Tomorrow is not promised.

[Turn Em Loose]

The great cellist Pablo Casals was once interviewed by a young reporter. The interview was set in the morning and as the young man went to knock on the door of Casal's hotel room he heard the sound of the great man practicing. Once he was admitted, his first question to Casals was "Sir, you are in your 90's. Why do you continue to practice so hard?" The answer came "Well, I think I am making some progress."

That's great! I read an interview with with Ray Brown years ago. As the interviewer went to knock on Ray's hotel room door he heard, through the door, Ray practicing two octave scales on his bass in his hotel room. It's cool to know that even at that time in Ray's life (he was old(er)), Ray was dedicated enough to his craft to still be working on the basics and fundamentals of playing bass.

I keep that in mind while practicing, and still trying to master, basic fundamentals on electric. It never stops. Which is one of the great joys of playing an instrument.

 

[dkelley]

From time to time, I have questioned why I am making a serious effort to study Bass as an older person. Today, however, a thought came to my mind: Jimmy Blanton; Scott Lafaro; Jaco Pastorius; Oscar Pettiford; Doug Rauch; did not know their lives would be short. They just got the most out of the time they had. That should be my approach, whether I have ten days or twenty-five years left to play.

Man. You have a way of making a single point that digs right through all of the rubble of muddled thoughts in my head.

Very well put, sir.

Compare this to a few hundred years ago. Some of us are on our 3rd or 4rd lifespan already when you consider what health issues we've dealt with that didn't used to be treatable combined with the average lifespan being far longer just as a species.

This time it's the "become serious with the bass!" life.

 

[micguy]

I started playing bass in college. Stopped for a decade when I had wrist issues. Started again about 11 years ago - seemed klnda silly to be restarting (I sucked) at age 52, but I did, and I had at it - practicing more than I ever had in my life. I'm almost 63 now, and I'm a much better musician than I ever was in my youth. A decade of persistence at any age can get you places.

Yes, I could die tomorrow. It's more likely that I'll be at rehearsal tomorrow night, and on stage with the band at church on Sunday. And next Saturday, and next Sunday, etc.

 

[Relayer71]

Man, there's enough wisdom, great advice, and wonderful stories in this thread to make an inspirational book!

I wake up sometimes with the same attitude of "what's the point at this stage"? I'll be 50 this year, and I know that's not old, it's more about looking at it with the perspective of if I had done more, took my art/craft more seriously, worked harder, or not made certain choices I could have made a name for myself or have been a better musician.

But then I think, you know what? Blaming myself or life circumstances won't write music for me or make me a better player, it's a waste of time. And using the "I'm to old to improve" excuse is just that, an excuse. As long as the desire is there, keep playing, keep practicing.

I'm happy to still have one foot, hell, one toe in it. I'm not gigging, not currently in a band situation, not even writing. But it still brings a smile to my face to hold a bass or guitar; I still get excited about discovering new music or new-to-me music; listening to some mind blowing note progression or slick-as-hell groove still thrills me; learning a new song is still a ton of fun. Music brings me joy, whether I'm an active or passive participant.

 

[Son of Wobble]

in that case..

 

[jamro217]

Doc, history is full of examples of people who started pursuing their dreams later in life. Famous painter Grandma Moses is an example. We are the same people we started out as at birth, only older and with a lifetime of experience and knowledge. There are two paths you can choose to take in life: to experience and live it, or spend every day fearfully trying to prolong a wasted existence. I plan on living until my last breath. For those of us who believe in a divine God and an eternal future, the limitations and woes of this life are but a temporary phase that eventually will give way to glory. Until then we toil and persevere. May God bless all of us here. Hope this helps.

 

[tekhedd]

Playing: it's what we do. At some point you will accept that we don't really know and return to "how can I do it better?" and "how can I enjoy it more?" ... often the answers to both are complementary IME.

 

[P. Aaron]

My reading has gotten better. It's still rough at times but, it's something I look forward too most mornings as I am up around 5:00 AM to do it.

Adding the further challenge of fretless playing to make what was becoming easier a bit more challenging.

There's so much to learn. There's also coffee. Not a bad deal.

 

[bdplaid]

From time to time, I have questioned why I am making a serious effort to study Bass as an older person. Today, however, a thought came to my mind: Jimmy Blanton; Scott Lafaro; Jaco Pastorius; Oscar Pettiford; Doug Rauch; did not know their lives would be short. They just got the most out of the time they had. That should be my approach, whether I have ten days or twenty-five years left to play.

Virtuoso cellist Pablo Casals was in his 80s, and being interviewed.
"We understand that you still practice, even at your age and level of musicianship. Why is that?"
" Because I think I'm making progress."

 

[P. Aaron]

Bass playing, like everything in life, is what you make it.

I started on upright when I was 12. Fancied myself a pretty accomplished player by the time I was in my early adult years. Classical, Soul, R&B, Bebop, Blues, ProgRock - nothing in music was beyond my ability to play it.

