Why have my rhythm been declining?

[Funky Phantom]

Yes, lawd!

 

[howlin]

I know I’ve already received lots of advice on staying motivated on bass and how to improve, but I do have one problem that is still present in my playing even more now than ever even after recent practice. It’s the fact that my rhythm and timing have been on a decline especially since learning fingerstyle. Back before graduating high school a year ago my rhythm and timing were on point and I was considered our best bassist even better than the club director who has played longer than I’ve been alive. I also was playing with a pick and was great at it but even my pick playing has grown sloppy as I haven’t been practicing with that method since mostly learning fingerstyle. What is causing such a decline in my rhythm and how do I work at getting it back?

I have this problem in reverse. When I play finger-style I have no problem keeping time but, when playing with a pick, I can get a bit sloppy. Personally, I suspect it has to do with the early development stages of learning an instrument. Something like how a bird imprints on whatever is in its orbit when coming out of its shell - at least that's my thinking about it.

How about going back using a pick exclusively for a week or so? Just to see what happens...

 

[Lobster11]

My sleeping problems are rooted in a few areas. One, I’m coming off of a long road of having coffee everyday which not only do I notice abnormal energy patterns and heart palpitations. Luckily I am moving away from it and the heart palpitations have drastically subsided. The second I’ve been stressed lately about whether to stay in my school’s music program or to drop out mainly due subpar playing that may or may not make me competitive when getting out of school. Finally it’s my adhd which was thought to have been cured/disappeared as I got my older but still exist as I know it’s something that is with you for life which is know to aid in sleep related issues in many but not all people with it.

Sounds like you're stuck in a vicious cycle: Too much caffeine is preventing you from sleeping -> sleep deprivation is causing your playing to be "subpar" --> your subpar playing is causing you to lay awake worrying about whether to stay in the program, which then contributes further to sleep deprivation -> subpar playing -> worrying -> and round and round you go.

Cutting out the coffee seems the obvious place to start. If that helps you get more sleep at night, there's a good chance that your playing will improve, and then you'll worry less about continuing with the program -- in which case you'll sleep better, etc....

 

[Jalen Fuller]

Thoughts.

1. Welcome to being an adult in charge of your own future! It's a stressful time. It's also natural, don't worry about this so much; I assure you this is a temporary thing, you'll get past it just fine if you just work through it and watch your physical health. We've all been there and survived.

Rhythm isn't something you can just lose and not get back! If you had it before, you still do now. This certainly nothing that is going to impact you a year and more from now and your entire future; take care of today and tomorrow will take care of itself. And take care of yourself like others have said. You're thinking way too much about this.

2. There is a timing difference as many have said. You have noticed it, so like I said, your rhythm is just fine, your fingers just aren't cooperating yet. My point would be to listen to yourself, when you hear your notes, rather than concentrating on what you're hands are doing. Relax, and just let your fingers figure out how to make the sound come out when you want it to. What you have to do and how you do it isn't important, it's the sound that matters.

Just play. Look up the story of James Brown/Bootsy Collins' "The One," best piece of advice I've ever been given. You'll know it when you hit it and then do it until it becomes natural. Exactly what Funky Phantom said in the previous post.

This sounds like something I experienced at an extreme at about the your age; going from an electric organ to a real pipe organ to play at a friend's wedding! You would not believe how strange it is when you push the keys but the notes don't sound for almost another full second!!!!! Weird, weird, weird. But you learn to play waaaay ahead to make the sound to come out when you want it to.

See, exact same thing. It took a little while and was very disconcerting at first, I thought I was going to screw up my friend's wedding. But then after a while it just clicked and everything was fine. Well, except for their marriage, but that's another story. Unfortunately since then I've never had another opportunity to play a pipe organ, and I'd actually like to try it again now forty some years later.

3. By the way, congratulations, you've got the blues, young man! You've earned the right to play them, for sure. Maybe try playing some, it always brings me up when I'm feeling down. And when you do, make the sound to come out when you want it to.

I definitely dig the blues!!!!! On guitar I like playing it and writing songs with that in mind.

 

[Sands]

I will just echo the importance of sleep and congratulate you for recognizing its potential hindrance. I’ve had sleep issues. From the coffee thing, to the worrying, to, sleep apnea. And many accompanying side effects. The good news it is something you can get a handle on. But it will take a bit of commitment.

There is a lot of good information out there, one that I never read about but was told was about gluten. a fellow told me he got off of gluten and was sleeping like a baby in 3 days. I tried it. It worked.

I just did it again after going back to gluten for a few years. It took about 9 days this time, but I’m older. Sleeping much better.

It’s a bit of a crisis leaving gluten because of the question of what can you eat without gluten and then the major crisis of no pizza or sandwiches.

But it’s not as difficult as to be impossible as it seems. Bake a potato. Put stuff on it. Make a salad. put stuff on it. Make a stew of meats (Chuck roast cubed) and veggies (onions bell pepper celery garlic +). Avoid stuff with a label of processed ingredients. Corn shelled tacos. Don’t drink beer. (Alcohol is also a stimulant.). If you aren’t sleeping well in a few days, which is unlikely, you haven’t missed out on much.

When you get your first good night’s sleep, you will be blown away and every time thereafter remember to be thankful for doing the right stuff to let it happen.

+1 on melatonin. amazing.

