Bass playing and aging?

[WarmToneWank]

I know we have all gotten wiser and more thoughtful in our playing as we aged, but for the actual physical part, do you feel yourself slowing down like we would in a sport?
Is there stuff you could when you were younger, but can't now?


Got me thinking of this video of the late great Victor Bailey.


Even during his illness, he is still as fast as hell.

 

[Jakeman]

Yeah, unfortunately - but not just getting older. Six surgeries on my hands and arms, and a lifetime of, as my three-year-old calls them, "red choices." If I could give advice to my younger self, I would explain that there's a healthier way to approach gigging than no stretching or warmup before playing, instead smoking cigarettes and consuming mass quantities of alcohol, then strapping on the world's heaviest bass for 3 hours, then getting zero rest later that night, and not even a glass of water or the semblance of a meal in the whole process. Younger players - take care of yourselves! You only get one shot at this life thing, and eventually you have to pay the piper for every single bad decision.

 

[jTrolt]

I've been slowly getting more conscious about better treatment of my systems so as I age, I can keep doing what I do. I am a designer/builder of cabinetry and furniture by day, love skiing/outdoor activities, and above all, playing music. I've had my share of party favors, but included a healthy dose of balance, like vitamins/supplements and a basic amount of general exercise, given the work and activities I engage in. Regular chiro visits for optimizing/keeping me going and keeping from developing chronic issues from bad posture, lifting practices, etc.

Almost 60 now, and feel as though these things are showing their value. No surgeries/emergencies other than injuring myself in the line of work. I seriously don't feel much different now than at age 40. Maybe a little less energy, but for the most part enjoying a pain-free, active lifestyle. I agree with Jakeman - seems an ounce of prevention does pay off.

 

[Blues Bass 2]

I'm 74 and playing better than ever .
The only thing I have issues with is endurance . I'm not gigging but play with some great musicians/friends a couple times a month . We play Robin Fords version of Help the Poor and Roscoe Becks bass line tires me out if we go on too long . Other than that I'm good .

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I know we have all gotten wiser and more thoughtful in our playing as we aged, but for the actual physical part, do you feel yourself slowing down like we would in a sport?
Is there stuff you could when you were younger, but can't now?


Got me thinking of this video of the late great Victor Bailey.


Even during his illness, he is still as fast as hell.

At age 72 I’m not playing as much (lack of gigs) and not learning as much material. I’m still fairly fast, but my timing of the intervals on quick passages is becoming more and more of an issue. The good news is I’m not the star of the band and I don’t have to be play like I’m on piece work. Just stay in the groove and make sure I hit my marks.

 

[HardNHeavy]

only slowing down carrying the gear, @ 62 i can still do it with no aches and pains....I was recently in a pop coverband, far from my roots of punk/speedmetal, but after several yrs out of the scene ya kind of get soft. At home i sit and practice, but at rehearsals i stood with a 11lb bass for several hrs and then the gigs, those were long nights 4hr sets...At first my shoulder ached and my legs sore...but after a cpl yrs with that band nothing bothered me. But i still take my time carrying gear When i was playing much faster music ya build stamina and luckily after all these yrs i'm blessed with no hand injuries or health issues.

 

[UNICORN BASS]

Yeah, unfortunately - but not just getting older. Six surgeries on my hands and arms, and a lifetime of, as my three-year-old calls them, "red choices." If I could give advice to my younger self, I would explain that there's a healthier way to approach gigging than no stretching or warmup before playing, instead smoking cigarettes and consuming mass quantities of alcohol, then strapping on the world's heaviest bass for 3 hours, then getting zero rest later that night, and not even a glass of water or the semblance of a meal in the whole process. Younger players - take care of yourselves! You only get one shot at this life thing, and eventually you have to pay the piper for every single bad decision.

Wow, you hit that nail on the head! I didn't gig but ruined my body as (and still am) a professional auto tech. My playing is quite different than when i started, in both good and bad ways, I think.

 

[Wasnex]

I don't really feel myself slowing down a lot yet. I do feel I am more fragile and recovery is significantly worse. My strength and endurance have not dropped off a lot, but I tend to feel totally wiped out more often.

I try to stay pretty active. I lift weights twice a week and try to do some sort of strenuous bicycle ride up to four times a week. Usually I ride a mountain bike trail. When that is not viable due to conditions, I have a couple of road options. One is hilly and the other is a long grind. Bass and video games tax my hands and grip. Definitely notice my grip strength getting weaker. I use padded gloves and weight lifting straps during work outs so I can lift heavier. I am sore pretty much every day, but it's mostly what athletes would call a good sore. If I don't work out, I get the other type of sore more often. There have been some days I could barely walk due to back pain. These days seem less frequent and less severe since I added squat machines to my workout. I find it very hard to motivate to go the gym and push through my 2-hr workout...todays a gym day .

I take 400mg of motrin pretty much every morning. I try to do a motorcycle ride on Saturday or Sunday and bump the Motrin up to 800mg on MC ride days. Sometimes I take a 400mg before bed as well, but try to resist taking the second dose.

Diet has an impact on my endurance, recovery, and level of soreness. I am sure would feel better if I were more resistant to treats.

