Thinking of giving it up

fourstringdrums · #1 09-19-2005, 09:57 PM

I suppose I already know what most of the responses are going to be, but I figured I'd put my scenario out there.

I love bass, or should I say, I admire it, but I don't love playing it anymore. I've been playing for about 4 years, and I feel like I only really enjoyed it for the first year and a half. After that it seems like I've just been going through the motions. I get inspired by bass players on ocassion, but then as soon as I get my bass near me, I lose the inspiration. I don't have the focus to practice or to even play along with music any more. I know that most would say that I should take a break, but that's the thing.. I've been on a break basically for almost 2 years, with no real change.

To make things more complicated, I'm also a drummer. I've have my times with that where I've gotten frustrated and gone away from the instrument, either not played for months, or once I did sell my kit and didn't play for a year and a half. But, I've started to come back to it and while I used to think of bass as my real instrument because there was no physical barrier "holding me back", I'm starting to feel like drums is my real instrument. That I just have more of a connection to it. I know that I'm more interested in learning new things with the drums and actually practicing. For me it also is sort of a constant physical accomplishment that I always want to try and get over.

I guess what it comes down to, and the point of my ramble, is that I want to get good at atleast one instrument in my life, where I can be proud of what I do. I just know that between my interest level and time, I personally can't do both. It's either one or the other. If I focus my energy on the drums, the bass will just sit there, never get played, and I won't get any better. I just don't see the point of owning a bass, especially a more expensive one like my Read, if I'm just going to plunk around on it for 15 minutes once in a while, not learn anything new, and put it back. I could use the money for other things and my mind just needs to be focused on one thing.

Geej · #2 09-19-2005, 10:01 PM

Just curious, what did you think the responses would be? (You said you had a fair idea)

But, IMO... If you don't enjoy it anymore, it's definetly not worth it to keep going... Unless you play bass as your main source of income, then thats a different story... But if you play bass as a hobby (of sorts) there really is no point to keep playing when you've lost the interest

Trevorus · #3 09-19-2005, 10:03 PM

I'll gine all your basses a good home. Just send them my way...

I don't know, it's hard to say that that is the right decision. If it doesn't speak to you, then I guess you should find something that does, eh? Maybe you just need to find the thing that can make you fall in love with it again.

fourstringdrums · #4 09-19-2005, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geej

Just curious, what did you think the responses would be?

"Don't give up, everyone has a bad day", basically

Geej · #5 09-19-2005, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fourstringdrums

"Don't give up, everyone has a bad day", basically

Yea, thats what I thought you might say... which I don't really agree with, you say you lost the spark 2 or more years ago... The way I figure it, if nothing has rekindled your love of bass in that time, surely it wasn't meant to be

fourstringdrums · #6 09-19-2005, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geej

Yea, thats what I thought you might say... which I don't really agree with, you say you lost the spark 2 or more years ago... The way I figure it, if nothing has rekindled your love of bass in that time, surely it wasn't meant to be

That's what I feeling..but it's hard to decipher a feeling you have toward the instrument after playing it for so long, an appreciate you have towards it in general, and the feeling you get what you REALLY want to play the instrument.

canopener · #7 09-19-2005, 10:25 PM

Put the bass down for a while, focus on drums, but keep your bass! You never know what you may need your bass for, later.

Dr. Cheese · #8 09-19-2005, 10:29 PM

Fourstringdrums, you're blessed to play two instruments. Keep a bass, but concentrate on drums. If the bass gets you interested again, you will have one around, or maybe you just might want one for a recording project somewhere down the line.

MJ5150 · #9 09-19-2005, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trevorus

I'll gine all your basses a good home. Just send them my way....

Learn how to spell, and get a SM before you start begging for stuff you hoser!!

-Mike

MJ5150 · #10 09-19-2005, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fourstringdrums

That's what I feeling..but it's hard to decipher a feeling you have toward the instrument after playing it for so long, an appreciate you have towards it in general, and the feeling you get what you REALLY want to play the instrument.

I have never had any of those feelings about my bass. I strated playing at the suggestion of my buddies. When we all stopped playing, so did I. I still have almost $3K worth of gear just sitting around in boxes in my den. I want to sell it, but I don't want to go through the hassle of buying it all over again if I decide to play again.

-Mike

Trevorus · #11 09-19-2005, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Learn how to spell, and get a SM before you start begging for stuff you hoser!!

-Mike

Don't back-sass me, mike. I'll put rotten mayonaise in your shoes. And that will be unpleasant. Especially when you try to wear them.

Anyways, I supported for 2 years. I am going to again soo, but I need a break from nonsqtr in TPA! That guy can TYPE a LOTTT!!!

