What's your Why?

Somebody posted this video in another thread the other day.

It’s a great video with some great tips on staying motivated. The part about “What’s your why” made me a little introspective. I know we have a bass origin story thread. But, I was wondering if another interesting topic of discussion would be “What’s your why?”. What makes you continue to practice/play. I think it might be interesting to note if your “why” has changed from when you first started playing.

My original “why’s”

  1. I wanted to connect more with my oldest son more. He’s a bass player.
  2. I’m 48, never played a guitar before 10 months ago. I wanted a new challenge.
  3. I wanted to learn more about music.
  4. I wanted to see if I could even play. I’ve had rheumatoid arthritis since my early 30’s. I wondered how it would go with my hands.

Current “why’s”

  1. It’s still an avenue of connection with my oldest. My daughter also started playing bass. That’s been fun to see.
  2. Still enjoying the challenge, but enjoying it more now that I have some basis (thanks B2B and also Yousician). Working slowly through the cord tones class right now.
  3. I really like tinkering with guitars. I have really enjoyed learning what I have. It’s very satisfying to take one that isn’t fun to play and get it playing the best it/I can.
  4. I’d like to get proficient enough to go to a jam session, or maybe play live. I know it will take some time, and the right situation, but maybe someday.
  5. The RA hasn’t been much of an issue. I think it’s the opposite. I think playing bass has been great therapy. I feel like my hands are stronger and more flexible than they have been in years. If anything, that’s a reason to keep playing.
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I think it’s a great idea to think about why we’re doing something occasionally. Currently, I’m working a lot more than when I re-started bass during covid. Or maybe not, but it feels like it.

My why has not really changed - I just want to play. That sounds great, but it’s also a bit aimless. For example, I’m not driven to be in a band at the moment, but that would be good to stay motivated. On the other hand, it would be another committment on top of my partner, work, sports, my friends etc.

Smaller whys were:

  1. I want to be cool and get some attention
  2. I need to get away from the internet
  3. I wanted to do something creative

What has changed is my appreciation for what I can do. There is so much to learn - and I am far, far away from a beginner, too. So, practicing becomes a challenge because I should be more diligent - and then life happens. :grin:

So, what’s up with everybody else? :slight_smile:

Cheers,
Antonio

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This is an interesting question. I don’t really know my ‘why’ yet, I guess. Other than ‘it seemed like a cool thing to do’. Let me think about this some more.

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Jamming with other musicians is a unique skill. The only way to build it is to do it.

Don’t wait until you’re “good enough”. Go out and jam with people.

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My why:

My husband left me after 30 years of being together 6 months ago. I was blindsided. I needed an activity/outlet to get my mind off of the pain and crap in my head. I also wanted an activity to keep my mind active and challenged. I had decided that playing an instrument would be a good positive outlet. I thought about guitar, piano and bass. I think I was watching alot of Josh on you tube. It was when I heard Too Sweet by Hozier that I decided at that moment that it will be bass!! Too Sweet is now my separation theme song :upside_down_face:

I just love the the instrument, the low tones, the beat, the simplicity and the also complexity. I am bad ass bassist in my mind! The Bass Buzz Forum has also been instrumental in helping me during my transition.

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Some reasons, or why’s from me:

I have always loved music, sometimes I can feel it deep in my core. I want to be a part of that.
I have always been drawn to the rhythm section, I have been playing the drums before but don’t want to go back to drums, it would never be the same , so enter the bass …

Learning a skill , even a small one , is an incredible rewarding experience for me, not a lot can beat that, you can’t buy it, no one can give it to you , you earned it and if you maintain it it’s yours forever and you will take it with you.

Playing and practicing bass keeps my mind occupied and together with walking 10000 steps a day makes me a a more happy , healthy and positive human being :grin:

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My why is I’m 68, a hard working ED Physician and for once in my life I’d like to be cool!
Another why is it has taught me to listen to music in a new way.
And now I love Motown and Reggae as well!!

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I grew up in a house that was always playing music. My dad played piano for the church for like 30 years. Music was this language in my home that I could listen to and understand, but not really speak. Sure I sang as a kid in the church choir, played drums, guitar, piano but they were all really half steps.

They never really went anywhere.

I’ve kept what I call “emotional support instruments” which hung on the wall and maybe I’d take one down, noodle and try to learn a riff for a couple of days but that was it.

A few years back I took piano lessons for almost a year but still I didn’t really get anywhere. Even though I practiced for HOURS. It was all technique and not a musical conversation.

