No Desire to Play Any Longer

[juggahnaught]

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”????

Yeah, I'm feeling it.

Like others here, I think it's worth it to try to be in multiple groups - it's hard to get the money, music, and hang from one group, but it's not difficult to find one of each in different groups - but lately, music has just been a chore.

I'm still playing, but I kind of don't want to.

Lately, the only thing that's really making it worthwhile is the money, and as such, I've slowly been starting to change my musician's profile to reflect that. However, even that, I'm a bit sour on - because it's not just about the money; it's about the time spent vs the money earned. My Sunday gig has been worth it lately, but nothing else has.

I've been considering selling my Markbass CMD121P, since I don't really use it. I've also been considering selling my Helix (since I own the Stomp) and a lot of other stuff. If I found a group that paid weil and had a busy schedule, I'd just buy the gear I needed and be done with it.

I guess that right now, the only reason I continue doing musical stuff is because I really don't do much else. Music has been a hobby, a job, a form of creativity, and a means of socializing. But lately, man....it just doesn't feel like the rewards (whatever they are) aren't worth the commitment.

 

[Dis Tournear]

Yeah, I'm feeling it.

Like others here, I think it's worth it to try to be in multiple groups - it's hard to get the money, music, and hang from one group, but it's not difficult to find one of each in different groups - but lately, music has just been a chore.

I'm still playing, but I kind of don't want to.

Lately, the only thing that's really making it worthwhile is the money, and as such, I've slowly been starting to change my musician's profile to reflect that. However, even that, I'm a bit sour on - because it's not just about the money; it's about the time spent vs the money earned. My Sunday gig has been worth it lately, but nothing else has.

I've been considering selling my Markbass CMD121P, since I don't really use it. I've also been considering selling my Helix (since I own the Stomp) and a lot of other stuff. If I found a group that paid weil and had a busy schedule, I'd just buy the gear I needed and be done with it.

I guess that right now, the only reason I continue doing musical stuff is because I really don't do much else. Music has been a hobby, a job, a form of creativity, and a means of socializing. But lately, man....it just doesn't feel like the rewards (whatever they are) aren't worth the commitment.

You probably like pizza and ice cream? Oh so so so good! Could you eat it every day for a year? Doubt it. Variety is the spice of life. If you need the money then gig. If it is causing a rift between you and your bass. I would look for other work for maybe a year and take some time off.

 

[pepj]

I dont think trying to work through it will work.
Burn out is real, ime, so you need to get the spark back and cut out what is draining you.

Unless you can aporoach music robotically, you'll put the spark out for longer.

 

[jamro217]

We're humans first and foremost, musicians second and bassists third. This isn't counting all of the other facets of life like occupations, family relations... As humans we need to experience new things and challenges. if you get in a musical rut, you may not realize it's a rut and mistake it for a lack of desire. Eventually there will be something that kick starts your enthusiasm for playing again, whether it's a song on the radio you haven't heard for decades or a new one you like. Could even be an idea for a song you write. Don't get rid of your gear, you'll need it again. Hope this helps.

 

[Dadum]

You could try give bass guitar lessons. Some people find out that they enjoy teaching.

Maybe you need a new style of bass playing like Latin or acoustic.

Learning drums can help with timing and subdivisions. What you learn will apply back to bass guitar.

 

[Bassist59]

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.

Dis Tournear, I’m glad you’re with us, brother! You’re definitely here for a reason so keep doing what you’re doing.

Thanks for the responses and sharing your experiences, guys.

I left out something that’s probably important - I set a goal of mastering “Extreme Metal Bass” by Alex Webster a couple of years ago. The goal was 100 hours of practice from that book only within a 90 day period.

I did the 100 hours, was able to play almost everything in the book, but was burned to a crisp afterward. Didn’t want to touch the thing afterward and still really don’t.

I did this s**t to myself. Hearing your insights and experiences is motivating. I do not consider myself a good player because when it’s showtime, I usually choke and can’t play.

I have one idea that might be a success. I work at a nursing home now and at the end of every day we serve a glass of wine or two to the residents (Happy Hour). It might be appropriate for me to play bass along with the Mel Bay CD. One of the tracks and songs from the Roger Filiberto Mel Bay books is actually the bass line for “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy From Company C”. When I heard the boogie woogie song, I realized - hey! What is that?!? I’ve played that a least 500 times!!

