Getting burnout from bass. What to do?

[Dust2Dust]

Yeah, keep playing...but maybe break away from focusing so much on the elementary stuff...like theory, scales, technique. Just relax, noodle, or play some of your favorite songs and have fun

This

 

[Kevin Hailey]

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?

One month???
Music is a lifetimes work.
Drink a cup of concrete and harden up!
Do keep going.

 

[mysterial]

One month???
Music is a lifetimes work.
Drink a cup of concrete and harden up!
Do keep going.

I think you missed the point.

 

[mysterial]

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

Another person missing my point.

 

[mysterial]

To clarify to those who are giving questionable advice: I have dedicated nearly every minute of free time to practicing bass last month and most of this month, and I'm not looking for any immediate solution to my problems.

I love the bass guitar and I see a future in it. I haven't played bass for a day or so now because I feel completely exhausted from it and don't find enjoyment in playing it anymore; maybe it has to do with my expectations as some have suggested. A suggestion of something like 'man up' and 'people struggle far more than me' isn't going to help me with this.

TL;DR: I want to continue to play Bass Guitar but I find no enjoyment in it anymore due to reasons above.

 

[mysterial]

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.

Thank you, this is the kind of advice I feel is beneficial. I got a drum set a couple of months ago and this post reminded me of something else musically related I could do.

 

[Kevin Hailey]

I think you missed the point.

I don’t think I did miss the point.
It would seem you are very new to playing music. Time management and figuring out how, and when to practice are very important.
Spending all of your time on any one activity, as you seem to have discovered is counterproductive and unhealthy.

 

[Pings Bass]

Thank you, this is the kind of advice I feel is beneficial. I got a drum set a couple of months ago and this post reminded me of something else musically related I could do.

In addition to being fun and cathartic, playing drums will make you a better bassist, too.

 

[elgranluis]

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?

Buy a drum set

 

[jtg]

Pan flute?

Maybe learn some covers on your new axe:

But seriously, you're fine. Anything you obsess over you're going to burn out on, but it shouldn't last forever. Put the bass in the corner and live your life. The next time you pick it up, do it out of inspiration and joy, not compulsion.

 

[Topkat13]

Something else.

 

[mysterial]

I don’t think I did miss the point.
It would seem you are very new to playing music. Time management and figuring out how, and when to practice are very important.
Spending all of your time on any one activity, as you seem to have discovered is counterproductive and unhealthy.

I've played music instruments for almost the entirety of my life and have performed many gigs, bass guitar is my newest find. Your first post's 'toughen up' concept is lackluster advice. From everything I've gathered from this thread, the majority opinion is not to ignore the issue and keep grinding as your first post suggested, but to do things such as take a break, pick up another instrument temporarily, etc. to refresh your mind.

 

[BlueRock]

I wonder what's going on that you're burned out after just one month of intense work.

Is practicing not fun? It should be.
What are you practicing?
What frustrates you?
Do you practice for more than an hour without taking a 20-30 minute break?
Do you force yourself to practice things that aren't interesting?
Are you placing pressure on yourself to improve? Is that kind of pressure coming from anyone else either directly or indirectly?
Do you make a clear distinction between practice and playing?
How much music do you listen to with your full attention?
Are you playing with other people regularly?
Are you going out to hear live music regularly?
Have you taken any lessons? If so do you trust your teacher(s)?

I got more questions than answers.
Take a break from practicing bass if it's not fun anymore.
Don't take a break from music. A month isn't long enough for that.

 

[Headless horse]

It depends what do You think to achieve or need by training all the time. Better slow downa and let Your time for more coffy, but still leave some time for your skills, just calm down.

 

[EddiePlaysBass]

One thing that works for me is play another instrument. For me that’s usually guitar. An added benefit of that is I rethink how I approach bass because of rhythm and space.

So true! For me it's the ukulele. I play chord melodies etc and am finding interesting strum patterns. And I realized my swing feel is less developed than I thought.

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 ...

I love the idea of ukes everywhere

 

[swink]

I've played music instruments for almost the entirety of my life and have performed many gigs, bass guitar is my newest find. Your first post's 'toughen up' concept is lackluster advice. From everything I've gathered from this thread, the majority opinion is not to ignore the issue and keep grinding as your first post suggested, but to do things such as take a break, pick up another instrument temporarily, etc. to refresh your mind.

That's the problem with getting advice. It's not about filtering out the things you like, it's the total package you have to accept.

If you think people misunderstood you, maybe you didn't explain the problem correctly.

If you want to learn something new, assume that it will become enjoyable only after you can add up the result of all the setbacks you have overcome.

 

[gazzatriumph]

I had a 20 year break due to marriage and kids, I kind of dreaded starting again for similar reasons but it came back to me pretty quick. Take a break it won't hurt you.

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

obsessed and now you don’t want to at all? idk man

 

[Geogio]

Practice drum rudiments.
Play classical guitars. No pick.
Sharpen up your piano playing...

I'm always fond of brick work but that's just me.

 

[ceetee]

To my mind it depends where you are and what you're aiming at.

Are you a recreational player? Stop until you want to pick it up again.

Aiming for more? Learn to overcome your feelings. Maybe incorporate a relaxation routine into your practice. Some respirational exercises after practice? Pranayama for example? Maybe put something that's fun to play at the end of a practice session.
Just my 2 cents. Not sure about the exchange rate tho.

Jerry Garcia switched to guitar because he became too obsessive with banjo...