• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

How to handle being bandless?

spade2you

spade2you

Jan 11, 2007
19,287
2,806
somewhere in middle America
#1
So, I've been in 1-2 bands for the last couple of years.....which has turned into nada these days. Ordinarily there was a massive bassist shortage, but just my luck that I can't find anything good when my band dissolved.

I've managed to distract myself with amateur competitive road cycling. I really enjoy it, but a recent jam with my drummer (who got snagged right away) really let me know what I'm missing. :atoz: For the life of me, I can't find anything other than the modern metal band and C list cover bands.

I have no shortage of books I can work on by Ed Friedland and I think I'm gonna zip through Fretless Bass by Chris Kringel for fun.

What have you guys done?
 
#4
JimmyM said:
Practiced until I found something, much like what you're doing.
Click to expand...

Ahhh, more road biking it is. ;):p

I assume more will chime in, but would you guys think starting from absolute basics a la Ed Friedland's Bass Method Book 1? Or just chug along with something like Building Walking Bass Lines?

Going to more shows is probably a good idea. I've been missing out on many shows due to practicing a lot with my bands.
 
#7
spade2you said:
So, I've been in 1-2 bands for the last couple of years.....which has turned into nada these days. Ordinarily there was a massive bassist shortage, but just my luck that I can't find anything good when my band dissolved.

I've managed to distract myself with amateur competitive road cycling. I really enjoy it, but a recent jam with my drummer (who got snagged right away) really let me know what I'm missing. :atoz: For the life of me, I can't find anything other than the modern metal band and C list cover bands.

I have no shortage of books I can work on by Ed Friedland and I think I'm gonna zip through Fretless Bass by Chris Kringel for fun.

What have you guys done?
Click to expand...

Cool- amateur competitive road cycling. We should talk. Anyway, being bandless is not a permanent thing. I'm sure you'll get back into it, and ultimately find a good, liveable situation. I'm of the optimistic kind.

In the meantime, here's some thoughts to keep the creative flame burning and keep yourself musically in touch:
-Buy a recording/multi-track device. Write songs. Or try.
-Seek out new genres of music to listen to/play
-Become involved in local music community groups (the local singer/songwriter community, local bluegrass community, theatre productions, a small collection of Prog folks, or whatever...)
-Pick up a new/different instrument, and try to get better at it.
-Sing. Join a choir. Having singing skills greatly helps musicianship and desirability as a bassist
-Start your own band. Who says others should control your musical destiny and musical experience more than you?
-Do jam sessions or "music labs" at your house/residence.
-Market yourself as a studio player, and see if you can get in on some recording sessions.

To one degree or another, I've done all these things. And I'm sure there are others that I'm missing. Hope this helps. I've been where you are now, and it's helped me in the "musically lean times" as they say...

:)
 
#8
As it is topical, or somewhat topical, I will recommend a book that nicely hits the intersections of cycling and music- Neil Peart's "Travelling Music." It's a nice, easy read. As you probably know, Neil is a very avid cyclist, as well as the drummer and lyricist for Rush. I'm sure his cycling time is motivational and pays some dividend to his music (if nothing else in just basic endurance, health and athleticism that allows him to still sound so commanding on the drums after all these years...)

Good luck with it.
 
#9
Cycling = bicycle or motorcycle?

Be glad that for awhile you're free of dealing with the politics of being in a band!

Practice with a drum machine.

Don't take up another instrument -- there is none other than bass.
 
#10
waynobass said:
Cycling = bicycle or motorcycle?

Be glad that for awhile you're free of dealing with the politics of being in a band!
Click to expand...

Invalid Link Removed

I don't miss the politics and BS, but for most of the time, the band was a happy and talented band, shattered by my guitard's piss poor and bitter attitude.

Thunderthumbs73 said:
Cool- amateur competitive road cycling. We should talk. Anyway, being bandless is not a permanent thing. I'm sure you'll get back into it, and ultimately find a good, liveable situation. I'm of the optimistic kind.

In the meantime, here's some thoughts to keep the creative flame burning and keep yourself musically in touch:
-Buy a recording/multi-track device. Write songs. Or try.
-Seek out new genres of music to listen to/play
-Become involved in local music community groups (the local singer/songwriter community, local bluegrass community, theatre productions, a small collection of Prog folks, or whatever...)
-Pick up a new/different instrument, and try to get better at it.
-Sing. Join a choir. Having singing skills greatly helps musicianship and desirability as a bassist
-Start your own band. Who says others should control your musical destiny and musical experience more than you?
-Do jam sessions or "music labs" at your house/residence.
-Market yourself as a studio player, and see if you can get in on some recording sessions.

To one degree or another, I've done all these things. And I'm sure there are others that I'm missing. Hope this helps. I've been where you are now, and it's helped me in the "musically lean times" as they say...

:)
Click to expand...

TB has a few guys who have ridden at the competitive level. I plan on really training hard this winter and hitting it full force next year now that I've solved a few problems and figured out where to find info.

I suppose I could play some guitar in my spare time. I have a bunch back from when I used to really love hair bands...and had hair. :atoz:
 
#12
If you can't already, teach yourself how to sight read. I'm taking a break from band activities, and I'm finally teaching myself how to sight read again. I used to do it when singing, playing piano, playing trumpet, but since taking up bass, it was nothing more than play by ear and occassionally tab. I've pulled out some piano books for now and am reading off the bass clefs (though learning treble clef doesn't hurt either), and as much as I hate to potentially make an insulting comment to anybody, I'm feeling like a potentially valuable musician again.
 
#13
Tired_Thumb said:
If you can't already, teach yourself how to sight read. I'm taking a break from band activities, and I'm finally teaching myself how to sight read again. I used to do it when singing, playing piano, playing trumpet, but since taking up bass, it was nothing more than play by ear and occassionally tab. I've pulled out some piano books for now and am reading off the bass clefs (though learning treble clef doesn't hurt either), and as much as I hate to potentially make an insulting comment to anybody, I'm feeling like a potentially valuable musician again.
Click to expand...

That is something I actually plan on working with. I used to read music years ago when I was taking classical guitar, but it is indeed one of those things you lose if you don't use. Years of playing originals and having to write my own parts on the fly kinda got in the way of that.
 
#15
funkboy5 said:
Home studio recording project.....
Click to expand...

Not a bad idea. My basement has ceiling paneling that makes recording stuff pretty easy, although my computron is pretty old, but I'll be replacing it at the end of the year. Been a strong year for storms, so keeping a little $$ in reserve for just in case.....


Anyway, after the band broke up, I put together a list of tunes I've done over the years. If I were trying to market myself, are these tunes decent in your opinions??? I didn't have the luxury of professional recording for all of 'em since the band broke up before heading to a real studio.

Very great ideas, guys!!!!!
 
#19
I stopped playing bass in 1991. I started again in 2003 and went to open mics and jams and gradually met more and more great players as well as community of wonderful people. I'm now first call for a number of folks in town and have a lot of regular work. You never know where an opportunity will come from. I went to see some friends play a jazz gig but the bass player didn't show. I ran home to get my stuff, read the charts and met a drummer who has been the source of lots of my work since then. But I can trace a thread back to those first few blues jams and open mics where I would play with anyone and everyone I could. I also have no shame and will email artists in town so thay they have my contact info in case they need some low end. Life is good.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back