Season's greetings folks - hope everyone is doing well!
I'm FINALLY feeling well enough to come out of hiding and am beyond excited to get back to work!!
Whilst travelling back to Roswell (currently in the air bound for Phoenix, where my truck's parked), I just watched this fantastically produced interview I did for my good friend Scott Poley - Pedal Steel / Guitar some months ago. You really wouldn't know it to watch, but I was still struggling in a big way when this was filmed, and it's only now that I feel strong enough to watch and share it!
GREAT job, Scott - thanks so much for including me in your content, much appreciated.
watch video on watch page
9 - 3
Hi and a very Happy New Year to you all!!
I want to sincerely apologise for the radio silence over the past months - it's been a very challenging time for me and my mental health has been the worst I've ever experienced!
Long story short - during summer I started to feel depression creep in whilst I was working on my Slap Bass course. I tried to fight it - first by ignoring it and "pushing it down", then by distracting myself by travelling with Jan (my wife). But sadly the moment I returned home, it came back with a vengeance!!
Ultimately, the depression got so bad that it completely immobilised me - no matter how hard I tried to rise above it! Each day I would sit editing the slap course as long as I could with tears rolling down my face! Inevitably this would escalate until I was a sobbing, shaking wreck, at which point I had to give up for the day.
I was in such a dark place at this point and 100% felt like the world would be way better off without me in it!! I felt ashamed and embarrassed as I looked back at me social media posts and videos as all I could see was a "loser"! "Who the hell did you think you were?", I would ask myself.
I began to suspect that this was more than ADHD alone and took the "responsible" decision to seek professional help. After reaching out to my GP, I was referred to a psychiatrist and got an appointment pretty quickly.
After attending the first appointment, I was diagnosed with BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder) - something I'd heard of, but didn't know much about. The psychiatrist, who I later discovered to be one of the most highly respected in his field, spoke VERY positively about treatment and how I deserved to be happy! He asked me to come back as there was more to discuss, including where we go from here
My next appointment was about a month away and during that period I researched as much as I could about BPD. At first I was shocked and ashamed to be associated with this label as I read it was THE most stigmatised mental condition there is!! However as I became more informed, I learned that there are four subtypes of BPD, and not everyone with the condition is a "Bunny Boiler"!! :D. I related mostly to the "quiet" or "high functioning" subtype of BPD.
All the while, I was feeling "cradled" by the knowledge that I was going to get the help and support I needed - finally someone had taken my issues seriously and genuinely listened!! Jan and I looked forward to the next stage and to me becoming the "Scott Whitley" I always felt I could be.
The day before appointment number two - the day when I get answers - I checked the letter only to discover that this was a telephone appointment!! I couldn't imagine how this could possibly work, but had to go with it. In fact, on the day of the appointment, the psychiatrist told me how disappointed He was that his secretary had put it in as a phone appointment!
So the appointment happened and I simply couldn't believe how it went down!! It turns out that I had almost zero chance of getting treatment via the NHS and was advised to "search Google" for DBT worksheets to download and work on my own?!? I had completely misread the signs at my first appointment and was basically discharged with absolutely no professional help or guidance whatsoever!! How can you dump a HUGE diagnosis like BPD on someone who came to you for help, only to just leave them floundering, trying to work it all out themselves?? Well that's exactly what happened - turns out it's a common story sadly. :(
It doesn't take a lot to imagine how negatively this affected me. I was (still am) beyond devastated, lost and without any hope! I felt so confused about literally everything and just didn't know how to move forwards! I've been in this state of suspended animation since then, trying to get myself out of this hole - all the way accepting and realising that I'm on my own as for as any professional help goes.
I haven't been able to reply to messages - simply because I don't know what to say! I literally don't know what to tell people. I've not had even the slightest clue as to how I can move from here. Every time I look at my bass/video equipment, I end up in floods of tears, wondering how the hell it's all come to this?! I feel regretful for throwing away my career as a working bassist and can't see a way back. I feel so worthless and pathetic when I think of how monumentally I've failed at making a living as an online bass tutor.
And on top of all this, I've not been able to pay my business bills in three months - my phone's been cut off, my Adobe account suspended and I've lost access to my Kajabi account which is where I was building my slap bass course.
Today is the day I managed to start facing reality. Even if I put aside the ยฃ400 per month needed to pay my business expenses for a moment, I truly don't believe I have the ability to stick at things consistently enough to ever become successful. I know that although I dream big, I'm doomed to fail.
So with all that said, I've made the incredibly painful decision to sell all my bass and video gear and start my professional life again with a clean slate. In the short term, I'll look for part-time work - hopefully something without too much stress or responsibility. In the long term, I'm going to work through DBT self-help books, attend support groups etc. and see if I can't build a "new, improved Scott Whitley". I don't dare dream too big at the minute, but hopefully I'll be able to learn what makes me tick and in the future - who knows?!
I will make some videos documenting the journey over the coming weeks, so look out for those.
But in the meantime - sorry to those who I've let down. If you purchased the slap bass course, please contact me asap.
Equally - thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of you who've supported, encouraged and believed in me over the years! I know that I AM of worth and that I have achieved some incredible things. But I've hit a dead end, so to speak, and it's time for me to close one door and see which door opens next.
All my love,
Scott.
35 - 13
Hi there - hope you're well!! Tomorrow at 4pm UK time, the SWBL Live Stream returns - YAY!!
So looking forward to catching up with everyone after such a long time away from the public eye. So much to share with you all, plus I can get you all up to speed about what's happening with the Slap Bass Course, the channel and much more...
๐ฅStream Times๐๐
16:00 UK | 11:00 Eastern | 08:00 Pacific
...See you tomorrow!
Scott.
watch video on watch page
1 - 0
Morning all, after a tricky couple of months, thankfully I'm finally feeling well enough to ease myself back into work!
One of the things I've been enjoying, as I get my bass chops back up to speed, is playing around with delays! It's a ton of fun, great for improving your timing and accuracy, and just sounds awesome!
With this in mind I'll be making 'Using delay on bass' the main subject for this coming Sunday's livestream - YES, WE'RE BACK!! ๐
Look out for details, later this week - Jan & I are really looking forward to seeing you all there!!
watch video on watch page
3 - 0
Live webinar this Wednesday for all who pre-ordered the slap bass course!! Check your email for full details...
2 - 0
I've just made it easier than ever to SAVE $50 on "Scott Whitley's DEFINITIVE Slap Bass Method"! Pre-order today and spread the cost over 4 monthly instalments of just $24.75 and receive all these exciting perks:
โ Save $33% off the regular selling price
โ A personal invitation to the course launch webinar, exclusive to pre-order customers.
โ Get early access to the course, a week ahead of public release.
Grab this limited time deal here: www.scottwhitleybasslessons.com/offers/zDdh6Sgz/
(The pre-order deal ends on July 1st)
Thanks a million - speak soon,
Scott.
1 - 0
Practical and informative FREE bass lesson videos from ex Big Country and Animals bassist, Scott Whitley.
Scott's "If it sounds good, it IS good" philosophy strips away the fear of "doing it wrong" so many players have and dispels many of the myths surrounding seemingly "difficult" or "impossible" techniques.
Whatever style of bass playing you're into, there's something for you here. :-) Be sure to check out the slap & blues bass lessons!!
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