How to stay inspired?

[DontKnowSlap]

Hello everybody.

I've only been playing less then a year, but at my age it's hard to stay motivated.. I'm already in my 30's so this is purely for fun and I was hoping to connect with some people to jam with and have fun.. but it just hasn't happened. I settled with playing along at guitar stores to random teenage guitar wankers, as pathetic as that sounds.

Guess you really do got to be 18 to truly get into anything in life

How depressing.

So, playing along at home to music on my iTunes gets old. I can play a melodic bassline to any song, and it sounds okay.. like the few people who heard say I have nice natural tone and blah blah.. just that my choice of notes are still a little obvious, if you know what I mean.

I really need to get playin with some people man. I mean, I kinda dont want to turn into one of those professional bedroom guitarist, who play exclusively on youtube (I haven't posted any vids yet, I promise)

[Tricia]

Do you have a recording interface for the computer? You could start adding bass lines to online collabs. Bass is always needed!
my favorite site for collabbing is www.musicianscollaboration.com.
and you could end up on some cool original songs.

[standupright]

go out to some local open mic / open jams.

[DontKnowSlap]

Oh yeah that online collab sounds pretty cool. Didn't think about that. I'm gonna check that out..

Ideally I wish I could sign up for one of those school of rock type gigs. I know it's totally dorky, but I must admit it's for the stage confidence...

[Joe Nerve]

Search craigslist reguarly and put the footwork in. Just get out and meet and play with people. As many as ya can. Something will click with someone. I see a lot of people coming up with lots of excuses ('reasons') to not do that, but I really think they just don't want to put the footwork in, or face whatever newbie insecurities naturally pop up. Doesn't even matter what kind of music really... just finding different people to play with starts the whole process.

And thirty ain't old. I didn't do any serious gigging until I was thirty, didn't do any tours till my forties, and just started doing my own solo stuff very near that next frightening sounding decade. Just a few months away from that. The video below was recorded this winter.

[bwoodman]

You've only been playing for less than a year? OK, then there's a lot you can still learn and it helps to get a private instuctor. If that's too expensive, then there's tons of stuff on youtube that will inspire - like Marlowe DK aka: playbassnow - here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/user/MarloweDK
I've been playing since 1978 and I got pretty inspired watching and playing along to Marlowe's videos. I'm probably at his level, but not so much with the improv and soloing, but I'm getting better by spending time with his videos. When I first started playing, there was none of this (needless to say). I WISH I had the internet back then! I played along to LPs (yes - records on a record player) until I freakin' wore them out and buy a new copy. Wish we had iPods back then too! Where do you live? There are NO cats looking for a bass player in your area? Nothing on CL or the local music store bulletin boards?

I disagree with having to be 18 to do anything. I was watching the Brooks & Dunn special last night - their retirement thing - they are in their mid-50s and B&D have been around for 20 years, so they were in their mid-30s when the hit it big. Huey Lewis was also 35 or so when he had his first hit album. Guys like Jaco - yes - he was already good at 18 and was totally in demand, but we can't all have Jaco genes - dang! Buddy Rich was another one. Other people like us have to work on it and not give up.

I guess I can't relate because I was playing drums at age 5, piano by age 7 and bass by age 14, so maybe it's different when you start out real young vs. starting in your 30s just for fun. Not knocking you, just that there's different motivation going on.

Get out and play with people for sure! And check out those Marlowe DK videos - love that guy!

[Asher S]

Originally Posted by DontKnowSlap

Guess you really do got to be 18 to truly get into anything in life

Hogwash!!!!

Most 18 year-old's couldn't distinguish a once-in-a-lifetime experience from an intense episode of flatulence. I know I couldn't at that age.

Some ways to stay inspired:

• Find a good (i.e. inspiring) teacher, who ENJOYS learning AND teaching
• Seek out new skills, ALWAYS
• Listen to a wide variety of music, including stuff you think you may never like, and try playing some of it on your instrument
• Go see live shows in your town, and if possible arrange ahead of time for a private lesson with a touring pro.
• Find other local musicians who want to jam and always go to an open jam.

[DontKnowSlap]

That guy Marlowe is sick. I think he's the reason why I named myself don't know slap.

Ok maybe you're right, don't got to be 18.. maybe more like 23 lol. No I get what you guys are saying, I'm just feeling uninspired right now. I have started with a really great instructor but my funds are low.. so that's a problem. I'll get back on track.. thanks guys.

[Spin Doctor]

I didn't start playing till I was almost 49. Ran into a great teacher out of the blue (Anthony Wellington, who tours with Victor Wooten) and simply went out and bought a bass after talking to him. I'd never even held one before that. I did his lessons like a religion (and I'm never giving up my 5:30 slot) for about a year then went on craigslist and hooked up with a great group of guys this past February. They were willing to teach me the stuff they play which is blues, southern rock and rockabilly with some originals thrown in. I grew up listening to that stuff down in North Carolina, along with a lot of funk, so it was already familiar. I just turned 50 in April and for a celebration I got with the local band loving bar and told the owner we'd play there for free to host my first gig/B-day party.

