Distraught over boredom

[autopilot]

play with other people

[Jwar]

I mean the 'bullshit' about jazz musicians holds true, insofar as the thoughts (or the development of the musical ideas, I guess) that inform the performances tend to be so far beyond what you'll usually find in other forms of music that it's kind of staggering to think about.

That doesn't make it intrinsically enjoyable to listen to, of course, but it is impressive.

I actually love jazz. I want to play fretless bass and be good at it because of how amazing some of those guys are. Or stand up. I'd love standup.

I've also thought about the cello or even violin.



Auto, I'd play with other people but I lack the ability to currently. I'd be able to do one day a week maybe, but I can't even find anyone local that's interested and believe me I've tried. I was desperate and almost begged these dudes I worked with and they straight turned me down. Dicks. LOL. Oh well.

[autopilot]

i was in a similar way, it was mostly always the same playing wise, until i started to play with other people, but finding people with your interest music wise and find have the same schedule (to jam, practice).

Other stuff, you could try is find a commercial on youtube, mute it and try to make the music for it, and repeat the process

[sears]

Bass is like that. I am with you and I have been there for a long time. There is no solution. It is testing you right now. Does hopelessness make you complacent or will it spur you from complacency? The answer is both.

The suggestions you have received are all good. Play guitar, play with people.. learn to network as a musician so you can find people who will accept you? Nothing stings more than being a fucking BASS PLAYER who can't find a band. Everyone needs bass players, right?

Learn some really simple songs. Play "Brown Eyed Girl." Everyone knows that bass part but do you REALLY know it? How it interlocks with the guitar? Where you play a C and where you play a C#? That, my friend, is staring into the abyss.

[D.o.S.]

You could just tell him to learn really learn Mustang Sally if you want to make him jump off a bridge, you know.

[popvulture]

I've gone through this—I know exactly how it feels. Frustrating and shitty.

I've been playing guitar for 25+ years and have had various times when I've gotten comfy in a plateau, then realized I needed to force myself to break out and keep developing. Usually I've done this with lessons. I only consistently took them for the first few years, but after that I'd take a few here and there to shake things up—it's tremendously helpful.

I took AP theory in high school and had also studied it with various instruments (piano, clarinet), but never applied it to guitar. Recently I took some lessons from a guy here who really helped me with some tools to apply theory to my playing, get a better understanding of it and expand my palette. He really kind of blew my mind a bit, total game changer stuff.

So yep, I'd check out some lessons and learn some theory. You don't have to sightread or anything like that, but it helps so much to get around and play in different positions—it's like new blueprints to get you out of your current habits.

Also, despite the off-putting title, I've found this book to be IMMENSELY helpful. Not sure if they make one for bass, but if not you could easily apply most if not all of the material to it.

http://www.amazon.com/Guitar-Theory-Dum ... or+dummies

[fuzzonaut]

Well, what about some of your friends? Just get them over and ask them to join the noise/music making party. It doesn't matter if and what they play.

They can turn knobs on pedals while you play. Or let them drum on your frying pans, sing, scream, whatever - just have a fun time with your friends while using all that gear you have.

I think interaction and fun might help a bit.

[Jwar]

It makes me sad to admit this but I don't really have any friends. I have my cousin, and one dude I've been friends with forever, but we hardly ever see each other.


Maybe I need to make friends. The older I get, the harder it seems though.

[popvulture]

Maybe I need to make friends. The older I get, the harder it seems though.

It really is tough as you get older, but it's way worth the effort. For someone who's had a tendency to be hermit-y at times, I can very much say that my general well being improves exponentially when I make time for buds. Craigslist, man! Get a music bro!

[D.o.S.]

Friends.

Collective Soul.

[HAVN]

Cello. With a looper.

http://hildurgudnadottir.bandcamp.com/t ... ting-light

[psychic vampire.]

Soooooooooo you guys don't think I should go full crazy and smash all my stuff while tearing my hair out?

Wait, you should definitely do this.

Sorry. Had to. But, uh, you're getting good advice from everyone here. Music theory put me in a different head space, though i selectively forget it now. And switching instruments is great. And i'm blessed to be interested in a line of political thought that pretty much demands the making and doing of friendships to a fault, so i am constantly pushed to being social and being vulnerable, which is good and bad. More good though. Just against my nature.

I had a recent jam two-ish weeks ago with my two closest friends that was some of the most fun i've had playing music in years. It wasn't great, it all just sort of sat in that nether region of surfy shoegaze and pretty-sludge, but having played bass with the drummer before, it was wild how different the experience was adding just one guitarist playing a 12-string. I was finding space to move around and do ideas i literally never would have done or had in other musical environments. I was using harmonics on bass and it sounded heavy as shit and interesting and i usually never play harmonics.

I think part of it is just switching orientations, seeing things in new ways, knowing when to take time away, and knowing when more knowledge is what's needed vs. when more practice is what's needed. I practice bass less and less these days, but feel more rewarded when i do pick it up, so take that to mean what you will.

[echoraven]

If you have a fairly current video game system that isn't Nintendo; play Rocksmith.
The mini games help you with chords, scales etc.
Learning songs from other artist not only gives you a peek into their playing style, but insight as how that fits into the "whole song" context. This would be my desert island game providing i had a endless supply of strings...

[PeteeBee]

Everyone has good advice, but I'd also say for you it is likely also tied in to your getting ready for that upcoming bodybuilding show. You always talk about how the crazy diet regime makes you go crazy, this is likely tied to that in some effect.

That being said, I have a couple books that I enjoy but I haven't finished yet. One is a book on jazz guitar, another on just general playing, seems to have a classical bent. Both stretch me and teach new things that end up inspiring how I normally play.

[Jwar]

I've really been thinking about this a lot lately. I've actually been toying with the idea of selling my bass, rig and getting into sound scaping. I really love the thought of making ambient noises, but I've been a bass player for so long, it feels kind of dirty to me...