musically bored...

[kenyk]

dunno if this is the right place to post it but.... here it is anyways

lately i'v been playing the same few songs and just doodling around with the few licks that i made up with. i guess i dont find myself super interested in playing my bass lately, although i still play everyday. I dunno, its kind of hard to describe, maybe because i dont have other people to jam with or something.....

well anyways how can i get over this "bass-playing-wall?" i like playing the bass and everything. Its just that I need something fresh maybe? btw I'v been playing for about 6 years now.

any advice?

[Gunnerhea86]

I've gone through phases like this before. don't worry it will pass. Try listening to music that you wouldn't listen on a normal basis. I generally list to Hard Rock/Metal type stuff so to get new inspiration I listen to Dance or Jazz music.

[kenyk]

ya, im starting to listen to more jazz. hopefully this phase will end soon haha. any more recommendations?

[Dr. Toboggan]

Try a different tuning and fiddle around. fun if anything

[JHorstmann]

What always gets me remotivated is going to a concert, watching a sick concert dvd, etc.

My recommendations:
It might get loud- not bass oriented but still great
The Rocker- c'mon, it rocks!

[nortonrider]

Turn on the radio and play along.
I've got sirius as part my dish TV , there are plenty of tunes available to keep it fresh.
It works for me.

[bass_snake]

What works for me is by taking a break. A day or 2 and then I' m inspired to play again.

Fred

[pacojas]

you, my son,.. need a new piece of ***!!!

[Col E Loc]

i've been playing on the same acoustic bass since i was fifteen & i've changed the strings twice - New gear will help you buy something, but it won't make you get over this "hump" you are in.

as bass players, our job is driving harmonies for compositions. from the sound of it, you sit and play your songs and riffs alone, then you are done. If you want some excitement, Bring a bass to an open mic - don't sign up, just be a bass player at an open mic. You, more likely than not, will be asked by several singer-song-writer-poet-drummers (or somethings the like that) to play along. the sound will be bad(most open mics make players plug into a P.A.), And you may spend days afterword thinking about what you could have done, But you will be forced to follow the fear.

Following the fear of a bass line is what the low end is all about.

[kenyk]

i think iv found my cure. Iv been playing some dream theater and cynic stuff ( i guess prog stuff), and iv decided to experiment with brutal death/tech metal stuff.

i guess it was a matter of style change.

[VTbassplayer]

Originally Posted by kenyk

i think iv found my cure. Iv been playing some dream theater and cynic stuff ( i guess prog stuff), and iv decided to experiment with brutal death/tech metal stuff.

i guess it was a matter of style change.

Nice! Thats one of the best things to do, try something different that takes you out of your element. Have fun with it.

[guitardefector]

Originally Posted by kenyk

dunno if this is the right place to post it but.... here it is anyways

lately i'v been playing the same few songs and just doodling around with the few licks that i made up with. i guess i dont find myself super interested in playing my bass lately, although i still play everyday. I dunno, its kind of hard to describe, maybe because i dont have other people to jam with or something.....

well anyways how can i get over this "bass-playing-wall?" i like playing the bass and everything. Its just that I need something fresh maybe? btw I'v been playing for about 6 years now.

any advice?

I had the same "blahs" last week. Decided to get out of my "music purist" shell and try something new so I bought a Coldplay and Death Cab cd. Got FIRED up immediately!!! Boredom or an off week usually means you're growing as a musician so don't think it's all bad. Glad to have you back in bass-land!

[dogbluedrummer]

Join a band, find some guys to jam with.