Can you quit bass?

[-Stingray]

I've taken 'time away' several times.

When I was younger, hot-headed, and easily frustrated, I got mad enough I sold everything (I even threw my picks away). Of course, a year or so later, the itch came back, and bought a whole new everything, and started playing again. I was still young, hot-headed, and easily frustrated but I learned to get a handle on it and NOT SELL EVERYTHING AND THEN BUY EVERYTHING A YEAR LATER. . . . .

Since those flamethrower days, over these many years, I've taken spells where I just flat wasn't interested, and couldn't be bothered with the damn thing, so I'd walk away for a month or two, and, sure enough, the itch came back again, and I picked up where I left off. Ironically, a couple things I was playing with aggravating difficulty I could pickup and play perfectly over and over again. Funny, innit?

From my experience, I'd counsel to finish that last gig, pack everything under the bed or in the closet or out in the garage, and simply forget about it. Go fishing. Take up skeet shooting. Go play pickle ball. Binge watch Italian movies. Become a nuisance to family and friends !

There's a whole world out there that doesn't have a thing to do or care in the least about music, with many interesting new interests you missed strapped behind a bass, or whole new interests you didn't have time for when you played out all the time.

Then give it some months and see IF the itch comes back.

There is no hurry or timeline for this, no 'sell by' date. You'll know when.

This post hit home for me.

My younger years almost mirrored what J Wilson posted.

I will add that the half dozen or so times I walked away from music/recording/gigging was for a limited time (usually measured in months) but I did have one spell (after a very successful party band gig) where I was so burned I took a break for several years.

You be you, and do what you want with your free time. We all go through periods of burnout and need breaks from time to time.

 

[neddyrow]

we just discussed this at rehearsal last night. none of us in the band have any plans of giving up....ever.

we agreed it's nice to have a night out of the house for rehearsals and gigs keep us sharp and we write our own material which is a great creative outlet. the fact we don't hate each other and be respectful during disagreements.

so...no i ain't ever gonna stop

 

[WI Short Scaler]

I've gotten to the point where I turn down other offers to play that are outside of my one main group. So I'm starting to think it may be possible to quit.

There was a time I'd say yes to anything, if I was really qualified for it or not, but those days are gone.

 

[ldizzle3]

I would prefer not to! But, I wouldn't be able to.
One time, I was playing 4-5 gigs a week.. .burnt out. I took a year off. Got a call for a gig of a life time and made the decision to take it... i didn't realize how much I missed it until I was back in the mess.

My wife and I are likely going to move to central America part of the year and that has been a big conundrum for our decision... I have a great church and church contract I play weekly. Personally, I'd miss it far too much. The camaraderie, the gear, the stage, the musical communication.. not for me.

 

[City]

Yes, I suppose you can...I have kinda. Coming out of that Covid thing bands were few and far between, and around here, paying establishments were even more rare. No one called, I haven't persued, and then picked up an acoustic guitar and went back to playing guitar in a duo with about 30 gigs a year. I have sold two basses, still have four but plan on selling a couple more this year. If someone would call I suppose I would look into the option, but as of the last three years, yes.....I haven't even picked up a bass.

 

[tb-player]

Yes, I suppose you can...I have kinda. Coming out of that Covid thing bands were few and far between, and around here, paying establishments were even more rare. No one called, I haven't persued, and then picked up an acoustic guitar and went back to playing guitar in a duo with about 30 gigs a year. I have sold two basses, still have four but plan on selling a couple more this year. If someone would call I suppose I would look into the option, but as of the last three years, yes.....I haven't even picked up a bass.

Hasn’t picked up a bass in 3 years but still comes to TalkBass. That’s very interesting, because I wondered if I truly gave it all up, would I still come back here. I think if I kept coming to TalkBass, I wouldn’t be able to give anything up. Passion follows pursuit.

 

[sabre79]

Sure, I’ll thump around at home, but it seems I am done.

I have debilitating social anxiety so I haven't played with a band in 40 years. I gave up bass for 20 plus years after that. In the last 15 years, I've been playing along to YouTube videos through the computer. That's my joy. Just last night I stumbled across Thunder and Lightning by Chi Coltrane in a one hit wonder playlist. I hadn't heard this song in 50 years. I played along to it 1 hour last night and 2 hours this morning.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

Its ok to "quit". But lets use different words, "take a break" Keep 1 nice bass, if not you will sell everything, 6 months later you will be asked to play at some small, laid back, really cool gig, (which are my fav) and wish you had a bass to play.

 

[triode6L6a]

I have debilitating social anxiety so I haven't played with a band in 40 years. I gave up bass for 20 plus years after that. In the last 15 years, I've been playing along to YouTube videos through the computer. That's my joy. Just last night I stumbled across Thunder and Lightning by Chi Coltrane in a one hit wonder playlist. I hadn't heard this song in 50 years. I played along to it 1 hour last night and 2 hours this morning.

