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No Desire to Play Any Longer
- Thread starter Bassist59
- Start date
I think you are right. I bought a beautiful ESP guitar when I retired but it didn't quite do the trick. I rebuilt an old bass and am getting it set up. Once I get motivated enough, I think playing it will be fun.
I think what's gonna get me moving is my desire to learn this obscure lesson book (I started a thread on old books a while back):
I am serious! This looks like fun.
Now to get moving on it…..
The old books and trying to read bass clef standard notation is what'll get me motivated. A while back I learned both Mel Bay volumes 1 and 2 then completed the sequel, "Position Studies".
At the end of "Position Studies" there's an original composition by the author, Roger Filiberto. I learned the bass parts to that song back in 2008. If I get the guitar part down, then somehow get it recorded with me playing both, that'd be seriously motivating!
I must ponder this some more…..old forgotten music for bass that nobody plays anymore…I love that idea!
Well I see you just can't walk away from your low end responsibilities that easily
I went through that Filberto book when I was kid and got another copy a few years ago. Really learned a lot.I have both of those mel bays and lots others. If your into really into it get a good book and technique and work 15 minutes a days. Even if you think your chops are the great. Worst case you get a refresher. Best you improve your economy of motion. You be reading and playing at speed. Don't let anyone hear you, they will houd you join their band lol. I have books recommendation I can even loan out at others shipping costs.
Those are difficult for a kid to learn and keep them interested, you must be really good. I learned with a couple years of forced at gun point piano lessons for 2 years when 9-11, I was not even a teen. Years later when I was 15 I went in and said I want to play in the orch and I was going to play double bass. They kind looked at me with an humors look and said OK. We will give you a tryout after school. I barley made it in. And then it was hang on for dear life, sink or swim. It took a while, but eventually I was site reading before the first year ended. They gave me an award that they give kids in the 5th grade cause that is when most people start instead of 15. Mt senior year I made 1st chair. Then I joined a local collage jazz band and after a year of that I could read anything but my technique was slop on electric bass(late teens). That is always an option to join local college jazz setting. I played in 2 and wasn't taking any classes. They needed a bass player so there it is ... my journey with reading. I am sure I am rusty now since I rarely do it now days. I go by ear, did then too.Well I see you just can't walk away from your low end responsibilities that easily
This is an interesting topic. Thanks for sharing and getting the ball rolling OP! I'm enjoying reading through the responses.
I think most of us are hobbyists, and it's pretty natural for interest in non-survival tasks to wax and wane.
I've played music for 30+ years. Cycled through various instruments (brass, bass, keys, guitar…) and modalities (gigging, jamming, just for me…)
Most of that time I've had some instrumental interaction in my daily or weekly life. But definitely periods where I just didn't touch anything for a while. Bass specifically, I enjoy as an ensemble instrument. In the early pandemic, I poured myself into electric guitar, because it was new, growth was rapid, and I didn't wish I was playing with people! Keys is another one that I found really fulfilling to just work on solo.
Best of luck to you, @Bassist59 wherever your road takes you!
I think most of us are hobbyists, and it's pretty natural for interest in non-survival tasks to wax and wane.
I've played music for 30+ years. Cycled through various instruments (brass, bass, keys, guitar…) and modalities (gigging, jamming, just for me…)
Most of that time I've had some instrumental interaction in my daily or weekly life. But definitely periods where I just didn't touch anything for a while. Bass specifically, I enjoy as an ensemble instrument. In the early pandemic, I poured myself into electric guitar, because it was new, growth was rapid, and I didn't wish I was playing with people! Keys is another one that I found really fulfilling to just work on solo.
Best of luck to you, @Bassist59 wherever your road takes you!
I also didn't own an electric bass until my early 20's so my technique sucked. When I bought a bass, I have been chasing technique mostly with song writing every since 30+ years as well which means we are over the hill. Going through the ray brown bass book as well because it teaches you to read, but also usable music theory. Play some jazz in F#m. You go through that book and you can do it on the spot and do it well. Warning the book was meant for double bass. The only difference is that when using the the 4th finger will always be supported with the 3rd finger is used for support. They label the fingering as 124 but it's really 123 and then 34. Anyway my practice/ writing setup. Cheers
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The really cool thing is when you join a college jazz band you practice maybe 2 hours a week with the band and practice on your own as well. They will generally have an amp there for you. Maybe not what you love to have but functional. You only have maybe 3 or 4 gigs over a semester. Fun and doesn't suck up all of your time. You can be ready with basic tech. know all the notes on your bass, basic reading skills. Jump in head first and see what happens. Play simple until you are confident.
I've been kind of lightly poking my nose into this thread for a while, because I've gone through some long, depressing "dry spells" now and then.
One suggestion I haven't seen (I may have missed it) is to pick up a book of classical transcriptions for bass guitar. Bach cello suites are deep music that let you stretch out your musicianship, and you don't need a band to play them.
B.
