Is there a bass therapist here???

[oysterphish]

I'm sure there are several threads in here here discussing the same woes I'm going through, but here we go. I'm at the point where playing isn't fun anymore. In-fact, the striving for perfectionism is eroding my happiness throughout the day. Conventional wisdom would say to put bass on pause, take a break, or even quit. Quitting is not an option. I'm too obsessed. I have too much high end gear that are once in a lifetime finds/relationships.
I played in high school and ver little throughout my adult life. I was the poster-child for Dunning Kruger Effect. But, at least I was confident, in the pocket, and landed my root notes.
I've been studying bass for the last 2 years now at an academic pace. Now, I struggle to focus, land root notes, and my timing (despite practicing with a metronome) is suffering. I keep hearing that this is just me getting better (or my ear is getting better), but these are not excuses for missing notes or lagging. What is going on here? Why am I getting worse? I'm not ruling out fear of failure, choking, or fear of judgement from pro players.
I already have a career that I've mastered, and it's boring to me now. Bass is a way to escape the boredom of life and gives me something to try and "master."

I know progress isn't linear, but how have I stumbled so far backwards.? I am legitimately, at newbie level, after being able to just casually rip through songs like Dean Town. Again....what's going on?

Edit: I've been studying with College profs and bass instructors. Maybe I'm overloaded with too much information and it's overwhelming....

 

[JRA]

Is there a bass therapist here???​

that would be great, right?!!

but in the real world, they're called "teachers!" it's time you studied with a good teacher. find one.

good luck with your 'therapy'!

 

[Deleted member 394181]

Just go and play along with "Werewolves of London" , you'll feel better instantly.

 

[oysterphish]

Just go and play along with "Werewolves of London" , you'll feel better instantly.

The easiest song I've covered lately was Tennessee Whisky. It made me feel pretty awesome, on account of how popular it is and how much people love it. That said....I got very, very bored by the end, despite all the delicious fills and chord/note substitutions I made. I do have a major tendency to "overplay."

 

[J Wilson]

When I painted myself in the corner you find yourself, my only two resets were either to walk away for a bit, let the mental swelling go down, then return when I felt the gravitational pull once more.

Or, just like a sports team on the wrong side of the score in the middle of the game, you just keep playing, you regain traction, and things start to turn back in
your favor, you play through the difficulty until you start scoring again.

Either works for me, but the first allows for going fishing and other non-curricular activities !

 

[RattleSnack]

Music is language, to communicate emotions. IMO you are stuck with dictionaries and regular/irregular verbs. You just need to talk to people and have fun.
What I'm saying is: chill out with studying, forget about technical perfection, ideal tone. Just grab bass and amp and go and play for fun. Maybe call couple of friends, form a quick rock trio and play in local pub. Trust me, been there.

 

[Michedelic]

The easiest song I've covered lately was Tennessee Whisky. It made me feel pretty awesome, on account of how popular it is and how much people love it. That said....I got very, very bored by the end, despite all the delicious fills and chord/note substitutions I made. I do have a major tendency to "overplay.

Uh, you might try this…


This is the real “Tennessee Whiskey”…


Or this…

 

[oysterphish]

Uh, you might try this…


This is the real “Tennessee Whiskey”…


Or this…

Funny I just discovered I'd Rather Go Blind recently. I was casually listening while at work and thought to myself: Hey wait a minute!!!!

 

[Michedelic]

Funny I just discovered I'd Rather Go Blind recently. I was casually listening while at work and thought to myself: Hey wait a minute!!!!

For a fun song to play with a great bass groove, try this…

Sure, you’ve heard that main riff before, but it’s not like it hadn’t been used before “In The Midnight Hour”. It’s just a bit of bass vocabulary that you can drop in when needed, not wholesale plagiarism.

 

[Deleted member 394181]

The easiest song I've covered lately was Tennessee Whisky. It made me feel pretty awesome, on account of how popular it is and how much people love it. That said....I got very, very bored by the end, despite all the delicious fills and chord/note substitutions I made. I do have a major tendency to "overplay."

Don't be negative on "overplaying" . if your jamming alone, everything goes right. ? OK, i think you also need to play along with "My Sharona", plenty of notes in it, and it works for me when I'm a bit down. Or " Keep your Hands to Yourself"/Geogia Satellites. If bored, maybe play "The Trooper" hard to be bored with that one.
We all go through slumps. Maybe, if possible, treat yo self to a new Bass. Just shopping on Reverb is therapy for me. I've battled Depression for years, years. I still have to be aware. So, head up, and sometimes you just have to use music to cure what ailes ya..

