Getting burnout from bass. What to do?

[dbsfgyd1]

For the last month, I've been obsessed with improving in bass and it was my number one occupation of all my free time. I still want to play and improve still but thinking of picking up my bass guitar gives me a sense of dread. Is this burnout? What steps can I take moving forward from here?

There is a balance to life. If you feel burnt out, you over did one part of it. The best thing to do at this point is to put it away for a week, then revisit the issue. Still not interested? Give it another week, then just play a few notes 5-10 minutes tops. See how you feel.

When you do decide to pick it up again, no more marathon sessions. About 40 minutes of specific measurable exercise every couple of days.

Just a couple of questions. Are you in a band? Jam group? Go to open jam nights? For me the thought of a gig on the calendar lights the fire. There is no way I’m going to embarrass my bandmates or myself.

I have a really nice gig scheduled for the 17th of December, just over a month away. In preparation, I’m playing about 2 hours a day about 4 times a week playing with recordings from previous gigs. By the time the gig comes I’ll be ready.

 

[groove pump]

For the last month, I've been obsessed with improving in bass and it was my number one occupation of all my free time. I still want to play and improve still but thinking of picking up my bass guitar gives me a sense of dread. Is this burnout? What steps can I take moving forward from here?

Dread? Burnout? After doing a lot of tennis coaching for the last twenty years, I can say that this frustration has a familiar ring to it. If your expectations aren't at a proper level, that can lead to big-time discouragement.

I'd say try writing down your expectations of yourself in terms of your "musicianship" - where you're at now and where you want to be at some point down the road. Put that list away and then look it over again in a day or three. You might give yourself a healthy look in the mirror.

Who knows? Maybe you need to spend a little less time grinding away at what you think you should be working on (technique, reading, modes ) and a little more time geeking out with what you want to play. It's great that you want to work at your craft, but it's also up to you to make it fun along the way, right? Fun will make it easier to keep playing.

In case you're expecting to get a certain result after putting in a certain amount of work, well... don't. That's a trap. If you want to get "good" in some way or another, just trust your process and enjoy the ride. You'll only know how much work it takes you to get there - wherever "there" is - after you arrive. A month is a darn good start!!

Oh, the fun part - I love to sometimes plug in a guitar and jam along with Uncle Dee on the House of Hair. Power chords = good clean fun I also sometimes entertain the thought of getting a set of electronic drums, but haven't taken that plunge yet.

 

[Pings Bass]

If bass doesn't move you, play drums or piano for a while. I can always bang out a couple songs on the skins, even when my motivation is low.

 

[BassFalcon]

In no particular order

1. walk away from it for a bit
2. Learn stuff you don’t know you want to know. Study jazz, polka, klezmer, hip hop, metal, gospel, classical, whatever. But really learn it, who what when where and why.
3. Take up Fretless
4. Take up double bass

the world of bass is deep and varied, most never get past the surface. Dive deep and have fun.

 

[Rick_Bass]

Go Fishing and
Do Astronomy religiously --- you will come back to the promised land

 

[swarfrat]

Can't believe nobody has said buy a new bass yet

 

[BarfanyShart]

I'm a big fan of having various kinds of ukuleles strewn all over every room of my home. Makes it easy and low-stakes to pick something up and get your fingers moving, and if that inspires you to walk over and plug in your bass ...

 

[Katoosie]

Practice is needed and is good but once it starts to burn you out, you gotta switch.

Either take a break which is actually good for you as it helps your brain work on the stuff you've already taught yourself and gives it time to process it in the background (have you ever noticed how sometimes you spend hours trying to get a lick down, can't get it and then once you give up for the day & pick it up the next day, suddenly you can play it? Yeah. It's a thing) or work on something that is actually inspiring.

Let your creative side out. Have fun on the bass.

 

[Dadum]

Tough practice can isolate you from personal relationships. You are working on things that you are not good at and you don’t want to share the experience.

Work something out. You may need more personal relationship time.

 

[Lava]

Try and learn some tunes from a different genre of music than what you’re used to playing.

 

[Fynn]

For the last month, I've been obsessed with improving in bass and it was my number one occupation of all my free time. I still want to play and improve still but thinking of picking up my bass guitar gives me a sense of dread. Is this burnout? What steps can I take moving forward from here?