Lastly, I will say this: you have to find a new trust in yourself to get over worries in a disciplined manner. Here is what works best, in very short but complete terms: write down your worries. See them as problems. Turn them into questions, where the answer will solve the problem. Trust yourself to come up with answers. Then let them go. If it comes back into your head without an answer, let it go. When the answer comes, and it will, go with it. Make adjustments as needed.

Seek counsel from trusted advisors along the way. Don’t blame them if it isn’t right for you.

Finally, you can do the rocking chair test. Imagine yourself at age 40 looking back at the decision you have to make. What does 40 year old you think? This can help prevent the regret you are worried about.

The most important thing has already been said: don’t give up. Keep working at it. New opportunities will always present, and don’t beat yourself up over bad choices and lost opportunities. That is normal life. Do your best to make good ones with a clear head, and it will usually work out as it should. not always, but usually. I think John Wooden said that or something like it.

I hate to see people suffering due to sleep issues. Good luck!

 

[Jalen Fuller]

Some players have inconsistent rhythm ... you need to build a foundation of solid rhythm in your playing if you ever want to become a good bass player. As per technique learn as many styles as possible ... master as many as possible

get a cheap drum machine and practice with it, also record yourself and learn from your mistakes.

Find some good players and get in a band

with some work you could become a player with a golden touch ... where your timing and note choice are excellent

now the bad news you will still need a good day job because music does not pay well

To what you’ve said in the last part, I’m considering dropping out of the music performance path at my school for that reason Mentioned in the last sentence.

 

[Ric5]

To what you’ve said in the last part, I’m considering dropping out of the music performance path at my school for that reason Mentioned in the last sentence.

it is sad that music, art, acting and other arts often don't pay well at all … But I like playing my bass to give myself enjoyment

 

[BrotherMister]

COUNT OUT LOUD!

Metronomes are great tools but sticking a click on all four beats doesn't help you in your ability to actually have strong time. It mostly helps your ability to play to a click, which is a different skill set that what we are talking about right now. There are great metronome exercises but if you are struggling at this stage then sticking a metronome on the 2nd semiquaver or 3rd beat of the triplet isn't really giving your answers. One of the oldest methods in the book, and still one of the most effective, is to count out loud what you are playing. I've had students rip over the instrument but can't play My Girl while counting out loud. That forces you to actually be fully aware of the time, generate the time and hear how what you are playing relates to it. Tapping your foot doesn't quite work out the same as counting out loud does because more often than not we are tapping our foot in relation to what we are playing and not the playing something in relation to the time. Counting out loud forces you to really work at your time. It sounds easy but trust me, it will kick your butt repeatedly. It will also improve your playing so there is that.

And record yourself, recording yourself is also great practise advice in general.

 

[proverbs10_4]

You can do all the click track metronome exercises you want but if you don’t enjoy what you’re playing, you aren’t gonna get better. You can’t force it.

 

[Groove Master]

When you tap your foot are you in time? My inner clock seems to be pretty good (when I reference my foot) but my fingers can rush or drag depending on what they're playing. It's important to know whether the problem is your inner clock or your technique. Chances are good it's your technique that is getting in the way (and technique isn't just something you "get" and then forget about - you need to actively maintain it). I would strongly recommend this programme (I have the PDF version):

GROOVE 101 (DVD incl.) - BOLDUC Sylvain - Product | Les Productions d'OZ

Thanks for posting that. Yes this book was written for that matter primarily.
It is a way of practicing time that I've develop early in my practice of the bass with great results. So it will work for everybody ;

Take care

 

[barclaybass]

I know I’ve already received lots of advice on staying motivated on bass and how to improve, but I do have one problem that is still present in my playing even more now than ever even after recent practice. It’s the fact that my rhythm and timing have been on a decline especially since learning fingerstyle. Back before graduating high school a year ago my rhythm and timing were on point and I was considered our best bassist even better than the club director who has played longer than I’ve been alive. I also was playing with a pick and was great at it but even my pick playing has grown sloppy as I haven’t been practicing with that method since mostly learning fingerstyle. What is causing such a decline in my rhythm and how do I work at getting it back?

Make sure it's not a physical (maybe neurological) issue as well.
I've had 3 vertebrae in my neck fused, also both rotator cuffs are torn and rheumatoid arthritis has set in......if any one of these flare up (or sometimes all 3) I can feel like someone who just picked up a bass for the first time!
Aside from trying to play thru pain (not easy) my timing can seem like its all over the place sometimes. It sucks.
One thing I've had to do is go from playing my neck diving BC Rich Mockingbirds and Warlocks & Gibson Thunderbirds to more well balanced Jazz basses & Dean Hillsboros & Stingrays so I'm not fighting to hold up my bass with the same hand I'm fretting with.
Make sure your gear is comfortable for you and your not battling it as you try to play it.

 

[Groove Master]

I know I’ve already received lots of advice on staying motivated on bass and how to improve, but I do have one problem that is still present in my playing even more now than ever even after recent practice. It’s the fact that my rhythm and timing have been on a decline especially since learning fingerstyle. Back before graduating high school a year ago my rhythm and timing were on point and I was considered our best bassist even better than the club director who has played longer than I’ve been alive. I also was playing with a pick and was great at it but even my pick playing has grown sloppy as I haven’t been practicing with that method since mostly learning fingerstyle. What is causing such a decline in my rhythm and how do I work at getting it back?

I think these things don't decline. You've actually improved because you are more aware of your timing issues. Now it's time to work on it ;-)