As the title says, playing is always frustrating. I'm not sure how long this has been going on but definitely for a while. I've been playing on my own for 11 years or so and have developed a lot in that time, but no matter what when i practice, i end up at the end of it feeling burned out, flustered, and frustrated. I feel like I need to be playing constantly or I won't be improving so I find myself picking up the bass while I'm already feeling this way and only exacerbating it. Has anyone else had this experience? I used to just be able to play the bass for hours and simply enjoy it. There's no way I'm giving it up, but this is truly troubling for me.
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Playing is always frustrating
- Thread starter Reflective
- Start date
I'm not quite the same; I get bored (sometimes frustrated) when I play alone for very long.
I remedied this problem by jamming songs in my room and learning new things every once and a while. If you feel like you need to improve, go learn some songs that are challenging.
I remedied this problem by jamming songs in my room and learning new things every once and a while. If you feel like you need to improve, go learn some songs that are challenging.
Maybe after playing it on your own for 11 years it's time to play with others?
You can only be so satisfied playing bass by yourself for so long.
Join a band - You'd be surprised at the vibe your bass playing will take on.
Or find someone to collaborate with on some songs for recording.
Do something...
You can only be so satisfied playing bass by yourself for so long.
Join a band - You'd be surprised at the vibe your bass playing will take on.
Or find someone to collaborate with on some songs for recording.
Do something...
I had problems like that manly because I don't havethe time I used to have to learn new stuff or my basses aren't well adjusted so I get frustrated because it doesn't play as well.
So I took them all and adjusted them and got a loop station and found some music I would love to learn and just does that when I feel like it, I don't pressure myself anymore anyway I don,t feel I have something to prove anymore.
So I took them all and adjusted them and got a loop station and found some music I would love to learn and just does that when I feel like it, I don't pressure myself anymore anyway I don,t feel I have something to prove anymore.
Don't practice for as long, give yourself a tight time-limit for each practice session with goals to achieve for that practice session...
Or take a break until you can't stand NoT playing and simply have to play.
"I feel like I need to be playing constantly or I won't be improving " ... that right there might be taking the fun out, if you feel obligated to practice.
It's "play"ing, not "work"ing, afterall.
Maybe you're burnt out and need a break!
Or take a break until you can't stand NoT playing and simply have to play.
"I feel like I need to be playing constantly or I won't be improving " ... that right there might be taking the fun out, if you feel obligated to practice.
It's "play"ing, not "work"ing, afterall.
Maybe you're burnt out and need a break!
I'll put it simply. You need a break. Take time off to stop and look for inspiration.
When I feel this way, I put the bass down and do something else. There are times not playing can be beneficial, as you come back to it with a fresh take. Also, as other suggested, join a band, and if possible play with musicians that are better then you. You will learn a lot, and develop skills that you just can't put into practice by yourself.
It's supposed to be FUN. If it's not, take a break.
Also consider taking some lessons, if you're not currently. A good teacher can give you some fresh perspective, some challenges, to "break your frame" and bring back the old spark.
Good luck.
Also consider taking some lessons, if you're not currently. A good teacher can give you some fresh perspective, some challenges, to "break your frame" and bring back the old spark.
Good luck.
it could be the sign that you actually are improving, and/or
you're 'stepping' too fast than you supposed to be in your practice -need to be patient more with your progress/practice stage, sometime even need to relearn from the easier step than you think you already are, and/or
your practice need more variations, and/or
you need to 'play' (fun) more, perhaps jamming with other people, and/or
you really need to steps away sometime from your bass, 'get a life', before coming back to it.
Try learning another instrument (keyboard or an acoustic guitar are good,) when you come back to bass you will be a lot fresher and will probably approach it in a slightly different way.
Or get out to some jam nights and sit in with others. Be prepared to be asked to back the guitarist who cannot count a 12 bar when he gets soloing.
Or get out to some jam nights and sit in with others. Be prepared to be asked to back the guitarist who cannot count a 12 bar when he gets soloing.
When I practice, if I play everything correctly right off the bat, I feel like I'm not practicing correctly. When you practice what you don't know (which is what practicing is), then it is hard and it is work. The fun comes when you work on something for a long time, and then get it down cold. Practicing should be challenging. That's what makes you a better player.
Yep, I agree with pretty much everything posted so far. I've played in the same band for going on 16 years, I'd have long ago burnt out (and so would have everyone else) if we didn't take a hiatus once in awhile. Other times I got a second band going with different folks just to change the scenery/get away from the same old, same old. I've also been known to put down the bass and pick up the guitar, or make hideous noises on the wife's violin, or make the drummer pay for his sins by teaching me some drumming... After recording and touring this year, I was getting a little verklempt again, so I've been touring the pawn shops looking for a victim for some amateur luthery... The singer and I were talking last week, next time he get's frustrated, we're going to start a country cover band (we both mainly have done punk original acts.)
But don't underestimate the recuperative power of a plain old break...
But don't underestimate the recuperative power of a plain old break...
Yes, another instrument and jamming circles will put some more spark in your musical life. The fiddle and clarinet were some of my other instruments that did not take, but, I had fun trying and did learn something from both.
Acoustic rhythm can be had for almost nothing, if cost is an issue. Electric keyboards with all the bells and whistles you will ever need go for $200.
Good luck which ever way you go.
The most important thing to remember is that progress comes from deliberate practice. That is to say, if you practice deliberately, then you will get better.
Have a plan for your practice time. Decide on something specific to work on and have a clear set of exercises that support that goal, and an amount of time that you will spend on those exercises. Something like "10 minutes working on right hand alternate plucking", "15 minutes working on scales in various positions", etc. You don't need to judge your performance or evaluate whether you're better or worse than yesterday--you just need to do the exercises. Check them off the list as a gesture that you have indeed done the work. The progress will come at it's own pace. If the exercises themselves are too challenging, practice them more slowly. They should be a little bit challenging but still do-able.
For the rest of the practice session, do things that you find more relaxing, like learning tunes, playing along with a track, etc.
Have a plan for your practice time. Decide on something specific to work on and have a clear set of exercises that support that goal, and an amount of time that you will spend on those exercises. Something like "10 minutes working on right hand alternate plucking", "15 minutes working on scales in various positions", etc. You don't need to judge your performance or evaluate whether you're better or worse than yesterday--you just need to do the exercises. Check them off the list as a gesture that you have indeed done the work. The progress will come at it's own pace. If the exercises themselves are too challenging, practice them more slowly. They should be a little bit challenging but still do-able.
For the rest of the practice session, do things that you find more relaxing, like learning tunes, playing along with a track, etc.
Sounds like an mental focus problem.
If you are worrying about weather or not you are improving and getting frustrated, then you are not focusing on what you're currently doing.
Stop focusing on weather or not you are improving and start focusing on the music.
If you are worrying about weather or not you are improving and getting frustrated, then you are not focusing on what you're currently doing.
Stop focusing on weather or not you are improving and start focusing on the music.
Thanks all for the excellent responses. I will take a break. As for playing with other people, I have given it a shot before but my social anxiety makes it more unpleasant than its worth - and I'm not really sure how to get past that
I have friends who do online collaborating. I haven't done it myself, but from what I understand people record riffs and ideas and share them with the group. You can then expand on those ideas and maybe a song comes out. Everyone has a different way of looking at things, so you will naturally pick up things (styles, etc.) you hadn't thought about before.
