I am down, really really down.

[Slim]

Stay busy on your school work. Grad school is more important in long run. I quit college to pursue career in music and I never made big time and I ended up working low paying job and play music in lounge just to make ends meet. You can always practice after getting your degree.
Good luck.

 

[phatduckk]

when i first started out i was 14 or 15 and pretty much all i listened to was metallica. theyre stuff was great to start with... not too hard at all but hard enough to keep me learning. i just bought a bunch of their tab books and played along. id just turn the bass knob on my stereo way down and go at it.

it was a ton of fun. now i look back and think i learned a bit backwards. never "learned music" (i still have no idea what 1st position is) and opted to just go at it.

maybe you should take a break from "thinking"... just thump the damn thing and have fun. listen to new stuff etc

 

[ekb16b]

take a lil break and do something u enjoy
sooner or later u'll be back to enjoy ur bongos

 

[PocketGroove82]

I found a strange remedy for ruts, and you don't have to stop playing for weeks.
I never really condone effect pedals on bass, but sometimes when there is no mojo flowing, it's great to plug into a Mu-tron or wah pedal, or loopstation, or distortion, or synth, or whatever you have lying around.
You get to hear yourself in a totally different way and it that can often inspire oneself.

just a suggestion

 

[ashiin]

everytime i'm looking for motivation, i just listen to some funky basslines on songs i have and try to nail them.

The old chili pepper songs have been keeping me busy.

 

[roballanson]

I took 6months off from playing when my wife and I had our first child. Kept the bass out at home but did not have much time to play/ practice whatever....had a rehersal a couple of weeks ago and got cramps in my arms and blister - definately not gig fit and had trouble remembering stuff that was nearly second nature.

Anyhoo a few days with a CafeWalter and the Ipod on shuffle....

We played at Cambridge University on Friday night and man it was sooo much fun. Am back big time.

Down time is ok - try playing stuff you don't normally....have a bash at Girls Aloud or some such pop whatever.....

 

[dlloyd]

Sometimes putting the bass down and thinking about music is far better than forcing yourself to play. Have a look at some music theory books, learn some jazz theory (even if jazz isn't your thing).

 

[tkarter]

How about finding a local teacher and scheduling a lesson Tom?

Just keep listening to music it will be time to start playing again when you have to pickup the bass and play that line you hear in your head.

More important stay happy.

tk

 

[RitchieDarling]

You shoulda..............

You should have gone to the NAMM show with us!

Just shaking hands with Tony Levin was an inspiration!


Ritchie

 

[higher1]

That's my whole problem. I'm still a n00b. I get disgusted because my musicianship outstrips my ability. Switching instruments has been a bit rough. I've been working on 1st position via some of Ed Friedland's books and just can't seem to catch on. Maybe I'm putting too much pressure on myself.

go to a jam nite and play with some new people, or even some old friends!
that just might help relight the fire...

 

[mammoth]

I'm really down about playing. My bass has been collecting dust. It's not like I've hit a roadblock. I am too much of a beginner for that I would think. Trying to get back into shape and grad school has really cut down on the free time and I can't seem to find the motivation to practice when I do have free time. Jack, where are you when I need a swift kick in the pants? Any ideas to get excited about playing again?

stick at it mate, you'll come out the otherside i have NO doubts!

try licking the whole of that curvy egyptian smoke body, if that doesn't make you want to play i dont know what will!

alternatively, i just dragged myself out of a rough patch by stone cold stubborness, keep goin and goin until your fingers burn.. take a break for 24 hours (dont even look at your basses!) then GOGOGOGOGO!

chin up pal!

