One step forward, two steps back...happy then frustrated...is this normal?!

Neil Folkard

Neil Folkard

Nov 24, 2016
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#1
Hey all. After decades of being an on and off hobby guitarist, I've been playing bass seriously for a little over 7 years now, and fallen in love with the instrument. I've always loved prog rock/prog metal/jazz fusion styles of music and have been playing fretless bass since the day I started. I'm in three original bands and write songs. No one can fault me for ambition, lol.

The thing is: playing always seems to be such a roller-coaster ride.

One day, I think I'm doing well, my fingers are really doing what I want them to do, my tone is improving and I'm getting places. The next day, I can barely stand to hear myself play and severely question whatever ability, I may have.

One day, I love my pedals and effects and sound, the next day, the sounds coming out of my rig make me cringe and I wonder if there is something wrong with my bass or amp!

Honestly sometimes it seems like it requires a PHD, or some form of unfathomable, arcane preternatural knowledge, to understand how to make pleasing amplified sounds with equipment.

Is this normal?! Do others have these same feelings? Is there any way to overcome them?
 
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#3
I think there are two things at play here: if your playing technique changes day to day, there will be no pedals or amps that will fix technique issues.

I would start by isolating problems. On one of your “bad days” just plug directly into the amp and hear yourself. If you are playing too hard/your plucking hand is in the wrong spot/your fretting hand is tired and there is buzz all over the place... then technique.

If it is the pedals/amp:
- check all your connections, get good cables, work the pots to eliminate any rust
- if your pedals use batteries, get rechargeable ones and keep them charged
- write down your amp/pedals setting

I solved the pedal/amp issue going full computerized (Mac-Mainstage) and playing through a PA type amp. Was sick and tired of the effect amps had in my sound. Now I always sound consistently the way I want it.

I hope some of these help
 
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#4
I’ve been playing around 4 1/2 years and have this. With technique I stop what I’m doing and do some basic warm up routine or play an easy song for a bit instead. That usually gets me back on track. I can be guilty of over complicating the sound but I’ve read lots of others saying the same thing; what they thought sounded good yesterday sounds flat or dull today. I don’t know what it is but sometimes it just makes me put the bass back down and walk away. I’m really thinking of limiting my choices (ditching the multi effect and just having a compressor and preamp and that’s it). If you find a solution let me know!
 
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#8
Neil Folkard said:
Hey all. After decades of being an on and off hobby guitarist, I've been playing bass seriously for a little over 7 years now, and fallen in love with the instrument. I've always loved prog rock/prog metal/jazz fusion styles of music and have been playing fretless bass since the day I started. I'm in three original bands and write songs. No one can fault me for ambition, lol.

The thing is: playing always seems to be such a roller-coaster ride.

One day, I think I'm doing well, my fingers are really doing what I want them to do, my tone is improving and I'm getting places. The next day, I can barely stand to hear myself play and severely question whatever ability, I may have.

One day, I love my pedals and effects and sound, the next day, the sounds coming out of my rig make me cringe and I wonder if there is something wrong with my bass or amp!

Honestly sometimes it seems like it requires a PHD, or some form of unfathomable, arcane preternatural knowledge, to understand how to make pleasing amplified sounds with equipment.

Is this normal?! Do others have these same feelings? Is there any way to overcome them?
Click to expand...

Sounds pretty normal. Yes, other have the same feelings. The way to overcome them isn’t 100% effective. The feelings invoke GAS, which can just as easily make the feelings worse instead of better.
Best of luck, or hope your next spell of Gear Acquirement Syndrome helps instead of splashing more GAS on the fire.....
 
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#9
Some days you can barely stand to listen to yourself play, you question your abilities, and you wonder if there is something wrong with your equipment.

But other days you think you are improving, and love your equipment.

This is why you should keep at it. Because in the past when you were confronted by periods of counter-productivity they were always followed by periods of progress. Remember this when you are in a down cycle.

Always after the rain, there is sun. Always.
 
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#10
Keep in mind that there's a reason they call it "practice". It's a practice, just like doctoring or lawyering. A regular or daily experience in a discipline. Some days are easier than others, but the repetition and practice of making music via a tool and a variety of methods is a point to examine.
 
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#13
IMHE as a hobbyist, playing bass is like investing in the stock market.......or rehabilitating from injury......progress is best measured from quarter to quarter, not day to day. It's like watching a kid with a yo-yo on an escalator. Keep your eye on the kid, not the yo-yo :)
 
#17
You should get comfortable playing with and without your pedals so you know what you can and can't control with your hands. But it's perfectly natural to always think things will be better if you buy new gear, it's called GAS.

It also sounds like maybe you are stretching your focus. Ever take a day off? Or take a couple days and play guitar instead? Or just watch the Falcons lose and feel sad for me that I'll never see them win a Lombardi?
 
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#18
Neil Folkard said:
Hey all. After decades of being an on and off hobby guitarist, I've been playing bass seriously for a little over 7 years now, and fallen in love with the instrument. I've always loved prog rock/prog metal/jazz fusion styles of music and have been playing fretless bass since the day I started. I'm in three original bands and write songs. No one can fault me for ambition, lol.

The thing is: playing always seems to be such a roller-coaster ride.

One day, I think I'm doing well, my fingers are really doing what I want them to do, my tone is improving and I'm getting places. The next day, I can barely stand to hear myself play and severely question whatever ability, I may have.

One day, I love my pedals and effects and sound, the next day, the sounds coming out of my rig make me cringe and I wonder if there is something wrong with my bass or amp!

Honestly sometimes it seems like it requires a PHD, or some form of unfathomable, arcane preternatural knowledge, to understand how to make pleasing amplified sounds with equipment.

Is this normal?! Do others have these same feelings? Is there any way to overcome them?
Click to expand...

How is your playing in the long haul? I have these same feelings but I notice that I'm getting better in spite of the valleys. What would really depress me is if I could see I was getting worse or couldn't do the things I used to do.
 
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