Oh man I suck! How did this happen?(Long Post)

[thumblypeg]

I just played with other musicians tonight. First time I've done that in about 12 years. The last time I was just playing covers. But I was good at it. I could learn almost anything that was required of me(classic rock/ metal and punk mostly). All I needed was a recording of the songs and a little time. I've got a good ear.

Well, time has passed and I'm in a situation now where the ability to learn other people's songs won't help me, I'm afraid it's actually going to hinder me. These guys are all about originals. They've just gotten together so they don't really have any songs yet, they were hoping that adding me to the mix might spark their creativity. But I gotta tell ya, I was doing good just to stay in time with the drummer! I fumbled alot, and every line that I came up with sounded like crap. Oh, I would occasionaly come up with a nice tasty groove, and they would get into it for a bit, then we'd realize that I was just ripping off something from Clutch or Chili Peppers.

After a couple of hours my fingers were sore as hell, ring finger on my fret hand is actually swolen. The realization hit me. I'm starting all over! I was a music student in school, so I have a pretty good bead on basic music theory. And I still remember the fretboard. Moving around on the fretboard is another story. I eventually just decided to play the root in rythym with the drums, and let the guitarist do his thing for the rest of the night.

The guys are cool about it, I warned them about my situation before we ever started and they understand. They're mainly just stoked about almost having a real band together. They've been playing pretty regularly with other bands for a few years. This is their 'side project'. I'm officially in the band, for what it's worth. But man i have my work cut out for me. (The guitarist is actually a bass player in another band, and he can tear me to shreds, it's humiliating)

Oh yeah, the point of the post:
My question is, has anybody ever picked up the bass after a long layoff like this? It does come back, right? I think I can squeeze at least 2 or 3 hours of practice in 3 days a week or so, and will probably be jamming with these guys at least 2 or 3 days a week. This is not anywhere near the amount of time I spent learning the bass originally(14,no job, locked in my room for hours on end learning songs, or playing with my band ALOT)..

I need to school myself in song structure, and techniques that I'm really not familiar with. -they want me to slap. I'm not going to argue, it's a really good technique to learn, people like to hear it, I can even do some basic slapping, but damn, everybody and their friggin sister slaps now. It's like the definitive sound for bass or something- I'm just doing this to be playing again. It's going to be good experience, but I kind of assured them that it would all come back to me quickly. I just hope I didn't lie to them.

[BassXgirl]

Are you sure you're not judging yourself a little too harshly? Could it be that your ears have continued to improve and now you're hearing imperfections that maybe you didn't hear 12 years ago? If that's the case, this could be a GOOD thing. It will help you to continue getting better.

My advice is to have fun, and try not to put too much pressure on yourself right off the bat. Before you know it, your fingers won't be sore anymore and you'll get into a groove again.

Have fun

[thumblypeg]

I may be expecting too much from myself. yeah. But there is no arguing that in the condition my chops are in right now, I would not cut it in a working band. I'm probably just really nervous about the whole thing. I'm not a teenager anymore, I have a job now and can't devote as much time to this as I once could. I'm hoping that I developed a strong enough foundation those years ago to help speed up my progress this time around. Thanks for the encouraging words.

[bassbully]

[quote=thumblypeg;4901379]I may be expecting too much from myself. yeah. But there is no arguing that in the condition my chops are in right now, I would not cut it in a working band. I'm probably just really nervous about the whole thing. I'm not a teenager anymore, I have a job now and can't devote as much time to this as I once could. I'm hoping that I developed a strong enough foundation those years ago to help speed up my progress this time around. Thanks for the encouraging words. [/QUO

Im sorry your done...sell your gear and take up scrapbooking

I feel like the other Tber you freaked a bit and are going way overboard here. You have the background , you have the skill you just need time and to gel with the music and these guys.

I sounds like you just walked in and started crankin out tunes you didnt have a chord chart or idea am i right? If it was a jam like vibe and learning their music on the fly what do you expect it will take time. I would see if they have any of their music recorded if so get a copy and learn it like you did the covers.
I walked into an established cover/original band a year and a half ago. They had done some gigs and fired their bassist. I needed to learn about 25 songs and 5 originals PDF and did and blew them away.I just needed a recording of the originals and i had alot of the other covers already did my home work and it was good.

Today im in a new Power trio... Rock/blues ala Cream,Hendrix, SRV. Its been a struggle coming from the mod heavier rock band and adapting to the more 60's rock and blues vibe and feel. I had a few practices were i was ready to try to break my P bass over my knee. But after a few practices its all good. Do your homework learn the music and gel with these cats you will be fine.

[Jordan]

Originally Posted by thumblypeg

-they want me to slap. I'm not going to argue, it's a really good technique to learn, people like to hear it, I can even do some basic slapping, but damn, everybody and their friggin sister slaps now. It's like the definitive sound for bass or something-

No kidding! I think the only reason I'm any good at fingerstyle is because slap is so overused that I feel compelled to avoid it most of the time.

