• 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.

I Still Don’t Feel Fulfilled

#61
You need goals!!

Buying gear is a dead end, it won't make you play better, or feel better , you will just feed a machine that feeds on our hope and devours money. Many many people here spend more time and money talking about and buying gear then they do playing.

Without a current YouTube channel I wouldn't have a reason to pick up the Bass at all.
I learn 2 or 3 new songs a week practicing a lot and then I can't wait to shoot my video. Its fun watching my channel grow w 426 Subs and 310 videos posted
Those numbers might seem insignificant but its not easy. Try it!!
The band thing is dying out has you entertain for free, Nobody cares about local music, nobody shows up (10 people?) I'm done with bands forever. That s kind of sad also.so I feel some of your frustration.
You gotta get your groove back because not playing everyday will soften your chops..

Work, Save, Learn, Entertain.
Good luck.
 
  • Like
Reactions: HardNHeavy and Bassist4Eris
#62
I'm getting the sense you want fame and fortune through music but are not enjoying the process of learning your chosen instrument. Sorry to say, that's life in a nutshell. You get out of it what you put into it..... You want to be a professional musician then put in the time. Learning and running scales and exercises is not fun. Learning music theory (for some) is not fun. With some luck, hard work and hopefully with some natural talent you'll be able to make a living through music. But if you cannot commit or find the motivation to learn your chosen instrument, get out now, save your money and find a profession that interests you.
 
#63
Give up now while you are ahead. If the music is not in you then no amount of teaching is going to change anything. Study engineering and get a career going. If at a later age you feel some actual real musical stirrings then try again and teach yourself. It's gotta come from within. Fulfilled my a**.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Chrisk-K
#65
Jalen Fuller said:
Even after saying I was going to stick with playing bass in my music program in college I still am not feeling fulfilled. I just don't have the urge to really practice it besides a couple Basslines on my mind. It's horrible I gave up on guitar and now I'm heading down that path with bass. I don't even know how I'll keep up in my music program if I am not motivated to practice the instruments that I supposedly play. I've played some keys but I'm still a beginner and I thought of practicing that as I have to take it as a class in the winter but is that even really worth trying to hold on to my place in the music program anymore? It's like I'm my own enemy trying to listen to the optimistic comments here knowing they'll only give me satisfaction for what? Two days. I feel if I just listen to what the universe is telling me I'll be free. I need help!!! I've lost my touch with music.
Click to expand...

What are your goals with music? What kind of musician do you want to become? Working towards those goals is a big part of what keeps me going. Along with my love of playing music and an instrument. Also having groups of people i play with and sessions i can look forward to and practice for.
 
#67
I don't want to make it seem like it's only about the gear, but having a bass that excites me every time I put my hands on it and a sound that is very close to what I hear in my head did wonders for my motivation to play/practice.

I spent years as a novice fighting against poorly set up instruments or playing through gear that I didn't know how to set (I play a bass, so I should crank the bass knob, right?). Once I got my hands on some decent gear and learned a thing or two about setting it up (both bass and amp), it's like the sky opened up and I couldn't learn or advance fast enough. Finally I didn't sound like a clanky thuddy mess and the theory and technique I'd been working so hard on finally started to show through.

That said, I'm a firm believer in the idea that a good player should be able to handle any instrument. But having a bass that's a blast to play, that fits you like a glove and an amp that thumps just the way you want it to is never a bad thing. ymmv.
 
#68
Bassic Needs said:
Jalen. Don't give up on playing an instrument. You might regret it. My advice would be to really dig into music from many genres and decades. There has to be some music that you connect with and when you close your eyes, it moves you.

I have toyed with guitar for 20 years and I suck. I wish I took it more seriously because I like to play. I just didn't have the discipline to get better.

I am trying bass now and I really like it. I've also found that I enjoy a lot more musical styles than I did as a younger person.

If you find what you are looking for the work won't feel as daunting. Do it for you and the rest will come.
Click to expand...
Love_Bass said:
You need goals!!

Buying gear is a dead end, it won't make you play better, or feel better , you will just feed a machine that feeds on our hope and devours money. Many many people here spend more time and money talking about and buying gear then they do playing.

