Ever walk away from playing for a while?

[Mike M.]

I'm sure this has been asked many times before, but I guess it's my turn to ask.

I really don't have much free time at all these days (for much of anything) let alone for practicing. Seems like lately when the weekend rolls around and I do have a bit of time it's like I'm forcing myself to practice.

I was even thinking about getting an amp and was asking some questions here about differant amps. But when I had some time these past three weekends to go and try some out I found myself saying "do I have to?"

Not whining or moaning, just not inspired at all lately. Lately I feel like the line in the song by John Mellencamp: "Oh yeah, life goes on long after the thrill of living is gone."

Who else here has walked away from it for a while and for how long? Did coming back to it renew your interest?

Thanks.

[MJ5150]

I walked away for a couple years, bought some new gear last year, and still haven't started playing again. I'm keeping all the gear "just in case".

-Mike

[iamlowsound]

I rarely play anymore. I was only playing at church, but now that I have started going to a new church, I am not playing anymore. Although I am playing a few Easter services, so I will play then. I would play more if I had the opportunity and the time, but I have neither.

lowsound

[bassrique]

Had a serious illness and death in the family. Playing wasn't fun anymore. It'll come back.

[billgwx]

I took a number of years off from playing bass (from '99 to '06) and discovered the guitar in the process, so no big loss. But it did take me close to a year to get the old groove back once I returned to playing bass regularly...now I think I'm playing better than ever. YMMV.

[jonathan_matos5]

yes.


currently im in a situation where the drummer walked away and now there is no band.

[pacojas]

Originally Posted by billgwx

I took a number of years off from playing bass (from '99 to '06) and discovered the guitar in the process, so no big loss. But it did take me close to a year to get the old groove back once I returned to playing bass regularly...now I think I'm playing better than ever. YMMV.

same here,.. almost word for word!

and yes, i'm playing way better now.

[Passinwind]

Originally Posted by billgwx

I took a number of years off from playing bass (from '99 to '06) and discovered the guitar in the process, so no big loss.

Yep, I've switched my focus to guitar on and off for most of the time I've been playing. I'm way overdue for a guitar year or three, and have really been getting the feeling lately that keys would be worth some effort as well.

I've always been a fairly casual hobby bassist, so walking away from it for a while is no big deal at all to me. I think when I first moved from Seattle to here I rarely touched my bass for three or so years. Didn't play much guitar then either.

[Mike M.]

Well, at least I'm not alone and that's good to know. I don't know what it is lately and despite having MUCH I could learn it's like I can't be bothered with it anymore. Again, the lack of free time doesn't help and maybe that's why I just don't feel the magic of it all anymore.

Oh well, it's not like I don't have anything else at home to do. I'm so far behind in household things that it's not even funny! Think I'm just going to leave the instruments alone and try to get some much needed things at home done on the weekends this year.

Thanks for your time.

[deaf pea]

I didn't play hardly at all from 1980-1993 . . . I was too busy working as an audio engineer and smoking crack!

I've been clean (finally) for 12 years now . . . . . .

[Sonic_Death]

I actually just started playing consistently again after taking quite the venture into other instruments (mainly guitar and drums).

For some reason, I felt like I had to go on a crusade to learn all the instruments I could. I do think it helped me a lot, and there are a lot of redeeming parts of learning other instruments. Hopefully I can learn to balance it all, but with law school and work, there's not much time to diversify my instrumentation that much.

What is putting me back into playing bass after not having a lot of desire to do it for a while, is setting goals for myself. I am trying to learn certain songs that I couldn't quite perfect and start writing solo bass stuff again.

I say, just go with the flow.

[skwee]

I left it twice. Once for three years, then back on for about a year, then off for ten years. Got back into playing 4 years ago, when my usually classical and world music vocal group started programming a summertime pop covers show each June.

I crashed my car when a senior in high school, breaking two bones in my hand. I could manage about 15 minutes and my left hand would throb for hours, so I quit lessons and playing. Got back into a little bit in college, but once I went away to grad school I had no outlet to play it. So, my bass collected dust. I sold to to buy an acoustic guitar to tour with, but not 6 months later we decided to do the summertime pop show (I was sooo happy. It was the most fun I'd had playing music in 10 years). Borrowed basses for two years (a 1973 Rick 4001, and a Schecter), but then I bought my Jag, and I'm just so happy to get to play bass again.

I wish I was a better player, but I really have a fun time playing.

[tplyons]

I'm currently away from playing. Sidelined by Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Unfortunately, my wrists are needed at work to crunch numbers and analyze data all day. That pays the bills, playing bass doesn't, so I had to make a decision.

Still have my Jazz to noodle on though, but nothing long enough to get my chops back.

[Phalex]

I was out for a couple of years. The band just kinda quietly fell apart, and I enjoyed sleeping on the weekends, so I just didn't pursue another gig. A couple years later, I got a phone call, and here I am.

[Jonyak]

yep, for a about a year.
I put a knife through my hand building canoes, and had to not play for about a year, and then just took it back up with a vengance.

[Skitch it!]

I've never really taken a break from it, not for more than over a day or two, it's always pretty much been like a barometer for me, if it's any longer than 3 days, something is wrong.

I wasn't a very good communicator as a younger man, it was my way of being accepted without saying very much. Every girlfriend I've ever had a long-term relationship with, realised what my first love would always be, they didn't have a problem with that (as it is a inanimate object ; )

It took me from a small steel working town to places and people I would never had seen or met, it's saved my life a couple of times, I really owe that piece of wood a lot of the good (and sometimes not so good) that's happened in my time.

[BagelBruin]

I was in a unhealthy band relationship. I quit the band and walked away from the scene for about three months. I would pick up my bass every now and then just to avoid rust, but I did not work on improving.

I then found a church that needed a bassist, and that gave me the fever to play once again!

[JohnDeereJack]

I took almost a decade off (2000 - 2009) due to a number of reasons (hugely inflated egos; generally guitarists but there were a few hissy fits thrown by singers too ) general in-band fighting and stupid cr*p that I just couldn't be bothered putting up with any longer.

I'd invested heavily in decent gear so I too kept it 'just in case'. I'm glad I did cos I fell in love with playing again thanks to a couple of mates of mine who insisted I come jamming with them.

On the back of those jam sessions, and with renewed interest & enthusiasm, I bought two Squender VM Jazz basses (the natural '75RI' fretted & 'Jaco' fretless. Both great basses and only £500 the pair! ) which in turn inspired me to invest yet again!

I sold the fretted VM Squender to a friend and bought it's big brother - the Fender 75RI Jazz - which I just LOVE! It's an EPIC bass!

Long story short; as 'Bassrique' says "It'll come back"

[R. Laevinus]

I've just lately started to take my career seriously - which means no more late nights practicing or studying music - and have also just recently started night school, after being out of school for six years, plus am embroiled as engineer/producer for my band, plus am doing live sound gigs on the side.

As a result of the job and school, I no longer have enough time, energy, or motivation to keep up with all my instruments, so I've had to bite the bullet and put my horns away for a while. I'll get back to them in a year or so - but right now I just don't have the time to keep my chops up.

[buzzbass]

yep, for 13 years. been back since '95 though