Bass Angle

[M0ses]

This is not about the angle of my wrists. Or how high my neck is.

I have been playing for about 7 years. I am to the point where I consider myself to be a pretty decent player. I rarely do anything fancy because I just love to groove and be the solid bass player, but let's face it when I do want to, I'm not all that great at fancy stuff. Not the point though. Like I said I like it simple. But the thing is, I just noticed after about 7 years that when I play, my bass doesn't lie against me flat. This is a bit hard to describe.
Let's draw a line straight through me, from a top view. It goes through my nose and the exact middle of the back of my head. Ok? Well, the bass is NOT perpendicular to this line as I play (I play and practice standing.) It's hard to eyeball, but it's definitely a significant angle away, probably something like 40 degrees. It feels REALLY weird if I force the bass into a perpendicular position.

Questions 1- Am I doomed!?!?!

Questions 2 - I've never seen anyone talk about this, is this completely normal?

You may have conjectured that I've never taken any lessons, and you'd be right. I am completely self taught 100%. I play by ear a lot. I have no idea what proper technique is supposed to look like. I'm really not even sure why I'm asking this, because I don't see what harm it could do. I'm basically just curious how many other people do this.
Sorry for the wall of text.

[Nick Kay]

Which side is closer, treble or bass? A closer bass side is fairly common, and a lot of more ergonomically-minded designers and luthiers will actually shape the instrument so it sits with the bass side closer to the player's body. 40 degrees off-axis sounds a bit extreme, but it might be just fine.

On the other hand, though, if the treble side is closer to you, you're probably over-extending or odd-angling your plucking arm and it might cause you trouble in the long run.

Pics?

[M0ses]

I haz no pics. And you've got it wrong. Like I said, it's hard to describe, I'm not sure how to get this across. The treble and bass sides are the same distance away from me.

Allow me to show you in JPEG form. Hello, MS paint. This is a top view.

This is how I play...


As opposed to this (possibly. I don't know)


P.S. In real life I'm blonde. And yes left handed also.

[dmusic148]

Totally normal, don't worry about it.

[Mtheory]

left handed too?

edit:
nm. just read your p.s.

[Nick Kay]

Aaah, I get it now. dmusic148 is right, this is completely normal and shouldn't give you any problems. Good on ya for being conscious of your playing position, though.

PS: For the record, I sling my instruments closer to flat against my torso, but there's definitely some off-axis action going on. Not as much as the example image you provided, but it's there.

[badgrandad]

Yes, some people tuck the basseven further under the armpit then that (more so then playing with it flat across your chest). The higher you wear it the more likely you'll play it flat across your chest.

[chaosMK]

I notice I angle out like that right now too.

I notice my bass angles change relative to how fat/skinny/muscular I am.

I just do whatever is comfortable and allows me to easily reach the various ranges I use.

[cnltb]

Originally Posted by M0ses

This is not about the angle of my wrists. Or how high my neck is.

I have been playing for about 7 years. I am to the point where I consider myself to be a pretty decent player. I rarely do anything fancy because I just love to groove and be the solid bass player, but let's face it when I do want to, I'm not all that great at fancy stuff. Not the point though. Like I said I like it simple. But the thing is, I just noticed after about 7 years that when I play, my bass doesn't lie against me flat. This is a bit hard to describe.
Let's draw a line straight through me, from a top view. It goes through my nose and the exact middle of the back of my head. Ok? Well, the bass is NOT perpendicular to this line as I play (I play and practice standing.) It's hard to eyeball, but it's definitely a significant angle away, probably something like 40 degrees. It feels REALLY weird if I force the bass into a perpendicular position.

Questions 1- Am I doomed!?!?!

Questions 2 - I've never seen anyone talk about this, is this completely normal?

You may have conjectured that I've never taken any lessons, and you'd be right. I am completely self taught 100%. I play by ear a lot. I have no idea what proper technique is supposed to look like. I'm really not even sure why I'm asking this, because I don't see what harm it could do. I'm basically just curious how many other people do this.
Sorry for the wall of text.

I play in the way you describe and find that I have more room for my fretting hand and the attached arm to move that way as opposed to having the bass straight and flat in front.

IOthink that's just as normal as any othert playing position.
It most certainly is nothing to worry about. As long as this is a comfortable position for you.

[bass player 48]

What is happening here is that your are naturally gravitating to a very "metal" rock and roll move. Once you have completely mastered pushing the head of your bass away from you in this manner, you can do the "rock move" where you pretend your bass is a machine gun - you strike a pose and then push the bass WAY out away from you like this, but even more so, like you are pointing your machine gun at the crowd... now sweep across the crowd like you are cutting them all down with your machine gun. It helps if you sneer or at least pooch out your lips. Extra points for one foot on the monitor while you do the machine gun move. Good luck!

PS - What you describe is normal.

[refuge4]

how high do you play? in my experience, the higher you wear your bass, the less work your left arm does. you shouldn't use your left arm to support the bass in any way, imo, it should sit exactly where you want it when you're not playing. however, the most important thing is that you're comfortable. i find when i'm rocking out a lot of my form goes out the window, so...

[M0ses]

Originally Posted by bass player 48

What is happening here is that your are naturally gravitating to a very "metal" rock and roll move. Once you have completely mastered pushing the head of your bass away from you in this manner, you can do the "rock move" where you pretend your bass is a machine gun - you strike a pose and then push the bass WAY out away from you like this, but even more so, like you are pointing your machine gun at the crowd... now sweep across the crowd like you are cutting them all down with your machine gun. It helps if you sneer or at least pooch out your lips. Extra points for one foot on the monitor while you do the machine gun move. Good luck!

PS - What you describe is normal.

Haha! Yes I have noticed that this sort of rocking out is facilitated. Thanks, everyone, for the replies. I just wanted to make sure that I wasn't endangering my playing ability or wrist health. I play with a pretty medium strap height, and a pretty medium wrist bend. Now that I think about it, when I pull it up really high the bass does flatten out, and somehow THAT is not particularily uncomfortable. Not that I plan on playing like that from now on just because of it. I like it the way it is.

[MooseLumps]

Originally Posted by chaosMK

I notice I angle out like that right now too.

I notice my bass angles change relative to how fat/skinny/muscular I am.

You can A/B that? Woah!