Anyone else done a hard reset?

[bassist_lewis]

I've been playing for almost 25 years now, and gigging regularly for 15 of those, largely in covers bands with a few originals. Five years ago I qualified as a teacher and have been full time for two, all the while doing gigs on the side. This last August I did my last wedding (sort of... I booked one next June because it was 20 minutes from my house and I finish at 9pm!) because its too much working full time, gigging most weekends and being married.

Income was the main reason I played, both gigs and practice, but with a full time and very reliable job (feeling very grateful amongst all these layoffs), I've felt at a bit of a loss as to why I play. So, in discussion with my wife I decided to take a month off playing to reset and see what happens at the other side. I've not burned any bridges. I still have 3 bands on the go (one is gigging at the end of the month), but I want to see what kind of motivation is left with now money isn't one of them.

Anyone else taken time out from playing? Did it change how you felt about playing or why you played?

[steve-bbb]

i stopped playing for a few year about 20 years back and when i resumed i found i was more able to identify and drop bad habits that i had previously gotten used to

[Beedster]

I stopped playing for close to 20 years between 1985 and 2003. I had far more success and status in the former, far more joy and satisfaction in the latter 👍

[Lozz196]

I stopped in the early 90s for about 5 years. I’d been in 2 bands since the late 80s that had been trying to make it and both experiences had made me completely fed up with music. 
 

In that 5 year period I hardly bought any music, wasn’t that bothered about listening to it either, only went to a few gigs if that.
 

But the bug bit again, guitar first, bought myself a Strat, from then on pretty much been in gigging bands ever since, guitar occasionally but bass is my home. And it’s my hobby, what I do for fun and to chill. I’m glad I picked it up again, I’ve achieved more than I ever thought I would, but I needed those 5 years off.

[Burns-bass]

I don’t do gigs for money really (although it’s an added bonus). I do it because I enjoy it and if I didn’t I’d stop. Sometimes I find it hard to turn things down because the people I play with are friends. 

 

I had a similar thing as you did in August and took the whole month off. It didn’t impact my playing at all and I felt loads better.

 

I’ve started listening to different music. I’ve found some incredible new stuff I’d never have ever considered listening to and (guess what?) it’s made me pick up the bass and try and play along. 
 

 

[SteveXFR]

I took a year off and the got back to it at the start of this year with all new gear. It was like starting again, I could still play but I had a new motivation and different targets. I miss my old band but now have another and its fun again. 

[NJE]

I took about 2 years out a few years back, my kids were small and I just wanted to be with them and not be thinking about gigs etc.

 

I always used to play to earn some money and that was a bit motivation to keep playing. Since starting up again I don’t worry too much about money (my job is decent and I’m not counting pennies these days), the big thing for me is getting out of the house and seeing people, having a laugh and just doing it because it helps my mental health.

[neepheid]

I stopped playing during the COVID lockdowns. I don't get much joy from playing bass on my tod, so I didn't.

 

Honestly, it was 50/50 whether or not I would go back. Then I gave my head a wobble, treated myself to a royal purple G&L CLF L-1000 and got back on the horse.

Edited 3 hours ago by neepheid

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

I hardly touched a bass for the entirety of the 90s, having got into using a computer (first the Yamaha CX5M, then the Atari STE) and synthesisers / drum machines etc to make music. When I decided to get back into playing bass I ditched using a plecky and forced myself to get good at playing fingerstyle which I was unable to do well before.

[RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE]

Stopped mid/ late ‘90s . Then one of my best mates who taught me,and got me gigging , pushed me into doing a gig for my 40th birthday.Then I got motivated again, and played in a couple of bands. Got fed up when bands imploded like they do in about 2010, so stopped again .

Last few years got into synths ,and started recording rubbish on soundcloud.

 

As I’m old , I should be downsizing the bass collection but for some reason I’m thinking of getting one more bass that would be the dearest and hopefully best .

I seem to have more fun noodling without any pressure to learn anything , which for some reason means my playing has got better without thinking about it .

[bassist_lewis]

3 hours ago, Beedster said:

I stopped playing for close to 20 years between 1985 and 2003. I had far more success and status in the former, far more joy and satisfaction in the latter 👍

If this happens for me I'll be happy.... I hope!

[bassist_lewis]

3 hours ago, Burns-bass said:

I had a similar thing as you did in August and took the whole month off. It didn’t impact my playing at all and I felt loads better.

 

I’ve started listening to different music. I’ve found some incredible new stuff I’d never have ever considered listening to and (guess what?) it’s made me pick up the bass and try and play along. 
 

 

I'm kind of hoping for this: having a sense of what I actually want to do on the instrument. I've been practicing technique pretty hard for the last 18 months. Its been great learning how to learn, but its not quite music is it...

1 hour ago, NJE said:

I took about 2 years out a few years back, my kids were small and I just wanted to be with them and not be thinking about gigs etc.

 

I always used to play to earn some money and that was a bit motivation to keep playing. Since starting up again I don’t worry too much about money (my job is decent and I’m not counting pennies these days), the big thing for me is getting out of the house and seeing people, having a laugh and just doing it because it helps my mental health.

I've met a few dads with the same story!

[bassbiscuits]

I stopped playing bass completely between about 2002-2005 after a really acrimonious parting with my band which just took all the enjoyment out of things. I was also quite bored and burnt out by it all.
 

Focused on enjoying my guitar playing for a bit instead, eventually gigged a few times with a local band on guitar, and then that folded shortly before I moved city anyway. 
 

I wasn’t looking to play bass in a band but it was an easy way to get to know people in my new home city and I fell back into it eventually. 

 

Certainly that break for a few years gave me breathing space to get out of old habits and come back with a fresh pair of ears and some new ideas too.