"Musicians Block"?

[Nyarlathotep]

I havent been on here much over the last while, but one thing ive noticed is that I just cant "get into" playing bass. I used to consider myself and "ok" noise musician, but now i just.... can't.

Its weird.

I met one of my old bosses at my new job yesturday, and his first comment what that i seemed more "laid back". Is it possible that i just dont have the drive and internal angst to create music that I love to listen to, and used to love to create? Obviously I dont want to "force" it, but it just seems that I cant get into any kind of "groove" or center with my bass playing.

(That last comment just made me realize how far ive come on my "spiritual" journey... )

Im sure a lot of you peeps have gone through something simmilar in the past. So what have you done about "Musicians Block"?

[meev992]

My musicians block comes from having a gap in my knowledge, or not setting enough goals for myself (or my band).

[The Golden Boy]

Life, work, family... all that "big kid" stuff gets in the way of playing. I used to be busy all the time- playing with 2 or 3 different "full time" projects... then I started getting old and actually took about a year off from bands- I still played at home, but not out.

These days, the full time job, the wife and kids and general life make getting together to make rock a little more difficult. Add to that, I've gotten more self-conscious about practicing while other people are in the house. I used to think nothing of cranking the stack- and my neighbors knew that if I was too loud they could tell me to turn down- but I never played late. (I used to have the most awesome apartment building 10AM to 10PM was open season for music- everybody was musicians or artists and it was probably 60/40 reharsal studio/apartment ratio in the building)

I've got a couple of fill in gigs here and there and one part time project. That's pretty good I guess.

[kebbs]

Just ~3 months ago, I was in the same place. Just no drive, coupled with a complete lack of confidence. And that lasted for at least 6 months. But then while reading something online discussing modes and their applications, something just clicked inside of me. I picked up my bass right away, applied what I was reading, I within few days, I was back!

I don't know how much you like/care about theory, but my advice would be to read some musical concepts that are currently incomprehensible to you, then try to figure them out on the fretboard. Or what about trying to reflect about your psychological state when you last played with gusto?

[neurotictim]

I would suggest listening to stuff that is completely out of your library. I have a vast library of music, 260+GB of mp3s, from folk to jazz to industrial and black metal. When I'm starting to feel like I'm not connecting with my instrument anymore (as has happened in the past) I hit the pawn shops and music stores, looking for something new. It could be that the music you listen to is not the same as the music you want to play. I love heavy metal, typically the heavier the better, but I have no desire to play it. Same with Vic Wooten's stuff, for the most part. (Not that I could, but I don't particularly want to, either) What's really interesting me at the moment is not the same as what may be interesting to me next week - the hardest part is sticking to a technique long enough to learn it thoroughly.

Anything to get my creative juices flowing. Get something that you "kinda" like, and listen to it till you love it, or hate it.

[Nyarlathotep]

Defiantly some things to try! Thanks