I am a bassist, first and foremost, and will always be.

I have been in a rut lately. I have not been wanting to play, trying to play, wanting to buy new gear, nothing. My band is "on hiatus", due to us becoming sick and bored with each other. Musically it is/was there, we have/had a great chemistry, and know and can feel the tendencies of each other. But lately any new material was met with resistance from the others.

I've gotten with my drummer a couple of times since then, but that just ends up as the two of us talking smack about the others in the band. I've had a few jams with other musicians, and I end up becoming bored with that, and making up excuses to leave early. I've tried to play new things, different genres, and what-not. I've pulled out the old books and tried to play thru those, but to no avail. I'm not trying to force myself to it, just trying to let it happen.

I have recently been thinking about taking up guitar, to help get me back into the mood and to strengthen my bass playing. I went guitar "browsing" today and had fun, I played alot of different guitars. I didn't even look at basses. But I am afraid that by taking this on it may frustrate me even more.
In your opinion, do you think that this is a good idea? Would playing the guitar help my bass playing? I would really like to see any comments, especially from those that play both and feel that they can compliment the other.

Sure - playing any other instrument will help your bass playing. I've gotten full of new musical ideas that lead me into other direction and/or helped my guitar playing a lot when I started playing other instruments more, like bass/sax/keys/harmonica/bongos, etc.

But your situation is a bit more than just that. Your band kind of fell apart for the same reasons that many bands do - you all start arguing about what to play. "I'm not playing this song and I never liked it", "That bad sucks and I won't play anything by them", "I refuse to play anything by so-and-so because they eat non-dolphin-safe tuna" and so on. Musicians start getting weird about "why" they won't play either certain originals or covers, even for jamming purposes. The longer some musicians play, the more close-minded and narrow they get. Other times, they just harder to deal with. It happens to many (maybe most) bands, business partnerships and even marriages.

But as far as learning a new(er) instrument in concerned, it's always good to be able to pick up another one. You'll think about your own instrument differently, look at music in different ways, and find a new focus for your music that can make you worry/care less about the current band situation.

Good luck!

Zod, Bro your human, this is a normal phase, it usually happens just before a long burst of creative energy, so, keep your recording equipement, pen and paper ready, you should be writing some good stuff soon. An electric guitar helps in the writing process because as a bass player you can write good rythm parts and maybe a little lead riffage. I have'nt mentioned this before so I'll just type this once and hope Brad does'nt see it. I borrowed 70 dollars from my little sister (I'm unemployed and it sucks) went to the pawn shop and bought a washburn X model. Its from the '90s, a strat copy ( named X because shes my bad strat please pardon the gender reference) hot as hell, a washburn dual coil and two single coils, whammy bar and fast neck, two of the three songs that I wrote for Solarcoaster were written on X. I write on my bass but sometimes you need to hear the guitar sound and it helps if you have one. I'm looking forward to hearing some fresh kickass rock and roll songs from you and let us know what guitar you pickup.

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you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.

Sounds like you're experiencing a bit of burnout, my friend! If you've tried to mix things up and still aren't enjoying playing your bass, it might be a good idea to take a break from it for a while.

That being said, messing around on a guitar could help to get your creative juices flowing again. I played a bit of bass when I was in college, but after the bands I played in broke up I felt little interest in playing it anymore (to me, bass isn't all that much fun unless you are playing with others). It was around that time I picked up an acoustic guitar and started to focus a lot more on my six-string playing. I eventually sold my bass, used the money to buy a MIM Strat, and I haven't looked back!

I might look at getting a used Squire or something like that -- something that wouldn't require you to shell out a whole lot of money.

Another option: you might want to think about focusing on another non-musical hobby. For example: I do a lot of running/jogging in my spare time and I find it really helps me in terms of keeping my energy level up and keeping the doldrums away!

Thats exactly the way i got about my last band. I tried to force myself through it, it didnt work. After i quit the band it took me a year to pick a guitar up again and three years before i wanted to join another band.

Tread carefully, watch your feelings dont leave them unattended mate. Hell if the worst comes to the worst talk to your band about the perceived problems. I know thats never a good idea but its worth it for a last ditch attempt to salvage a decent band.

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No no and no

Good advice all around. Zod I would say go for the guitar and we all know most great songs start off in there infancy as basic cowboy chord strumming patterns and maybe this dark mood your in will open a creative door to write something totally different than what you normally would. I would also say go out and see some live music as that is always a picker upper.

This would work for me. Go see some of your friends bands too, even if its just at their rehearsals. You never know, sometimes, opportunities can develop for you this way too.

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You dig?

Thanks for your replies and advice.
I am gonna go watch Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii now. I saw that McCartney concert on VH1 Classic this AM.

As far as guitars, I really like the Les Paul look. One thing that drives me nuts is all the damn knobs and switches on these guitars that I have tried. I would say that the front runner if I was to purchase a guitar would be the Ibanez ART100 in transparent cherry. I spent some time with one yesterday and I thought it was absolutely beautiful. Ampwise I was digging the Line 6 Spider III 30 and 75. But what do I know, I'm just a bass player.

Hi zod: I often think people should work harder at marriages because there are children involved. There are responsibilities.

This is a band, not a marriage, however similar in some ways. If it ain't working anymore for you all, then move on. Nobody get's hurt so bad.

Lot's of us know exactly where you are. This stuff is not new.

Sometimes life just takes completely different directions - but there will come a time when it seems a shame if music just gets left behind at this particular turning point. It may happen - but try the options to rekindle your musical appetite if you can.

A new instrument is one way and never a bad idea in itself.

Another option is to look at new musical routes with the bass. I don't know your style, but try something different. Most of us like more than one thing: if you've been playing rock for years try some jazz if you're also into that. Or fusion. Or swing. Or whatever: just something to reawaken your interest and take you places you haven't been before.

Go get a fretless bass. Or an upright. Anything to turn a new leaf.

But don't do it as a chore or an exercise: let your curiosity be your guide. Catch a tempting whiff of something in your nostrils and then follow your nose.

It's a big musical world and it's your oyster ready to be opened. Tell us what you find...!

Best of luck - C

zod
I'm sure you have seen that I just signed up for some music classes at my local jr college. A big part of the reason that I did this is because I have been in a rut similar to yours. I need some fresh ideas, some active input, some refreshers in things I should know.
Maybe something like that would help you out too?

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Chet Feathers

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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

Cool pic zod! If you run across a Michael Kelly Patriot any version let us know how that one actually plays, I've heard what it sounds like on the Rockfield pickups website http://www.rockfieldpickups.com/ those les pauls do have a unique sound.

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you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.

In my work, clients ask me to produce in a given style, so I am brought into forced contact with a lot of music I would never have sought out for pleasure. It has radically broadened both my perspective and my palette.

So my advice is: when you're stuck in a musical rut, start listening to some music you "don't like." Ask a friend who really likes hip-hop to make you a mix CD. Buy a Christina Aguilera album. Tune your car radio to a pop country station.

Then listen til you get it. You'll come back to whatever you usually play with some new ideas and a completely new sense of why you love to play.