REALLY STUCK!!!

[sorefingers]

i am playing everyday anywhere from 30min-2hours and im really stuck. I am in a basic band we do covers and are making some of our own stuff and i also am reading books about theory (bass clef) and learning how to site read and such. but im just stuck all my stuff is getting so repetitive and i wanna pull my hair out because im not getting any better. so how do yall people get out of this playing rut. ugh

[Dmanlamius]

Try some of my tips here, dude!

http://mrlamius.blogspot.com/2008/02...aying-rut.html

[standupright]

sometimes when this happens to me, i take a break. i'll still play, but only exercises.

[DocBop]

When in a rut listening to other styles of music will open you up to new ideas. A friend who was a studio guitarist on many big tunes when he would get in a rut he would listen to only Beatles records for a month or more. Just need a change in listening, or what you are practicing, sometimes just going to hear some good live music gets the creative juices flowing. I like to sit and play in the dark for awhile to break out of doing the routine things. In the dark it's just you and finding sounds.

[Dmanlamius]

Yea, I mention all them in that link above, Doc, but mentioned shutting my eyes instead.

I've come across so many "happy accidents" doing that. It's a great way to really, really get personal with your bass, and where the sounds are coming from....

[standupright]

Originally Posted by DocBop

When in a rut listening to other styles of music will open you up to new ideas. A friend who was a studio guitarist on many big tunes when he would get in a rut he would listen to only Beatles records for a month or more. Just need a change in listening, or what you are practicing, sometimes just going to hear some good live music gets the creative juices flowing. I like to sit and play in the dark for awhile to break out of doing the routine things. In the dark it's just you and finding sounds.

yeah...this too.....absolutely.....and with the advent of youtube, readjusting your brain to other music styles is so much easier and lite on the wallet

[sorefingers]

well i listen to everything from metal to smooth jazz and pretty consistently. so ill try to apply some jazz stuff into my curriculum.

[mutedeity]

You know I have seen this question posed a lot of times and I never really answered it before. There are several things that really got me past being in a "rut".

The first thing was learning about theory, and that is a continued process.

Secondly listening to as much different music as possible has definitely helped. That means not just listening to "jazz" or "funk" or "metal" and considering myself a jazz funk or metal player. Also listening to music as a whole rather than just listening to it from a bass player's perspective can be included there as well.

The most important thing I think that has stopped me from ever falling into a rut, is actually writing music. As long as you write with a mind to expand on what you have done before you will open yourself up to new approaches and ideas. The other thing you need to learn as a writer is to let go of trying to write the perfect bassline for everything and to sometimes just let the bassline be the one that works with everything else around it.

Just some thoughts, hope they help.

[EADG mx]

To expand on that, think like a musician, not a bass player.

[sorefingers]

Originally Posted by mutedeity

You know I have seen this question posed a lot of times and I never really answered it before. There are several things that really got me past being in a "rut".

The first thing was learning about theory, and that is a continued process.

Secondly listening to as much different music as possible has definitely helped. That means not just listening to "jazz" or "funk" or "metal" and considering myself a jazz funk or metal player. Also listening to music as a whole rather than just listening to it from a bass player's perspective can be included there as well.

The most important thing I think that has stopped me from ever falling into a rut, is actually writing music. As long as you write with a mind to expand on what you have done before you will open yourself up to new approaches and ideas. The other thing you need to learn as a writer is to let go of trying to write the perfect bassline for everything and to sometimes just let the bassline be the one that works with everything else around it.

Just some thoughts, hope they help.

thanks man this is really gonna help!

[Stumbo]

Here a few TB threads that might help you out:

Best musical advice you ever got Best musical advice
Practice Practice Practice How to practice bass

Introduction to Scale and Chord Theory Intro to scale and chord theory
Modes...How to use them practically in music. Using modes
Reading Music Learn to read music
I need to learn how to read music for bass, how do i do it? Learn to read music
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f22/sight-reading-486398-post6521582/ Improve site reading
Need help reading bass clef Read bass clef
I need basic music theory help... Theory
Theory Forum FAQ and Links Theory
Things every bassist should know? Things every bassist should know
Book list for GI Theory Links Theory Book Links
Music Theory/General Instruction Links GI links list
jazz scales? not played bass in over a year Jazz Scales
Blues Turnarounds Blues Turn arounds
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f30/creating-bass-lines-8154/#post80043 Creating bass lines
Bass Line Construction: Target Approach Creating bass lines
http://www.talkbass.com/wiki/index.p...arget_Approach Creating bass lines

Online study of music theory/ear training.
http://www.teoria.com/ Check out the tutorials, exercises and reference(dictionary).
http://www.good-ear.com/
http://www.studybass.com/
http://www.activebass.com/

Books and instructional materials
http://www.bassbooks.com/shopping/default.asp

Free Jam tracks
http://www.freejamtracks.com/index.html

Free online lessons
A LOT of Free Lessons, how to's and other stuff from me!

This is a very helpful program for learning the notes on the bass clef. (as recommended by AlphaMale)
http://www.download.com/NoteCard/300...cdlPid=1509909
http://www.playthebass.com print flashcards for learning bass clef, print staff paper

[onlyclave]

Originally Posted by sorefingers

i am playing everyday anywhere from 30min-2hours and im really stuck. I am in a basic band we do covers and are making some of our own stuff and i also am reading books about theory (bass clef) and learning how to site read and such. but im just stuck all my stuff is getting so repetitive and i wanna pull my hair out because im not getting any better. so how do yall people get out of this playing rut. ugh

Transcribe! Just pick any song and write out the bass part.

I'm working out Tal Wilkenfeld right now. Her melodic ideas are pretty cool.

[edgewise]

I find that when I get in a rut, I'm usually focusing too much on technicality.

I therefore need to occasionally nudge myself back on center.

Playing music is creative, I need to strive to be more creative and a little less analytical.

I hope this confession helps you.

[Michael Case]

I'd say transcribe or just learn bass lines that you love. Also transcribe other instruments (trumpet, tenor sax). Learn to play bass lines to music that is completely new to you also.