I’m “only” 41 and have recently had a similar epiphany. It’s a balancing act between relaxing and being content with my music, but also keeping some sort of drive to move forward. More for the sake of the journey than the destination.
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Why not relax?
- Thread starter Dr. Cheese
- Start date
I could have typed the same thing with a decade or so knocked off the age.... Still applies.
I am really happy being the bassist at our church now. I occasionally wish for "gigs", but honestly would rather be home with my wife and 3 kids. (And a glass of scotch)
I am really happy being the bassist at our church now. I occasionally wish for "gigs", but honestly would rather be home with my wife and 3 kids. (And a glass of scotch)
I can dig the sentiment. Music should be fun. You can work at it hard and still have it be fun, but fun above all else. I lost sight of that and became miserable over it.
I've had a wonderful journey with music. As a listener or concert goer. Whether playing live or recording. At bars or all ages shows. I've enjoyed it all.
Got my first bass at 14. A Lyle hollow body. Action was about a 1/2". Tone was muddy and booming. Not like I had no clue what I was doing.
Met a few people, learned a bit. Played in a few bands. Sucked a lot. Til I didn't so much. Did this from 1975-1980.
Then I joined the Army and jammed a little bit while on active duty. But then became a hard core husband and dad for the next 14 years with no bass in my life except for my heros, John Deacon, Geddy Lee, etc...
1998 rolls in and the church I'm going to said they were looking for a bass player. Went out and bought a bass and amp (Peavey Axcelerator Plus and 210 TX combo) and started to play again.
Later that year a high school kid who was a friend of the family had a band but got rid of their bass player a week before their first show. This was at our local county fair. They were big on local talent. So he asked me to help out. I said sure. Had some fun, more than what I was doing at church at this time but playing was playing...
After we were done playing two of my sons told me that they wanted to do this next year. With me... I was like sure, thinking to myself this will never happen. Two teenagers playing rock with their dad. Ya right...
The year goes by and we are playing the fair with a friend sitting in on drums. After we get done youngest son says he doesn't want to play piano anymore, wants to play drums.
Next year the four of us played the fair. This led to 10 years of playing a crap ton of regional shows. All ages and bars. The youngest who's the drummer started playing bars at 14. Also recorded a few CD's and Demos.
Another hiatus for various reasons. Sell off my gear at fire sale price due to the 2008 recession. That one hurt...
Its 2016 life is good. Recovered economicly. Start buying gear and playing again.
My primary gig now is at church. Waaaaaayyyyyy better than 1998... Still swapping music and recording with the boys. Through that time they have blessed me with 8 grandchildren. Some of whom show some talent as well as interest musically.
Through it all I can honestly say for the most part I relaxed.
I count my musical career as a success....
Dave
Got my first bass at 14. A Lyle hollow body. Action was about a 1/2". Tone was muddy and booming. Not like I had no clue what I was doing.
Met a few people, learned a bit. Played in a few bands. Sucked a lot. Til I didn't so much. Did this from 1975-1980.
Then I joined the Army and jammed a little bit while on active duty. But then became a hard core husband and dad for the next 14 years with no bass in my life except for my heros, John Deacon, Geddy Lee, etc...
1998 rolls in and the church I'm going to said they were looking for a bass player. Went out and bought a bass and amp (Peavey Axcelerator Plus and 210 TX combo) and started to play again.
Later that year a high school kid who was a friend of the family had a band but got rid of their bass player a week before their first show. This was at our local county fair. They were big on local talent. So he asked me to help out. I said sure. Had some fun, more than what I was doing at church at this time but playing was playing...
After we were done playing two of my sons told me that they wanted to do this next year. With me... I was like sure, thinking to myself this will never happen. Two teenagers playing rock with their dad. Ya right...
The year goes by and we are playing the fair with a friend sitting in on drums. After we get done youngest son says he doesn't want to play piano anymore, wants to play drums.
Next year the four of us played the fair. This led to 10 years of playing a crap ton of regional shows. All ages and bars. The youngest who's the drummer started playing bars at 14. Also recorded a few CD's and Demos.
