Bored, Bored, Bored

[RootDown]

So I'm sure there's another post somewhere on this forum about this but anyways,
I've been playing for 12 years now and have been in numerous bands. Right now I'm without a band and feeling really bored with music. I'll play my bass for a few minutes and put it down, try the guitar and put it down, create stupid techno beats with fruityloops and put it down.
I guess I just don't feel any sort of spark right now. Listening new music doesn't help, I was trying to learn some new techniques and that didn't help.

I guess my question is, is it alright to not wanna play? To just feel bored with playing? I assume it'll go away, but I'm just afraid it won't. This has been going on for a couple months now.
Thanks for your help.

[Bassist4Life]

It's cool. That happens to everyone.

You could set a musical goal and go after it. That usually motivates me.

My most recent goal is to memorize the Hanon No.1 piano exercise from the Virtuoso Pianist. I'm going to practice it slow and work the tempo up as far as I can go. I'm doing this as a purely technical exercise. I'm also working out the best fingering options for this exercise. When I am comfortable with it, I can transpose it to different keys. This should keep me busy for a bit.

Then, I'll probably start on exercise No.2

I'm also trying to play through the first solo chorus of Coltrane's Giant Steps (tenor sax solo).

Find something that makes you want to chase it down and conquer it.

Good luck,
Joe

[cassanova]

Originally Posted by RootDown

I guess my question is, is it alright to not wanna play? To just feel bored with playing? I assume it'll go away, but I'm just afraid it won't. This has been going on for a couple months now.
Thanks for your help.

Yeah its quite alright. Happens to all of us and usually on more than one ocassion.

[RootDown]

Yeah, I've gone through this before. Just not so severe. I'll look for something to keep me busy, keep me practicing.
Thanks

[BASSMASTER105]

I played from the age of 10 until 33 and was quite acomplished when i quit.Idid not touch a bass for 15 years picked one up about 3 months ago i now own 3 i cant put
them down practice 2-3 hours a night im playing in 2 bands
point being i regret i ever quit missed alot of good years
dont do what i did tough it out keep playing or you will
be sorry .

[DemoEtc]

Root: Maybe you should go on a 'music fast' (fast as in not eating) for a few weeks. Don't play, don't listen to music, don't try to write any or think about it. No iPod or radio or CD in the car, absolutely nothing.

When I say a 'few weeks' though, just let that be the background idea, not an absolute. The real idea is to just let it all melt and filter away for a 'while', however long that is. Don't do a single thing musical, at all.

Sometimes it's good to just put it down and forget about it. It's tough forgetting about it though because we're musicians and that's what we do, but...see if you can just put it out of your mind for a 'while' and see what happens. Don't give yourself a time limit or force it in anyway (like I'm going to do it for 2 weeks straight); just let it be a guideline; like the mental thing is, "Okay, I've quit music for now. I can come back to it, but for right now, I'm no longer a musician; I'm just going to be 'me' for awhile and then...and then we'll see...."

That kind of thing.

I mean if you were presently in a band situation where you HAD to play, that would be different. But you're between bands I gather, so...go on a musical vacation of sorts. Quit - but leave the door open to come back.

Hope this helps.

[MicB]

Originally Posted by DemoEtc

Root: Maybe you should go on a 'music fast' (fast as in not eating) for a few weeks. Don't play, don't listen to music, don't try to write any or think about it. No iPod or radio or CD in the car, absolutely nothing.

When I say a 'few weeks' though, just let that be the background idea, not an absolute. The real idea is to just let it all melt and filter away for a 'while', however long that is. Don't do a single thing musical, at all.

Sometimes it's good to just put it down and forget about it. It's tough forgetting about it though because we're musicians and that's what we do, but...see if you can just put it out of your mind for a 'while' and see what happens. Don't give yourself a time limit or force it in anyway (like I'm going to do it for 2 weeks straight); just let it be a guideline; like the mental thing is, "Okay, I've quit music for now. I can come back to it, but for right now, I'm no longer a musician; I'm just going to be 'me' for awhile and then...and then we'll see...."

That kind of thing.

I mean if you were presently in a band situation where you HAD to play, that would be different. But you're between bands I gather, so...go on a musical vacation of sorts. Quit - but leave the door open to come back.

Hope this helps.

That actually sounds like a really good idea.

+1!

[Vandelay]

Try playing around with a different genre and/or era of music. I got very bored a while back playing 70s-90s rock, and I completely put down the guitar for a couple years, didn't even touch it. Then I got an opportunity to play some 60s & 70s Motown stuff. I didn't even realize how much I liked it until I tried it. It has been immense fun! I'm rediscovering lots of cool music, and I'm actually excited about music again.

[CrazyArcher]

When I sit down for practice, I often get bored with rock, so I start jazzin'. Yeah, trying a different style is a good idea.

[vindy500]

find someone to play with

[Blake Bass]

Try playing with a computer program like band in a box. When I'm bored I pull up some jazz changes and start soloing, walking, or practicing scales and arpeggios over the changes.
Practicing is a lot more interesting when you can hear how the bass part relates to the chord changes. This is also good ear training.

[disenchant]

There are three things you might want to do.

#1 the quick way to get out of boredom is to raise the necessity level. What I mean by that is create a project with a deadline--like book a reahearsal with some other musicians, book a small gig or do some open mikes. Nothing gets you up off your butt like necessity! No one wants to look like an idiot.

#2 remember back to when you weren't bored. What was the last thing you were doing before the boredom hit? Chances are there was something in the last fun thing you were doing that made everything go a little bit sour or dull. Perhaps it was a technique that you didn't get or a song that was frustrating you. Maybe it was a book you were reading and there was a part in it that confused you. It could even be something someone said to you. Find it, tackle it, and the boredom will melt away.

#3 Sign up for a class. Sometimes a teacher's enthusiasm can rekindle the enthusiasm in you.