ADD and Playing Bass

[Dr. Cheese]

Although I have not been formally diagnosed, I believe I have suffered from Attention Deficit Disorder my entire life. I came to this conclusion from taking bass lessons. I have always had a hard time maintaining concentration on one thing for an extended period of time. This has really impacted me when it has to fretboard mastery and theory. I have the hardest time concentrating on one thing for an extended period of time. Even reading books can be a huge chore for me. I think ADD has negatively impacted my career because finishing long projects has been impossible for me.

For years, I was down on myself for “laziness,” but I really suspect I just have brain wired to absorb quick, bite size chunks of data, not extended study.

 

[DirtDog]

Aren’t you a history prof? I’m guessing you have a PhD - that would suggest you had, at least for a period, the ability to focus on long term complicated goals/projects?

Maybe your brain isn’t wired for the type of material contained in music theory?

I kind of get it though, I feel like I had a mental peak from about 25 to about 43 and saw myself through some pretty complicated and detailed work during that period. Also competed in cycling at a fairly high level and was in multiple bands…all at the same time. Spent some time working on music theory, most of it didn’t stick (scales, modes). Although I had one teacher that brought me into chord theory and that made a lot of sense. Those lessons sunk in and I still get it!

I’m still doing complicated and detailed work but I just don’t have that kind of juice any more and I feel like I’m more easily distracted than ever. I blame the internet and smart phones.

 

[ajkula66]

I think ADD has negatively impacted my career because finishing long projects has been impossible for me.

I'm not a psychiatrist, Doc - and even if I were I wouldn't attempt to diagnose someone based solely on their forum posts - but it can very well be a personality trait, and not ADD. From little that I know about you, the latter just doesn't ring true. You seem to be both holding a steady job that requires quite some interaction with other imperfect humans and intense concentration as well as having long-term passions/hobbies. I could be wrong, but somehow I don't smell ADD there.

Whatever *it* may be, don't be too hard on yourself about it. We all have different paces and MOs in this life, at least in my view.

Maybe your brain isn’t wired for the type of material contained in music theory?

I can't speak for the good Doctor, but mine sure as hell isn't...

I feel like I had a mental peak from about 25 to about 43 and saw myself through some pretty complicated and detailed work during that period.

I think you're onto something here. If I were to be 10001% honest with myself, my own peak was somewhere from 12-25, or - if I wanted to be really generous - 29. There has been a massive slowdown in my ability/willingness to learn and process as well as an utter lack of interest in some areas of life that I was once very passionate about ever since.

I blame the internet and smart phones.

That's a part of it for sure. IMO, that is.

My $0.02 only...

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Aren’t you a history prof? I’m guessing you have a PhD - that would suggest you had, at least for a period, the ability to focus on long term complicated goals/projects?

Maybe your brain isn’t wired for the type of material contained in music theory?

I kind of get it though, I feel like I had a mental peak from about 25 to about 43 and saw myself through some pretty complicated and detailed work during that period. Also competed in cycling at a fairly high level and was in multiple bands…all at the same time. Spent some time working on music theory, most of it didn’t stick (scales, modes). Although I had one teacher that brought me into chord theory and that made a lot of sense. Those lessons sunk in and I still get it!

I’m still doing complicated and detailed work but I just don’t have that kind of juice any more and I feel like I’m more easily distracted than ever. I blame the internet and smart phones.

Yes, I am a Ph.D. and I did complete my dissertation and had some publications from it. That was the exception to the rule in my life. I this may make me sound like jerk, but I am pretty smart. I have managed to work around many of my shortcomings.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I'm not a psychiatrist, Doc - and even if I were I wouldn't attempt to diagnose someone based solely on their forum posts - but it can very well be a personality trait, and not ADD. From little that I know about you, the latter just doesn't ring true. You seem to be both holding a steady job that requires quite some interaction with other imperfect humans and intense concentration as well as having long-term passions/hobbies. I could be wrong, but somehow I don't smell ADD there.

Whatever *it* may be, don't be too hard on yourself about it. We all have different paces and MOs in this life, at least in my view.



I can't speak for the good Doctor, but mine sure as hell isn't...



I think you're onto something here. If I were to be 10001% honest with myself, my own peak was somewhere from 12-25, or - if I wanted to be really generous - 29. There has been a massive slowdown in my ability/willingness to learn and process as well as an utter lack of interest in some areas of life that I was once very passionate about ever since.



That's a part of it for sure. IMO, that is.

My $0.02 only...