[Slax]

Originally Posted by Jordan

No kidding! I think the only reason I'm any good at fingerstyle is because slap is so overused that I feel compelled to avoid it most of the time.

+1

I say as long as you have time to practice w/ them and by yourself, you should be fine. Also remember that stress clutters your brain.

[thumblypeg]

Thanks all. I think you're right, I'm just gonna go with it. It's not like we have a bunch of MI grads running around here hogging up the music scene.

Regarding Slap Bass:
This crap is not easy! I thought i was the S*%T when I was 20 and learned RHCP's version of Higher Ground, but that ain't nothin. I was going back over those Wooten videos on YouTube and forget it. I'm gonna have to find a teacher.

[ThunderLizard]

Thumb-
I've had some layoffs of 5-6 months at a time over my 30 years of playing. When I start playing again, I'm more focused on the 'rudiments' of playing. Kind of like doing a pick-up gig; play something very basic as a foundation.
Give yourself some time to get back into shape. If your friends want to support their original music, I recommend that you listen to their ideas for a while and gradually build some lines that work for them.
Glad you back among the playing!
Good Luck To You!!

[bassbully]

Originally Posted by thumblypeg

Thanks all. I think you're right, I'm just gonna go with it. It's not like we have a bunch of MI grads running around here hogging up the music scene.

Regarding Slap Bass:
This crap is not easy! I thought i was the S*%T when I was 20 and learned RHCP's version of Higher Ground, but that ain't nothin. I was going back over those Wooten videos on YouTube and forget it. I'm gonna have to find a teacher.

On the slap part i agree its not easy to be good. Sloppy and unoriginal is easy but to do it with taste and do slap leads etc is tuff at least for me. I dont play or use slap bass. I am not a fan of it or the music its in. Dont get me wrong i like some good funk but im not down with playin it and give me a bassist that over uses slap and im out of the room.

I like pocket playing tight groove with some funk and good blues 60's early 70's acid rock jams....man that soulfull bass playin to me...from Mel Shachter, The Tractor, JPJ to Tommy Shannon. Good luck thou.

[lposavad]

Originally Posted by thumblypeg

Oh yeah, the point of the post:
My question is, has anybody ever picked up the bass after a long layoff like this?

It does come back. I had a couple years' break and then an 8-year break from playing steady. I too had to 'start again'. I'm now back in a classic rock band, kicking ass at age 51.
I notice I'm a little less dexterous than before, so the speedy runs tend to fart out a bit. I also notice (and this may be an age/attention span thing) that I don't anticipate changes as well as I used to.
But, on the plus side, I now use more of the fretboard than in the past and make use of more patterns than before; and, I've taught myself to use a pick for at least simpler songs- it's given me another tonal option. I also find myself more concerned with my tone and what I can do to better fit it into the song.

So relax and enjoy starting over. It's like falling in love with the bass all over again!

[FuturePrimitive]

Oh man, you're already way ahead of me. I took about 3 years off and had a few kids. (Well to be fair, my wife helped a bit. ) But even before the babies came drooling into my life I had only progressed to the level of novice bass player. I played in only one band, a really uh.. "laid back" basement-garage band that wasn't ever going anywhere. Ever. And my "theory" consisted of getting the latest Rush tAbZ off the internet.

Now that the freshest baby is almost sleeping through the night I feel human enough to practice daily. I've decided to start over right this time though, learning to read music, learn real music theory, and practice with a metronome. Talk about starting over! I used to be able to play Rush's Natural Science and 2112 pretty well, even tried my hand(s) at YYZ. But do you have any idea how hard it is to read a few bars of quarter notes at 50 BPM (yea, I said 50) when learning to read music?!?!? I feel like such a nOOb. Oh yea, I am. It's pretty frustrating so sometimes I queue up some tracks, close my eyes, and play a few songs just to break it up.

I don't think I'm coordinated enough to ever develop really impressive chops or play like Geddy Lee. But I can (I think) learn to be a well rounded, solid bass player. And that's what I want to do this time around.

Anyway, I've been back at it only 2 weeks now and it is actually coming back. (what little of "it" I had anyway) My hand cramps up on Tom Sawyer and my fingers still hurt because I don't have any callouses but it feels so good to play again. Even if it is only hunt and pecking quarter notes at 50bpm for an hour each night through headphones. See, it could be worse!

[Jim Powers]

I took 30 years off; when I left college for work that was it. Then last year my new boss guitarist found out I played and dragged me back into it (bless him). It only took a couple of hours to get comfortable with the fretboard again, at least for the classic rock standards where I know how the song goes; and the band is all hobbyists. But lately I've been working on contemporary covers and auditioning; and this has really stretched me as the songs and bass lines have changed over the years, though it is good to "catch up" on music I'd been ignoring, and I need to study as in the old days - put on the CD and play with the band, over & over.

