I have been in a bit of a rut for a while...I have no real desire to practice and when I do I am just disappointed with the results. I play though songs and I record them and I am disappointed. I think I really need a boost in my playing in my practice routine.

My usual standard routine would be as follows:

Warm up Scales - 30 mins.
Play through songs I know - 15 mins.
Ear training (working out songs ) -30mins
Book work (Currently walking bas lines) - 30mins.

I don't know why I am so bored with playing...but I have little desire to pick up my Bass at the moment and when I do I am disappointed...anyone know or experienced anything like this??? Advice???
:crying::crying::crying::crying::crying:

This is almost a guess - why not try to play with other people?

I have been in a bit of a rut for a while...I have no real desire to practice and when I do I am just disappointed with the results. I play though songs and I record them and I am disappointed. I think I really need a boost in my playing in my practice routine.

My usual standard routine would be as follows:

Warm up Scales - 30 mins.
Play through songs I know - 15 mins.
Ear training (working out songs ) -30mins
Book work (Currently walking bas lines) - 30mins.

I don't know why I am so bored with playing...but I have little desire to pick up my Bass at the moment and when I do I am disappointed...anyone know or experienced anything like this??? Advice???
:crying::crying::crying::crying::crying:

I find listening to some new music, totally different style that peaks my interest and my playing. A new musician who style has the same effect. Finding some new people to jam/play with. Sometimes I'll buy a new bass or music book. Go hear some new music or band.

Everyone goes through it from time to time and different answer for each on what lights the fire in the belly again. Key is to look/listen for inspiration.

I have been in a bit of a rut for a while...I have no real desire to practice and when I do I am just disappointed with the results. I play though songs and I record them and I am disappointed. I think I really need a boost in my playing in my practice routine.

My usual standard routine would be as follows:

Warm up Scales - 30 mins.
Play through songs I know - 15 mins.
Ear training (working out songs ) -30mins
Book work (Currently walking bas lines) - 30mins.

I don't know why I am so bored with playing...but I have little desire to pick up my Bass at the moment and when I do I am disappointed...anyone know or experienced anything like this??? Advice???
:crying::crying::crying::crying::crying:

When I was at BIT, I met Adrian Legg, who did a clinic there. His advice for this was to simply walk away from it. He said that he reached a point in life where he was uninspired musically and had no desire to conitnue playing. So he said that he put all of his guitars away and moved to a lake house and spent the next six months fishing. He said that during that six months he never even touched a guitar. By the time he returned home he said that his technique was shot to hell but it was worth it. He said that the time off renewed his love and desire to continue writing and playing music.
A few years ago, I went through the same thing. I had zero desire to play bass anymore. Mine all sat motionless on their stands begging deaf ears to play them. I had no interest. Now, I couldn't spend six months in a lake house fishing because I had to earn a living. So I had my own adventure. I spent about two years traveling around the world for my job. I visited lots of foreign countries. I did a lot of things that I never would have had the opportunity to do had I kept focusing all of my energy toward bass. I removed it as the main priority in my life.
After about two years or so, I decided that I could approach bass playing, not as an obsession, but as a love. Before, I literally took a bass everywhere. When I was in college I took one to class everyday. If I had ten minutes between class,I would play for eight minutes in the hall and then run to my next class. I would bring one to work and play during every break. I was obsessed.
But walking away form it renewed my love and eradicated my obsession.
Now I play quite often. And when I play, I honestly enjoy it. And I can go days ata time without touching my bass because it isn't something that I have to do anymore. The compulsion that I had was unhealthy because I was so focused on being the best bass player around that I was not living life. It was my life.
Many people will tell you that you can't be a serious musician and not play for x number of hours per day. I call BS on that. Too many pro musicians have said the same thing that Adrian Legg said. And most of them understand that life is about balance. SO if you're feeling uninspired, devote some time to something else. I'm assuming you aren't ona major label contract and being forced to turn out tunes periodically.
SO take up a hobby. Put your bass away and don't think about it for a while. Learn to juggle. Study a foreign language. Learn to skydive. There are tons of ways to spend your time. If you're feeling uninspired and you force it, it will only get worse. So do something else. And when and if you start feeling the urge to play again, your old friend will be right there where you left it.
:bassist:

I have been in a bit of a rut for a while...I have no real desire to practice and when I do I am just disappointed with the results. I play though songs and I record them and I am disappointed. I think I really need a boost in my playing in my practice routine.

My usual standard routine would be as follows:

Warm up Scales - 30 mins.
Play through songs I know - 15 mins.
Ear training (working out songs ) -30mins
Book work (Currently walking bas lines) - 30mins.

