I'm seriously struggling w/ inspiration

[SmartAlex]

for a few months now, i feel like ive hit a wall, creatively, and just towards playing in general, each time i sit down to play, i dont know what to play, i just noodle for 2 hours, sight read some tab to learn a song real quick, play w/ the cd, rinse, and repeat. I need to find new things to learn, and new music to get into to try to re-inspire me, i dont have a teacher , but i really want one , its just a financial matter at the moment... i've been playing for 2 years , and id say im an intermediate player, but i think if i can get over this wall im stuck at, i can further my playing , and become a much better player than i am right now, so what do you guys suggest?

[Kronos]

Take a break for a while. It should help. Also, the more you pressure yourself to write, the less inspiration will come to you.

Plus, if you feel like the stuff you're writing sounds like everything else, isolate yourself from outside music sources all together. Take a trip somewhere. Just go without music. Take a week in the woods or something. Take in the silence, and believe me, music will come to you.

[dukerutledge]

I've been going in and out of that feeling ever since I started playing. Every three months or so I hit a wall and it hangs for a while and eventually I overcome it. I hate the feeling that everything i'm playing is the same and its hartd to get past that thought, but really everything you play has a simliar style, its your style, you just have to learn more and seek out more to make your style more varied and vibrant. I take the opposite approach to overcoming walls. When I hit a wall I seek out new music and new sounds to force me in a different direction, I try and emulate those sounds and it makes me think of new variations and ways of playing. I'd say look for something new, something that sounds like nothing that you've ever heard and learn it.

[BillytheBassist]

Get a looper....it's not the complete answer, but mine has really inspired me and helped alot with practicing.

[The BurgerMeister]

Originally Posted by BillytheBassist

Get a looper....it's not the complete answer, but mine has really inspired me and helped alot with practicing.

+1.

[The BurgerMeister]

everyone hits those plateaus... it's just a matter of finding something new to help you climb to the next one.
there's always something new, something else out there.
always.

[LarryR]

Originally Posted by SmartAlex

for a few months now, i feel like ive hit a wall, creatively, and just towards playing in general, each time i sit down to play, i dont know what to play, i just noodle for 2 hours, sight read some tab to learn a song real quick, play w/ the cd, rinse, and repeat. I need to find new things to learn, and new music to get into to try to re-inspire me, i dont have a teacher , but i really want one , its just a financial matter at the moment... i've been playing for 2 years , and id say im an intermediate player, but i think if i can get over this wall im stuck at, i can further my playing , and become a much better player than i am right now, so what do you guys suggest?

Do you play with other people? Hard not to get inspired with (the right) musicians.

I agree with the others. Getting stuck is part of the process. It's ok to put it down for a while, but, try not to waste your energy feeling bad about it if you do.

Ask yourself: do you enjoy playing? What do you enjoy about it?

You say you need new things to listen to. There's a ton of great music out there. 90% of it recorded before 1970 (yeah I know I might get some sh_t for this). I think Scott Lafaro is the one of the most inspiring bassists period. A trombone player converted to URB who died at what, 24? Check him out on "Bill Evans Trio Live at The Village Vanguard". No, it's not rock and roll, but IMHO it's mondo inspiration. It shows where a bassists can take the music.

Go out and see bands. Rent music Videos. Rent stuff you'd never think of renting. Just try it. Explore it all. Nothing to lose. You might fall in love or find out what you hate.


Ok, I'll shut up now.

[steve66]

Hit a wall?
Try some Bach for Bass, listen to classical music. Learn to read music. practice scales in 3rds and 5ths. Learn chordal scale cycles, Rock out on TV, Movie Theme's. Learn a new technique, think of rythmns in your head and play them. try not playing the same lick twice while keeping proper time. Play the blues

That should inspire you

[naja]

Originally Posted by jetpackbassist

+1.

What loopers are you guys using?

[djcruse]

Try a style you've never played before.

Listen to something you've never listened to before.

Go to a concert you wouldn't ordinarily go to.

Try an alternate tuning.

Get a new effect pedal.

If you don't know how to read music, learn.

Get a bass with more strings. Or less. Or acoustic. Or fretless.

Try flipping your bass around and playing left handed.

If you play fingerstyle, try a pick. Or vice versa.

Learn where all the harmonics are on your bass.

Learn to slap. Or tap. Or flamenco style plucking.

Transcribe a solo.

Work on ear training.

Relearn everything you know in all 12 keys. Then in all positions on the bass.

Learn double bass.

In short, you've got to break out of your routine. There's an endless list of new things to learn and you're only limited by your imagination.

Go!

[BillytheBassist]

Originally Posted by naja

What loopers are you guys using?

Digitech jamman.

[naja]

Originally Posted by BillytheBassist

Digitech jamman.

Cool deal, thanks Billy!

[rebelbass]

howe about an instructional video from your favoritew player? I have several (lessons & preformances) when I'm bored I pop one in and try to figure out what he's doing then try to use that run/technique/whatever in some piece of music I play. and not just bass;guitar stuff too. either how to make it a bass part or how would I support someone playing that? I find most of the guitarists I play with tend to stay in a "safe zone". the bass players choice of notes/flavor can help soloists to play something they don't normally play or try something new. this is when musics exciting. On the other hand,if the guitar gods an a**hole you can really make him sound bad by your backup. not that I'd ever try anything like that!

[wtg203]

If you have access to fx pedals, set those on weird settings and just play with them. I have a zoom multi fx pedal, and sometimes I'll just set up some totally random mixes, and experimenting with those sounds alone gives me totally new ideas, new styles, new grooves. Also +1 on getting into checking out a totally new style of music.

[bassist15]

I have also been through this in the past week. Im 15 and only been playing for almost 2 years and Im totally self taught. I one llisten to Jaco. And now im exploring classical music . Tons of famous bassists say this is a great way to learn everythign and to make creative lines. Look into Bach and Stravinsky.

[thumbzilla]

I've always thought playing a musical instrument needed some kind of performance orientation. Unless I missed it, you don't perform for others. Gotta be a reason for doing what you do,,,share with others. Teach a kid.

[Lord Henry]

This gets said a lot here on TB, so I'm not attacking you. It really does help if you fill out your profile so that others get a better feeling for what you're about. It tends to be the first thing that I look at when people are asking for advice.

The main thing I would suggest is to write music with other people. Whenever the guitarist in my band comes in with a new riff or cord structure he's done something that I wouldn't so when I fit in a bass line I have to play in a new way. He says exactly the same about the stuff that I write. I honestly think that it's the best way to push yourself.

On top of that you can never know too many styles or too much theory. Getting a new bass tends to renew interest as well.

I hope that some of this is helpful.

Cheers

[motleystew]

When in a rut creatively, I follow Flea's advise and reach up and detune a string or two at random pitches and then noodle and you will be surprised at what you may hear!!

[Kurisu]

Transcribe, transcribe, transcribe.

[ElBajista]

Originally Posted by BillytheBassist

Get a looper....it's not the complete answer, but mine has really inspired me and helped alot with practicing.

+1!!!

Originally Posted by naja

What loopers are you guys using?

Digitech JamMan. I love this thing.