Playing upside down.

Foda1 · #1 01-31-2011, 03:08 AM

Hi.

I play a right handed strung bass left handed. I was just wondering if you'd be kind enough to let me know your thoughts on this please.

Do you think I should focus on playing correctly and do you think that I'm holding myself back by playing this way?

I guess I just like playing this way and I know others play like this too. Is it a valid way to play though?

Thanks for your time.

Fod

Cohacq · #2 01-31-2011, 03:25 AM

Why would it hold you back? Only problem i can see is that the strings are upside down if you play it right handed, which makes it harder to try out other basses. But if it works for you, keep at it!

JEDI BASS · #3 01-31-2011, 03:55 AM

There's a left-handed pro player w/ the last name of Schmitt (spelling may be wrong). He plays a Pedulla Pentabuzz (fretless 5er) and other basses tuned GDAEB. Look him up on YouTube... lots of killer solos!

The only thing I would wonder about is fingering chords, but Schmitt has no problem w/ them. I often wonder about rigging a bass up w/ upside tuning just to see what kind of strange things might come of it.

Snarf · #4 01-31-2011, 08:59 AM

Do whatever works. Look up Jimmy Haslip on youtube.

dave64o · #5 01-31-2011, 11:32 AM

My instructor plays the same way. When he was young his brothers played guitar and since he's a lefty, he learned to play their righty guitars rather than their parents having to buy more instruments.

Kinda of makes it tough to follow him, but I'm slowly learning to adjust.

janekbass · #6 01-31-2011, 11:43 AM

as long as you're comfortable playing that way I don't see any reason for changing.... hendrix was cool playing a right handed guitar lefty, and he managed to change the face of modern music... so as long as you're cool with it, it's cool!

Janek

Phalex · #7 01-31-2011, 11:56 AM

The only problem I have with the upside down and backwards thing is it gives me a headache when I try to watch what you're doing! There's a guy around here that plays upside down and backwards. He's a great player, but God! It makes my head hurt when I watch him play!

delta7fred · #8 01-31-2011, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foda1

Hi.

I play a right handed strung bass left handed. I was just wondering if you'd be kind enough to let me know your thoughts on this please.

Do you think I should focus on playing correctly and do you think that I'm holding myself back by playing this way?

I guess I just like playing this way and I know others play like this too. Is it a valid way to play though?

Thanks for your time.

Fod

I knew a pro player back in the 70s who did just that and he was a great player, it never held him back.

As Phalex says, the only problem is for other bass players watching as it makes their brain hurt trying to figure out what you are playing.

There might be a problem if you wanted to learn guitar later, I suspect it would be more difficult, but not impossible, to do the same with guitar.

The up side is that you can pick up almost any bass and play it, if you swap to conventional lefty then you won't.

(I'm a natural lefty except for bass and guitar)

bommer · #9 01-31-2011, 12:56 PM

a heads up, mute the video, thres an unnessessairly (yeah i can't spell) loud buzzing.
fleas done it before....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_THEC6hbnI

kosmicwizard · #10 01-31-2011, 01:02 PM

The Tber called iamthebassman does it. There is no correct way to do anything, do what feels right to you and to hell with nay sayers. I can play some stuff upside down but I really have to think about it and I can't slap and pop. I go into a music store grab any instrument that I am interested in and try it out, if I like it I buy it in left handed version. Some people say you will have trouble learning to read and other stuff, but I say if you are learning anything for the first time you don't know any different and it is the right way to you, it is only later if you try to do it another way that it may become difficult. Other than that no harm no foul. Cheers.

delta7fred · #11 01-31-2011, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bommer

a heads up, mute the video, thres an unnessessairly (yeah i can't spell) loud buzzing.
fleas done it before....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_THEC6hbnI

Now that does make my head hurt!

Winnb · #12 01-31-2011, 01:10 PM

I give you (Richmond native!) Keith Horne.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYmf1LJg8V8

PlanetEarth · #13 01-31-2011, 02:20 PM

Personally, I find it makes the blood rush to my head...

-PE

Foda1 · #14 02-01-2011, 09:08 AM

Thanks everyone. So many good vibes. I'll continue to do what feels best.

Fod.