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Quitting the band...now what

W

Whale guy

Jul 12, 2018
405
584
#1
I will resign from my band this week. I've been with these guys for almost 20 years. It's still fun and rewarding, but life has gotten so crazy that I need to lighten my load.

Here's where I need your input. I still very much want to practice and grow musically. What can I do for inspiration? Has anyone experienced this?

It may not be a big deal. I just don't want to set my bass down, get rusty and lose skills that I have worked for.

Many thanks for your thoughts.
 
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#3
Just jam, man. Maybe snag a little drum machine and just play along/improvise and record your jams to listen back to and put little songs together. That's what I've been doing as all my buddies have kids/families/jobs that prevent us from jamming together often. Maybe pick up another instrument too. Fooling around with synths has added some much needed inspiration for me
 
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#6
Whale guy said:
I will resign from my band this week. I've been with these guys for almost 20 years. It's still fun and rewarding, but life has gotten so crazy that I need to lighten my load.

Here's where I need your input. I still very much want to practice and grow musically. What can I do for inspiration? Has anyone experienced this?

It may not be a big deal. I just don't want to set my bass down, get rusty and lose skills that I have worked for.

Many thanks for your thoughts.
Click to expand...
Vacation cruise! Maybe you could sit in with the band.
 
#8
First of all, have a few days or weeks off to reorganize your personal life both in and out of music (the Vacation cruise would be cool!).

Later, think what do you like about music and how do you feel it. And just then, decice your next steps (that are personal to you). A few ideas:

· Join a new band, maybe a hobby band or a more relaxed one where you just need to rehearse time to time and play live a few times a year.

· Try new genres new to you, even in smaller bands and formats. Did you play rock in the past? Then why not try to go on in a duo with a folk songwritter?

· Learn a new instrument. Maybe an instrument close to and with synergies to the bass (guitar, keyboard, double bass) or maybe another completely different (a wind instrument, sax or clarinet, like Flea or Marcus Miller).

· Compose your own music, lyrics and songs. Maybe you could even set a small home studio and record your songs.

· If you're able to record yourself from home (just need a PC and an audio interface like Focusrite), you can still play and record other people original songs in webs like kompoz.com (it's an online music collaboration platform).
 
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#11
There's nothing like playing live to keep you sharp. But rehersals with good musicians work too.
Get together with drummer and keys (or guitar) player and work on instrumental music of any genre.
Keep schedule light, but steady. In months, you could have self-produced album - something to be proud of. Doesn't have to be fancy master-work, just something you like.
 
#13
I was fired over 10 years ago from a band i really loved. I felt betrayed. I have fun practicing on my own. Sometimes its good to not deal with people and stuff they can bring. I have impoved because i practice other songs besides the songs for the band.
 
#15
Whale guy said:
That is the best idea in history. Thank you.
Click to expand...
Well, I was actually joking(hence the exclamation point exaggeration), partially because of the reason brought up in the previous post above, and, who has that kind of money right now anyway? I don’t. What I would seriously suggest besides finding another band(and you should), and in spite of the horror stories, is to seek out a quality blues jam(or similar)in your area. It doesn’t matter if you’re not versed in the genre, and if you find knowledgeable players, it’s not just I-IV-V 12-bar, you should learn something every time you go. It keeps the juices flowing and fingers loose, plus prompting you to think on your feet. Blues lines/riffs are the basic vocabulary of all sorts of genres, and the experience will enhance what you will be bringing to your next band. It’s like an athelete that continues to train in off-season.

I’m lucky in that I know some people who are seriously into it and run one that I occasionally go to. They know their stuff, and didn’t learning it from rock radio. They don’t suffer lightly any Stevie Ray Vannabe showing up for Strat wanking, yet at the same time some left field tunes get called, from classic reggae to Al Green. You have to challenge yourself, and play for others. I never saw the point in anything else…music isn’t just for you, but also to share to other people.
 
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#18
A band I was in imploded on Thursday evening and I just quit one band an hour ago.
So this post is good timing.
In the mean time, I'll be throwing myself into improving technique and trying different styles of music
 
#19
GonBass80 said:
First of all, have a few days or weeks off to reorganize your personal life both in and out of music (the Vacation cruise would be cool!).

Later, think what do you like about music and how do you feel it. And just then, decice your next steps (that are personal to you). A few ideas:

· Join a new band, maybe a hobby band or a more relaxed one where you just need to rehearse time to time and play live a few times a year.

· Try new genres new to you, even in smaller bands and formats. Did you play rock in the past? Then why not try to go on in a duo with a folk songwritter?

· Learn a new instrument. Maybe an instrument close to and with synergies to the bass (guitar, keyboard, double bass) or maybe another completely different (a wind instrument, sax or clarinet, like Flea or Marcus Miller).

· Compose your own music, lyrics and songs. Maybe you could even set a small home studio and record your songs.

· If you're able to record yourself from home (just need a PC and an audio interface like Focusrite), you can still play and record other people original songs in webs like kompoz.com (it's an online music collaboration platform).
Click to expand...
I knew what you said was in fun. I just wish I could.
 

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