Another hiatus for various reasons. Sell off my gear at fire sale price due to the 2008 recession. That one hurt...
Its 2016 life is good. Recovered economicly. Start buying gear and playing again.
My primary gig now is at church. Waaaaaayyyyyy better than 1998... Still swapping music and recording with the boys. Through that time they have blessed me with 8 grandchildren. Some of whom show some talent as well as interest musically.
Through it all I can honestly say for the most part I relaxed.
I count my musical career as a success....
Dave
- Dec 21, 2007
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- Lark in the Morning Instructional Videos; Audix Microphones
I have the same goal that I did the day I picked up a bass for the first time: I want to be good enough to function in a rockin cover band that on occasion, every once in a great while, when the stars align in just the right way, actually sounds pretty good. I'm there, so I guess I'm a successful bassist 
Best hobby in the world, feels good to work with what ya got and be happy where you're at.
Best hobby in the world, feels good to work with what ya got and be happy where you're at.
You shared a beautiful story.
Thanks man. I've followed enough of your posts and videos to know that you care about your craft as a bass player. As well, you come off as a great human being!
Those that get to enjoy your playing at church or otherwise are fortunate.
Keep it coming!!!
I always like reading your posts Dr. Cheese; you seem very sincere. I am in my mid 50s and can relate to your post. I have no kids and sometimes I look at all my music gear and books (I have over a thousand books) and think how everything will just end up sold off by my wife or in a landfill someday. But, for now, they bring me enjoyment. I have a stressful job and playing the bass really helps me relieve stress. I'm not a great bass player, in fact I'm averagely average, but I like it - it's fun. I'm in a small band which is good for me because it forces me to interact with people (which I don't really like to do). As I get older I realize the importance of having a creative outlet; something to learn and something to practice.
Ill be honest sometimes my happy place is sitting in my music room staring at my basses and amps...Then the stress flies away...
Been 'musical' for over thirty years, but only using bass as my expression for 25. I've done a lot of cool things, toured with national rock acts, and had a very close brush with a 'deal' myself. But, those things have come and gone, and I just want to be chill. I will still always believe I'm nowhere near as skilled as I wish I was - but it's ok. What I can learn, and what is beneficial to learn, I will. And have fun, make a little spare change.
I get that completely. Not to be materialistic, but sometimes it's comforting to be around things/possessions that we like or connect with.
.
This is it!
I like the Gene Krupa / Buddy Rich drum battle on Sammy Davis Jr.'s tv program. Buddy's clearly a skilled technician. Gene's far more musical and fun to listen to.
Damn. Maybe I should put something on my mantel instead of saving that spot for a Grammy.
Music is a unique art form in the sense that it occurs entirely in the present moment. And it’s only a trick of our brains that allows us to experience it all. At its best music is truth. That’s good enough for me.
Music is a unique art form in the sense that it occurs entirely in the present moment. And it’s only a trick of our brains that allows us to experience it all. At its best music is truth. That’s good enough for me.
If you don't have to feed and house your tribe with proceeds from playing, I recommend measuring your "success" at bass by how much you enjoy it, and organizing all your bass related activities in order to optimize the prime directive: fun. I try to be a little better each month than the last, but there are plenty of months when that doesn't happen....and when it doesn't....I remind myself that if that's my biggest complaint , I am fortunate.
Yeah, not materialism just that comfortable place that we all love to be.
Yes, I agree. Saw Buddy Rich as a kid (he even spoke to me - "Hey kid, get outa da doorway!"). But Buddy was a machine. He could play syncopated paradiddles around his kit at 300bpm and look bored. Krupa wasn't as fast or technical, but I liked him better because he was having fun. If a musician is enjoying playing then I'm enjoying listening.
I started playing bass at age 16, after two-bands-worth of guitar. I knew at my very first band practice, after hearing a real live bass guitar, that it was what I wanted to play. Thousands of gigs later and I still jam once a week with some friends. Not only that, I practice hours weekly. I play songs I've always wanted to play, and then sometimes I learn a part correctly, not the way I played it in 1977, which was just enough to get by.
I try to be a better player always.
I try to be a better player always.
