Author Topic: It's All In My Head... (Read 205 times)

olieoliver · « **on:** February 12, 2009, 09:04:08 AM »

...I just can't get it to my fingers like I once did.
I find the irony of getting a little older funny sometimes and discouraging at other times.
I know SO much more at 46 about my instrument and music in general than I did at 26 but my fingers just don't move like they used to.

I visited an old friend of mine that was the drummer in a few of the bands I played with this past weekend. He had some old tapes he converted to CD of us playing live. As we were listening I kept thinking, WOW did I play that! SOoo i go home and try to reproduce what I played on the CD. Well....it could hear and see it in my head but my darned old fingers wouldn't cooperate.
Not sure if it's the 20+ years its been or the lack of playing. (Back then I was playing 5 and 6 nights a week and rehearsing the nights we were off.) I think maybe a litlle of both.

(sigh),
OO

benson_murrensun · « **Reply #1 on:** February 12, 2009, 09:19:33 AM »

I avoided the whole issue by not starting to play bass until I was 37 yrs. old!!!!

olieoliver · « **Reply #2 on:** February 12, 2009, 09:35:20 AM »

LOL Ben.

I had been playing for 25 years when I was 37.

OO

benson_murrensun · « **Reply #3 on:** February 12, 2009, 10:09:58 AM »

My father told me that he was tone deaf and that I was tone deaf as well, so that playing music would be a waste of time. Nice, huh? So I did other things for the first half of my life. Then one day I secretly went to a pawn shop and bought a cheap acoustic guitar, learned a few campfire chords, and with the encouragement of a few friends, continued to play guitar (until I saw the light and switched to bass). I'm sure I would be a much better player if I had started younger, but I am good enough to have fun when I am playing, anyway. God willing, I will be able to enjoy playing until I am an old geezer.

olieoliver · « **Reply #4 on:** February 12, 2009, 10:13:39 AM »

Amen to that brother!

Getting old beats the alternative!

OO

spose · « **Reply #5 on:** February 12, 2009, 10:18:59 AM »

I'm going to go with..
lack of playing

when you play everyday, like it sounds like you did
you will break through. Playing constantly is the only way I know of to getting better. There really isn't any other way. reading, talking, listening all help the process but it never replaces playing the instrument.

and 46 is not old...heh

olieoliver · « **Reply #6 on:** February 12, 2009, 10:30:50 AM »

Not old but older.

I suppose you're right Spose. I may play 2 or 3 times a week for about an hour or two each time where as I was playing a good 40 to 50 hours a weeks back then.

Motivation being my stmubling block now.

I may not be old but I am lazy!

OO

LMiwa · « **Reply #7 on:** February 12, 2009, 10:54:48 AM »

Back when I was young, I was forced to practice (cello) for 2hrs a day. Sure wish I could find the time now to play even 1hr a day. I know I'd be WAY better than I am. As with any muscles, you lose speed, strength, and endurance with lack of use.

So as you said Olie, while I may be much better musically, I sure wish I was as good as I used to be technically.

lbpesq · « **Reply #8 on:** February 12, 2009, 11:27:18 AM »

Guys:

It is definitely NOT that we are getting old. Al Gore proved scientifically that global warming has caused slight mutations in wood that imbue it with a magnetic-like quality that attracts organic matter. This creates a gravitational effect upon the fingers, pulling them to the fretboard and having the result of slowing down the entire playing process. Yea, that's it, that's the ticket. We may be less young, but WE WILL NEVER BE OLD!!!!

Bill, tgo

olieoliver · « **Reply #9 on:** February 12, 2009, 11:34:38 AM »

I'd better get rid of those Hard Wood floors in the bedroom then.

benson_murrensun · « **Reply #10 on:** February 12, 2009, 11:38:24 AM »

As I age, there are definitely slight mutations that become perceptible in my wood. So Gore is correct.

glocke · « **Reply #11 on:** February 12, 2009, 02:36:53 PM »

practice practice....up until two years ago I was spending about 4-5 hours a day on my bass,(gigs, rehearsels, practice at home), but some family issues took a higher priority so for the past two years Ive been lucky if i get 4-5 hours per week in. Im only now able to get back to my prior practice routine, and can tell that the extra time is making a difference...

olieoliver · « **Reply #12 on:** February 13, 2009, 08:21:32 PM »

OK, I got a little inspired thinking to myself, I ain't that old, I just need to play more. Plugged into my BasspodXt Live into my Mac and here is the result. Blew a little dust off the old fingers.
One drum track and two bass tracks. (Hope this link works)
You Want 2

Ya'll be gentle,
OO

olieoliver · « **Reply #13 on:** February 13, 2009, 08:30:11 PM »

Looks like it works. The tune is kind of long and I really didn't get loose until mid way thru it. The bass lead is one take with no edits so please excuse any mistakes.

OO

speicky · « **Reply #14 on:** February 14, 2009, 01:36:02 AM »

wow, Olie, I'm psyched... that's just great !

Christian