If you do something, especially if you force yourself to do something, you'll eventually get tired. Just stop for a while and return later when you really want to play some more. And don't set such goals as wanting to improve alot. That can easily result in you feeling like it's more work than joy.

I personally stopped completly with trying to actually improve, because I can play all the things I want to play (or have to play for a gig) and if I encounter something that I have to learn, then it's time for me to really get into learning. But that's a different thing as just playing for myself, because that usually involves the motivator of a paycheck and a certain level of professionalism.

 

[KenD]

If you have the opportunity, some casual jamming with other musicians may reinvigorate you. In the past i always found that gave a lasting shot of creative energy. It has also been said that we improve faster when challenged to "nail it" in a group setting.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Dread? Burnout? After doing a lot of tennis coaching for the last twenty years, I can say that this frustration has a familiar ring to it. If your expectations aren't at a proper level, that can lead to big-time discouragement.

I'd say try writing down your expectations of yourself in terms of your "musicianship" - where you're at now and where you want to be at some point down the road. Put that list away and then look it over again in a day or three. You might give yourself a healthy look in the mirror.

Who knows? Maybe you need to spend a little less time grinding away at what you think you should be working on (technique, reading, modes ) and a little more time geeking out with what you want to play. It's great that you want to work at your craft, but it's also up to you to make it fun along the way, right? Fun will make it easier to keep playing.

In case you're expecting to get a certain result after putting in a certain amount of work, well... don't. That's a trap. If you want to get "good" in some way or another, just trust your process and enjoy the ride. You'll only know how much work it takes you to get there - wherever "there" is - after you arrive. A month is a darn good start!!

Oh, the fun part - I love to sometimes plug in a guitar and jam along with Uncle Dee on the House of Hair. Power chords = good clean fun I also sometimes entertain the thought of getting a set of electronic drums, but haven't taken that plunge yet.

great post!

 

[MultiScaleMale]

You're probably practicing too much and turning "fun" into "work". Take a week off and see if you want to come back to playing. If you do, start with no more than 30 minutes a day and then work up to an hour. With gig coming up exceptions, an hour or two should be your maximum per day. Have fun with it!

EDIT: says the guy programming on his day off for Veteran's Day. Heh.

 

[roswell1965]

What steps can I take moving forward from here?

Understand that the world could not care less whether or not you ever pick up an instrument again.

 

[Jack Butler]

Depends if he’s gigging, what his goals are etc. If he’s playing for personal enjoyment why would he continue to do something he dreads?

A lot of people will recommend taking a break if you start to think you’re feeling burnt out. But not me. I say pick up your bass and practice regularly, regardless of weather you feel like it.


Why? Because when you have a gig , the show must go on. All kinds of crap can and will go sideways , and mess with your state of mind. Overcoming a sub optimal state of mind to execute the material well is a skill you can practice.

 

[BrassedOn]

Either can work well, depends on the individual.
1. Take a break from playing. Maybe give yourself a date to dip your toes back in the water. Errr fingers I guess.
2. Or Keep playing, but only for dedicated small amounts of time. 2 minutes, 5 minutes, a few times day. Just like Inner Game of Tennis/Music, just make every second beautiful and musical. If you feel a bit detached or negative, stop immediately. Pick it up later.

an alternative is 3. spend time on another instrument. Im out of the blue taking up drum set for the first time in my long life, and it does wonders for mybass playing.

 

[bassrique]

Don't teak a break. Be disciplined. Motivation got you started, but discipline will make you good.

What is your practice routine?

 

[EngrSorenson]

Pan flute?

What’s wrong with this bass? Where’s the strings? Where’s the pick up?

these custom guys are getting super lazy.

 

[EngrSorenson]

OP, in my experience unchecked enthusiasm can sometimes have negative or unintended side effects.

I recommend tempering the time you dedicate to practicing in favor of a good balance with other things you enjoy. Make it a routine, however, and don’t forget to make listening to music a dedicated activity, too. Not “practicing with”- just listening.

we all have our humps and slumps, but I firmly believe balance and consistency are the true keys to success.