Drums, Bass, and Singing have always been how I’ve wanted to express myself with music.

Fast forward to getting laid off from my job and needing to make progress in SOMETHING. I decided it was time to pour myself into the Bass.

I was cyber stalking Josh for a while on YT and decided, “Hey, I don’t make income anymore, let’s piss off the wife and buy his class” Ok well I bought it because he’s an amazing teacher and I wanted to force myself to commit. I knew if I didn’t practice after spending money I didn’t have, my wife would kick my ass. so…

Motivator #1 I spent a bunch of money

Locking myself in with money at this point was a good motivator.

I played probably an hour or more each day and I was getting better but then I realized that I was lonely.

Motivator #2 Making new friends, making music together and sharing music with others.

I put out an ad on CL and bandmix for people to jam with. I didn’t expect a van to show up, kidnap me, and force me to play bass in a band. Ok well the story was a little different in reality but here I am.

Motivator #3 I don’t want to let my band down. I also don’t want to suck in front of strangers.

So I’m taking over for the previous bassist of the band. I started mid October both in the band and seriously playing bass. We have my first show on 2/28 and I have about 40 songs to learn by then.

With all of that fun pressure at this point I can play about 25 songs in the setlist. Before I started with this band I had never played a full song EVER on the bass.

Motivator #4 Practice produces precision. While I’m not a “badass yet” I’ve seen how practice helps you go from zero to hero. Seeing that in my life opens doors for anything else I ever want to do.

Life is hard, hard work is the only way to win and even doing nothing is pretty damn hard. So you might as well get busy.

Motivator #5 (and I believe I’m done now) Appreciating the pain. Ok here’s where it gets weird. I now appreciate the heartache and pain true professionals (in anything) go through to get to their level. At about 2+ hours a day for 2 months now I can tell you I’m tired. My hands are sore, my arms ache my finger tips haven’t been the same. But with all of the bullsh*t I still want more. I’ve learned how to be responsible and take an occasional day off but I’ve also seen that my hands have gone from getting tired after 10 minutes to wanting to play more after 4hrs. It’s cool to see my body build up endurance and push through limits.

That was a long meandering brain dump but my band has really opened my eyes to how much I’ve loved music my whole life. I may not speak eloquently in the language of music, but I now can communicate.

I’m getting older now and I can’t sing like I used to when I was young but now I have an instrument that can sing for me and that’s pretty stinkin’ cool.

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The why has always been I just really like playing in bands!

My specific why at the moment is that I want to relearn my scales and use the musical knowledge in my head to bring it back out as well as develop my fingerstyle as I’ve neglected it over the years.

Ergo at the moment, I’m really into relearning my scales and with that my technique. I’ve found myself walking around reciting the circle of fourths!

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I think that’s a perfectly valid why. I don’t think a why always has to be some deep thing. It has been a few days since I watched the video in the first post, but I’m pretty sure Josh lists “Just because” as a potential why.

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That’s a pretty good motive, especially at the moment :sweat_smile:

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Right now my why is twofold, which are kind of interrelated…

  1. Do something I’ve wanted to do for decades. I wanted to learn bass in high school, then one day a friend came over having just bought himself one and that kind of put an end to that dream of mine at the time
  2. Celebrate my beating cancer. Some people buy a motorcycle when they finish chemo, some get a tattoo, some do other things…I bought myself a bass.
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100% this is my why.
Trying to keep my thoughts focused on one thing, and playing bass works best for me. It became the most constant activity in my life. The only distraction I have now is GAS…

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This thread has so far been and will continue to be an interesting read.

My WHY which began around 1965-66 was because I wanted to play in a rock band. The primary motivations were to attract chicks and make some money. It worked.

Now my WHY is that even after nearly 50 years as a semi-pro performing musician only through playing can I continue to grow as a player and also remain competent to teach others to play. That’s my current motivation.

Chicks have cost me way too much money already. :laughing:

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My why is pretty basic. I like to have something to do when I’m at home, and playing an insturment is fun to pass the time. Have always been a music lover, mainly a lot of classic rock.

I am perfectly content just playing at home to backing tracks, or the occasional jam session with my brother now that he is playing guitar again. My wife seems to enjoy the free “show” as well.

Never have had any intention of playing live or in a band, especially now we have a baby due any day now. But never say never right. If the right chance/opppurtunity came up with the right people, I could maybe be persuaded.

