Taking break because of injury... Will i loose my skills?

cire113 · #1 07-12-2009, 07:38 PM

Well after really hurting my wrist/forearm from playing bass ive decided i need to take an extended break for my arm to heal so i can play hopefully again without problems..

My question is to anyone who has taken a long break from the bass (weeks) what was it like when u started again?

I know it sounds ridiculous but it is very difficult to not play even though im hurting myself..

I changed my technique which helps but i just need to take break until my arm feels better

flea claypool · #2 07-12-2009, 07:40 PM

how long is your break??

i broke both wrists racing and was off 4 months.. didnt affect me tbh

TOOL460002 · #3 07-12-2009, 07:56 PM

i doubt im particularly unique in this regard, but i find that when i take a forced break, like a 1-2 week vacation, i come back just a bit better than where i left off. i play 4-8hrs a day, so i assume its because my muscles need a break and then are in top form upon my return, or that im so obsessed that when i get my hands on the bass again im just that much hungrier.

as for injuries, ive gotten minor carpal tunnel from too much computer use maybe 3 times in the last two years, so i had to take a 3-5 day injury break. unfortunately, that has never left me better off, but i also didnt notice any decline.

so, injuries are another thing entirely. when ive had issues and have just not been inspired, and didnt play for a month or more, i definitely lost some skills, but only with advanced techniques; the rest is like riding a bike, though it may depend on how long youve been playing, and how severe the injury is.

tpmiller08 · #4 07-13-2009, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TOOL460002

i doubt im particularly unique in this regard, but i find that when i take a forced break, like a 1-2 week vacation, i come back just a bit better than where i left off. i play 4-8hrs a day, so i assume its because my muscles need a break and then are in top form upon my return, or that im so obsessed that when i get my hands on the bass again im just that much hungrier.

as for injuries, ive gotten minor carpal tunnel from too much computer use maybe 3 times in the last two years, so i had to take a 3-5 day injury break. unfortunately, that has never left me better off, but i also didnt notice any decline.

so, injuries are another thing entirely. when ive had issues and have just not been inspired, and didnt play for a month or more, i definitely lost some skills, but only with advanced techniques; the rest is like riding a bike, though it may depend on how long youve been playing, and how severe the injury is.

I notice the same thing about taking breaks. I've taken a couple of breaks in my bass playing career (heh, its far from a career

). One was for a month, and the other was for 3 months. When I get back to it, it was like new life was breathed into my playing. It was really easy to come up with new material, and my playing wasn't all that worse. My speed was a little off, and was a lil more sloppy than normal. But one or two days later it was right back to normal.

Not sure why it works like that with some people, but its kinda cool =)

-Troy

ducknturtle · #5 07-13-2009, 08:41 AM

A couple of weeks or months shouldn't make much difference. I took ten years off from playing and had to start almost from scratch. It took two years of practice to get back to where I had been.

JMac4strngr · #6 07-13-2009, 10:31 AM

Try two or three years. I probably didn't play any instrument other than just here or there for a couple of years. I found that I could still play simple basic stuff, or peices of songs. It took me a while to get back in the groove, but I totaly feel better about playing now. I guess that time of drink'n and chase'n women folk didn't hurt me too bad. Now I just feel like I am playing catch up.

HaVIC5 · #7 07-13-2009, 10:57 AM

Electric bass is an instrument with relatively little technical demand compared to other instruments, so as far as technique and chops go, I don't think you'll loose all too much, and what you had will definitely come back after a couple days. When I take a week or more break from upright bass, however, I definitely feel it, and it doesn't feel so hot, haha. Trumpet players I know never take more than a day or so off, because then their embourchure goes to hell. Thank god we don't have to deal with that stuff, haha.

ikenplay · #8 07-17-2009, 02:17 PM

I have always felt that music is an ungrateful profession, meaning that if you don't use your skill, you lose it. If you are injured, taking a short amount of time away from the instrument can be beneficial to you. However, the longer that you stay away, the more that you will lose of your technique. I would suggest that if you are in pain because of injury, stop playing. It is easier to regain your chops than to seriously hurt yourself and have to give up playing altogether. In addition, how much a break will hurt you may also depend upon your practise habits and the level of proficiency you already have. In fact, the break may be a good time for you to reexamine the way that you practise and eliminate bad habits that may contribute to injuries in the future. In the end, you may come out of the injury as a much better bass player. Good luck to you.