Am I the only one who can't play sitting?

[NickInMesa]

I could never play guitar or bass while sitting. I always feel that my arms are constricted and my shoulders forced to pull them back, which reduces my dexterity.

When standing, I let my arms loose and just make the minimum effort to keep my hands on the bass.

Ok, on a side note I broke my right shoulder in a downhill ski accident (lost a ski at about 50+ mph) and the left shoulder in a dirt riding accident (I flew over a bump which I did not see at about.... huh the same speed).

Now, am I the only one with this issue, or is it probably because I mangled my shoulders?

[Fetusyolk]

I have that same problem when playing with a guitar sitting down. I can't strum at all without lifting my shoulder/arms uncomfortably up.

bass the only thing uncomfortable for me at times is the raptor claw that i sometimes unknowingly implement while sitting

[Erick Lam]

Wear the strap on and hold your instrument between your legs, not on your right lap.

[Gawd]

Yes. You are, in fact, the only one.

[NickInMesa]

Originally Posted by Gawd

Yes. You are, in fact, the only one.

Well maybe I am not and maybe I should create a club.

[Methodis]

I'm the opposite, I get uncomfortable playing standing up, which does no good hah.

Now acoustic guitars sitting down....so much frustration

[Chad Michael]

No, you're not the only one ... I prefer to stand whilst playing the electric bass, and when I'm playing keyboards.

Sitting just .... feels ... wrong.

[Orangeclawhamme]

I prefer to stand.

[GeneralElectric]

I think this is a technique issue. Ideally your bass should hang in the same spot while you're sitting or standing.

I'm guessing you hang your bass low? I had the same problem, and found I played terrible sitting down, until I shortened my strap.

[Blake Bass]

Yes, you should create a club, there aren't enough here on TB.

[NickInMesa]

Originally Posted by GeneralElectric

I think this is a technique issue. Ideally your bass should hang in the same spot while you're sitting or standing.

I'm guessing you hang your bass low? I had the same problem, and found I played terrible sitting down, until I shortened my strap.

Actually no, I have my bass high, at Mark King level (no, not 42, not even 21).

Even when I play Rock Band 2 with the kids, I have to stand.

[NickInMesa]

Originally Posted by Blake Bass

Yes, you should create a club, there aren't enough here on TB.

Yes, I was joking about the club.

[misfit-x]

I prefer standing myself also. You are NOT alone.

[StarscreamG1]

Originally Posted by Methodis

I'm the opposite, I get uncomfortable playing standing up, which does no good hah.

Now acoustic guitars sitting down....so much frustration

When I first started playing I always sat down and playing standing up was a real problem for me. I just wasn't used to it. I would practice it but I always preferred playing sitting down.

Getting back into it after some years out I forced myself to start again standing up only as I was always annoyed that before I could never play comfortably standing *well if you can call leaning against the wall with my original T40 'standing' up LOL* and it paid off. A lot of times I still just grab a bass and kick back on my bed or lounge on the couch and play in the craziest positions -- don't bother me and I was like that the first time I played. But I can now play standing up with no problem. But, I do still /prefer/ to play sitting (or lounging).

And as for a club for bass players with mangled shoulders? Sure why not!! Ive got a shoulder that got mangled pretty badly when I was 3. I dislocated my left (of course) shoulder, fractured the collarbone on that side and fractured the shoulder blade in one fall. >_< Oh the shoulder looks fine and is fine until I strap the Whomping Willow (my new name for my T40...Potter fans should get it) on...evidently I did some sort of nerve damage to it and as Ive gotten older its made itself known and after about 45 minutes (standing) the strap must rest on that nerve and the weight of my beloved T40 numbs out my whole left arm...not fun...but on the flip side I can do a 'gross body trick' with that shoulder now; I can pop it out of socket with no pain at all, let the arm just hang there for however long and then pop it back in. That really freaks people out...

[Ramstien]

It's the mangled shoulders.

[Dellers]

Guitar and slap bass is ok while sitting (I think guitar is easier this way), but fingerstyle bass just doesn't feel good. For fingerstyle I gotta stand up, I can play much more precise and doesn't get tired in my right shoulder.

[NickInMesa]

Originally Posted by Dellers

Guitar and slap bass is ok while sitting (I think guitar is easier this way), but fingerstyle bass just doesn't feel good. For fingerstyle I gotta stand up, I can play much more precise and doesn't get tired in my right shoulder.

Derllers I indeed play finger style.

But when I do exercises from a book, or play a score or tab on the computer, I end up sitting in an awkward position, with the neck at a 45 degree angle and the body between my two legs.

My Yamaha feels a lot better than my Precision copy (when I owned one), that was definitely too bulky to play in that position.

[mntngrown]

If you have long limbs like me, (37" sleeve), it's difficult to play seated, without bending the right wrist, which can lead to carpal tunnel. I always play standing with an occassional brief rest, on something tall like a stool. More like a lean than seated.

[N8116B]

I think it has to do with the body shapes of basses. I have to stand when I play the bass but when I pull out the banjo I have to sit and play it.