weed and you bass playing

[pbassnut]

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?

While it may be more fun and seem to sound better to you at the time, I can confidently tell you that your "A" game will only come with sobriety, preparedness, positive mental energy and focus. There will always be plenty of time to cop a buzz after the gig or rehearsal or on a day off from playing.

 

[Sixgunn]

which is sort of the root (pun intended) of this thread....does weed impair or enhance your skill?
it's really interesting to read through everyone's points of view. I really appreciate the diversity represented here on this thread, and on TB in general.

I really don't think that one cannot be unimpaired when using weed, alcohol or any other mind altering drug. If pulled over while driving on these substances, the world at large says you are "impaired" and shouldn't be driving. That is backed by scientific evidence. Impaired means something is standing in your way. In my way of thinking, that is not a positive.

 

[AFalseDichotomy]

which is sort of the root (pun intended) of this thread....does weed impair or enhance your skill?

I've seen some people play just as well when they're high as a kite, and some that should never even THINK about weed while playing music. Myself I'm in the second camp, every time I play with some friends on it it feels like my fingers are made of lead. There might be something to the idea of "you gotta practice a lot when you're high to play well when you're high", though.

 

[LordRyan]

In the early 70s before I ever smoked weed or took a drink I tried LSD. It was in a private home with bandmates and other friends. It was an amazing experience. We listened mostly to Led Zeppelin and Beatles and I heard things in the music that I never noticed before. A little later I tried it again with my bandmates. We were in an old farmhouse out in the country where we rehearsed. We did try to play but things quickly fell apart and we gave up. The drummer in the band would sometimes be on LSD at a gig and it didn't affect his performance in any noticeable way.

Later on I started smoking weed because I was sharing a place with bandmates and it was always around. We were stoned every day while writing originals, recording demos, and doing gigs. It just seemed like part of the musician lifestyle. I did start to drink alcohol occasionally around this time. I found it too easy to overdo it and it made my playing really sloppy so I quit and haven't drank since.

In the 2000s I was in a jam band where the guitarist/band leader smoked heavily. It didn't affect his playing adversely. He could play blazingly fast, never ran out of things to play, and was always rock solid on the beat. I asked him how he did it and he said it was because he learned and rehearsed the music while he was stoned.

I mostly use weed when I'm practicing which I have no motivation to do right now with nothing musical going on. Since this pandemic hit I really haven't had much desire to smoke for the last few months although I do have some on hand.

I rarely smoke weed at a gig (at least when there were gigs) and if I do it is later in the night. I find if I smoke before the first set I get too self-conscious and lose focus. After I'm warmed up and settled in I'm fine. I usually have weed at home but since it's still illegal in this state I never carry it around with me so I smoke at a gig only occasionally when somebody offers me some.

I was not stoned when I wrote this and have only smoked twice since early March.

 

[mobeme23]

I really don't think that one cannot be unimpaired when using weed, alcohol or any other mind altering drug. If pulled over while driving on these substances, the world at large says you are "impaired" and shouldn't be driving. That is backed by scientific evidence. Impaired means something is standing in your way. In my way of thinking, that is not a positive.

i appreciate your point of view. luckily, playing the bass guitar (subjective, situational and artistic) does not come with the same risk/responsibility as driving a vehicle. the point i am trying to make it that some people find that taking certain substances actually enhances their ability to play music, for the style/skill-level that suits their fancy. And others report physical and psychological challenges when taking certain substances, which can impair their ability to perform at the style/skill-level that suits their fancy. it's not our job to determine what works for others, especially if people can enjoy those substances in a legal and safe setting. And, from most of the responses on this thread, it seems that folks are able to self-regulate and understand their personal preferences.

Personally, i'd be significantly more impaired on stage by a pre-show chili dog than a toke or two form a doobie... it's all relative...

 

[Runnerman]

I know in person smokes somewhere between 4 to 20 king size joints every single day

Freudian slip?

 

[Ulf Buck]

Nobody plays better high. I am sure many think they play better high. Most play worse. I know a few guys who keep a slight buzz going and they are fine. There are many more who take that extra hit and their timing and playing goes bye bye.

