Ever learn to play a song you love and then the song kind of loses its magic?

[dave64o]

Has this ever happened to anyone? There a song that you love and you know it inside and out but you never tried playing before. Then you finally work it out and suddenly the magic is kind of ... gone. You still like the song, you're even happy you know it on a deeper level, but somehow it's just not the same anymore.

I played guitar and sang for a cover band when I was in college and even once I picked up bass a few years ago I've still been playing mostly covers. Until pretty recently I've never really felt much of a change toward songs I've learned. Maybe it's because lately I've been working on songs that are more challenging, at least for me? Now that I know them the challenge has been met? Maybe I feel like if *I* could play it then it must not have been that challenging after all?

Anyway, just curious how many others have noticed the same kind of thing, and how often.

[BrandonBass]

Yeah man, every I learned a certain song I kind of stop playing it on my computer and stuff prolly cause its not that special anymore....or maybe the tone in the recording is better than mine and that kinda pisses me off....

I reckon writing originals with your band and make your own basslines/lyrics its alot more fun.

[beyondhairy]

after i learn a song and then just listen to it, i feel it on a deeper level, and im not content listening to it unless im playing along with it.

[Vandelay]

Originally Posted by beyondhairy

after i learn a song and then just listen to it, i feel it on a deeper level, and im not content listening to it unless im playing along with it.

I think that's true for me too. For example, I always thought Wilton Felder's bass line on the Jackson 5's "I Want You Back" was completely magical and captivating. Once I learned to play it, it became less so -- still brilliant, but less mysterious, obviously. Now I just like playing along with it.

[Bruce Lindfield]

Since I started playing Jazz - it's been the exact opposite for me!

So - every time I get to play a new tune, I end up falling in love with it - even if it was something I had heard many times before - playing it has given me a whole new appreciation!

Although I do look back on Pop/rock songs now and think how boring they are, compared with most Jazz tunes and how a very few chords/sequences are re-used endlessly....

[supergolum]

Yeah same here, that's probably (my guess) because when you learn it, you stop seeing the song as a whole, but start understanding all the riffs and how they mix together.

[Gsus]

I agree with Mr. Lindfield, being an avid jazz fan (and occasional performer)I know with Jazz I rarely tire of songs; I guess it's due to the improvised, spontaneous nature of the genre, while remaining grounded in a simple structure of chord changes.

With that said, I notice some other songs starting to get old; I practiced the hell out of Manring's Monkey Businessman and some of the magic has gone. I think that's because we all try to copy songs verbatim, and in doing so ruin some of the spontaneity that the original music had.

With that said, I'm still a believer of building skills by (playing by ear, if you can) learning basslines beyond your comfortable skill level.

Jared

P.S. I gave that song a rest and it has for the most part, regained its magical essence. Don't overdo it .

[Lazylion]

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

Although I do look back on Pop/rock songs now and think how boring they are, compared with most Jazz tunes and how a very few chords/sequences are re-used endlessly....

You think rock is like that? Try country music sometime!

[Bruce Lindfield]

As it's not too popular over here, I have managed to avoid playing that genre entirely!!

[dave64o]

Some other things I noticed that I didn't put in my original post ...

So far this has only happened with songs I've listened for a long time and really like. For example, I've been a huge Rush fan for almost their entire 30+ years and in a lot of ways I'm really happy to reach a point where I can now play some of their songs. So maybe supergolum was right, it's because I took something I loved as a whole and broken it down to its parts and now have a tough time putting it back together again.

Then there are songs I never paid any attention to in the past for one reason or another. When I learn those songs these days, the exact opposite seems to happen. I suddenly become aware there's more to the song then I ever realized and even if I don't necessarily like it, I have a whole new appreciation for it. A great example of this is disco, which I've always kind of "hated". Lately I've been noticing the bass lines in some of those songs and realizing there's some tasty playing on them, even if the lines are often repetitive. Once I dive into them an learn the parts I suddenly like songs I never would have considered listening to before.

