No Desire to Play Any Longer

[Dis Tournear]

I haven't touched my bass or guitar in about a year. There's no explanation. I loved playing and even plan on building a bass from a kit but, I just don't feel like getting the thing out.

Zero motivation. I bought some bass music books to work on since I've always enjoyed doing that but still don't feel like getting started.

This is the damndest thing. No, I'm not on any type of medication. Nope, not depressed. I loved playing bass - just can't do it right now.

Anybody else afflicted with this type of musical "impotence"????

Dont force it, take a year or 2 off where you may play for fun or not at all. Ive taken breaks from it for 5 years because of brain surgery. Still rockin. Maybe try to add a different instrument to your musical resume. You wont feel this way for ever. Bass and music is just to good to say never again. Cheers

 

[Marko 1]

Bass is an instrument that for most players, needs to be played with other musicians. Give me a band with a good drummer and I itch to play. Without it, it's hard to get the desire to play regularly for me.

Yep, no musicians to play with, the basses just hang on the wall.

I'll strum/pic guitar and sing listening-type and folkish songs (to myself), but can't really enjoy doing that with a bass.

 

[klaatu]

Well, retired and as I approach the age of 70 there's been the struggles to keep busy especially with my limited resources. There's been some stretches where I haven't played much. The good thing is that I started pretty late so there's a lot to learn. So, a few months ago I picked up a 3 string cigar box guitar to play around with. I think that playing an instrument is one of a list of things to keep doing that help us as we age.
Regarding the 3 string guitar. I thought learning how to play slide would be easy, not really!

 

[Auspuff]

I haven't touched my bass or guitar in about a year. There's no explanation. I loved playing and even plan on building a bass from a kit but, I just don't feel like getting the thing out.

Zero motivation. I bought some bass music books to work on since I've always enjoyed doing that but still don't feel like getting started.

This is the damndest thing. No, I'm not on any type of medication. Nope, not depressed. I loved playing bass - just can't do it right now.

Anybody else afflicted with this type of musical "impotence"????

Happened to me, when my band broke up.

Didn't touch my Bass, for 30-years.

Don't be like me.

 

[wysiwyg248]

Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.

 

[2thAche]

I haven't touched my bass or guitar in about a year.

Anybody else afflicted with this type of musical "impotence"????

Yea, I had that affliction from about 1996 when I got married, to 2019 when I started waking up with music in my head and decided to dust off a bass and guitar, get a midi pad, and start recording. Then COVID happened, and I found myself in a dad band with 2 neighbors. Now I regret ever stopping, and can't believe I didn't play for that long. BUT, maybe you just need a break if you're not enjoying it. I don't recommend breaking for 20+ years, but it's surprising how fast and *different* it will come back to you.

 

[Bassist59]

Wow! Thank you for the input everybody! I recently retired and hoped to finally get some time, peace and quiet to fully immerse myself in practice and playing. As most of you guys noted, when you're working and raising children, hobbies like playing bass become second priority - as it should be.

Oddly enough, once I finally have time to play, I don't really feel up to it! My idea of playing all day didn't happen.

I've been in bands before but nowadays I really don't know anybody else who plays. I also suffer from stage fright and can't play in front of anybody any more so I wouldn't want a band to depend on me only to have me choke on the first gig. I played with my church on guitar a few times but it was pretty much always a bad experience. The only way that would work is if I formed and led the group myself and I don't have the motivation to do that - not even close….

I play guitar as well as bass and I took a few lessons from an extremely accomplished somewhat famous player (he's famous in the guitar world) as a retirement present to myself. I couldn't play a damn thing, not even in front of my instructor - who is also a really good guy! I can play the frets off of it alone, haha! Ironic…. Being the pro that he is, he recommended several books on the subject of performing and practicing that I intend to get and read.

There's an informal singing group at the independent living community where I now work and I might try to help them out by playing along on acoustic guitar or even bass if it fits. That's one place where if I make a mistake, nobody's going to care. They just want to sing and play.

In the meantime, I'm going to shim the neck on my bass, get it set up, and try to get back at it. I am 100% satisfied with sitting down in the guest bedroom and practicing along with a metronome and an old bass instruction book. I really enjoy doing so but just gotta get the interest back.

I'll update you on any progress. If I need to abandon it for a few years, no big deal - as has been stated, it's just a hobby, but a great hobby that I hope to enjoy again eventually.

Keep playing, you guys!

 

[Hot Rats]

OT
What was your ex-brother-in-law's deal with unplugging your stuff? That's just weird. Sounds like your ex's whole family was made up of a bunch of nice folk.

