I think you are done. And it sounds like this is your choice. As long as you have no regrets, you are good to go. I mean, eventually we are all done, one way or another. Since you have the skill, you can start agian, if you want to. Best of luck.
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Can you quit bass?
- Thread starter tb-player
- Start date
I think you are done. And it sounds like this is your choice. As long as you have no regrets, you are good to go. I mean, eventually we are all done, one way or another. Since you have the skill, you can start agian, if you want to. Best of luck.
Funny you should say that. I've bought 2 basses in the last couple of weeks that both got sent back. And I'm glad they did because just last night, I stumbled across an under 9lb F-Bass BN5 that I've been hunting for a while. I've been in talks with the shop and it's coming together.I was going to say earlier that it’s only a matter of time before we see an NBD post from you.
Joking aside, there’s no right answer. I hope you find joy in whichever path you choose.
It'll be hilarious when I post that NBD and every comment is, "I thought you quit?!?"
(Disclaimer: In case it is unclear, this thread was not about me deciding to quit bass. It was more of a philosophical question asking if it's even possible to walk away from bass. Based on the many responses here, I think a musician can lay down an instrument, but that doesn't change who they are.)
I was more or less completely out of the loop for a few years, but I didn't ever really think I had quit. It only became apparent in retrospect. It was easy to pick it up again when the urge and the opportunity presented itself, though!
Your decision seems like a more conscious one than mine ever was, however. But I did find myself at a similar point with art a few years ago. I had studied it, in both practice and theory, for many years. I never made it professionally but soldiered on in obscurity with some minor exhibitions every once in a while. A couple of months after the last one I suddenly realized that this may be it - I'm done with it. It wasn't at all a dramatic moment, I simply felt I had nothing more to say in that particular medium. A few years on I have no regrets about quitting. It's ok to quit!
Your decision seems like a more conscious one than mine ever was, however. But I did find myself at a similar point with art a few years ago. I had studied it, in both practice and theory, for many years. I never made it professionally but soldiered on in obscurity with some minor exhibitions every once in a while. A couple of months after the last one I suddenly realized that this may be it - I'm done with it. It wasn't at all a dramatic moment, I simply felt I had nothing more to say in that particular medium. A few years on I have no regrets about quitting. It's ok to quit!
I remember circa 2015 (I was 37) when I played my farewell show with a band that relentlessly gigged, toured, and rehearsed. Between them and my day job, I was excruciatingly burnt out. I was sick and tired of dragging my carcass home at 3 or 4AM every weekend with a backache. I was sick and tired of spending summers on the road. Plus, my dad was dying so I needed to be with my family. I didn't touch my bass for 2-3 years. I convinced myself I was 100% done with music.
Circa 2017 or 2018, a gent from my bicycling club inspired me to pick up playing again. And since 2022, the special-ed students I work with have really inspired me. I learned more songs from 2022- 2024 alone than I did in the last decade. I enjoy doing "Music, Motivation, and Movement" presentations for the students and am part of a "one gig only" teacher band aiming to play the school talent show this year.
During the time I wasn't playing bass, something felt missing from my life, missing in my soul. Didn't know what it was until I dusted off the bass and started playing again.
If you are ready to hang up your spurs, hang up your spurs. But at least keep the bass that you built your fondest musical memories with. Even if you never pick it up again, it becomes a conversation piece. It's not just a bass, it's a story.
If you're burnt out on playing bass, take a break. Pursue other hobbies/interests. Maybe something not music related. If your fate decrees you're done with bass, cool. If fate intervenes and brings bass back into your life, cool.
Circa 2017 or 2018, a gent from my bicycling club inspired me to pick up playing again. And since 2022, the special-ed students I work with have really inspired me. I learned more songs from 2022- 2024 alone than I did in the last decade. I enjoy doing "Music, Motivation, and Movement" presentations for the students and am part of a "one gig only" teacher band aiming to play the school talent show this year.
During the time I wasn't playing bass, something felt missing from my life, missing in my soul. Didn't know what it was until I dusted off the bass and started playing again.