 

[oysterphish]

Don't be negative on "overplaying" . if your jamming alone, everything goes right. ? OK, i think you also need to play along with "My Sharona", plenty of notes in it, and it works for me when I'm a bit down. Or " Keep your Hands to Yourself"/Geogia Satellites. If bored, maybe play "The Trooper" hard to be bored with that one.
We all go through slumps. Maybe, if possible, treat yo self to a new Bass. Just shopping on Reverb is therapy for me. I've battled Depression for years, years. I still have to be aware. So, head up, and sometimes you just have to use music to cure what ailes ya..

Just treated myself to a Fender Adam Clayton Sig..... Now I don't feel like I "deserve" it. That's a lotta $$$$ for playing like crap.

 

[Zooberwerx]

I’m a bassist and a therapist but I still don’t think I can help.

What did the psychiatrist say to the naked guy?…..”I can see yer nuts!”

Riis

 

[oysterphish]

I’m a bassist and a therapist but I still don’t think I can help.

What did the psychiatrist say to the naked guy?…..”I can see yer nuts!”

Riis

There has to be something to be said about being neurotic and perfection seeking being brutal for mental health, right? I'm bummed bass is causing that for me. Honestly, not sure why I care so much. It doesn't define me. I have a family and a career, but for some reason, this feels like it's the forefront of everything I do anymore. So weird.

 

[antfarm]

Maybe leave the Jazz alone for a while and play some Blues or Reggae?

 

[Element Zero]

Stop “studying” and go play with actual musicians. Not necessarily gigs, but at least some jams or find a start up with quality players. Ask your instructors for any leads for a gig maybe.

Personally, and I’m sure others feel different, but I think “practicing” is the worst thing a musician can do if they want to play music with other people. Playing music with other people who wanna play music with other people is the best thing for a musician who wants to play music with other people who want to play music with other people can do.

I didn’t mean to repeat myself so much but, hopefully it sinks in.

 

[prndltech]

No.


This site only exists to validate purchases you’ve already made and peer pressure you into the new ones you haven’t made… yet.

 

[mattj1stc]

To the original question, if you're studying bass intensely, as an academic subject, I can see how that might take some of the fun out of it. Even people who have deep passions and connections with what they study in college still often find themselves burned out, frustrated and feeling like they're not progressing. Try just jamming with friends for a bit. When playing with others, you usually figure out that everyone makes some mistakes, but you just keep playing and move on. When you're listening to just yourself, you'll become too focused on what's wrong. Try to make it fun again.

 

[DaveParker39]

I'm a bassist who is a therapist.

I will repeat something Laurence Shahlaei said about training for strongman.

"If you take advice from too many people, you will get confused."

In practice, get comfortable with messing up, lean into a little bit. If bass becomes annoying, put it down. Pick it back up when you feel you can approach it more gently on yourself. Don't let the flubs be a bad thing. Heck, mess up intentionally every once in a while.

 

[oysterphish]

Maybe leave the Jazz alone for a while and play some Blues or Reggae?

Loving your profile pic. I've been using Chameleon for some metronome practice. Love that tune, fun and easy.
The thing is....I'm good one blues. For some reason, jazz is easier for me right now. It the simple things. Modern worship music is kicking my but. I don't know if it's because it drones on and on. It's very easy, so I get bored and therefore lost. Not sure what's going on there....Again, seems like the easier the song, the more I freak out about fudging a wrong note. Going back that whole sports analogy. I'm choking at bat.

 

[Ralph Manak]

When things seem out of sorts, it can be helpful to get concrete and circumscribe goals. Too much information can be wonderful, but also can be detrimental without adequate focus and time for progress in any particular area.

To get concrete, which is also to slow down, identify a series of goals and take them one at a time. Some goals may take a few days, but to really get things solidly give things a month. Some may take much longer, but progress along the way will happen. Put goals and steps toward them in your calendar, and keep a journal of what happens with each practice session. In this way, you can track progress—not only problem areas that fall away (or seem to), but also can help identify specific issues you may not have noticed prior.

This seems like a lot of work, and it is, yet a record of what's going on affords better assessment and next actions than the feeling alone of going nowhere.