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Wait the song said, “money for nothing and chicks for free” :thinking:

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Great idea for a discussion! :slight_smile:
Original why’s:

  1. Music Therapy. I struggle with my mental health, so look for creative pastimes to occupy my time, and give myself a sense of satisfaction. I have an 88 key Korg Liano in the attic. I spent two years trying to learn to play as I enjoy the instrument.
    I didn’t feel like I had made any progress in that time. Maybe if Josh had a piano course things would be different!
  2. I live with my 29yr old son, and he has a guitar, but wasn’t all that motivated to play. I’m not really interested in them myself, but thought that buying a bass would benefit us both.
  3. There are many songs with prominent bass lines that inspired me to try the bass, ranging from The Blues Brother soundtrack to rock and indie tunes. I am a big fan of Muse and Linkin Park, but as you’ve seen from my videos, I try to play a variety of tunes.
    So I bought my first bass, and was lucky enough to stumble on Bass Buzz videos on YT within a week or so of my purchase. I was quick to sign up for the course, and it has helped me learn greatly. I also use Songsterr for the tab.
    Current why’s:
    1b. I love my bass! I have found my soulmate instrument, I enjoy it so much, and feel that I am making progress with my learning.
    Whenever I feel down, I know that i can play on my bass and I will feel better.
    2b. This fantastic, supportive forum has played a big part in keeping my enthusiasm going. I genuinely can’t praise you all enough, it is such a wonderful community.
    I never thought I’d be filming myself playing, and posting the videos publicly! My confidence comes from you all, so thank you. I also share my videos to my friends on Facebook, and they are routinely ignored by most people! Stupid Facebook :rofl: :rofl:
    3b. The whole process of practising a song, recording it on Audacity, filming myself playing, and putting it all together in Davinci Resolve is so much fun. It has evolved into so much more than just playing the bass, I now have new hobbies that make me happy, and occupy a lot of my time, for which I am very grateful.
    I am looking forward to coming up with ideas for future songs and videos.
    I would like to play a bit more with others, but I am happy doing my own thing at home
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Nice thread :blush:

I’m not sure of my original why, other than music has always been a huge part of my life, I was attracted to basslines - so makes sense I’d try to play it!

My recent whys:

I got fed up with constantly just daydreaming about playing bass and talking about playing in the past tense. I realised I was being ridiculous not picking it up again.

After I lost my job last year I wanted to feel like I could come out the other side having achieved something just for me, so playing bass gave me goals and joy.

And this community provided a wonderful space to geek out about music and bass and get inspired to keep pushing my playing :sunglasses:

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You have great presence, you don’t need a regular job. Just start a YouTube channel and let others follow your bass journey :sweat_smile::v:

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The original why…?

A colleague and a client died within two weeks of each other, summer of ‘23. One of them was 4 years older than me, the other 3 years younger. I’m of an age where a few years either way is irrelevant. On top of that, both my parents had recently died with / of Alzheimer’s.

One Saturday morning, I was putting washing out on the line and was listening to the Today Programme - BBC Radio 4, morning news and current affairs - when I heard a package about the cognitive benefits for children of learning to play an instrument. The article went on to state that while the benefits are not as great for adults, they are there.

F’k it, I remember thinking, life is short, I’m going to learn an instrument! As a child, I’d badly strummed chords on a guitar, but never got beyond a A (B was hard) C, D, E, F, G and a couple minor variations. So I decided that I would not revisit that instrument, I’d just get stuck in the same pattern of A, can’t do B, C … you get the idea! What about piano? Can’t do piano as my daughter is learning that, it wouldn’t be fair on either of us. Violin? Errr, no. The glockenspiel? :rofl:. The drums? A mate used to play them, so all I’d get for him would be, Well, when I played… The bass? The bass….the bass…THE BASS!!!

So that’s the original why. Two deaths and a shield against dementia.

Incidentally, at university, I had a friend (still have a friend) who was studying for a degree in music. His instrument was guitar. He is the most incredible guitarist I have ever heard. He’s in a band that many will know and is also a music producer. He’s encouraged me on this bass journey (as an aside, his brother is a professional bassist and his sister, an actresses). We met for a drink a month ago and were talking about mortality and the death of parents. I mentioned the point about the cognitive benefits of musical training. His response was, Yes, I don’t really know any musicians that have died of dementia, he paused, I know a hell of a lot that have killed themselves with drugs though!!

The current why? Well, the original still remains true, but on top of that, I’M PLAYIN’ IN A FREAKIN’ BAND!!! (Yes, I’m shouting) HOW COOL IS THAT?!

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