I think I'm done

[SteveXFR]

Last January I sold my gear and gave up. This Christmas I bought myself a new bass and tried getting back in to it but just not enjoying playing along to songs, no good at solo noodling and can't find other people to play with. I'm not happy with how I play. I think I've reached the end.

Bummer

[tegs07]

I get it. I only really pick up a bass now when I need to work out a song as my kids are learning.

 

I had plans to get back to playing with other people for the first time since uni but never quite managed it.

[Beedster]

8 minutes ago, SteveXFR said:

Last January I sold my gear and gave up. This Christmas I bought myself a new bass and tried getting back in to it but just not enjoying playing along to songs, no good at solo noodling and can't find other people to play with. I'm not happy with how I play. I think I've reached the end.

Bummer

 

I've been there, I came back. Getting out for a while was good for me, coming back was even better, enjoying it more than ever now 👍

[Stub Mandrel]

5 minutes ago, SteveXFR said:

Last January I sold my gear and gave up. This Christmas I bought myself a new bass and tried getting back in to it but just not enjoying playing along to songs, no good at solo noodling and can't find other people to play with. I'm not happy with how I play. I think I've reached the end.

Bummer

 

Try this. Put on a favourite radio station and between two ad breaks, see how far you can get busking along to the songs.

 

Stop before you get bored. If all you can do is work out the key or a signature riff, that still counts as a win.

 

Plus go to open mics/jam sessions. Always more guitarists and vocalists than bass players.

 

Don't set false barriers.  If you have to play mustang sally to get a jam, do it. Next time it will be something better.

[SteveXFR]

6 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said:

 

Try this. Put on a favourite radio station and between two ad breaks, see how far you can get busking along to the songs.

 

Stop before you get bored. If all you can do is work out the key or a signature riff, that still counts as a win.

 

Plus go to open mics/jam sessions. Always more guitarists and vocalists than bass players.

 

Don't set false barriers.  If you have to play mustang sally to get a jam, do it. Next time it will be something better.

 

I'm a metal player and jam sessions local to me seem to be jazz or folk so I just don't understand the music at all.

I've tried jamming along to songs, I usually get the chord pattern quickly enough but soon get bored. 

What I loved was playing filthy riffs at ridiculous volume with mates and coming up with cool stuff together. Unfortunately, that's gone now and not going to happen again.

[80Hz]

Metal is a tough one. It’s kinetic. It’s hard to do without proper practice space and being somewhere you can play loud.

 

Hope you live somewhere that you can still get to shows and find other ways to be enthusiastic about the music. If so you might circle your way back into playing.

[Harryburke14]

I packed up bass about 5 years ago because I was bored of it. Started learning guitar, joined a band as their guitarist, and now after some rejigging I am the bass player. The first time I have played bass in half a decade and also the most excited I've ever been to play music.

 

Maybe, like with me, it's a new outlet that you need to start enjoying it again.

[Boodang]

I had this where after decades of playing I’d reached the end with bass… but not music. I took up drums. Then about ten years later bass entered my life again and I play in bands doing both. 
so maybe a change of instrument is in order?! 

[Stub Mandrel]

1 hour ago, SteveXFR said:

 

I'm a metal player and jam sessions local to me seem to be jazz or folk so I just don't understand the music at all.

I've tried jamming along to songs, I usually get the chord pattern quickly enough but soon get bored. 

What I loved was playing filthy riffs at ridiculous volume with mates and coming up with cool stuff together. Unfortunately, that's gone now and not going to happen again.

 

Cast your net as wide as you can. I kjw at least on jam near me where things can get quite heavy (musically).

[itu]

Take a rest. Repeat ad lib. Come back. We will be here.

[Lozz196]

Yeah no need to force it, if it’s not hitting the spot put it to the side, it may come back it may not.

[mep]

Steve, whatever you decide to do, don't give up biking too. 

[SteveXFR]

4 minutes ago, mep said:

Steve, whatever you decide to do, don't give up biking too. 

 

Its all good there. I'm actually looking at buying a third one, a Honda CRF250L or for green lane riding

[dave_bass5]

3 hours ago, SteveXFR said:

Last January I sold my gear and gave up. This Christmas I bought myself a new bass and tried getting back in to it but just not enjoying playing along to songs, no good at solo noodling and can't find other people to play with. I'm not happy with how I play. I think I've reached the end.

Bummer

I felt exactly like this during lockdown. Brought a keyboard and found happiness again. 

[tauzero]

Cast around for open mics. I've encountered a wide variety of them, from being almost the youngest and rockiest there at one to being the oldest and folkiest at another.