Quote:
Originally Posted by kynoch  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???  |
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.