Scottie Johnson · #12 09-19-2005, 10:55 PM

I can identify with this to a lesser extent. A month ago, I didn't play my bass for a week. Doesn't sound extreme, but in seven years, this had never happened. So I started to listen to more jazz and learn jazz chords on guitar. Now I am learning more about how to play jazz on bass. I also set up a jam session with a good friend that I hadn't played with in 8 months. Now I'm back to playing every day for over an hour, at the least.

I figured out that I was just stuck in a rut, so I started to learn the stuff I should have known years ago, such as scales and theory. Doesn't sound exciting, but I am actually enjoying it.

Maybe you need to try a different genre of music and playing.

You might have just totally lost interest, but don't sell everything just yet. Hold on to one bass just in case you change your mind later. Good luck with the drums.

MJ5150 · #13 09-19-2005, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trevorus

I need a break from nonsqtr in TPA! That guy can TYPE a LOTTT!!!

Hehehe. Every so often, I will wander into TPA to see what is up. It looks like TPA is that dudes personal forum. I can't keep up with all of it.

You did miss a funny picture I posted over in the Lounge though. I'll PM you a link to it. It isn't offensive, but it could be considered political.

-Mike

Jace The Bass · #14 09-20-2005, 01:52 AM

Think in terms of MUSIC instead of playing an instrument ie: there is alot've time that I play without the bass like training my ear sightreading rhythms which you can do on the drums as well because all the instrument really is the output ( kinda ) or learning theory both by imagining the fretboard in my mind as well as doing it on paper and not forgetting the instrument
So you can just spend 15mins a day on technique with the bass put practice MUSIC which really you can learn without an instrument You DIG so don't be hard on yourself concentrate on the Music

semborg · #15 09-20-2005, 04:54 AM

Stop thinking about it, just do what's make you feel happy.

Don't forget that happiness its all about in life.

fourstringdrums · #16 09-20-2005, 11:06 AM

Well I think I decided what to do. I'm going to sell my Read (the only bass I have), but I'm going to keep my amp just in case I ever jam with a bass player or I decide to get back into it. In which case, then I can just get an Essex or a decent bass (new or used) for a few hundred $$. That way it won't break the bank to get back into it, I'll only have to buy a bass, not an amp and a bass, and I will have a bass that, while it's good, I won't feel so bad about not playing it if I fall back out. Right now the $$ that the Read could bring I can put back into other things.

Wrong Robot · #17 09-20-2005, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by semborg

Stop thinking about it, just do what's make you feel happy.

Don't forget that happiness its all about in life.

Personally, I'm very happy, despite living what many would consider an unfulfilled and/or lame life. I'm happy, content, and fulfilled. That's enough for me, now if only people'd stop getting on my ass to actually do 'something' with my life.

Scottie Johnson · #18 09-20-2005, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wrong Robot

Personally, I'm very happy, despite living what many would consider an unfulfilled and/or lame life. I'm happy, content, and fulfilled. That's enough for me, now if only people'd stop getting on my ass to actually do 'something' with my life.

Same here.

MichaelVee · #19 09-20-2005, 11:48 AM

My take is that musicians who play more than one instrument (piano, bass, drums, strings, etc.) are more likely to give up one of them along the way. I've seen that happen more than a few times. Ultimately, I think most all of us have to find the instrument that becomes your life experience with music.

* * *

I got discouraged and quit playing in 1981, and sold all my gear, stupidly. I would give anything to have the BC Rich Eagle and the '73 Jazz back! The Peavey amps, nah.

I got back into bass in 1983 and have never looked back. I should never have stopped playing, in hindsight. Perhaps you'll have a comparable experience, fourstringdrums.

fourstringdrums · #20 09-20-2005, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelVee

My take is that musicians who play more than one instrument (piano, bass, drums, strings, etc.) are more likely to give up one of them along the way. I've seen that happen more than a few times. Ultimately, I think most all of us have to find the instrument that becomes your life experience with music.

* * *

I got discouraged and quit playing in 1981, and sold all my gear, stupidly. I would give anything to have the BC Rich Eagle and the '73 Jazz back! The Peavey amps, nah.

I got back into bass in 1983 and have never looked back. I should never have stopped playing, in hindsight. Perhaps you'll have a comparable experience, fourstringdrums.

My Read (bass in my Avatar) is up for sale now in the classifieds forum.

I really only started playing bass after I got frustrated with drums and quit playing for about a year. I think i wanted an instrument that I didn't have to overcome physically, that I could just learn how to play. Now that I'm more accepting of what I can and can't do on the drums, I'm wanting to go back to what I've been wanting to do since I was 8.