I don't know why I am so bored with playing...but I have little desire to pick up my Bass at the moment and when I do I am disappointed...anyone know or experienced anything like this??? Advice???
:crying::crying::crying::crying::crying:

I regularly get shouted at for this answer, but if you're not inspired by what you're doing, you're probably better off going and finding something you're absolutely passionate about instead:

something you have to do, something you find yourself losing track of time while doing, something you bliss yourself out regularly doing... something you laugh out loud with glee whilst doing as you piece together internally all those little 'eureka' moments of discovery along the way...

if you're bored with playing bass, a few handy suggestions from Talkbass inhabitants will never be enough to un-bore you sufficiently to make it a worthwhile thing to continue with... you have to find that inspiration within

when I started playing, I fell in love... with the instrument, with music, with everything to do with basses... possessed with the manic energy of a stalker... I didn't play bass, I stalked bass... and obsessed over basses, music, everything to do with it.. and I think you have to go a little crazy to really get good... if boredom is anywhere near the equation, really, maybe your passion lies elsewhere...

and really, why spend time being bored when there's a whole WORLD of amazing things to spend your time on?

ok guys, i'm ready to be chastized again...

I regularly get shouted at for this answer, but if you're not inspired by what you're doing, you're probably better off going and finding something you're absolutely passionate about instead:

something you have to do, something you find yourself losing track of time while doing, something you bliss yourself out regularly doing... something you laugh out loud with glee whilst doing as you piece together internally all those little 'eureka' moments of discovery along the way...

if you're bored with playing bass, a few handy suggestions from Talkbass inhabitants will never be enough to un-bore you sufficiently to make it a worthwhile thing to continue with... you have to find that inspiration within

when I started playing, I fell in love... with the instrument, with music, with everything to do with basses... possessed with the manic energy of a stalker... I didn't play bass, I stalked bass... and obsessed over basses, music, everything to do with it.. and I think you have to go a little crazy to really get good... if boredom is anywhere near the equation, really, maybe your passion lies elsewhere...

and really, why spend time being bored when there's a whole WORLD of amazing things to spend your time on?

ok guys, i'm ready to be chastized again...

My only thing is I think there are two situations short term lack of inspiration and then tiring of playing music. I've been through both.

First many including someone I know who has been playing for fifty+ years and still has to kick himself in the ass to start practicing everyday. But he'll tell you once he gets a couple minutes into practicing he is fired up and puts his time in and then he still gigs a lot.

Then the short term practice isn't going anywhere, playing is stale, gigs are on autopilot. That usually ends for me in one of the ways I descibed to the OP.

Then there is the tiring of music period. I've been thru that a couple times and quit playing for years. I always come back sometimes changing instruments, but they all relate after awhile. That is something I won't recomend to anyone. Partly because I always regret the time lost when I have quit. I think someone at that point know it and it's a complete personal decision. The longer someone has played the longer it is going to take to make that decision. If a beginner (less than a couple years) it doesn't take long to make descion to quit playing. I think they just have decided this isn't my instrument or more fun listening to music. Then ask themselves if they have given it a honest try before throwing the towel in.

So I see hitting a plateau and hitting the wall as two different things.

I find myself in the same boat as you. I feel like I've lost inspiration to pick up my bass and play, or even write any new songs. So what I've done is just step away from it and do other things ( I have a 4 month old son now, so he takes up a lot of my time) and just forget about it.
Now, every once in a while I will pick it up and play, but since I don't put any pressure on myself I find that I don't get bored as much. I just play for a few minutes, and walk away feeling satisfied musically.
I'm not in a band, so there is no pressure there.

Ok...I took a week off...thought of other things....listened to at lot of music....for peace of mind.....then I heard what I wanted to play....the stuff I have been playing....at home was boring to me...really good music I was just bored and this affected my whole desire to play...even in the band I am in...great guys....but I just don't wanna play like that ever again....I'm bored with it. So as my week off unfolded I listened to different music from all across the board and I found a music that lit a fire in me and made me immediately want to pick up my bass. Which is a huge thing because up to that point I didn't want to see my bass. Long story short....I was confused but I found out I was just totally sick of what I was doing. I feel better....but I am still in the same band...I am gonna have to have it on the line with them....its been a long time....I hope they understand.

join a band where everyone is better than you hahaha trust me it makes you practice like a demon

ha yeah....i think thats it!!!

I will never forget this advice...

Perspiration beats Inspiration.

Even if it's just for 5 minutes. Play everyday.

The best players didn't get good by taking vacations or walking away.