has anyone here questioned their purpose for playing bass?

[Tlaloc]

I am recently wondering why I even play bass. I haven't had a band in many months, and just playing bass by myself in my basement isnt really all that fulfilling. My music lessons seem pointless as well. Why am I learning music that I'm not all that interested in? And why would I want any of these "professional" gigs where I play bass for some stupid musical or anything?

 

It all just seems like a waste. Has anyone fallen into this rut before? How the hell do you get out of it?

[danthepersonage]

Originally posted by Tlaloc It all just seems like a waste. Has anyone fallen into this rut before? How the hell do you get out of it?

 

You can find help here. for your mid-bass crisis.

[bassguy]

i used to be in that rut, i was at the top of my learning curve, then i discovered prog, and now im obcessed, i am learning so much from playing it, and its fun to play, i jam with a few guys at work, and its fun

[82Daion]

Get out and apply your skills. Find a band, or take the initiative to form one. Play music you like. Sitting around on a web forum asking people like me what to do isn't going to get you going on bass again. Getting out, finding a band, and PLAYING is. That's how you get out of these ruts.

 

Commit yourself to practicing, and outline a plan of what you want to accomplish with your practice. Pointless wanking or just playing stuff isn't practice. Setting a goal and reaching it is.

 

Most instructors are perfectly willing to teach you music that you want to learn. Tell your instructor so, so that he can make your lessons effective. If you don't like what you're playing, then you probably won't commit to getting better at it, and you won't get out of the rut.

 

It's all a matter of taking things up a level beyond where you are now. Getting out of a rut relies on your commitment to doing so.

[bassplayinguy]

try forming a band, it makes it much more fulfulling, or just put down the bass for a while and try an new instrument... i did this and it works out very well... and then youll go back to it and youll love it again.

 

 

that and try listening to music you normally wouldnt listen to. it helps too

[sunburstbasser]

Months? Thats not so bad. I haven't been in an enjoyable band since before my senior year of high school.

 

But I've been in maybe 5 bands in the last three years. Mostly because of the training and {censored}. Yeah, its boring. But if you really study the bass, your appreciation of music only grows. I don't have a lot of contacts even, I just get phone calls from people looking for a bassist. THAT is what the professional gigs are all about.

 

And when the two chicks start making out in front of you, its all worth it!

[jeffery.addison]

I have hit points where my bass playing has hit a rut over the years. Try this...go buy a CD of a type of music that you don't normally listen to. For me, I tried this with Stanley Clarke and it worked like a charm, totally relit the fire.

[Jazz Ad]

To me playing music is pretty much like walking, eating or sleeping.

I don't even question it and never had to.

[82Daion]

 

Originally posted by Jazz Ad To me playing music is pretty much like walking, eating or sleeping. I don't even question it and never had to.

 

 

That's exactly why I do it. Nicely articulated.

[ARES]

i all but quit for a few years, i was at my technical peak but all of a sudden got bored with it. how long have you been playing? i was at around year 9 and just took a break for a little bit. then i bought a sterling and joined a great band, haven't looked back since.

 

i'm sure another break will happen again, no big deal. this is my hobby, not my career.

[catphish]

yes, often. I'm lucky enough to be in a band that respects the bassist's role, gives me solos and doesn't relegate me to a root thumping position.

 

Even so, I still feel the need to go beyond just playing bass, which is why I write music. It's extremely gratifying and is entirely my experience.

 

Crafting a song is a very fulfilling experience and is completely seperated from playing an instrument. Of course, hearing that song come to life, or even take a life of it's own, being played by a band is an amazing thing on it's own. Songwriting has often pulled me out of a "WTF am I doing playing bass" period.

 

Of course, like JA said, music in my life is like breathing. I couldn't live without it, in some way or another.

[L-1329]

Right now I don't play near the best I have been, but I enjoy bass more now than I have ever before. This is because of nearly a decade of mostly musical inactivity. I played a lot of orchestra music, and a few bands all through school and really didn't know why I was putting in all the effort. Then as life made me put music on the back burner, over time I really started to understand and miss playing, to the point where now I am doing all I can to find the right group of players to makes something happen. Sometimes you just need to walk away for a while until all the burnout fades away, and you really see and remember what drove you to play in the first place. A little time off now and again does wonders for keeping the mind fresh, and the enjoyment factor up.

[ezstep]

The bass and bass lines are, simply put, the most important part of the music to a live band. When you are there and are solid, everything falls into place.

 

Don't get too philosophical about this. You will work through it.