I could play along with that song and I bet they’d like it while they’re drinking their wine. If I pull that off, I’ll be out of the slump. It’d take some serious guts because I get nervous when I pull the bass or guitar out.

Well - you guys keep playing. Thanks for motivating me, I’ll try to get back at it.

 

[Dis Tournear]

You could try give bass guitar lessons. Some people find out that they enjoy teaching.

Maybe you need a new style of bass playing like Latin or acoustic.

Learning drums can help with timing and subdivisions. What you learn will apply back to bass guitar.

I did that for a while, maybe 2 years. I found that these kids want to be rock stars, but they won't practice. You have to keep repeating lessons and then they lose complete interest. Not all are like that though, just more than I would like.

 

[Dis Tournear]

Dis Tournear, I’m glad you’re with us, brother! You’re definitely here for a reason so keep doing what you’re doing.

Thanks for the responses and sharing your experiences, guys.

I left out something that’s probably important - I set a goal of mastering “Extreme Metal Bass” by Alex Webster a couple of years ago. The goal was 100 hours of practice from that book only within a 90 day period.

I did the 100 hours, was able to play almost everything in the book, but was burned to a crisp afterward. Didn’t want to touch the thing afterward and still really don’t.

I did this s**t to myself. Hearing your insights and experiences is motivating. I do not consider myself a good player because when it’s showtime, I usually choke and can’t play.

I have one idea that might be a success. I work at a nursing home now and at the end of every day we serve a glass of wine or two to the residents (Happy Hour). It might be appropriate for me to play bass along with the Mel Bay CD. One of the tracks and songs from the Roger Filiberto Mel Bay books is actually the bass line for “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy From Company C”. When I heard the boogie woogie song, I realized - hey! What is that?!? I’ve played that a least 500 times!!

I could play along with that song and I bet they’d like it while they’re drinking their wine. If I pull that off, I’ll be out of the slump. It’d take some serious guts because I get nervous when I pull the bass or guitar out.

Well - you guys keep playing. Thanks for motivating me, I’ll try to get back at it.

That's funny, old people mosh pit .. chairs being thrown, no but seriously I new a dude that went to Grove School of music for their 1 year coarse and they worked him to the point when he graduated, put his guitar in his closet when he got home, and didn't play for like 3 years. Its real. Your choice. Sometime we don't know what hurts us until after the fact.

 

[Bassist59]

….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.

A “spikey personality”. What that means to me is usually a jealous musician - somebody who is envious of the new guy who came in and is a better player. I’m not that great a player but think that’s the problem 90% of the time.

It happens in the workplace as well, of course.

Its a shame because when everybody is in perfect tune, hitting the same chord at the same time, your group is happening!!!! The “spikey personality” guys need to buckle down, practice more, and not worry about the other guys in the band.

There’s always somebody like that in every group!

 

[Bassist59]

That's funny, old people mosh pit .. chairs being thrown, no but seriously I new a dude that went to Grove School of music for their 1 year coarse and they worked him to the point when he graduated, put his guitar in his closet when he got home, and didn't play for like 3 years. Its real. Your choice. Sometime we don't know what hurts us until after the fact.

Oh - dude…I am an anomaly. Retired law enforcement, Christian, but I love metal music. I also enjoy learning the old stuff on bass and guitar that’s as far removed from metal as it gets. Doesn’t make a bit of sense but at this stage in life…who gives a s**t?

 

[Dis Tournear]

Do your own thing there are churches that have metal bands play at church. No arresting necessary, well maybe if the mosh pit gets out of control!! Start the song with I dedicate this song to grandma and grandpa. They will all turn their head because they are all grand parents! Now you got their attention. Let the low frequencies flow and wigs are blown off because of the sub woofer.

 

[pepj]

A “spikey personality”. What that means to me is usually a jealous musician - somebody who is envious of the new guy who came in and is a better player. I’m not that great a player but think that’s the problem 90% of the time.

It happens in the workplace as well, of course.

Its a shame because when everybody is in perfect tune, hitting the same chord at the same time, your group is happening!!!! The “spikey personality” guys need to buckle down, practice more, and not worry about the other guys in the band.