It will come back to you, but you may need to get a recording of the primary structure of the originals so you can take it home and dial-in a bass line you're happy with. Would seem to be difficult to just pickup on originals on the fly.

[thumblypeg]

I learned to read music in school. Treble Clef. Although I know how to read bass clef I've never really had to. And I've never applied it to bass. I made quite a few mistakes learning how to play bass. I only had one actual bass teacher and I quit taking lessons about the time I got into partying alot. (imagine that?). I am not looking forward to training myself to sight read for bass. But it is on my agenda.

Yeah, it's pretty near impossible for me to just write a bass line for somebody elses song on the spot like that. I never really had to do it. This whole experience will definitely be a challenge.

[Chazinroch]

I had two layoffs. The first one 20 years and the second one 4 years. It's not like riding a bike. It takes some time to restore the muscle memory, to rebuild callouses and to get the ear back in tune. Good news is that it does come back, and I think the relearning process brings it back fresher and better than where you left off. You'll be fine.

[ras1983]

The long periods between playing is one thing, but being musically original and creative is another.

Its much easier to learn and perfect someone else's licks/basslines/solos that it is to create your own; and IMO thats what differentiates the great musicians from the not so great ones.

[basslyon]

Not quiet as bad as a 12 year break but afew years i'd been teaching myself guitar and so had negelected all bass playing. anyway jam was organised with some mates and someone decided areoplane by the chilis was in order (it might have been me). I remembered all the notes well enough but when it came to the solo i just fumbled around like a hopeless gimp. I knew what i was meant to be playing i just couldn't do it.

the good news is, it's much easier to learn the second time around. You should know some good scale exercises and all you have to focus on is mobility really.

You'll be right again in a 2 weeks if you put in the hard yards

[KrisH]

Originally Posted by basslyon

Not quiet as bad as a 12 year break but afew years i'd been teaching myself guitar and so had negelected all bass playing. . . .

the good news is, it's much easier to learn the second time around. You should know some good scale exercises and all you have to focus on is mobility really.

You'll be right again in a 2 weeks if you put in the hard yards

My "retirement" was around 1993, but I picked up acoustic guitar in 2002 and learned to play it fairly decently. (Well, let's face it, solo bass accompaniment only goes so far.) But nothing beats playing in a band, and I miss it, so I'm considering putting myself "at liberty" again. I practice, but wonder whether I can still cut it in a band if I seek out some players. This has been an encouraging thread!

[ryco]

I keep my chops up by playing a little everyday, but there have been periods where I 've been off of my axe for a week or longer. I used to take my bass everywhere, but now I leave it home on vacations and family trips. I kinda like the sloppy feeling when I play after a hiatus. Licks sound rubbery and timing is a little looser and ideas seem fresher.

I certainly wouldn't want to walk in to a serious audition or gig (although I have) in this condition, but is fun for jamming.

[Howlin' Hanson]

My layoff was 34 years. I'm 58. I got drafted into a reunion band for my wife's high school, mainly as a singer. But I did get the chance to play bass on 7 songs, and have decided not to let it drop again. I recently answered a Craig's List ad, and the guys think I am better than OK, and want me to stay.

I don't think that I am anywhere near as good as I'd like to be. I'd like to be mistake-proof. But I have figured out that I always know how to cover my bad notes: "That was a passing tone." :-)

My big problem these days is memorization. I'll be glad when I don't need that binder anymore.

[51m0n]

After 3 or 4 years really not touching it I'm practising like mad and doing recording sessions with some very good friends.

I have had to get really religious about picking it up every day, also I wanted to push my fingerstyle to the next level so restarted with a 3 finger right hand technique which made things rather 'interesting'. Slap was always a stand out for me, but I'm really having to work it over again.

My problem was I had a rep as a real bad ass technician, and now my chops are blunt like a 10 year old razor

Loving playing again though. But the athleticism required to play for long periods of time has just gone, and jamming/writing/recording with these guys really pushes my forearms and hands (not to mention back/shoulders/neck).

Remember to play light and stay really relaxed, its very important, or you will hurt yourself.

Weirdly I find I am far better at finding tonal centres of tracks to groove over and picking out chords than I was even when I was at music college - my ear has definitely improved!

I kind of attribute that in part to learning to whistle, and then whistling along to everything I hear (much to the annoyance of all around!). It lets me 'do' musical thinking and expression wherever I am.

If you persist I promise it will come back.

As for coming up with lines, I found that by practicing alot on areas I'm really shabby at (walking bass - arrrgg! - for me its personal black spot) helps push you in new directions that I then find weedle their way in to what I might come up with.

Don't worry about being too creative and individual - it really isn't important actually. Serve the song. Well. Groove, hard. They will love you for it. Later on throw in some Michael Manring-eque splashes of genius. But only if you have it all worked out and can pull it off for sure .

Most of all enjoy yourself mate.