I need a cure... urgently...

f'nar f'nar · #1 08-21-2009, 07:01 AM

Hey talkbassers, a lot of you guys are much older than me and have a whole lot more experience in the music world and I have a question for you guys.

I'm currently in the middle of a slump, I have no inspiration to write music. I still love to play music but nothing I'm writing seems to be coming out all that well.

I've had slumps before for a few weeks, a month at the most. But this slump has lasted for a few months already and nothing looks like changing.

I'm sure some of you guys, even the most gifted of you, have had this problem in the past; so what helped you?

**rhino333** · #2 08-21-2009, 08:07 AM

I think everyone that writes music (or paints, writes books, etc.) has probably been your shoes. Everyone finds their own path to "break out" of the slump. A few things you may want to try are:

1) Listen to music you normally wouldn't or haven't listened to. Explore the sound pallets that are out there and try to draw from that. Play along to it. Learn from it and about it.

2) Just write. Period. ...and KEEP writing. What you create might not be something you'd ever use (at this time), but the more you write, the more of a groove you get in to. You may write 50 verses or lyrics or bass lines in a day and only ONE may be a keeper. But keep all and revisit later. Anything could develop.

Good luck.

stflbn · #3 08-21-2009, 08:09 AM

Relax and write simply to write. Don't focus on perfecting or over-analyzing.

You can always go back and revise later.

Dirk Diggler · #4 08-21-2009, 08:12 AM

Great advice rhino333,
And I hate to suggest GAS as the answer, but anytime I have ever felt in a slump, new gear always inspires me, also effects really do that for me too.
Good luck,
You'll get through it.
Dirk

DeluxeRed · #5 08-21-2009, 08:19 AM

I go back and listen to what caused me to get excited about music in the first place, which for me is cheezy 60's/70's pop and Motown. I try to revive that original wonder and discovery. Which then gets me to listening to the harder, more progressive stuff I moved to next, which gets me all revved-up and inspired...

Blueszilla · #6 08-21-2009, 08:42 AM

Get away from it for a few days, a week, whatever you can do. Do something you don't or wouldn't normally do. Ignore your old routine for a while, have some fun with something (or someone) else, and at some point, I suspect, you'll get inspiration again, an idea spawned by new experiences, smells, sights, etc...

It's worked for me anyways, once or twice...

RickenBoogie · #7 08-21-2009, 09:09 AM

I'll tell you what, ....a slump isn't really that big of a deal. And, I'll tell you why. I think in general, creativity comes to us at it's strongest during or shortly after a traumatic, negative expirience. Liking breaking up with a girlfriend, or wife. Loss is a very powerful emotion, and at the same time, inspirational. Being in a creative slump, to me, means the rest of your life is probably not so bad right now. Now, I'm not saying you need to go out and create any trauma in your life. Just set your sights elsewhere. Do things you don't normally do, listen to different music, whatever. Find inspiration anywhere, places you wouldn't think. Other peoples misery, for instance. World hunger, disease, war, etc. Take a stand against something, and sit back and watch your creativity bloom. Also, it helps alot to play other instruments, besides the bass. Guitar and keyboards are wonderful tools for creativity, especially if you're a little bit uncomfortable playing them. It sort of forces something out of you. In any case, best of luck, it WILL get better, and without things getting worse for you personally.

Barkless Dog · #8 08-21-2009, 09:13 AM

Gear does it everytime. New pedal, bass etc.

Try to copy a genre, or different instrument on bass you are not comfortable playing, like learn horm parts etc.

Din Of Win · #9 08-21-2009, 09:31 AM

Wow, no one answers with "The perscription... is more cowbell".

Forseriousthough...

-New pedals

-Listen to music (try out a genre you don't normally listen to)

-Do some reading

-Peruse youtube for technique instructions

-Don't stress (unless you are on a record label set deadline)

Good luck man. This music thing should be out escape from all the stress of life, not adding to it!

makanudo · #10 08-21-2009, 03:24 PM

Write write write.. and record what you like, then listen to it over and over until you find out whats missing or you get an idea of what to add.. im in a slump myself but you just gotta keep pushing it

P. Aaron · #11 08-21-2009, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by f'nar f'nar

Hey talkbassers, a lot of you guys are much older than me and have a whole lot more experience in the music world and I have a question for you guys.

I'm currently in the middle of a slump, I have no inspiration to write music. I still love to play music but nothing I'm writing seems to be coming out all that well.

I've had slumps before for a few weeks, a month at the most. But this slump has lasted for a few months already and nothing looks like changing.

I'm sure some of you guys, even the most gifted of you, have had this problem in the past; so what helped you?

I just keep learning tunes that interest me. From those, I learn new techniques or passages that eventually affect my playing.

Sometimes the mistakes I make kick open doorways to new ideas.

Ruts happen.

20db pad · #12 08-21-2009, 03:44 PM

Sometimes, the expectation you place upon yourself to produce something goal-oriented can squash the possibility of anything happening at all. Step away from the whole thing for a few days, and you will often return refreshed.

xgator4u · #13 08-21-2009, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blueszilla

Get away from it for a few days, a week, whatever you can do. Do something you don't or wouldn't normally do. Ignore your old routine for a while, have some fun with something (or someone) else, and at some point, I suspect, you'll get inspiration again, an idea spawned by new experiences, smells, sights, etc...

It's worked for me anyways, once or twice...

^ THIS. Beat me to it. DO something different. DO NOT write for a while, do not think about writing for a while, just do something entirely different. Do not push it. It will somehow return, as mysteriously as it vanished, and you will know when.

f'nar f'nar · #14 08-21-2009, 10:43 PM

Thanks heaps everyone, there's some really fantastic advice in here and hopefully, under your instructions, I can get back into a good groove or, rather, an entirely new groove!

Thanks again!

Stumbo · #15 08-22-2009, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xgator4u

DO something different. DO NOT write for a while, do not think about writing for a while, just do something entirely different.

Go get some life experiences that you can write about. Meditate. Get a girl friend (or another girl friend). Get a bromance going. Take a class in something you know nothing about. Travel. Volunteer to help the needy. Serve some meals at the local senior center or midnight mission. etc, etc, etc.

Joey3313 · #16 08-22-2009, 12:56 AM

Find a new band to listen too.

In all honesty, every time I come across a new band that I really dig, the motivation to write goes up for a while.

New albums too.

honestjohnny · #17 08-22-2009, 10:58 AM

Learn to accept the ebb and flow of creativity and inspiration. Use the downtime to get into things you might not have otherwise.