One suggestion I haven't seen (I may have missed it) is to pick up a book of classical transcriptions for bass guitar. Bach cello suites are deep music that let you stretch out your musicianship, and you don't need a band to play them.
B.
I have had a break for about 10 years because of various issues, parents dying, cats dying one by one that I loved like they were my kids, getting a job that requires 70% travel, Then a massive brain aneurysm that killed me literally, stroked out and died on the table and they couldn't reintubate me. Sawed a nice big hole in my head. Took them 10 minutes to revive me and my brains should be cooked without oxygen for so long, so its been a long road for me. My left side was paralyzed. I slowly gained use of my left side. No sag in my face etc. I am left with a week left hand and I exercise it every day and it keeps getting stronger. I can play mostly except my pinky is weak as FXXX. Anyway life happens and I am ready to get back to it.
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For those that need a break, don't even sweat it ...really. It will all come back quickly and I agree with just about everyone on that. LIFE HAPPENS. If you're a rock star it might be a problem. If you force it, it will most likely give you a psychological issue called Bass Guilt. Don't go there. Somebody I saw posting that they worried about a year off lol. Take another year off! You have my permission and I don't look at you any differently than any other musician. Everyone hear it looks feel united on this. You can still post and read TalkBass though ...
This is a huge part of why I play in multiple bands. When one band gets weird, it won't rock my entire music world to be rid of them. And it's also going to take some time to figure out where the weirdness is in any band - and it's always there - and decide if it's worth putting up with. Sometimes it is, and sometimes it isn't. But if I'm in three other bands that all play no more than once or twice a month, it's no big deal to leave one.
That makes a lot of sense.
I'm in one band and we rehearse every week (unless we're playing out). Our group dynamics gets weird every now and them but we always find a way to get back on track.
Your situation of being in several bands that play infrequently seems ideal when dealing with weird band moments.* 'Course weirdness may not get resolved directly but indirectly through time (i.e. not seeing each other for a week or three).
Come to think of it, I'm in a church band (many rotating members) and I rarely play with some of them for months. Although we don't run into issues (that I know of), I could see where distance can help dissolve weirdness.
*Weird Band Moments. Yeah I'd go see a band named that!
(sorry for the momentary derail!)Busy players set their monthly limit as to how many dates they will take, and thats probably about 2 gigs per band per month.
So if one person has a spikey personality you only have to put up with them twice a month ..and their ability is probably worth it.
So if one person has a spikey personality you only have to put up with them twice a month ..and their ability is probably worth it.
Hambone70
If you are talking finger style on guitar it is easier than you think. Basically you use your th, ind, middle, and ring finger to play the strings for 90% of the heavy lifting, 1234,1234, rinse repeat. So if you get that far and you will quicker than you think you will have most of the basics worked out. With 4 fingers you can play any triad with the 7th added. If you want a 5 note chord then you will need that 5th finger. I would recommend a classical guitar to start, even a cheap one. Easier to fret and play while you learn the basics. Then Acoustic Guitar will be harder yet but this is what is recorded most for finger style. Good news if you play it on a strat after an acoustic it almost plays it self and feels like butter as they say. A very good reason to use finger style is to have chords played that are not possible to play with a pick. A pick has to use adjacent strings when building a chord and usually consists of playing all 6 strings with notes you cant change because of the shape. Finger style lets you choose how and what you play. Dm D,F,A, most people will play the dm chord and use all 6 strings on a guitar they learned from a chord shape. Maybe I only want the basic triad maybe the 7th and the 9th ... good luck with a pick. 30 minutes a day is nothing. Maybe an hour on weekends. Do not, I repeat, do not neglect that bass, they get pissed when you do that. I give you 3 months and you will be jamming on your on stuff finger style.
If you are talking finger style on guitar it is easier than you think. Basically you use your th, ind, middle, and ring finger to play the strings for 90% of the heavy lifting, 1234,1234, rinse repeat. So if you get that far and you will quicker than you think you will have most of the basics worked out. With 4 fingers you can play any triad with the 7th added. If you want a 5 note chord then you will need that 5th finger. I would recommend a classical guitar to start, even a cheap one. Easier to fret and play while you learn the basics. Then Acoustic Guitar will be harder yet but this is what is recorded most for finger style. Good news if you play it on a strat after an acoustic it almost plays it self and feels like butter as they say. A very good reason to use finger style is to have chords played that are not possible to play with a pick. A pick has to use adjacent strings when building a chord and usually consists of playing all 6 strings with notes you cant change because of the shape. Finger style lets you choose how and what you play. Dm D,F,A, most people will play the dm chord and use all 6 strings on a guitar they learned from a chord shape. Maybe I only want the basic triad maybe the 7th and the 9th ... good luck with a pick. 30 minutes a day is nothing. Maybe an hour on weekends. Do not, I repeat, do not neglect that bass, they get pissed when you do that. I give you 3 months and you will be jamming on your on stuff finger style.
