Grow tired of music ?

[Mayers]

A little back ground. I play bass for the past 10 years. After 4 years of practicing I went to music college on the classical upright bass and electric bass as my second instrument. After those three years I continued to study music with a teacher for about one year. Two years later I feel like, the music is long gone.
Before I went to college I played with a jazz band.Duringmy college year up to now I play in a small band of a undefined style. But now that I'm not part of the band anymore, I still talk to the guitar player.

I feel like that band kill my joy to play bass or any instrument for that manner. So, do any of you have ever feel that way ?? If so, how do you renew with music ???

Because right now I feel like something died in me and I'm trying to resurect it because it was all my life for the past 8 years.

Thank again everyone and sorry for my bad english

[SwamiRob]

Usually when I get irritated by music it's cos I'm listening to either a certain or broad group of genres too much or playing a certain instrument too much.

Instrumentally I got kinda sick of bass after recording a few weeks ago so I've hardly played bass other then to mess about playing some funk and some other very finger style based stuff, and to play with a couple of guys that do an acoustic side project, so I've not been playing much bass, and when I have it's been in styles I don't usually play. Been playing alot of guitar recently too which gives me a much fresher perspective on bass, was getting into playing drums a while back but that's kinda end for now which is a shame cos that made me feel alot better about bass AND guitar.

There'll be times when I'm travelling with my band and sometimes we'll pretty much solidly listen to rock based stuff (in the broadest possible meaning of rock) and I'll feel very sick of music from it, sometimes I'll get home and I won't wanna hear another note of anything, but I'll sit and watch a little TV before going to bed and might come across some folk session or a nature documentary with a really nice classical soundtrack (yes I know I'm a massive vagina!) and I'll get really into it.

The other week I was bumming about on youtube cos I had nothing better to do at the time and I came across a little instructional video for blastbeats on drums - the stupidly fast 1000BPM (literally) kinda snare thing used in ridiculous forms of metal and other insanely fast genres of music if you didn't know. I usually hate this kinda thing but I really enjoyed listening to these sweaty metal nerds doing their thing, so I watched a few videos of this kinda stuff and got my bass out and tried to play some stupidly fast wanky basslines along with them, hadn't played that fast for any prolonged period of time since my days of listening to Rancid none stop but it was really fun and was probably a pretty good workout technique wise.

Overall just try and listen to tunes you'd probably never listen to and mess about with instruments you haven't played as much or recently or ever before in your life to be honest, it does me alot of good anyway. Some quiet time with no music every once in a while is always nice too.

Your English is pretty good by the way, just a few of the typical things like using "a" when you should say "an" and stuff like that, they're just little details that aren't that important and are more the English languages fault for being so ridiculous and nonsensical sometimes. Other then that it's just little details which your gonna develop better simply from reading and hearing more, all languages seem to be alot deeper then the stuff you learn out of most textbooks

[Skip_NJ]

Yeah there is definitely a point where music becomes laborious. I went to school for tuba, and had to screen through every little detail in my playing to try to perfect it. The remedy for any of these little quirks is always hours of long tones, lip slurs, scales, breathing exercises, and technique practice. It can really sap the joy out of it. Sometimes you just have to turn off the music and put on some talk radio, or just turn it all off and enoy the silence.

[Mayers]

wow, thanks a lot for your detailled answer.

I may look into instrument I never tried before, it may be very refreshing. Very good idea.

Thank for the encouragement ! And I try to listen to english as much as I can. Well there isn't as much wierd detail as in french !!!

[Chowderboots]

I don't know what kinda advice I can offer, but don't stress yourself out, man. If it isn't natural, don't force it. Everyone needs a break every once in a while. Allow yourself to take some time off and pursue other interests. Then, you can pick up wherever you want on your own time. Wait until you feel the slightest spark again and then see how it feels. If it isn't right, don't force it.

It sounds like you maybe drifted away from your roots in the process of musical exploration. Maybe in the time that you don't feel like playing, get back to the music that really defines you and makes you whole.

The only thing that keeps me going is my sheer fascination with the instrument. If I lose that, then I wait until I find the respect and admiration that I know I have for it and then carry on with a whole new appreciation of what bass and music means to me. And that's often when I can break down and then build up my technique most effectively.