Then the really interesting thing is that lately I've been more motivated to play by learning the disco songs I always looked down on than I've been by learning the prog I've always listened to and loved. Maybe it's the exposure to something that's so new to me that I'm getting a fresh perspective and learning unexpected things from it. Dang, I'm philosophical today .....

[Cristo]

Originally Posted by dave64o

...A great example of this is disco, which I've always kind of "hated". Lately I've been noticing the bass lines in some of those songs and realizing there's some tasty playing on them, even if the lines are often repetitive.

No kidding, as much as it is universally reviled, there was some great bass in the disco era.

As for the original thread topic, I think this problem extends beyond songs, bass or music. Once the novelty, challenge, and mystery of something (or someone!) fades, so does much of its attractive power.

A song you have finally mastered is no longer much of a challenge, a mystery, or a new unexplored thing.

[hartke20g]

i've kind of had that feeling, but differently. for me, it wasn't that i stopped playing after the recording, but rather because this song was too simple for me to enjoy playing in my band. it was a simple punk song (1:23 minutes long), and i had planned to be the one singing lead on it (since the lead singer couldn't), but no- he had to sing lead at the same time i was. needless to say, he didn't stay and i got bored of that song. i think it happens to everyone. do something too much and it becomes boring.

[d8g3jdh]

Two that come to mind:

Metallica - Anasthesia (I didn't have to learn much of it before I started disliking it)

Black Sabbath - Bassically (just not the same)

[mike phillips]

not for me but my family now hates holy diver by dio. i played it 8 times a night for two weeks straight. while i was learnin it. i still play it at least once a day. that was 4 months ago.

[vashts80]

I played "The Philosopher" by Death about 10 times a night every night for a week or two straight to learn it...I pretty much can't stand listening to it anymore. Certain songs are like that..."Deliverance" by Opeth is kinda like that too.

[seanm]

Originally Posted by dave64o

Has this ever happened to anyone? There a song that you love and you know it inside and out but you never tried playing before. Then you finally work it out and suddenly the magic is kind of ... gone. You still like the song, you're even happy you know it on a deeper level, but somehow it's just not the same anymore.

No as such. Only if I overpractice a song do I get sick of listening to it. But if I hold off for a bit, the magic always comes back.

I think it helps that when I listen to a song, not trying to learn it, I try not to concentrate on the bass line. I listen to the song as a whole. Sure, I probably notice the bass line more than most, but much of the magic of a song comes from the interplay of all the instruments. Maybe you are listening to much to the bass?

[JimK]

Originally Posted by dave64o

Has this ever happened to anyone? There a song that you love and you know it inside and out but you never tried playing before. Then you finally work it out and suddenly the magic is kind of ... gone. You still like the song, you're even happy you know it on a deeper level, but somehow it's just not the same anymore.

Anyway, just curious how many others have noticed the same kind of thing, and how often.

Happens all the time.
I finally figured out it's because I butcher them so bad.

[drwhiteguy]

I think certain people, including myself, are just never completely satisfied with anything we write or play because if we can do it then "hey, it must not be that special, difficult, etc." I feel it only pushes us harder and harder to become better bass players...

[Alan Vorse]

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

As it's not too popular over here, I have managed to avoid playing that genre entirely!!

Oh how I envy you!

[dukerutledge]

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

Since I started playing Jazz - it's been the exact opposite for me!

So - every time I get to play a new tune, I end up falling in love with it - even if it was something I had heard many times before - playing it has given me a whole new appreciation!

Although I do look back on Pop/rock songs now and think how boring they are, compared with most Jazz tunes and how a very few chords/sequences are re-used endlessly....

I completely understand this. Making the jump into jazz territory is great. Every song I learn I get a greater appreciation for and really love listening to it. I think it has something to do with interpretations, often in jazz people play eachothers songs or standards and there is a lot of interpretation. Hearing someone elses is neat because then you can differ and create an interpretation that represents your own feelings of the song.