My attitude is that if I have ADD, I could get treatment and be much more efficient in my work and everyday life. That would be a great thing.

 

[ajkula66]

My attitude is that if I have ADD, I could get treatment and be much more efficient in my work and everyday life. That would be a great thing.

Then proceed accordingly.

Wishing you the very best of luck...

 

[herrsmith]

As someone else with a doctorate and (diagnosed!) ADD, it can be tough to really get down to things. I highly recommend actually getting an official diagnosis and treatment. A lot of ADD people have discovered coping mechanisms, and there are a lot more out there that you might not have thought about. Plus, drugs can help normalize your brain chemistry to some degree, though there are naturally some downsides to that.

Also, it can sometimes be an application thing for music theory. I did a lot of music theory at a young-ish age (high school, college) and enjoyed learning the theory, but I kind of fell out on that because I was mostly playing in rock bands and just playing bass lines. These days, I actually apply a decent amount of music theory as I dissect the song to make even better bass lines. I don't know what it is, but having a direct application and seeing the results of using music theory to improve the music really inspires me to continue bringing up what I learned in new contexts.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

As someone else with a doctorate and (diagnosed!) ADD, it can be tough to really get down to things. I highly recommend actually getting an official diagnosis and treatment. A lot of ADD people have discovered coping mechanisms, and there are a lot more out there that you might not have thought about. Plus, drugs can help normalize your brain chemistry to some degree, though there are naturally some downsides to that.

Also, it can sometimes be an application thing for music theory. I did a lot of music theory at a young-ish age (high school, college) and enjoyed learning the theory, but I kind of fell out on that because I was mostly playing in rock bands and just playing bass lines. These days, I actually apply a decent amount of music theory as I dissect the song to make even better bass lines. I don't know what it is, but having a direct application and seeing the results of using music theory to improve the music really inspires me to continue bringing up what I learned in new contexts.

I have made an appointment to be tested. I’ll see what happens.

 

[DirtDog]

Yes, I am a Ph.D. I have managed to work around many of my shortcomings.

Amen to that brother.

I barely graduated high school but went on to graduate studies. Accepted to and started doctoral studies but chose to go to Afghanistan instead.

* when I say barely, my grades were just OK, I rarely did homework or studied for an exam. Kinda just winged it with as little effort as I could put in. My efforts were otherwise directed towards sports, girls and playing rock and roll.

I never understood how some of my high school buddies could excel at school like they did. Perhaps they didn’t have music to distract them the way it distracted me. My time could have been better spent…



Naw…..

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Although I have not been formally diagnosed, I believe I have suffered from Attention Deficit Disorder my entire life. I came to this conclusion from taking bass lessons. I have always had a hard time maintaining concentration on one thing for an extended period of time. This has really impacted me when it has to fretboard mastery and theory. I have the hardest time concentrating on one thing for an extended period of time. Even reading books can be a huge chore for me. I think ADD has negatively impacted my career because finishing long projects has been impossible for me.

For years, I was down on myself for “laziness,” but I really suspect I just have brain wired to absorb quick, bite size chunks of data, not extended study.

As a bassist that has been diagnosed with ADD as well as dyslexia, there are tradeoffs that you learn to deal with, some have distinct value as a working musician.

In my case is when things are not going well, keeping in mind all things in the ensemble are not always perfect, being able to analyze and adjust on the fly, which in my book is much more valuable then being clock work consistent.

Using a boxing analogy, everybody loves the guys with the big hay makers, but the counter punchers are a lot more fun to watch, and that takes timing and intuition. As that relates to playing music, it forces you to listen to what is going on around you and adjusting accordingly as opposed to just focusing on your part.

You probably already know this, but when humans have a deficit, there is usually a compensating factor. For instance, the blind can hear better than most as an example. In my case, the compensating factor of having ADD-Dyslexia is a strong sense of intuition and the ability to look at things from the top down, i.e. the big picture without slogging through a lot of useless detail to understand concepts. This factor has served me well, not just with my music, but my career path as well. As you may suspect, school was not a lot of fun, but in the real world when the bullets are flying, it sure nuff saved a whole lot of unneeded stress.

Hey Doc, let me know if any of this seems familiar to you. There are online resources and screening you can take to give you an idea as to if it’s something you may want to look into. I will say this in closing, I wouldn’t trade back for all the tea in China.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

As a bassist that has been diagnosed with ADD as well as dyslexia, there are tradeoffs that you learn to deal with, some have distinct value as a working musician.

In my case is when things are not going well, keeping in mind all things in the ensemble are not always perfect, being able to analyze and adjust on the fly, which in my book is much more valuable then being clock work consistent.