I suppose medically speaking meth and coke would be best. Then there is all that inconvenient death from stroke and a heart attack thing but who am I to judge. Caffeine for me thanks.

 

[jdh3000]

Just record yourself a few times. Long ago I used to think I was really playing some cool stuff while under some influence or another... then I heard some recordings...

 

[bdplaid]

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?

This is exactly what any drug will do to you. And if you think you're better under the influence, you're kidding yourself. You're just having a better time. A clear sober head is the only way to play. What you do in your off hours is another matter.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

YMMV, but for me it's a no.

 

[bassinflorida]

The irony. This research has was done almost 50 years ago.

 

[HolmeBass]

Definitely my experience too.

In general, the best way I find to use weed for productivity is to “load” my brain first, work for a good while, and then take a small puff to cause a change in perspective. Smoking beforehand sort of derails everything except video games and housework.

Every once in a rare while I think as a band we have broken into great new territory after a hazy set break, but to be honest that is a rare occurrence.

 

[ole Jason]

A little goes a long way for me. You should also keep in mind different strains can affect you very differently. Also keep in mind that weed today is not the same as it was even 30 years ago. Jimi Hendrix wasn't getting blown out from bong rips in quite the same way as you.

 

[Silky Johnson]

If I don't practice stoned or drunk, I don't try to perform stoned or drunk. It almost never works out well. I've seen some monumental trainwrecks, musical and personal, from attempting that one.

Considering I have practice sessions several times a week, and I don't want to get buzzed that often, there is no point practicing buzzed, and no point trying to change my brain chemistry before or during a show.

FWIW, I don't smoke, but we have an amazing selection of awesome edibles at the shops in trail-blazing Colorado. It's so potent these days I really have to reserve it for special occasions where I have zero responsibilities. I don't see how people can make today's super-hybridized, refined, hydroponically grown weed part of their daily lifestyle. Even 10mg of today's MJ is too potent for me to trust myself behind the wheel of a car, that's for sure. And I was a stoner back in the day when the good stuff came from places like Mexico and Panama, so I have a point of reference.

People tolerance varies a lot, I'm 28 and I use 250mg to get a good buzz. 10mg is like a sip of bud light

 

[lfmn16]

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?

You should call NIH and become part of a study because every study that I looked at before posting this response shows that marijuana is detrimental to learning and memory. Maybe you're the one person who could prove the entire medical community and years of research wrong.

No moral judgement here, what ever someone else does is their own business not mine, but man, be honest with yourself.

 

[jnuts1]

Considering this forum once got on my case for using ibuprophen to prevent cramping, I don’t think you will get a lot of positive responses here.

well this is holier than thou central so...

 

[MustangWally]

For me the effects were entirely bad - my playing got sloppy, my memory got bad so I forgot songs and I became an embarrassment to myself. While I was stoned I felt like my playing was fine but that was only my perception - I have been fired for trying to play while stoned. That was all many years ago, I stopped smoking weed a long time ago - I was learning to fly at the time and my balance was all f**ked up for days after smoking weed so something had to go. Some folks can be creative while out of it (take a bow Keef) but not me. YMMV.

 

[TroyK]

I'll share one story from my past on this subject. I did a 3 day recording session with a trumpet player and at end of day 3 we were all spent, when he said "hey guys, would you indulge me in one more take?" We were packing up and stopped and stared, then he said "I just want to see if it makes a difference". So, he excused himself and came back in nice and toasty and we give him his one more take.

Listening to the recordings a few weeks later, we couldn't tell which was which. Scientific method.

But, I came to understand that this was a "normal" state for him. I'm sure that it wouldn't have been the same if I had done it. Personally, I can have a drink or two on a gig and it won't get in my way, but I wouldn't push my luck beyond that. Everyone has different tolerances and reactions, and there are a lot of different kinds of weed. Short of suggesting that no one should ever do it, I would pass on the sage advise that at least some of your practice should be under similar conditions to the ones you perform in, so if you practice sober, perform sober and vica versa.

 

[40Hz]

It's got nothing on alcohol.

Still doesn’t make it smart.

 

[Lagado]

Still doesn’t make it smart.

I don't believe I said it was. That's up to others to decide.