Has this ever happened to you?

cynikal1234 · #1 08-05-2009, 12:04 AM

You are on vacation for a while, out of town. You have no bass or any instruments. While you are out vacationing, ideas start pouring in and you wish you had something to work on. After a while, it starts driving you mad and you get withdrawls. Suddenly you can't wait till you get back home.

I am in Puerto Rico right now on vacation. I've been here for about 4 days now. From all the music i hear on the streets, the music on my iPod and the videos i watched on youtube on my spare time, I start getting ideas for writing some songs and wish i had a bass or some sort of instrument to play on. I leave on thursday, i dread leaving PR but at the same time i want to leave and write music. But the fact that i have these ideas are driving me insane haha.

I think i might be obsessed with bass playing

Anyways,does the happen to you guys on vacation?

Kuchar · #2 08-05-2009, 12:07 AM

I don't go on vacation often, but, if you have an iPhone, there may be an app for that.

Sathington W. · #3 08-05-2009, 12:13 AM

lol
the new visine: "iPhone, there's an app for that"

but in all seriousness, cynikal, I totally know what you're going through. This summer I've spent about 40% of my time out of town. After experiencing musical withdrawal last summer, I've made it a habit to tote around an inexpensive bass wherever I go. IME you can always take one as a carry-on.

hbarcat · #4 08-05-2009, 01:46 AM

I'm in the longtime habit of playing bass every day, so whenever I go on vacation, I just take a bass with me. The last time I went on vacation without one was in 2002 when I flew to Arizona for 10 days.

I thought I would go ******* ape **** after several days without playing. When I finally got home, I played for about 20 hours over the next three days.

The bonus is finding other musicians while on vacation that you can do impromptu jams with.

Number27 · #5 08-05-2009, 03:41 AM

yes.

last fall i went to england for 2 weeks and nearly killed my self.

then this summer i went to visit my 'rents in cali for a week... my mom rented me a bass and amp! isnt' she great?

Kamuilija · #6 08-05-2009, 08:53 AM

I'm in the middle of a month in Hungary right now, with no way I could play bass anywhere. Bought a harmonica, it's easy to carry around, and also useful to learn for the kind of music I'm playing. Having anything to play helps a little... still, I'm waiting for to be home again, which will be in two weeks..

NickInMesa · #7 08-05-2009, 10:09 AM

You need to give yourself a break. Once a year, put down the instrument for at least a full week and change your mind.

kgoism · #8 08-05-2009, 10:13 AM

whenever i go on vacation I always bring a laptop and small midi keyboard.

it keeps me sane, and the switchup of scenery is almost always inspiring.

pablo_bass_atx · #9 08-05-2009, 10:19 AM

I had to buy a Little Martin and I take it with me, even when I am on the road with the band. My bass may be packed up in its road case in the cargo van, but I have that little sucker with me at all times. Great $200 investment off ebay...

Bassman316 · #10 08-05-2009, 10:20 AM

I've been dying to get back down to PR for years. Really need to go... lots of family down there.

As for being away from your instrument, I know how that feels. I tend to get 'bass withdrawal' after several days straight of no play. Luckilly, the last time I was away visiting family in Philly I had my ABG with me since my buddy and I jammed in the parking lot at the Dead show that Sunday.

busmandan · #11 08-05-2009, 10:55 AM

I don't go on vacation often, but when I do, I prefer Dos Equis.

varunkapahi · #12 08-05-2009, 10:58 AM

yeah and you will also forget all your cool ideas when you get back!

El Bajo · #13 08-05-2009, 11:01 AM

I'm the same, unfortunatly once I get home the ideas stay on holiday!

Vic Winters · #14 08-05-2009, 11:40 AM

My last real vacation was 3 years ago. I went to Italy for 2 weeks. I went through serious withdrawal. After a week I went looking for a music store. I played a cheap, beat up MM copy with rusted strings for an hour and I was in heaven. If I were to go on an extended vacation again, I'd more than likely disassemble my beater bass and put it in my luggage.

Jim Carr · #15 08-05-2009, 11:45 AM

Notation and transcription skills + pencil and staff paper = great musical vacation

cynikal1234 · #16 08-05-2009, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by varunkapahi

yeah and you will also forget all your cool ideas when you get back!

that always happends too! haha

standupright · #17 08-05-2009, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cynikal1234

You are on vacation for a while, out of town. You have no bass or any instruments. While you are out vacationing, ideas start pouring in and you wish you had something to work on. After a while, it starts driving you mad and you get withdrawls. Suddenly you can't wait till you get back home.

I am in Puerto Rico right now on vacation. I've been here for about 4 days now. From all the music i hear on the streets, the music on my iPod and the videos i watched on youtube on my spare time, I start getting ideas for writing some songs and wish i had a bass or some sort of instrument to play on. I leave on thursday, i dread leaving PR but at the same time i want to leave and write music. But the fact that i have these ideas are driving me insane haha.

I think i might be obsessed with bass playing

Anyways,does the happen to you guys on vacation?

happens to me all the time. i got tired of trying to remember bass lines / grooves / and such and bought a minirecorder. now i can sing them, record them, and play them on the bass later.

lexxmexx · #18 08-05-2009, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by standupright

happens to me all the time. i got tired of trying to remember bass lines / grooves / and such and bought a minirecorder. now i can sing them, record them, and play them on the bass later.

That's what I do too, except I record my ideas into my mobile phone. Quality sucks but it gets the job done. I will also carry an inexpensive flute which is small enough to go into my luggage. At least I have something to fool around with when the bass-withdrawal symptoms kick in

standupright · #19 08-05-2009, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lexxmexx

That's what I do too, except I record my ideas into my mobile phone. Quality sucks but it gets the job done. I will also carry an inexpensive flute which is small enough to go into my luggage. At least I have something to fool around with when the bass-withdrawal symptoms kick in

i usually keep my flute in my pants

basslinejam · #20 08-05-2009, 01:54 PM

I find a break away from instruments can sometimes help overcome "muscle memory" creative plateaus: those times when my hands can't seem to break away from ingrained patterns in order to create something inspired. Maybe you would not have as much inspiration if you had an instrument there; all your inspirations would be ground out by the same old patterns.

Quote:

Notation and transcription skills + pencil and staff paper = great musical vacation

I agree with Mr. Carr too.

Whatever you do, I hope you capture that creative feeling again and again.

cheers