If you are ready to hang up your spurs, hang up your spurs. But at least keep the bass that you built your fondest musical memories with. Even if you never pick it up again, it becomes a conversation piece. It's not just a bass, it's a story.
If you're burnt out on playing bass, take a break. Pursue other hobbies/interests. Maybe something not music related. If your fate decrees you're done with bass, cool. If fate intervenes and brings bass back into your life, cool.
If you can put it down you can pick it up. Unless you've sworn a blood oath never to touch the low end again, I believe you are still a bassist.
I think you’re in a rut and just burnt out from chronic GAS, as evidenced by your posts over time on TB.Funny you should say that. I've bought 2 basses in the last couple of weeks that both got sent back. And I'm glad they did because just last night, I stumbled across an under 9lb F-Bass BN5 that I've been hunting for a while. I've been in talks with the shop and it's coming together.
It'll be hilarious when I post that NBD and every comment is, "I thought you quit?!?"
(Disclaimer: In case it is unclear, this thread was not about me deciding to quit bass. It was more of a philosophical question asking if it's even possible to walk away from bass. Based on the many responses here, I think a musician can lay down an instrument, but that doesn't change who they are.)
Maybe get the new F Bass and ascertain what music you’d like to make with it. Then go out and find players with whom you can make that music.
Recall why you’re buying and selling all these instruments — is it to make music?
You can stop playing bass, but you don't quit being a musician. That's a lifelong thing in my opinion.
I was just going to say something similar: maybe I can quit bass, but I can never quit playing music.
You're obviously a musician. You CAN'T quit MUSIC because you is music and music is you. Regardless of whether you play a bass again, whatever the circumstances, you will be making music in some way until the day you die, even if you're only humming along in tune or in harmony to something you're listening to on the radio (as I do when driving around town, hah)
Looking forward to the NBD! And I will reference this thread in the NBD thread.Funny you should say that. I've bought 2 basses in the last couple of weeks that both got sent back. And I'm glad they did because just last night, I stumbled across an under 9lb F-Bass BN5 that I've been hunting for a while. I've been in talks with the shop and it's coming together.
It'll be hilarious when I post that NBD and every comment is, "I thought you quit?!?"
(Disclaimer: In case it is unclear, this thread was not about me deciding to quit bass. It was more of a philosophical question asking if it's even possible to walk away from bass. Based on the many responses here, I think a musician can lay down an instrument, but that doesn't change who they are.)
I think if I lost my bass gig tomorrow, I would still fire up the DAW and play and sing along with my favorite stuff to play, even if it was just for myself. I'd still go on TikTok and make clips of my favorite stuff even if the world didn't care.
And I say this as someone who was a guitarist first up until just a few years ago... now I am absolutely a guitarist second (but still play guitar at least once a week).
If you need a break, fine. Don't sell the farm just yet though... the call of the bass will return.
And I say this as someone who was a guitarist first up until just a few years ago... now I am absolutely a guitarist second (but still play guitar at least once a week).
If you need a break, fine. Don't sell the farm just yet though... the call of the bass will return.
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I've quit more than once, selling all my gear and having nothing to do with music beyond consuming it. It's always kind of exciting to come off one of those periods, but it also involves quite a bit of work returning to the level you were when you quit and sold all your gear; if you can return to that level. 
D
#russianbotFunny you should say that. I've bought 2 basses in the last couple of weeks that both got sent back. And I'm glad they did because just last night, I stumbled across an under 9lb F-Bass BN5 that I've been hunting for a while. I've been in talks with the shop and it's coming together.
It'll be hilarious when I post that NBD and every comment is, "I thought you quit?!?"
(Disclaimer: In case it is unclear, this thread was not about me deciding to quit bass. It was more of a philosophical question asking if it's even possible to walk away from bass. Based on the many responses here, I think a musician can lay down an instrument, but that doesn't change who they are.)
Yeah man. Throw it in my face. I totally deserve it!Looking forward to the NBD! And I will reference this thread in the NBD thread.