 

[WG Plum]

Not quite 53 here and I have definitely slowed down due to a severe back injury twenty years ago that still causes me issues (though, thankfully, not nearly as much as it used to) and a knee that's increasingly a bum (recent steroid shot has helped immensely). Other than that, it's just decades of living on the west coast and working an east coast shift, I just don't have the capacity to stay up late anymore. As for playing? I think I'm actually a more tasteful player than I used to be and I was never a shredder to begin with. No physical issues in my hands, thankfully (knocks head against wall). None of it is an issue though since I don't gig and just play with friends for fun or record at home.

Changing up my diet and getting more exercise has helped the overall picture though.

 

[ElectricBass72]

I'm definitely a better player and more versatile overall now in my 50's than I was in my 20's. I played with a pick exclusively the first 10 years I played bass.... and finally started playing fingerstyle around '96. I never really got into funk/slap style... but Les Claypool is definitely one of my top 5 favorite bassists. Also started playing 5-strings in '96... so that was a year of learning and adapting to fingerstyle and Low B.

 

[oldcatfish]

I know we have all gotten wiser and more thoughtful in our playing as we aged, but for the actual physical part, do you feel yourself slowing down like we would in a sport?
Is there stuff you could when you were younger, but can't now?


Got me thinking of this video of the late great Victor Bailey.


Even during his illness, he is still as fast as hell.

Yes, I have lost some of my skills…but I think that it has less to do with my aging and more to do with my work schedule interfering with my practice time…and me gigging less.

I work in the healthcare field, and when the Covid pandemic hit, not only wasn’t I gigging, but I was geared up in a hazmat suit treating VERY seriously ill people all day….which gave me an entirely different perspective on the important things in life. So what little free time that I had, I was spending it with family, not practicing.

After things returned to normal with my work schedule, I decided to permanently cut way back on the amount of time that I was gigging. And unfortunately, I am a person that needs to have a reason to practice enough to really sharpen up my skills. So at this point, I am content with occasional gigging and mediocre playing.

 

[Spectrum]

This is the quintessential TalkBass thread.

 

[Chuck M]

I am 81 and playing more gigs than ever. I play electric and upright and most gigs are on electric these days but I do have a steady Thursday gig on upright.

I found myself slowing down and not playing as much as I wanted. I started going to jam sessions and some were way out of my comfort zone. I joined a new band that is really doing well and am constantly having to learn new tunes. I am playing better than ever because I am spending so much time with the basses.

Age can be a blessing if you develop the right attitude about it. I work hard at keeping in good mental and physical health and exercise most every day.

 

[JRA]

Is there stuff you could when you were younger, but can't now?

tell me about it!

in my old age: i can't be quite as fast, especially for longer gigs, and it takes me more time to get up to speed in the first place. my eyesight/glasses thing hampers me sometimes, and i've been enlarging the notation for several years --- so if i'm handed a sheet with small notes/staff/symbols: i might struggle to make sense of it on the fly. that said, i'm way better at making a point (musically) and using smarts, instead of physicality, in my playing. i can still hang with the youngsters!

lugging around equipment has gotten more problematic. i can still do it, but i allow for an extra 30-60 minutes, typically...so that i can go slow!

i still always look forward to the next gig, and i wish that i could be gigging more than i am.

my old drummer friend, when he was 63, said it right: "i may not be as fast as i used to be, but i'm not as slow as i once was!"

 

[jimmydean]

Since last year , I find myself sitting more during gigs . I used to sit on long slow tunes or towards the end of the night.........the stool is my friend these days early and often .

 

[Peteyboy]

I've found my tolerance for dealing with the Los Angeles club circuit to be just about at the breaking point. From shady bookers to inept soundmen to other bands to the low pay. I'm probably playing currently to the mouth breathing children of the mouth breathers I used to play to in the 90's. I often feel stretched out and tired. Sorry: notes from Club Sisyphus.

 

[tothemax]

Like many others, age does take a toll... to counter the decrease in speed and dexterity I've been studying theory and learning how to play smarter. As a result, there may be less flash but my playing is improving. Tighter and more in the groove. Saw a short on YT the other day that EC is having some physical issues and will have to cut back a bit. He's 80, so I'm thinking that at least another 10 for me...

Cheers

 

[VeryTallBassist]

My left shoulder gets sore and my plucking hand isn't as fast as it used to be, but overall i think I'm playing better than ever. Faster =/= better.

 

[ashtray]

We can’t avoid the sands of time. We can play lighter basses, lighter strings, lighter cabs, play shorter amounts of time, etc but we all slow down at some point, at our own rate.

I have recorded myself for a failed youtube channel, but still have those videos of my younger self, as well as band videos from gigs. Nice to look back on. And really, if I make a video today, “as older and slower” as I feel, if I look back on it in 10 years, I’ll think “oh man, look how young I was - and still able to do this and that”.

So it’s sorta all how you look at things. Live in the moment. Things you complain about today you might not even be able to do later. Take care of your health, bc in the end, that’s all we have, even if your health isn’t great. Even more reason to take care of yourself.

Life’s not a competition; it’s everyone’s own personal journey.

 

[monsterthompson]

Between age, injuries, and basic wear and tear, I’ve gotten to a point where I’ve never had more (and nicer) gear, but I play less frequently (and arguably worse) than I ever have before.

I’ve found modular synths to be more my speed.