There’s always somebody like that in every group!

I didn't mean it like that..
I mean that person has an opinion and you'll know about it. I don't have a problem with 'opinions' if its condusive.
And these people do tend to play to a very high level indeed, which is why you tolerate them at all.

 

[Hambone70]

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.

Thanks for the helpful words!

 

[glocke1]

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”????

i am right there with you to some extent. The thrill is gone more or less mainly because the gigs I am getting just aren't what I think should be getting at this point and the gigs I do get often have one too many embarrassing moments that should not happen (singers singing flat/in the wrong key, B/L launching into some tune none of us were prepared to play, etc...etc...).

The time and effort it takes to find other people that want to play music or just jam for fun on some riffs is another thing. I am finding it impossible to find anyone locally that is flexible and wants to create music. There are people local to me that have VERY specific ideas of what they want to do and are pretty inflexible, they aren't even interested in meeting halfway on things.


It's a bummer...but it hasn't killed my interest in bass or music. I still enjoy working on bass and music stuff, but at this point I am not seeing too much of a point in actively pursuing gigs or new playing opportunities. The effort I've put into doing so thus far just hasn't paid off, even in the pre-covid world.

 

[Nashrakh]

I did that for a while, maybe 2 years. I found that these kids want to be rock stars, but they won't practice. You have to keep repeating lessons and then they lose complete interest. Not all are like that though, just more than I would like.

That's pretty much the experience of anyone I know who teaches an instrument (outside of a proper music school). I've thought about teaching myself for a while, but decided against it exactly because of the things you describe. I just couldn't handle the frustration of banging my head against a wall, which is something I don't want to do if it's not my day job.

 

[Bassist59]

i am right there with you to some extent. The thrill is gone more or less mainly because the gigs I am getting just aren't what I think should be getting at this point and the gigs I do get often have one too many embarrassing moments that should not happen (singers singing flat/in the wrong key, B/L launching into some tune none of us were prepared to play, etc...etc...).

The time and effort it takes to find other people that want to play music or just jam for fun on some riffs is another thing. I am finding it impossible to find anyone locally that is flexible and wants to create music……
.

Yes - you struck a nerve….I abandoned the idea of ever trying to play along with other musicians a long, long time ago.

I’m actually a guitar player who happens to enjoy playing bass. In bands, I was always the guitarist and it seems like every bassist we had could barely play. It was beyond stressful because when the low end is off, the whole band sounds like a bunch of clowns.

I found I had to sit down with the bassist and make sure he was playing the right notes to whatever song we were playing. There were two or three “bassists” like this. Walking bass lines? Forget it! If the guy could just play the root note of each chord at the right time, good enough!

We still mostly sounded bad because of that. The embarrassment and potential for embarrassment has prevented me from performing. The only way I’ll ever perform again is if I’m playing along with a backing track or playing 100% unaccompanied….pretty tough to pull off on bass.

If you find out where all the musicians are, let me know. I literally know no one who plays. I don’t see how Guitar Center stays in business. I don’t think kids under 20 play anymore, I think it’s us guys from the ‘70s and ‘80s buying guitars.

Maybe I’m wrong. Playing just for the fun of it in the guest room is good enough - that is if I ever get motivated enough to get it out of its case ever again, lol….

 

[Dis Tournear]

Yes - you struck a nerve….I abandoned the idea of ever trying to play along with other musicians a long, long time ago.

I’m actually a guitar player who happens to enjoy playing bass. In bands, I was always the guitarist and it seems like every bassist we had could barely play. It was beyond stressful because when the low end is off, the whole band sounds like a bunch of clowns.

I found I had to sit down with the bassist and make sure he was playing the right notes to whatever song we were playing. There were two or three “bassists” like this. Walking bass lines? Forget it! If the guy could just play the root note of each chord at the right time, good enough!

We still mostly sounded bad because of that. The embarrassment and potential for embarrassment has prevented me from performing. The only way I’ll ever perform again is if I’m playing along with a backing track or playing 100% unaccompanied….pretty tough to pull off on bass.

If you find out where all the musicians are, let me know. I literally know no one who plays. I don’t see how Guitar Center stays in business. I don’t think kids under 20 play anymore, I think it’s us guys from the ‘70s and ‘80s buying guitars.

