weed and you bass playing

[ics1974]

If you use weed does it effect your bass playing in a positive or negative way?
For me it really helps when I am learning theory and practicing scales arpeggios etc. I am more into it and feel more aware of what is happening. But playing cover songs for some reason it messes me up. I forget certain parts, loose focus and generally do not play as good.
Just wondering how it effects you?

 

[rufus.K]

Similarly

 

[kevindahl]

You may think you are learning and remembering but in reality cannabis effects your memory, and not in a positive way.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

I'm just plain bad on any drug, be it alcohol or whatever. I "think" that I sound fabulous when I'm high, but on playback when I'm sober it is glaringly obvious that I was in fact NOT.
Some folks can play while high & sound great, but it's because they're really good players with great muscle-memory.

 

[Thumper]

I won't do it, and in one of my "home" states, it is legal

 

[superheavyfunk]

I'll smoke a lil sumpthin sumpthin if I'm just messing around at home recording or something. Also, if im listening to a mix I've done and just wanna hear it a different way... But never of I'm trying to learn something, or if I'm jamming with other ppl. It negatively affects my ability to discern pitch (which is weird). I also second guess myself too much when I'm high and am not able to feel free to just play without thought.

 

[Jebberz]

If I smoke before I play, my playing becomes bad: I will play the wrong notes, forget i which verse we are, and I will not be able to hold the tempo correctly. It does not takes much to mess around with my playing since I almost never smoke.

On the other hand, I become very creative and new (and sometimes unusual) ideas will emerge when in altered state.

As a band, when we rehearse we never smoke before the rehearsals, because the benefits of rehearsing would be lost. But when we work creating new material, we sometimes do just to explore where that will lead us. And keep on recording while doing so, so new ideas will be remembered.

 

[getrhythm]

Negatively, so I don't subject my bandmates (or myself) to it.
I lose any ambition to practice, too.

 

[sharkbait130]

Years ago , I had a band that partook of "stuff" on a regular basis. Everyone thought it was a good thing and that we sounded great. A couple of years into that band , we got some recording equipment and recorded a practice session from the start to the end. We listened to it the next week , a few songs from the start a few in the middle and a few at the end. We stopped partaking after that listening session. The later songs were terrible. The most I will ever have these days is maybe one drink an hour or so before playing and nothing after that till we are done.YMMV

 

[Geddaric]

Tried it once back in the 80`s.
Can`t remember the song, but I do remember it was a walking bass line. Forgot what song I was playing and went to a straight one-note drive. Never forgot the look our drummer gave me!
Haven`t done it since.

 

[Lagado]

Do the work in clarity, reward yourself later.

 

[db59]

 

[Paulabass]

Tried it. Didn't like it. Forgot how to play bass. On stage.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

This was always interpreted as a “weed” song but Sweet Leaf was inspired by a rolling tobacco brand that the Sabbath dudes smoked.



But.....it turned out to be a weed song anyways.....so who cares.

 

[db59]

Tried it. Didn't like it. Forgot how to play bass. On stage.

I'm always critical of my playing...I don't need the added pressure of not having a "clear" mind

 

[Paulabass]

This was always interpreted as a “weed” song but Sweet Leaf was inspired by a rolling tobacco brand that the Sabbath dudes smoked.



But.....it turned out to be a weed song anyways.....so who cares.

I know a lot of pot heads (there's a difference between pot heads and people who smoke weed) who claim EVERY song is about weed. They can usually justify it in some bizarre round about way eg.- Tie a yellow ribbon around the old oak tree. Weed referrence- Ribbon>tree>leaves>bud. You see, a pot song!

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

I know a lot of pot heads (there's a difference between pot heads and people who smoke weed) who claim EVERY song is about weed. They can usually justify it in some bizarre round about way eg.- Tie a yellow ribbon around the old oak tree. Weed referrence- Ribbon>tree>leaves>bud. You see, a pot song!

Meh....if it makes them happy I don't really care. Like illuminati conspiracy dudes seing triangles everywhere.

 

[Muttleybass]

Negatively. I have a job to do and need to focus in the moment.

 

[Jefenator]

I played stoned once. (It was the Takelma Treehouse Resort at 2am, so I don’t think I was letting anyone down.) I remember having that pleasant sensation like everything is extra super hunky dory, but I could also vaguely tell that I was actually playing like s***.
I’ve seen other people’s playing turn to garbage after the set break van visit. I don’t want to be like that.
Some people seem to handle it better. I used to perform with The Toyes of “Smoke Two Joints” fame and let’s just say their whole marijuana advocacy thing was not just an act. (The leader was a real taskmaster, though, and he honored my not partaking.)
I wish it was more “my thing”. In my line of work, living where I live, I could have garbage bags full of the good stuff if I cared to.

 

[Pacman]

I've found I feel like I'm overplaying EVERYTHING when I partake. (I've only performed high twice, and I *hated* it)

Good after the gig, but never before or during.