IN A RUT!!!!! HELP!!!

[lang]

hi everyone, i posted this in the tecnique forum and was told that it might be a good idea to post it here, so here it is.... hey anyone ever get in a really bad rut? where they feel like everybody else is passing you by? well i'm in one and i can't get out. i'm starting to feel like i've lost it.... can anyone give me some really cool riffs and licks maybe some crazy jazz runs just to get me kick started again maybe.... just to get me doing something different that i haven't played before, i'm always going after those same old runs and scales and stuff, does anyone know what i'm dealing with? thanks

[steveb98]

Try just listening to some new music or transcribing some lines from your favorite player. I used to work for a top name session player and he would feel stale and no ideas. Its funny he would listen to nothing but Beatle records for weeks. Then his creative juices would be flowing again. Now I'm not say the Beatles is the answer, it was his, but listen to who you think is real creative and only them for awhile. Really listen and try to hear things you didn't before.

For me when I got in those situations I would hit the used CD store and find some new music to check out. Of course a sure cure was to buy a new piece of gear. I get a new piece of gear I'm play a lot and trying to figure out all that I can do with it and what it will work best with.

In general only you have the answer to what will excite you to dig in. New music, a hot concert, new gear, figuring out a new lick, a hot babe at a gig who digs bass players. Sometimes just taking a break and going to the beach (with that hot babe who digs bass players).

[steve66]

Everyone has their "signature" licks. What you feel is normal, everyone goes through it. I am faily new at the bass, but been playing the drums for 25+ yrs. When I feel i am at a stalemate, I usually break habits and create new ones. I find myself at some club and zone in on the drummer. I start feeling better right away by I realizing that I dont suck. If I happen to stumble on a good drummer, I just observe, and during a break tell the drummer how good his drums sound and how great he is. A little chat and We are teaching each other stuff we didnt know.

I was at a club where I saw a bassist that was so good, I felt bad for him because the rest of the band was awful. I went over to him and asked him about a bass line he did. He was so happy that someone recongized some thing he did and also commented that his drummer cant play anything except straight 4/4 rock. "this dude is slowing me down". He mentioned that its tough to find a good drummer.
I told him to give me a call if he wants to jam. He said 2 bass players in a group wont happen. I told him I played the drums, but wouldn't mind learning a few bass lines.

To make a long story short, we hooked up, me on drums playing some funk and odd time stuff and him playing anything I through at him. This is how I learned how to slap the right way, and how to slap pentatonic lines, hammer ons, slides, chord changes that work.

So get out there and listen to every bassist you can and try hooking up with them. Bounce Ideas off each other. One idea will get you out of that rut your in..

Good Luck

[lang]

do you guys have any signature licks that you can throw at me in the mean time, maybe it will help me?

[Pruitt]

You might consider picking up Patrick Pfeiffer's new book, "In Search Of The Groove". From what you're asking, I think it's exactly what you're looking for. There are tons of pre-made grooves in there. It also gives a very good method for creating your own grooves. I picked up a copy last week when it was released and have been getting new ideas everytime I open it up.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/142...424763-4721662

Best of luck and have fun!!

[tZer]

Try not to base your opinion of your own playing too much by what you see other bass player doing. You will always be keenly aware of your own skills, you will always be your own harshest critic, and you will always see what others are doing that you can't. If you let that drive your opinion of your own playing you will never be happy with it. There is always someone 'better' then you, just as there are those you are 'better' then.

Some thoughts on personal improvement and making yourself feel better about your skills:
1. Get a good teacher. There is nothing like having weekly lessons to see regular improvement in your playing.
2. Set attainable, but reasonable challenging personal playing goals and work steadily on them until you knock them out. Then set more and keep going. Again, a teacher is a great way to get this thing rolling.
3. Practice regularly - with a metronome - daily, every-other-daily... but make practice a regular thing for your everyday life. You can't 'get better' by just throwing a good week's effort at something then resting on your laurels. Self-improvement takes self-discipline.

Good luck!

[CWK]

The replies above are a great insperation to my own situation.
Thanks all! from me!
Another thing that might help from a rut is to look at something else as a "hobby" for awhile.Just a thought.
Bill