The place was packed and we played our asses off. We planned on two sets and it turned into 3. Everyone seemed to dig it. About a week later the owner called me up and gave us a regular gig, and it pays pretty well too. So for me it is a commitment to myself, my teacher and my band-mates. That makes me wanna practice all the time... My band-mates dig what I'm doing 'cause I can play a funk groove over a rockin blues tune and people like to dance to that stuff.

I've been listening to my Dad's James Brown records since as long as I can remember so it's easy for that stuff to come out. I learned a lot (never enough though) about blues from the teacher and also from Ed Friedlands book and another book called Jump Blues Bass or something like that, which teaches you how to play in different bass styles. I learned Tommy Shannon's way of doing Texas Flood from that.

The guys have been together about eight years and had been through a few bass players. If the drummer doesn't like what he's hearing, he gives them the boot, so some gigs they played completely without a bass! They told me after we'd been playing together for a bit that I beat out a couple of local 20 year bass vets who also auditioned around the same time. I occasionally ask them if I need to do anything differently and they say, nope, just do what you do... Granted, I kinda live in the middle of nowhere so the talent might not be super-high in caliber... I dunno...

So anyway, I guess in the music scheme of things, I got lucky. I got one of the best teachers in the country, found some committed guys to play with and had a good first gig in less than a year and a half.

I feel like my life is just starting...

[Billnc]

There are often music meet-ups, there are some in town here in Charlotte and my brother attends some in Philly. Informal jams at clubs etc where you get together with other players. Facebook and Craigslist are networking tools, and the meetings wind up being forwarded through musician friend e mails.

Play ANYTHING with other people. I've played with folkies, jazzers, blues players, country etc. I may not listen to every style of music but I've had fun playing every style.

I've been playing a long while, teach privately and at 50 I still feel like a little kid with music, and wonder what I'll learn about it tomorrow. It's a fascinating field of study. I also still take some lessons.

[ausf]

Open mics, get out and network.

You need to push yourself a bit. It's hard to do with playing along because you'll drop back into a comfort zone.

I'd try to play songs by players you like that are too hard for you right now. Learn them and push a bit until you build up. You'll be able to monitor progress and you'll look forward to finding new challenges. If you try to nail it note for note, it may force you into new dynamics or techniques as well as concentrating on tone control.

[Spin Doctor]

Originally Posted by Billnc

There are often music meet-ups, there are some in town here in Charlotte...

You live in Charlotte? I'm from Kannapolis. Spent many a night having fun in the Queen City back in the day...

[Spin Doctor]

Originally Posted by ausf

Open mics, get out and network.

You need to push yourself a bit. It's hard to do with playing along because you'll drop back into a comfort zone.

I'd try to play songs by players you like that are too hard for you right now. Learn them and push a bit until you build up. You'll be able to monitor progress and you'll look forward to finding new challenges. If you try to nail it note for note, it may force you into new dynamics or techniques as well as concentrating on tone control.

+1 on that. Getting with a band and recording my playing has helped my technique as much as anything. It can make you wince too... There will be some painful stuff going on there... But like John Entwhistle said, "If we stopped a song every time I made a mistake, we'd be playing F-ing Morse code..."

[bass_snake]

I listen to a lot of records and watch a lot of YouTube. That' s how I get inspired.

I know how you feel. I' m also in my 30s and just plays okay. But you know what!? It' s never too late.

goodluck,

Fred

[BlakeJustBlake]

The things that inspire me most to get better and to play is to go and watch someone play, and to go and play with people. A lot of people have suggested craigslist, go look there, I'd even suggest making a post of your own looking for people.

A lot of time it's hard to just happen upon musicians, so pry them out of the woodwork, post flyers in the music shops and stuff about how you're looking for people to just jam with, no obligations.

[eq777]

Remember what made you want to play in the first place and dwell on that. Get a private teacher; Go to any and every open mic/jam session you can go to. Go to as many concerts you can; get there real early before the crowd comes and bring your bass, chances are you'll get in and get to go back stage and meet some of the cats...offer to help cary some equipment; get some business cards and pass them out all the time. Just do what every you have to to stay into the music. I'm 42 and I know how you feel; I still have a boring day gig, but I have hope and belive that all things are possible. Just keep practicing even when there are no gigs and no one is calling. Because, you will get a shot to play and you want to make sure your always ready. Remember to practice perfect and slow. The best way to get better is to learn songs note for note and be able to play them in all the keys. Good Luck to you...

[tobie]

Church bands are usually quite lenient towards artists still learning their instruments. How about joining a local church band? The added advantage is that Christian music comprises a wide set of genres, so it's excellent exposure.