Veils Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 (edited) A few years ago, I was in a band that experienced a reasonable degree of success for the genre of music we played (metal). I supported bands like Slayer, Mastodon and Trivium, got some Radio 1 Rock Show airplay and at the time, everything got very very serious. It eventually sucked any enjoyment I took from playing bass, I stopped practicing in my own time and eventually, I gave up altogether. I was, at the time, a pretty good player. I've now finally got the itch in a big way to jump back in. I've loaned a bass to try and get some of my chops back. I'm obviously rusty, my fingers are a tad clumsy and trying to play along to one of my old bands tracks (I attached it - this is NOT the above mentioned band) is, in places, quite difficult. What's the biggest break you guys have taken from playing and did you take any specific approach to getting back into it? Edited August 25, 2014 by Veils Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickcope Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 About seven years. Must getting back into it now Focusing on scales, playing along to random tracks and learning current key songs Mick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veils Posted August 25, 2014 Author Share Posted August 25, 2014 Definitely a longer break than mine! I probably took a 3-4 year hiatus! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veils Posted August 25, 2014 Author Share Posted August 25, 2014 I have no idea if that attachment worked.......should be an mp3 file? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sprocketflup Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 Took a break for a decade, enjoying rediscovering my favourite instrument as we speak Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veils Posted August 25, 2014 Author Share Posted August 25, 2014 Wow, bloody good work!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 [quote name='Veils' timestamp='1408993418' post='2535356'] I have no idea if that attachment worked.......should be an mp3 file? [/quote] Once downloaded, the file should be re-baptised with an 'mp3' suffix. It's the System that imposes this; we can't do anything about it. The file is fine; just re-name it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slumjacket Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 I took a break of about 15 years, it was only when I got back into it I realised how much I missed it. Don't worry about being rusty, I've been back playing for about 6 years and I still feel a bit rusty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veils Posted August 25, 2014 Author Share Posted August 25, 2014 15 years! Wow! Guess my break is no big deal On the filename, I think that's renamed itself. The file was named properly when uploaded, no biggy but thanks for the heads up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary mac Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 Longest break I had was about 14 years. Getting married, having kids and running my own business took up all my time and energy. During that time I would still occasionally play a bit of keyboard or acoustic guitar but that was it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamieMillsBass Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 What was your band called dude? I took pretty much a 3 year break whilst at uni. I found my chops came back pretty quickly to be honest, but not sure if I had of taken a longer break would things be different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veils Posted August 25, 2014 Author Share Posted August 25, 2014 The band I made some progress with was called Veils, the band in the attached tune was called San Sebastian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 14 years, then got tricked into joining another band, still at it 6 years later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 Went for about 6 years without playing a bass at all, and still go for anything up to 6 months at a time between playing bass as I tend to concentrate pretty much exclusively on acoustic guitar, mandolin and (most recently) pedal steel guitar these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veils Posted August 25, 2014 Author Share Posted August 25, 2014 My aim is that when I move back to UK next year, I will get the band you hear in the attached tune back together. I spent about 6 years playing metal and always wanted to put something more melodic together where I could really express myself a bit more as a bassist. I still love listening to the music we made to this day, I'd kill to get that band back together! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3below Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 About 10 years of no serious bass playing. Thought I was going to give up altogether with wrist problems. Magically this sorted and am playing again - probably better than ever (IMO lol). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wooks79 Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 I took 2 years out, after a frustrating end to a previous band, and still kick myself to this day about 10 years later! It was a bigger knock back in my playing than I could have imagined. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diablo Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 I took about 15 years out, been back at it 3 years now. I dunno about polishing those licks and trying to express myself more, I'm just happy to fudge through a set without messing up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veils Posted August 25, 2014 Author Share Posted August 25, 2014 Well that's a long time to take out!! I think if I took 15 years I'd be screwed!!! I'm seriously considering nipping into town now to buy a Ray35 I saw last weekend........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obbm Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 I stopped playing in 1967 when I sold all my gear (worst decision of my life) and started my career. What with that, marriages, family and other hobbies I didn't get back into playing again until 1990, a break of 23 years. I was very rusty however I've not looked back since. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinball Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 I stopped playing guitar in about 1987 and picked it up again in 2012, thats errr too long. I now play in two bands, bass in one and guitar in the other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mornats Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 17 year break for me which I thought would be the record here but clearly not! Finally got lessons this time round and I'm much better than I used to be although still a bit noobish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casapete Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 Took a break of around 18 months when I started a family. Missed it like hell, got back into it gradually by doing deps, been pro for 21 years now! Can't imagine doing anything else to be honest, still love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veils Posted August 25, 2014 Author Share Posted August 25, 2014 Well I'm very close to having an arrangement to pick up a Ray35 which I've found here in Mexico for about 500 quid.........then I'm well and truly on the comeback trail!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisnameistaken Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 I stopped playing from about 1999 to 2005, and within a year of picking it up again I was a better player than I was before. I definitely play less notes now and they are better-chosen notes because I have a better understanding of music, and I modulate them for interest in appropriate places, rather than playing too many notes all the time as if music was an athletic event, which is what I did when I was younger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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