Getting burnout from bass. What to do?

[Ric5]

buy one of these

 

[Vooter]

Do you watch TV? Stand in front of the TV with your bass for an hour or so and just casually improvise over the background music you hear (I find that true-crime shows have the most interesting background music, as do a lot of commercials). Don't put any pressure on yourself...just listen, have fun, and see what you can come up with, good or bad. This not only helps you relax and get creative, it also helps your ears and your ability to quickly lock in with music that you're almost certainly hearing for the first time. I do it every day, and not because I have to...it's just fun!

 

[lbbc]

Whenever I realize that I'm getting burned out learning a technique, I simply turn my focus on learning songs I've always wanted to play. It keeps things exciting for me!

 

[Ric5]

my multi stringed instruments

 

[Watchootognbout]

I walked away from bass for a couple of years and got into ukuleles. I had a blast and learned a lot about music from a different perspective. It's hard to be overly serious with a ukulele......

Ummmm......

 

[Scott Bland]

Just like an athlete, your skill plateaus. The way to grow further is to take small breaks. If you’re burned out mentally you simply cannot improve no matter how much you work. So step away.

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.

Other thing that works for me is listen. Enjoy music. Listen without critically analyzing the bass. Put on headphones and blast something that isn’t your main genre or let a bot pick for you.

Music is fun, sounds like you turned it to a chore. Good luck.

Thats what happens to me. I become unable to enjoy listening to music because I either over analyze everything, or go straight into learning a song for a gig. I have to remind myself to turn on some music that i dont need to gain anything but enjoying it every now and then to reset my brain and relax.

 

[Thebiggestjerk]

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?

Pickup another instrument or hobby.

 

[Bulky Bass]

Picking up another rhythm type instrument will help. I’m also a percussionist (congas, bongos, tambourine, etc) and played percussion in bands for almost 5 years and the bass took a break. I’m now playing bass again in a band after 5 years and I think I’m playing better than ever. Percussion really improved my sense of space and playing for the song.

 

[logdrum]

You need a break. But what you really need long-term is someone to give you feedback i.e - people to play with or possibly a teacher.

Every musician should know how to play a percussion instrument, specially bass players.

 

[Andy Marshman]

During the break from your 'normal' brand of music, find an informal side project that's totally different. If you're a Classic Rock person, try Country or Folk, Jazz etc. Hopefully that will expose you to different styles of playing and keep burnout far away.

 

[higain617]

When a hobby is no longer fun, it becomes a job. And who wants another job?

 

[J Wilson]

Go Fishing.

Nothing like catching something that can eat YOU (instead of the other way 'round) to take your mind off the everyday humdrum. Just be sure and haul it into the boat tail FIRST . . . .

 

[Rib 13]

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?

Learn a different instrument like piano/keyboard........I cant tell you how many times I transferred piano riffs and licks to bass because I would have never thought to play them on a bass guitar format

 

[perfektspace6]

Jam on another instrument if that is an option. Then put some bass down to the new instrumental tracks. Might change your perspective and freshen things up.

Running through exercises all day is not something I could do without hating an instrument. Playing an instrument is about creating something.

 

[Watchootognbout]

If I'm being completely honest, things like that make me want to quit playing altogether.
Ironically however, the opposing side of the spectrum makes me feel similar.
Players who think p-bass is the be all end all & that bass players should never play chords or above the 5th fret.
Just the general attitude of people in this forum is enough to put me off, if I'm being brutally honest.

Since you copied and pasted my NS,I'm responding.
Parts of me agree and disagree.

I'm not sure what it is about an NS that makes you want quit.
It is a challenge.I knew that when I bought it.
But I accepted it.

I agree that there are those who think p-bass is the be all end all & that bass players should never play chords or above the 5th fret.
I have never been one of those.
Getting an NS/Stick confirms that.

 

[bolophonic]

Take a break?

Try another instrument for a while?

Attempt to learn something totally new and out of your wheelhouse?

Push forward and hope that your state of mind changes?

 

[JRA]

...thinking of picking up my bass guitar gives me a sense of dread

then don't pick it up!

some folks are just not cut out to be musicians. some of those folks may be adequate-to-great players, but they just don't have the "fire in the belly" for music. the difference between their fantasies and the work is just too great. if you think you're supposed to be a musician, but the EB isn't really doing it for you = you have lots of options! (e.g., most of the advice you're getting.)

whatever you do: don't blame your EB...it's not the bass, it's you. stop what you're doing and take an honest self-inventory. it may take some time, i.e., months...maybe many months. good luck.

whether or not you stick with the EB, i hope things get better for you. good luck with your ennui!

 

[E2942]

you copied and pasted my NS

I used the URL of the image:
https://www.talkbass.com/attachments/img_0726-jpeg.4871273

Just seems like a pretentious thing to post on a thread where someone is commenting about quitting, that is all.
Have a good weekend!

 

[Watchootognbout]

I used the URL of the image:
https://www.talkbass.com/attachments/img_0726-jpeg.4871273

Just seems like a pretentious thing to post on a thread where someone is commenting about quitting, that is all.
Have a good weekend!

Sometimes it's good to go off in a different direction than to just stop altogether.
How is that pretentious?

 

[EngrSorenson]

Sometimes it's good to go off in a different direction than to just stop altogether.
How is that pretentious?

It’s not. I really wouldn’t worry about the other poster. It sounds like they have something else going on.