 

[Randracula]

I think the best thing you could do is stop thinking about music when you're playing music.I know you've had a lot of musical training in high school/college but sometimes it's best just to forget it all and let your fingers(and ears) do the work.Try playing along to some records that you like and figure out some of the songs by ear.When your done with that just try coming up with some melodies on the bass(without thinking about what scale your playing). Don't get me wrong, all of your musical training has made you what you are as a player but at some point you have to throw it out(but not forget)and find out what's inside you.....Good Luck Tom

P.S. If you really need to talk give me a call

 

[MingusBASS]

I don't know what would work for you, but I know that when I want some motivation, I pull out 'The Deep End' Gov't Mule documentary about the making of their two deep end albums. It's loaded with tons of bass legands(The Ox, Oteil, Mike Watt, Rocco, Jack Bruce, Phil Lesh, Bootsy, George Porter Jr., Larry Graham, Meshell...too many to name) all laying it down. Most of the time I don't make it a 1/3 of the way through before I have to go groove on my bass. Works every time!

 

[tkarter]

I think the best thing you could do is stop thinking about music when you're playing music.I know you've had a lot of musical training in high school/college but sometimes it's best just to forget it all and let your fingers(and ears) do the work.Try playing along to some records that you like and figure out some of the songs by ear.When your done with that just try coming up with some melodies on the bass(without thinking about what scale your playing). Don't get me wrong, all of your musical training has made you what you are as a player but at some point you have to throw it out(but not forget)and find out what's inside you.....Good Luck Tom

P.S. If you really need to talk give me a call

That is very good advice. I will just add when you truly know theory and music as I know you do it is just a matter of hearing it in the same manner then you just know. Randy is talking about the same thing as I am.

Listen to a lot of music. it will happen. When you don't feel like playing or practicing don't go chase girls.

tk

 

[bovinehost]

Jack, where are you when I need a swift kick in the pants? Any ideas to get excited about playing again?

My stock response is always the same. "Shut up and play your bass!"

But when I need some change or inspiration, I put something strange on the stereo and try to figure it out. For me, it's usually Colombian vallenato a la Carlos Vives or straight-up salsa.

That stuff is NOT normal for my 4/4 brain.

Jack

 

[maddog]

My stock response is always the same. "Shut up and play your bass!"

That'd be the one Jack.

Thanks guys. I'm ready to pull the bass back out of the closet and head on down to GC to order my MB rig. I'm so used to playing at a certain level that I've been really down on myself because I'm not there on bass. Gotta remind myself, like lifting, start small have fun but keep your eye on the prize.

 

[tkarter]

I really thought the go chase girls part was going to work.


tk

 

[jongitarz]

Some nice downhill single track might help clear up the cobwebs

 

[screaminhugger]

"musical training" is sometimes the worst thing you can do to a bass player. I spent 5 years in a big band learning to read Jazz charts after getting a degree in Music Education, that was tough, but what was tougher, was learning to play rock and funk again after "reading" jazz charts for so many years. I became fixated on the charts and forgot how to just close my eyes, listen and simply find the "groove". After a year back at it, I am finally coming around, still can't remember the licks for sh*t, so I make simple "cheat sheets", it works for now. I rediscovered my love of the bass though, when there aren't sooo many rules, and you can simply express yourself on this instrument...good luck bro. I know a few "noobs" that play better than I do because they aren't so bogged down with "knowledge". So don't let that get you down.

james

 

[82Daion]

"musical training" is sometimes the worst thing you can do to a bass player. I spent 5 years in a big band learning to read Jazz charts after getting a degree in Music Education, that was tough, but what was tougher, was learning to play rock and funk again after "reading" jazz charts for so many years. I became fixated on the charts and forgot how to just close my eyes, listen and simply find the "groove". After a year back at it, I am finally coming around, still can't remember the licks for sh*t, so I make simple "cheat sheets", it works for now. I rediscovered my love of the bass though, when there aren't sooo many rules, and you can simply express yourself on this instrument...good luck bro. I know a few "noobs" that play better than I do because they aren't so bogged down with "knowledge". So don't let that get you down.

james

I beg to differ, but that's for a different thread.

Just play what you hear-by the sound of it, you've had some experience with other instruments, so you've got the ear. Just let the stuff in your head come out, even if you have to do it a little slower or simpler than you'd like.

What are your other instruments?