Along came 2014 and a stroke at age 59. Spent a few frightening hours completely paralyzed on the left side of my body and unable to speak intelligibly. But luckily some blood clot buster medication administered in the ER got most of it back for me. It left me with chronic headaches, occasional bouts of vertigo, messed up sleep cycles, bursts of severe depression, and a left hand (my fretting hand) with some residual stiffness that no amount of warming up could eliminate. There were also maddeningly random short but still noticeable losses of coordination between my left and right hands.

I was one of the lucky ones.

When I finally got back home the first thing I did was pick up a bass. I wanted to know if I could still play. And much to my relief I found I could. Not as well as I once did. Not by a long shot. But I could still sit in the pocket and get it done.

Going on six plus years of steady practice I’ve gotten better at it. I figure I’m now up to about 60% of where I was before. I had higher expectations originally. But I’ve gradually come to realize my days of lightning fast prog runs all over the neck are almost definitely a part of my past. But I still keep plugging away at it with high hopes. Music is who I am and what I do. And who knows? Maybe I will get it all back someday. Only way to find out is to keep working at it.

Bottom line is I’m still alive - and I can still play. And that’s plenty enough for me. Like Stevie Wonder so aptly said one year at the Grammy Awards: “I’d like to thank my Supreme Being. Because it really didn’t have to be this way.”

You betcha Stevie! You betcha.

Multiple Myeloma survivor here. It introduced PAIN into every waking moment along with arthritis which seems to have infected every other part of me except for my ability to play music. The hellish pain is persistent, tiring and continually frustrating but at the same time, I still find it satisfying to be able to play at a reasonably high level, retain confidence and not be a snob about it. IF I could do something about the pain, I'd probably be a bit lazier.

They're the cards we're dealt.

 

[BassDad1964]

I am 57. I can not wait until I retire from my job so I can go play what I want to play without having to consider that fact that I also have a job.

 

[Razman]

I'm probably going to have to wait until I retire to really start studying bass. I hope not though...

Raz

 

[AceOfBassFace]

I'm 51 and been playing for nearly 35 years now. Since my bands are on hiatus this last year I've been learning songs that I want to learn but never had time before. My chops have almost doubled since last year, I can play Dean Town and What is Hip pretty much flawlessly now lol - I would have never thought I'd have been able to pull off bass lines with that level of difficulty at all.

So, even though you're old, regardless of your skill level, there's always room to grow, and the feeling you get from conquering those challenging bass lines is really something else.

 

[ElMon]

I've been reading Chuck Palahniuk's book on writing ... part of another of my life's pursuits ... and there's a part where his writing teacher tells him:

'Get your reward up front'.

Something about that just really knocked me on my you-know-what.

Life choices/bad luck/digital technology dictating that creators basically offer their wares for free ...

I've been unable to 'make it' as a musician (got close in my 20's), and it's just as challenging/bordering on impossible to make money with my pen.

Ambition and a need to be measured by 'what I do to pay the bills', it was just getting in the way of me 'doing the thing'.

Thing is ... being able to do it in the first place ... that is the gift.

Being on stage/writing a good chapter ... I'm blessed in every which way to have even a modicum of talent to do it.

Yeah, it'd be nice if I could play bass full-time and quit the mind-numbing day job, or if the eBooks I plan on releasing eventually go on to sell a million copies each on Amazon ... but man, the pleasure I get from doing it is incalculable.

@Dr. Cheese to the rescue again.

 

[Ric5]

Life is short ... take some time today to tell your loved ones you love them and then go jam on your bass!

 

[Holdsg]

I am 57. I can not wait until I retire from my job so I can go play what I want to play without having to consider that fact that I also have a job.

I'm in the exact same boat. we could be long lost twins.

I'm a cancer survivor, so every day is a bonus for me.

 

[DJ Bebop]

From time to time, I have questioned why I am making a serious effort to study Bass as an older person. Today, however, a thought came to my mind: Jimmy Blanton; Scott Lafaro; Jaco Pastorius; Oscar Pettiford; Doug Rauch; did not know their lives would be short. They just got the most out of the time they had. That should be my approach, whether I have ten days or twenty-five years left to play.

Amen

 

[DJ Bebop]

Charles Bradley was a musician who was discovered at the age of 54 years old. He then toured the world for the rest of his life and died doing it. I saw him, he was in his 60's when i saw him, he was excellent. His music is wonderful. it's never too late, truly...

 

[OptimalOptimus]

As long as you have fun and no regrets then go for it.

since we don’t know when death will ring at our door ... the best is trying to make the most of each situation and trying to be happy. So what if you don’t achieve ... at least you tried and had fun in the process

 

[Matty Koff]

My first exposure to this version of this song was watching Big Mouth on Netflix.. after a couple episodes I had to figure out who was singing, led me to the video you just posted. You hear his story about why he chose the song.. you listen to him sing it, and IDK maybe it's just me but it's like he's projecting his emotion so well you can't help but feel a little sad for him.

Powerful stuff.