So good luck!

And your English is great. It's definitely better than my German or French (or Spanish...) and I've taken yeeears of language classes and been immersed in numerous cultures over the years.

[RareBear]

It's probably the lack of anything good coming out. It has no heart--I talking mainstream pop or allternative. If you want to hear new rock album that will remind you how rock at least ought to be, pick up the CD by "The Jeevers". I'm a 54 curmudgeon but this jump started my rock muscle big time. It comes from the school of rock at it's best.

[Mayers]

Originally Posted by Chowderboots

I don't know what kinda advice I can offer, but don't stress yourself out, man. If it isn't natural, don't force it. Everyone needs a break every once in a while. Allow yourself to take some time off and pursue other interests. Then, you can pick up wherever you want on your own time. Wait until you feel the slightest spark again and then see how it feels. If it isn't right, don't force it.

It sounds like you maybe drifted away from your roots in the process of musical exploration. Maybe in the time that you don't feel like playing, get back to the music that really defines you and makes you whole.

The only thing that keeps me going is my sheer fascination with the instrument. If I lose that, then I wait until I find the respect and admiration that I know I have for it and then carry on with a whole new appreciation of what bass and music means to me. And that's often when I can break down and then build up my technique most effectively.

So good luck!

And your English is great. It's definitely better than my German or French (or Spanish...) and I've taken yeeears of language classes and been immersed in numerous cultures over the years.

Yeah I think you nailed a part of what happened. Especialy when I joined my band 3 years ago. I think I have to rediscover what drived me so much. But for now I will take a break to let thing settle down a bit.

Thank for your kind words, it is very appreciated.

[Chowderboots]

Best of luck! Take it easy. I was reading some articles on the technique forum here on TB about physical injury that can occur from playing an instrument. The biggest problem for musicians is accepting the fact that they are hurt in some way and need time to heal. Instead of taking the necessary break to restore their health, they try to soldier on and in doing so make matters much worse for themselves. The same goes for your mental/spiritual well being. If you become jaded or find yourself in a rut, most people plow on and hope that the problem will just go away. More often than not, as they do so, they become more and more frustrated and their perception of their situation becomes clouded and that's when things can really go wrong. I know I've made that mistake many times--in and outside of the worlds of music and bass guitar.

If you take a break and clear your mind, you will find that you'll heal mentally, spiritually, and come back to your music with a head full of ideas and motivation. Doing that is what's brought me to some of the greatest revelations I've ever experienced.

[Mayers]

Originally Posted by Chowderboots

Best of luck! Take it easy. I was reading some articles on the technique forum here on TB about physical injury that can occur from playing an instrument. The biggest problem for musicians is accepting the fact that they are hurt in some way and need time to heal. Instead of taking the necessary break to restore their health, they try to soldier on and in doing so make matters much worse for themselves. The same goes for your mental/spiritual well being. If you become jaded or find yourself in a rut, most people plow on and hope that the problem will just go away. More often than not, as they do so, they become more and more frustrated and their perception of their situation becomes clouded and that's when things can really go wrong. I know I've made that mistake many times--in and outside of the worlds of music and bass guitar.

If you take a break and clear your mind, you will find that you'll heal mentally, spiritually, and come back to your music with a head full of ideas and motivation. Doing that is what's brought me to some of the greatest revelations I've ever experienced.

Wow, this is very deep. It is easier to take care of my body than my spirit. I'll have to put that in action.

Again, thank you for your help

[Chowderboots]

Originally Posted by Mayers

Wow, this is very deep. It is easier to take care of my body than my spirit. I'll have to put that in action.

Again, thank you for your help

Mmh, I've been at a bit of a spiritual low point for a while facing similar problems. I don't know how to describe it other than not being able to see the forest through the trees. Somehow, I need to find out how to take a rest, which is hard for me to do since I have a tendency towards being stubborn. I was never a religious person, so my take on spirituality tends to manifest itself in elementary, everyday things. I guess I've also found out firsthand how difficult mental/spiritual health can be to attain and maintain. What's helped me thus far might seem stupidly simple, but it's just to release my spiritual well-being from any kind of material connection--be that to people, possessions, or activities. None of them can make me whole or happy. I can.