Anyone experience this during live performance?

[Nachoooooooo]

Typically I practice with headphones at home when I'm not practicing with the band and use a light right hand touch. However, when practicing with the group or playing live I find myself just trying to really dig in with my right, causing reduced speed (fingers lock up) or bad rhythm. Any suggestions? I guess just being more aware of it is the first step to combatting the problem?... I'm thinking that turning my amp up louder might force me to play lighter, too. Thx

[dmusic148]

Originally Posted by Nachoooooooo

... I'm thinking that turning my amp up louder might force me to play lighter, too. Thx

There you go.

[J. Montgomery]

Originally Posted by Nachoooooooo

I'm thinking that turning my amp up louder might force me to play lighter, too. Thx

There you go again

[tangentmusic]

When playing live, your adrenaline really kicks in, causing you to overly dig in. Nothing wrong with this added intensity. If this is causing you trouble, try to relax a bit.
Being aware of this, and turning up a bit may help.

[Zooberwerx]

Been there myself. Couple tips that may work:

*Avoid onstage / backline "sonic wars" where others may be trampling your territory. EQ judiciously with emphasis on the 125-250 hz region.

*Modest compression.

*Breathe & relax. Failure to breathe is not good.

Remember "conservation of energy". A 4 hour gig is pretty much a mini-marathon. Pace yourself accordingly.

Riis

[Nachoooooooo]

I do believe a lot of it comes down to being excited while playing the music. It hard not to be with progressive rock/metal, but, maybe I'll settle down eventually! I'll try the volume trick and see if it works/gets me dirty looks.

[Jazzdogg]

Turn up your amp

EQ for the gig instead of headphones

[mambo4]

Originally Posted by Nachoooooooo

I guess just being more aware of it is the first step to combatting the problem?...

actually,I would say this is more important than turning up.

Playing live will always zap you with more energy and that will leak into your plucking unless you consciously develop an awareness of controlling that energy.

here's an approach I found helpful:
When practicing on my own I consciously made an effort to play at 3 different levels-1: soft ; 2 : medium ; 3: hard.
I'd play the same part each way and see what "feels" right for the phrase/ song.

When playing live , I would make an effort frequently check in on myself,
consciously ask myself what "level" I was at, and was it the level I decided was right for the song/phrase?
and recall the feeling of how hard I played when practicing alone to help keep myself in check.

It's admittedly coarse approach at only 3 levels of volume and you get more sensitive over time.The important faculty to develop is a habit of 'checking in' and being aware of how hard you pluck vs how hard you really mean to pluck.

[CTbass613]

Learn to play without hearing yourself? sometimes the the mix is great outfront and overbearing on your instrument will make you stand out in the mix in a not good way. If you know your parts, trust your hands. Turning your amp up is a good option, as long as you back off the heavy playing to make sure you are sitting in the mix properly. If you find yourself digging in for tonal reasons, then its a matter of practicing that way from now on to build up the hand strength, but be careful because that how you can develop muscle and wrist problems.

[Phalex]

Let the amp do the work. That's why they invented them......

[Nachoooooooo]

I tried out the suggestions last night at practice and noticed a major improvement (no dirty looks, either). I both "turned up" and paid more attention to relaxing my right side and it was much easier to play the lines throughout the practice. I also noticed that my rhythm seemed tighter. I've got a show on Friday that will be the true test. Next task is to overcome the adrenaline and relax while still looking enthusiastic on stage...

[amosjones]

Originally Posted by Nachoooooooo

Next task is to overcome the adrenaline and relax while still looking enthusiastic on stage...

You are the bass player. no one complains if you stand relatively still and look a little glossed over as long as you nail your parts

[Nachoooooooo]

The rowdiness onstage is not required, but is encouraged - in my case.

[BillW87]

+1 to all the turn the amp up higher comments. If you're playing venues with stage monitors, make sure that the monitor in front of you is blasting enough of you that you can still hear yourself clearly even when the band is at its loudest and you're playing with the same intensity as in practice. Learning to sound check effectively as a band can be nearly as important as writing good music or having good stage presence...it can literally make or break a live show. If you're playing shows without monitors make sure to position yourself onstage where you're close enough to your amplifier to hear yourself clearly over the band. If you're wearing ear plugs (highly recommended, not wearing ear plugs for live performances is like a football player stepping on the field without a helmet) make sure you practice as a group with them in and get accustomed to how it changes the way you perceive your sound in relation to the other instruments.

[Nachoooooooo]

Well I heeded most of the recommendations here and the outcome was positive. I turned up the volume and resisted digging in most of the time and noticed that I did not fatigue and my plucking speed was consistant throughout the show. I even got a "Man, your bass really cuts through the mix" comment, which was an unexpected (maybe counter-intuitive to my expectations) remark. I also looked at some photos of the performance and for once I actually looked enthused to be performing. Somehow everything came together nicely and I think future performances will be a lot more fun.

Thanks for the advice! Hopefully this will help other folks with the same problem.

[Caca de Kick]

I find myself doing this too because I sing so much throughout the set. My bass playing is often in auto-pilot mode because I'm concentrating so much on the lyrics, vocal dynamics, and pitch. Next thing I know I'm nailing the strings hard with my plucking hand. It's hard, no matter how much I try, the vocal work always distracts me.

Now when I was subbing in other bands, I had no problems playing lightly because I didn't do any vocals.

[80'sRocker]

My wrist once "locked up" playing a 1000+ people gig, I then switched over to a pick but I was unable to hold it for long! What a nightmare that night was! I just played w/ my thumb/pointer finger using my fingernails like a pick and that worked...phew!

[s8ramius]

Originally Posted by 80'sRocker

My wrist once "locked up" playing a 1000+ people gig, I then switched over to a pick but I was unable to hold it for long! What a nightmare that night was! I just played w/ my thumb/pointer finger using my fingernails like a pick and that worked...phew!

That happens to me sometimes, as I get nervous the pick just won't stay in play, Actually you can get a decent sounds with your nail.

[Pandabass]

Lowering your strap so that your wrist isn't at a 90 degree angle with your forearm planted on the upper hip of your bass will help with the tension in your plucking hand as well. Wow, that was a long sentence.