Have you tried playing on JamKazam? It's a FREE on-line service that lets musicians from all over the world play with each other, in real time, on-line (with or without video). PM me if you're interested and need help getting setup. It's really a LOT of fun and completely stress free, as in, if you aren't enjoying a session, you can just click and be gone. In any case, I'm happy that at least you've found an outlet for your bass playing, that's the main thing : )

 

[Gorn]

service that lets musicians from all over the world play with each other, in real time, on-line......and completely stress free, as in, if you aren't enjoying a session, you can just click and be gone.

I'll walk out of a movie I'm not enjoying, but that seems like it would be really annoying for the other people playing.

 

[Mastermold]

Haven’t picked up a bass in 3 years but still comes to TalkBass. That’s very interesting, because I wondered if I truly gave it all up, would I still come back here. I think if I kept coming to TalkBass, I wouldn’t be able to give anything up. Passion follows pursuit.

You mentioned quitting the church gig but I thought that was recently. Was that 3 years ago?

 

[triode6L6a]

That seems like it would be really annoying for the other people playing.

Not really, but you're right, the proper etiquette is to wait until the end of the song, thank every body and then say a quick goodbye........ but, it's not a terrible sin to just click into a session to see what's happening, then click out quickly if you realize it's not your bag. It's a very relaxed and cool place to play with folks who typically just want to have some fun : )

 

[Federighi]

I've been on an electric bass gig hiatus ever since cov. I do still take time to keep my chops up practicing the usual things (modes, walking lines, transcribing pop bass lines, etc) but only accept gigs / jams with friends. I'm lucky I also play upright, so that allows me to still play more regularly in groups that I'm interested in / involved with.

 

[Deleted member 394181]

I don't play out anymore. For a lot of my younger years all i wanted was to play in front of people. Got my first Bass at 15, got easily frustrated and quit until I was twenty five. Saw a Bass in shop and something really clicked. Two months later, my first gig to a highly receptive crowd.
I look at playing out like the Army was for me. Some of it was amazing, some sucked.
I'm retired, in the spare room with my Basses and music. It is my great joy, even by myself. I still constantly search for the best sounds I can get. It may be more fun than the crowds, demands, weird personalities etc. No, actually it is more fun. Now.

 

[sabre79]

Have you tried playing on JamKazam?

Thanks! I think I'll try it out.

 

[Pocket Dave]

I’m not sure it’s a decision. I think it has just kind of happened. I’m looking around and realizing that after this gig at the end of March, I don’t play bass anymore. My big-gig glory days are behind me. There’s nothing I’m interested in learning on bass. I’m just done, I think.

I got asked to play just this afternoon and I was like, “That’s okay. I’m good.” That reaction was an a’ha moment for me.

I don't know what kind of responses you expected in an online forum; Obviously what you're getting is mostly others' projected sometimes-experience-based POV, as if yours should be the same.

Some quit, some don't. You've going to probably have to weigh it from your own scale. If it were me, I'd try to keep others opinions out of it, but then, that's just me.

 

[CallMeAl]

I started on trumpet in 1990. I went to music school in 1998- piano lessons, all the band instruments, and picked up electric bass on the side, for my own enjoyment. Since then I’ve identified as a “multi instrumentalist.”

I’ve taken breaks from bass, but still consider myself a “bass player” as it’s one of my best instruments. I’ve played banjo and mandolin, but don’t put those in my “resume.” And since everyone needs a bass player, I keep getting pulled back in.

The pandemic led me to electric guitar, and started my loss of love with gigging. Now I’m primarily an at home guitar player; but I still jam with friends and think I’ll forever be a “bassist.”

 

[Deleted member 271037]

I had a down period when I only noodled/recorded a bit at home for a couple of years after I quit my main band (which sadly ended up killing the band) because all the gigs/touring got in the way of other important parts of my life. I never made enough money out of it to make a living anyway and extensive touring + a "normal" job and other commitments in my life just didn't work out for me. But I never stopped playing completely and I missed it so much that I eventually got back in the saddle. But I mainly do studio work these days, and not nearly as much as I used to. It's not my main job, not even close. But I can't see myself ever giving up playing bass completely. At least not until old age or something totally unexpected will put a definitive end to it. Nearly all my closest friends are musicians too. Giving up on playing bass will probably mean that some really good friendships will slowly drift away, and that's definitely not something I want to happen.

 

[Polfuste]

I can't imagine that. Music is my everyday médecine, and my acoustic bass my best Friend in the house. I need to play it, learn something or not, sometimes just noodle on it. But. I need it. I play also guitar from Time to Time ( ex guitarist) but it's not the same. I need this bass sound makes vibrations in my guts. It's a mental health question.

 

[Pimpernel Smith]

After 43 years of playing at my local church, the service was dissolved. I can commiserate with you. I have 1 beautiful Hofner bass, and a 1971 Ovation guitar which I never touch. I practice for a while each night while watching the local news just to keep my hands and ears working. I don't play out any more.
I know from past experience that even if I took a break from not playing that I would come back to it. So, I wouldn't sell my remaining instruments. Please keep yours.