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I think I’m done

#61
Take it easy, smell the roses but don’t sell your gear just yet. Is it just playing bass that you’re losing interest in or are you finding it hard enjoy other things too? Be aware that depression is a sneaky and insidious condition. If you’re feeling emptiness rather than sadness then I recommend that you talk to someone who will listen without judgement.
I’ve been through depression and it remains in the background ready to sneak up. Don’t get caught up with the stigma that struggling with ‘mental health’ is losing your marbles or a sign of weakness. Mental health care is just like physical health care. It needs to be maintained. There is much that can be done if you look for help.
Of course you may just be done with bass playing and that’s fine. Best wishes and stay safe.
 
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#63
I stopped completely myself a few times. Once when first married, then when our fourth child was born, then again when working toward retirement (this was a short one). For the first and last one I stopped playing live for about two years but still kicked around with friends on occasion. But when #4 was born I put everything in a closet. for just under five years.

A few points I wish to get across, first and foremost is that pretty much every musician I have known, that stopped playing for whatever reason, always came back to it. With that my second point is...do not sell everything. Third it is a real PIA to get started again especially as you get older.

Good luck!
 
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#69
Some of us walked away from playing when we realized friends obtained good jobs, got married and bought a house. I was 31 broke and decided I had enough and then I concentrated on only building my business. I held on to just a few instruments. Years later I slowly formed a new passion for playing again but this time it was not in a band setting. These days I love picking up the bass regularly, usually after my day is over, at night and it is like pure medicine. After about a half hour or so of playing bass, I’m so relaxed and I go straight to sleep.
 
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#70
Within 6 months of your taking a break, you will get an amazing band offer. In the meantime, If you need something to fill your time, I have an accordion I can lend you.

Seriously though, I recommend you taking a break, and not quitting altogether. I put the trumpet down for decades, and just recently bought a silver one. I'm sooo glad I didn't permanently close and lock the door. Here's to new inspiration.
 
#72
Since I started playing in 1977, I've sold every last bit of bass gear I owned (well, I gave away the picks . . .) twice in disgust with the damn thing. Itch came back.

I've taken several 'vacations' away from the damn thing. Itch came back.

I quit gigging about ten years ago, just play around the house very occasionally. I have the itch under control. The itch to gig may as well have been surgically excised, NEVER gonna happen again. Done with all that aggravation.

I don't know if or when you may get 'the itch' again, and it's certainly your business. When I walked away, I found a whole 'nother world out there with many new interests, people, and places besides clubs, music stores, and the whole ecosystem I'd trapped myself in for years. I like it. The itch is still there, but it's among many interests and curiosities I've developed post-playing. I'm still interested in the instrument, quite a bit, but I now prefer to watch from the sidelines and pass along any hard-earned lessons to cats with The Itch.

My best to you and wherever it takes you.

All the Best,

JW
 
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#73
Well, the last thing you want to do is force yourself to do something you don't want to do.

Put it down and wait until it beckons you again. It will. You will hear a song or have a memory. And it will come back.
 
#79
A good friend of mine (and someone I've jammed with regularly for about 7 years or so) goes through this every so often. Out of the blue, he'll say, "I'm sick of music. I'm done". Several times he's sold off most of his gear.

Then a few months later, I'll get a call. "Hey man, wanna' get together and play some music?" It's happened 3 or 4 times over those 7 years. It is what it is, I suppose. I don't worry about it because he usually snaps out of it.

Another friend whom I played with for about 20 years, doesn't play anymore. But with him it's because his hands have gotten too arthritic to play guitar. He's the one I feel sorry for, because he'd love to keep playing; but gets too frustrated because of his hands. I did suggest that he try bass, because he could be plucking (or picking) single notes rather than having to deal with chords. But I don't think that appeals to him.
 
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