When I married into the family and moved to the property of the family business, I set up a little corner of his weight lifting room which was an old 1 room shack on the property. Eventually he got upset about it and would do what he did.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

The 2nd band I was ever in playing bass was a reunited group where originally I was the drummer. Things seemed to be going well but then I was unceremoniously booted out. Long story short, I lost equipment and alot of money on the deal.

That event had me putting my bass in the case and throwing it under the bed, not to be touched for the next 3 years. It took some new contacts inviting me to play in a group at church that got my interest back. You just never know when the inspiration will come back.

 

[Bassist59]

The 2nd band I was ever in playing bass was a reunited group where originally I was the drummer. Things seemed to be going well but then I was unceremoniously booted out. Long story short, I lost equipment and alot of money on the deal.

That event had me putting my bass in the case and throwing it under the bed, not to be touched for the next 3 years. It took some new contacts inviting me to play in a group at church that got my interest back. You just never know when the inspiration will come back.

My experiences with other musicians have been weird as well.

I got invited to play at my church and before I even unpacked my bass or played a note, they were acting like *** are you doing here?

I'm burned out on flaky behavior that's why I don't think I'll ever be in a band again.

Maybe if I found one or two good dudes who could really play and didn't have behavior problems….yeah - not happening.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

My experiences with other musicians have been weird as well.

I got invited to play at my church and before I even unpacked my bass or played a note, they were acting like *** are you doing here?

I'm burned out on flaky behavior that's why I don't think I'll ever be in a band again.

Maybe if I found one or two good dudes who could really play and didn't have behavior problems….yeah - not happening.

I found two bandmates that were friends first and we've been having a blast. Maybe don't look to hard and you never know where/when that connection might be made. Just my experience, YMMV.

 

[Dis Tournear]

The 2nd band I was ever in playing bass was a reunited group where originally I was the drummer. Things seemed to be going well but then I was unceremoniously booted out. Long story short, I lost equipment and alot of money on the deal.

That event had me putting my bass in the case and throwing it under the bed, not to be touched for the next 3 years. It took some new contacts inviting me to play in a group at church that got my interest back. You just never know when the inspiration will come back.

Had some guy that wanted to work with my brother and I musically. The guys we went to jam with stole my bass, bass amp and my brothers double bass TAMA drum set and like 10 cymbals. There was nothing we could do about it. Never leave your stuff at someone else's house. Apparently that means you leave your stuff at home or don't go at all. School of hard knocks

 

[Bassist59]

I found two bandmates that were friends first and we've been having a blast. Maybe don't look to hard and you never know where/when that connection might be made. Just my experience, YMMV.

I'm not even interested in playing live anymore. The joy I get from playing bass is at the fundamental level - fretting and playing a G note on the E string, alternate plucking with the right hand that sounds good, even playing a scale or exercise in perfect time to the metronome. That's all I need.

Now to just get motivated enough to get it out of its case, lol!!!

 

[Dis Tournear]

A great, but expensive way to help with the motivation, sometimes just getting a new Bass or piece of equipment can recharge the batteries. 3 years you will hardly lose any skill, just lightly shake the dust off and continue. I am the same, just playing, writing, and recording do it for me, but gigs are a pain in the _ss.

 

[Bassist59]

Had some guy that wanted to work with my brother and I musically. The guys we went to jam with stole my bass, bass amp and my brothers double bass TAMA drum set and like 10 cymbals. There was nothing we could do about it. Never leave your stuff at someone else's house. Apparently that means you leave your stuff at home or don't go at all. School of hard knocks

Man! Straight up criminal behavior! Getting your stuff stolen - ok, you got me beat there, sorry to hear it.

 

[Dis Tournear]

I know the dude was growing lots of pot plants on his farm as well. I am too nice a person for my own good sometimes. Coulda had his as arrested for the cultivation, then went in and got our stuff. Shoulda, coulda, woulda ...didn't

 

[Dis Tournear]

The crappy part was the bass was an early 80 cij fretless jazz without the lines. I loved that bass!

 

[brianrost]

Anybody else afflicted with this type of musical "impotence"????

Only when I have no gigs on the horizon.

In 2020 I figured I'd really buckle down and catch up on studying, doing transcriptions and other stuff I usually had no time for. Instead, I hardly ever picked up a bass.

 

[Hambone70]

I'm gearing up to do this course. Really excited about it!

Acoustic Fingerstyle Guitar with Andy McKee

No PITA bandmates needed. The only person I need to get along with is me!

 

[Dis Tournear]

How much time do you dedicate to practice per day?