Maybe I’m wrong. Playing just for the fun of it in the guest room is good enough - that is if I ever get motivated enough to get it out of its case ever again, lol….

You seem kind of depressed about this and I can relate. Finding a good drummer has seemed impossible except my brother who is basically Neil Peart in skill. We both want to be in other bands though. I am not sure what to say but keep on doing what you are doing and you may impress a musician that you seek in the audience that will approach you after the performance. Never know?.....!...?

 

[glocke1]

Yes - you struck a nerve….I abandoned the idea of ever trying to play along with other musicians a long, long time ago.

I’m actually a guitar player who happens to enjoy playing bass. In bands, I was always the guitarist and it seems like every bassist we had could barely play. It was beyond stressful because when the low end is off, the whole band sounds like a bunch of clowns.

I found I had to sit down with the bassist and make sure he was playing the right notes to whatever song we were playing. There were two or three “bassists” like this. Walking bass lines? Forget it! If the guy could just play the root note of each chord at the right time, good enough!

We still mostly sounded bad because of that. The embarrassment and potential for embarrassment has prevented me from performing. The only way I’ll ever perform again is if I’m playing along with a backing track or playing 100% unaccompanied….pretty tough to pull off on bass.

If you find out where all the musicians are, let me know. I literally know no one who plays. I don’t see how Guitar Center stays in business. I don’t think kids under 20 play anymore, I think it’s us guys from the ‘70s and ‘80s buying guitars.

Maybe I’m wrong. Playing just for the fun of it in the guest room is good enough - that is if I ever get motivated enough to get it out of its case ever again, lol….

Just because other people make creating music " unpleasant or difficult", isn't ( to me at least ) a reason to stop playing entirely. As I said, at the moment I find the whole process of finding other people to jam with and keeping that going to be something that I just don't want to deal with, and the biggest factor there is the driving I'd have to do for that..At this point I'd basically be looking at 45 minutes to an hour to get to someone else who wants to play and thats after getting home from work which is a 70 minute commute one way. A few years ago I'd be up for going out after doing that drive, but at this point I just don't have it in me to do that.

There are a lot of fun things you can do solo on bass at home. Working on my reading and doing various metronome drills gives me a sense of fulfillment, as does messing around with effects and creating different sonic textures.

Of course, sometimes you just need to put it all away for a little bit and come back...

Another random thought is that instead of getting down about this is to look at it as opportunity to focus on something you aren't strong at musically. For me, this current period of not having any gigs lined up, or anyone to even jam with is an opportunity to possibly work on piano stuff, ear training, or dive back into all the synth stuff I bought during the covid shutdowns and seldom use.

 

[Bassist59]

Just because other people make creating music " unpleasant or difficult", isn't ( to me at least ) a reason to stop playing entirely. As I said, at the moment I find the whole process of finding other people to jam with and keeping that going to be something that I just don't want to deal with, and the biggest factor there is the driving I'd have to do for that..At this point I'd basically be looking at 45 minutes to an hour to get to someone else who wants to play and thats after getting home from work which is a 70 minute commute one way. A few years ago I'd be up for going out after doing that drive, but at this point I just don't have it in me to do that.

There are a lot of fun things you can do solo on bass at home. Working on my reading and doing various metronome drills gives me a sense of fulfillment, as does messing around with effects and creating different sonic textures.

Of course, sometimes you just need to put it all away for a little bit and come back...

Another random thought is that instead of getting down about this is to look at it as opportunity to focus on something you aren't strong at musically. For me, this current period of not having any gigs lined up, or anyone to even jam with is an opportunity to possibly work on piano stuff, ear training, or dive back into all the synth stuff I bought during the covid shutdowns and seldom use.

Sorry guys - let me clarify. I’m not depressed about not having gigs or not knowing anybody who plays. That’s just an observation. I really did enjoy getting up early, drinking a cup of coffee and sitting down with the metronome and some music and playing bass or guitar. Sometimes even playing unplugged. That’s the extent of it nowadays and I’m good with just that. Mastering a piece of music, increasing the tempo, playing with skill, etc. that’s what it’s all about now.

Come to think of it, I could have played with some guys a while back but I don’t need that stress right now.

I’ll let y’all know if I get off my unmotivated butt and get back at it.