Using a boxing analogy, everybody loves the guys with the big hay makers, but the counter punchers are a lot more fun to watch, and that takes timing and intuition. As that relates to playing music, it forces you to listen to what is going on around you and adjusting accordingly as opposed to just focusing on your part.

You probably already know this, but when humans have a deficit, there is usually a compensating factor. For instance, the blind can hear better than most as an example. In my case, the compensating factor of having ADD-Dyslexia is a strong sense of intuition and the ability to look at things from the top down, i.e. the big picture without slogging through a lot of useless detail to understand concepts. This factor has served me well, not just with my music, but my career path as well. As you may suspect, school was not a lot of fun, but in the real world when the bullets are flying, it sure nuff saved a whole lot of unneeded stress.

Hey Doc, let me know if any of this seems familiar to you. There are online resources and screening you can take to give you an idea as to if it’s something you may want to look into. I will say this in closing, I wouldn’t trade back for all the tea in China.

Thanks!

 

[Deleted member 165050]

Yes, I am a Ph.D. and I did complete my dissertation and had some publications from it. That was the exception the rule in my life. I this make sound like jerk, but I am pretty smart. I have managed to work around many of my shortcomings.

I have ADD and a number of other latent autistic traits from childhood. Also not wishing to brag but I'm a mensa member i.e. with a high IQ, was pretty poor academically when younger though apart from in the grading they used to do here called 11+. We all develop workarounds in adulthood but I find music study hard unless I'm obsessive about it - when I decided to learn cello at 50+ I went full on at it for 2 years and went from nothing to passing classical grade 5 in that time plus a theory grade. Since that obsessive burst I've had the vague goal of formal bass grades but can't turn on the concentration, maybe because I can already play so it's just study for study's sake. So I sympathise

 

[Paul New]

Self diagnosis of ADD is simply not possible. Until you have been diagnosed, you don't have it.

 

[Rib 13]

Although I have not been formally diagnosed, I believe I have suffered from Attention Deficit Disorder my entire life.............

For years, I was down on myself for “laziness,” but I really suspect I just have brain wired to absorb quick, bite size chunks of data, not extended study.

You and me both, my friend.............I cant tell you just how hard it was for me to get through high school (let alone college and, if I could do it all over again, I wouldnt)....ADD wasnt an actual "thing" (diagnosis) when I was young and I didnt even start hearing about it until I was in my 20s....like ficelles above, I too have an above average IQ and was always in advanced classes (which made it all that much harder for the subjects that least interested me)

 

[Deleted member 165050]

Self diagnosis of ADD is simply not possible. Until you have been diagnosed, you don't have it.

That is not logical, the presence of a condition does not depend upon the act of diagnosis.

 

[sotua]

I'm not a psychiatrist, Doc - and even if I were I wouldn't attempt to diagnose someone based solely on their forum posts - but it can very well be a personality trait, and not ADD. From little that I know about you, the latter just doesn't ring true. You seem to be both holding a steady job that requires quite some interaction with other imperfect humans and intense concentration as well as having long-term passions/hobbies. I could be wrong, but somehow I don't smell ADD there.

People with ADHD are perfectly capable of holding almost superhuman concentration - as long as it's something they find interesting/are obsessed with.

OP, if you suspect, get diagnosed and treated. Or at least read up on it and get some pointers on coping strategies ("Driven to distraction" by John Ratey I found very enlightening, and I've been recommended Scattered by Gabor Mate but never got around to it).

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Self diagnosis of ADD is simply not possible. Until you have been diagnosed, you don't have it.

Anyone can read about a condition and seek professional advice. I do not presume to be my own physician.

 

[Paul New]

That is not logical, the presence of a condition does not depend upon the act of diagnosis.

When I write on these forums I expect more than a literal interpretation, although I probably shouldn't.

How about this: It's very difficult for humans to be objective enough about themselves to diagnose their own brains.

 

[Deleted member 165050]

When I write on these forums I expect more than a literal interpretation, although I probably shouldn't.

How about this: It's very difficult for humans to be objective enough about themselves to diagnose their own brains.

Self-reflection / introspection is something that comes naturally to some people, and can be taught and learnt by others. Doesn't mean we should all be our own analysts of course.

 

[Paul New]

Anyone can read about a condition and seek professional advice. I do not presume to be my own physician.

I see that you've scheduled an appointment. Smart dude (obviously)!

I think it's safe to say that studying music at any level is good exercise for the concentration, and good for the brain in general.