Without a current YouTube channel I wouldn't have a reason to pick up the Bass at all.
I learn 2 or 3 new songs a week practicing a lot and then I can't wait to shoot my video. Its fun watching my channel grow w 426 Subs and 310 videos posted
Those numbers might seem insignificant but its not easy. Try it!!
The band thing is dying out has you entertain for free, Nobody cares about local music, nobody shows up (10 people?) I'm done with bands forever. That s kind of sad also.so I feel some of your frustration.
You gotta get your groove back because not playing everyday will soften your chops..

Work, Save, Learn, Entertain.
Good luck.
Click to expand...
sometimes I feel like going into singing and or rapping with some keyboard skills and become an artist as I see that's what's really getting people talking nowadays
 
#69
MustangWally said:
Give up now while you are ahead. If the music is not in you then no amount of teaching is going to change anything. Study engineering and get a career going. If at a later age you feel some actual real musical stirrings then try again and teach yourself. It's gotta come from within. Fulfilled my a**.
Click to expand...
MustangWally said:
Give up now while you are ahead. If the music is not in you then no amount of teaching is going to change anything. Study engineering and get a career going. If at a later age you feel some actual real musical stirrings then try again and teach yourself. It's gotta come from within. Fulfilled my a**.
Click to expand...
Yeah I think I will pass on the engineering thing but thanks
 
#72
Jalen Fuller said:
No, and if you feel that way you are welcomed to leave. Only positivity here
Click to expand...

So how did you get into a college music program with only basic keyboard skills and virtually no experience on bass guitar? When I went to University and took music I had to audition to get into the program and they expected a certain level of playing. I also had to sight-read. Did you not have to do that?

There is also a massive difference between becoming an artist and becoming a pro in music. You can be an artist simply by doing whatever you want in music. If you like it, you do it, and hopefully your enjoyment rubs off on your listeners. But you can't really force artistry.

Becoming a pro bass player is incredibly vague, and going to school for it won't guarantee you a job at the other end. How many of those people you watched on YouTube actually graduated from a college or university music program? If they're flashing chops on YouTube, it may even be because nobody is hiring them for their playing.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Guild B301
#73
frankie5string said:
So how did you get into a college music program with only basic keyboard skills and virtually no experience on bass guitar? When I went to University and took music I had to audition to get into the program and they expected a certain level of playing. I also had to sight-read. Did you not have to do that?
Click to expand...
For my community college program I just had to apply for the music classes with no auditions. I have played bass all through high school with my schools band so I do have some experience if I do say so but I rather lack direction.
 
#74
Jalen Fuller said:
For my community college program I just had to apply for the music classes with no auditions. I have played bass all through high school with my schools band so I do have some experience if I do say so but I rather lack direction.
Click to expand...

Yeah, but taking music classes in college won't make you pro. You still have to network, meet other musicians and build a rapport with other people so they want to hire you. That takes a very long time. You have to play with anyone and everyone who will let you. It's the connections you build and reputation you create that will propel you into "pro" gigs.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jim Carr
#75
frankie5string said:
Yeah, but taking music classes in college won't make you pro. You still have to network, meet other musicians and build a rapport with other people so they want to hire you. That takes a very long time. You have to play with anyone and everyone who will let you. It's the connections you build and reputation you create that will propel you into "pro" gigs.
Click to expand...
Sometimes I'm wondering if it's worth it like I'm used to having my work cut out for me and having a net around me
 
#78
Jalen Fuller said:
I don't know what direction to go in music and no one is really there to help me and it's frustrating
Click to expand...

But in school they're going to want you working on theory and learning your instrument anyway.
You've got some academic work to do which may have nothing to do with what you actually end up doing professionally. It has nothing to do with direction - it's still education first. Maybe in the course of your education you'll find a direction you want to go in. For now, it doesn't really matter because the program will force you to do things in a certain order anyway.

Your teachers will expect you to do the work they prescribe first.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jim Carr and Guild B301
#79
frankie5string said:
But in school they're going to want you working on theory and learning your instrument anyway.
You've got some academic work to do which may have nothing to do with what you actually end up doing professionally. It has nothing to do with direction - it's still education first. Maybe in the course of your education you'll find a direction you want to go in. For now, it doesn't really matter because the program will force you to do things in a certain order anyway.

Your teachers will expect you to do the work they prescribe first.
Click to expand...
But the thing is do I see myself doing that on bass?
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back