Staying motivated...

[carlthegroover]

I'm not sure if this is the right forum to ask, or if it's been asked before, but I just want to ask a simple question:

Have you had a time where you are not very motivated to pick up the bass and practice on a regular basis; when it's become a bit of a chore?

If so, which strategies have you used that have worked to make you WANT to pick up the bass? Rather than just forcing yourself to pick it up because "it's the right thing to do".

In my particular case, if my style of practice is not overly structured and daily, should I just keep doing things the way I have? Or should I force myself to just do it and hope I will enjoy it?

Many times I find myself skipping what I call "regular sessions" in which I dedicate an hour or two to nothing but bass. I also find myself picking the bass up whenever I feel like and I just go through something fun (not always songs, though), many times off hours (very late in the night) or just while watching TV. Good thing I leave my basses and guitar handy to do so.

So, any suggestions, comments, opinions? Thanks.

[CannyBusDriver]

When I am unmotivated I watch youtube videos of bass players for 30 minutes or so, by the end of it I definitely want to play my bass.

Jaco is always motivating, as well as marlowedk (he's just some random youtube bassist/teacher).

It also helps me, when i practice, to not practice someone else'es songs (boring). In fact, the only thing i do when I practice is improv and maybe the occasional loop pedal jam. Maybe, you could get a bass pedal of some sort to spark your motivation.


Speaking of sparking motivation..... oddly enough, smoking marijuana motivates me to play bass, despite what you often hear.

[hrodbert696]

If I've been just learning songs for a while, set them aside to run scales and exercises, then jam for ideas. If I've been doing lots of exercises, go learn some new songs.

Also, watch a concert video. I find it motivating to watch others play.

[Bloodhammer]

Originally Posted by CannyBusDriver

It also helps me, when i practice, to not practice someone else'es songs (boring). In fact, the only thing i do when I practice is improv and maybe the occasional loop pedal jam. Maybe, you could get a bass pedal of some sort to spark your motivation.


Speaking of sparking motivation..... oddly enough, smoking marijuana motivates me to play bass, despite what you often hear.

yep

[carlthegroover]

Originally Posted by CannyBusDriver

When I am unmotivated I watch youtube videos of bass players for 30 minutes or so, by the end of it I definitely want to play my bass.

Jaco is always motivating, as well as marlowedk (he's just some random youtube bassist/teacher).

It also helps me, when i practice, to not practice someone else'es songs (boring). In fact, the only thing i do when I practice is improv and maybe the occasional loop pedal jam. Maybe, you could get a bass pedal of some sort to spark your motivation.


Speaking of sparking motivation..... oddly enough, smoking marijuana motivates me to play bass, despite what you often hear.

Thanks for the tips. I like learning songs myself, but lately I've found rewarding to also do improvs while trying to stick to, say, arpeggios or a given scale, to practice it musically.

I've also thought of getting a pedal for some distortion or something.

As for the marijuana, I don't smoke anything, so I prefer to stay away from that stuff.

[carlthegroover]

Originally Posted by hrodbert696

If I've been just learning songs for a while, set them aside to run scales and exercises, then jam for ideas. If I've been doing lots of exercises, go learn some new songs.

Also, watch a concert video. I find it motivating to watch others play.

I'll do the video thing, thanks!

[Skitch it!]

I get out into the woods and forget about it, or take a week off. Too much familiarity can breed contempt, and you need experiences to bring back to the instrument and perspective, that's my take on it. I will practice thinking of pitching and interval/chord recognition and stuff away from the bass anyway so there's always something to work on, brain-training so to speak, well I try anyways

[Rockmusician]

I do not get unmotivated because it becomes a chore. I have been very unmotivated for a couple of years now because I no longer find playing bass to be a challenge. I can play everything I have ever wanted to play, recorded, toured, did music for television, etc. I still play it every week, but I am thinking of doing something else. I just don't know what. I can play guitar and keys so what else is there?

[carlthegroover]

Originally Posted by Skitch it!

I get out into the woods and forget about it, or take a week off. Too much familiarity can breed contempt, and you need experiences to bring back to the instrument and perspective, that's my take on it. I will practice thinking of pitching and interval/chord recognition and stuff away from the bass anyway so there's always something to work on, brain-training so to speak, well I try anyways

Yeah, I've thought about it. Good thing is that, in about a month, I go back to visit my family in my home country, and I don't have a bass there, only a smallish 3/4 sized acoustic guitar (which I think I might trade for a cheap telecaster). I think it's a good break to focus on my guitar soloing while resting from bass for a while. Who knows, it hopefully will motivate me to pick the bass full-heartedly (thinking about it not as a chore but as a pleasure) and I could apply some of my guitar practice back to the bass.

I'm pretty sure, though, I wouldn't quit playing bass. I just love the intrument.

[carlthegroover]

Originally Posted by Rockmusician

I do not get unmotivated because it becomes a chore. I have been very unmotivated for a couple of years now because I no longer find playing bass to be a challenge. I can play everything I have ever wanted to play, recorded, toured, did music for television, etc. I still play it every week, but I am thinking of doing something else. I just don't know what. I can play guitar and keys so what else is there?

How about saxophone? I might be crazy, but in the course of my life I'd like to learn how to play (and dominate) bass, but also be at least proficient/ decent enough on guitar, drums, keys/ piano, ukulele, and sax. Man, I've been hearing a few blues tunes with sax, and that thing sounds sexy as hell. I'd love to learn how to play that sometime (if I have the lungs for it, ).

I guess it depends on what music genres you like. I'm really digging blues, and I'm slowly but surely opening to jazz, so there are many potential instruments to play around with in those genres. You can try even congos if you are so inclined. Sky's the limit.

[Stingray89]

I've become unmotivated in the past because it just seemed like I was stuck in a rut. So I took a few weeks off from playing and started practicing again on a regular basis and came back with a better attitude and it made my playing better.

[MrSnuts]

Originally Posted by carlthegroover

How about saxophone? Sky's the limit.

well, I ended up with a sax as my fourth instrument last summer, and lemme tell you, its a whole lot of fun...
I'm surprised no one suggested recording as a way to stay motivated. thats what gets me to practise things I couldn't play before. Last but not least, I improvise on backings from wikiloops a lot, that has become my favorite way to get motivation up and fingers movin.

[My name is Mudd]

Originally Posted by hrodbert696

If I've been just learning songs for a while, set them aside to run scales and exercises, then jam for ideas. If I've been doing lots of exercises, go learn some new songs.

Also, watch a concert video. I find it motivating to watch others play.

This.

[carlthegroover]

Originally Posted by MrSnuts

well, I ended up with a sax as my fourth instrument last summer, and lemme tell you, its a whole lot of fun...
I'm surprised no one suggested recording as a way to stay motivated. thats what gets me to practise things I couldn't play before. Last but not least, I improvise on backings from wikiloops a lot, that has become my favorite way to get motivation up and fingers movin.

Recording? You mean record yourself while practicing, or recording in studio?

[Waffles and Scotch]

Heroin?

[turbo chicken]

structured, timed, goal focused, personal practice time has done wonders for myself.

Especially the goal thing... it keeps me reminded that when i do complete a goal that i did learn something and it was time well spend. The goal gives me something to focus on other than "i need to practice now cause it's time" ... now it's "I need to practice so I can learn (insert goal here)"