time. Is it possible to do some other "exercises" without using a bass that would help build endurace? Basically the muscle (probably several muscles but whatever) that is always causing problems is the one that's relatively round on the outer edge of my left palm. If you make a fist it should protrude a bit. Also it's been referred to as the wack-off muscle if that makes it any clearer lol. It gets worn out quickly, espeically if i'm tapping with my pinky.

And, before you suggest it, no, i'm not going to touch myself all day to get more endurance

Any help is appreciated.