Bass position/Strap length?!?

[bleeding]

I didnt really notice that i was doing this...and i just saw a guys avatar of him playing, and it seemed that his bass was in a position to where his right arm (i guess specifically from his shoulder to his elbow) was directly out from his body. This means that his bass sits high enough on his torso, similar to what you see with guys who play acoustic guitars. Then i started looking for it, and I see more and more guys who play with the bass in this position.

For me, the bass is near my waist, where my elbow is only slightly bend when playing, and i could even put the bass on my side if i pointed the neck toward the crowd (if these visuals are making sense).

Does anyone else have a praticular position they play the bass in, and am i going to be losing some ability or lacking in some technique if i continue to play like this??

[Nighthawk551]

I play in the same general fashion that you described. I can't stand to play like Wooten.

[JimmyM]

Ya, who cares? The only advantage to wearing it up really high like Wooten is easier access to the higher frets. Otherwise I find it cumbersome and tiring to my left arm. Not to mention I feel like a dork with it up that high.

[arcellus]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

The only advantage to wearing it up really high like Wooten is easier access to the higher frets.

Sure, that and avoiding tendinitis. Trust me, when you wear your bass too low, your left wrist bends way more than it should and you're just asking for trouble - especially when you start playing for extended periods of time.

Keeping it higher puts your left hand in a much more natural position. The rule I use is to try to keep the strap adjusted so that the bass is in the same spot whether I'm standing or sitting.

[JimmyM]

Yeah, but you're talking Jimmy Page low. I wear mine at Dave LaRue or Marcus Miller level. Not too high, not too low.

[arcellus]

There ya go, gotta find the balance

[seanm]

Originally Posted by arcellus

Sure, that and avoiding tendinitis. Trust me, when you wear your bass too low, your left wrist bends way more than it should and you're just asking for trouble - especially when you start playing for extended periods of time.

Keeping it higher puts your left hand in a much more natural position. The rule I use is to try to keep the strap adjusted so that the bass is in the same spot whether I'm standing or sitting.

I've never understood this. I play with the bass down around my belt buckle. My wrists are almost perfectly straight. Here's an image from 2005. My hand is curled, but the wrists are straight.



At that point I was getting pretty tired. The sun was hot and I was backed up against the tree to try to stay in the shade. It was a while ago but I am sure we had played over three hours by that point. By the end of that day we had played for six hours.

I still tend to have my thumb wrapped around the neck, but after a couple of years I can put my thumb behind the neck with no pain for extended periods. I wear the bass slightly higher now.

Now this is country/50s rock/oldies, mainly root/fifth and simple walking lines. One hour sets are very common with two hours not being unheard of.

[Blake Bass]

It makes sense to keep the angles the same whether you are standing or sitting. I do the majority of my practicing sitting down, so I don't want everything to change when I'm standing up on a gig.

I don't recall ever seeing or hearing a player who can really solo and play with speed and dexterity wearing his bass down around his waist and wrapping his thumb around the neck like holding a baseball bat.

[rockwarnick]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Not to mention I feel like a dork with it up that high.

I'm not worried about feeling like a dork because I think the only people who would think that are people in the crowd who aren't bassists/guitarists/musicians or some who just don't understand the advantages of having it up high. And I'm not too concerned about if they are going to nit-pick something they don't know rather than enjoy the music.

I keep my strap about as short as it can go. If I could get it shorter I would, I got a new strap recently because it's padded but now it stretches a little.

[bassgod0dmw]

Originally Posted by Blake Bass

It makes sense to keep the angles the same whether you are standing or sitting. I do the majority of my practicing sitting down, so I don't want everything to change when I'm standing up on a gig.

I don't recall ever seeing or hearing a player who can really solo and play with speed and dexterity wearing his bass down around his waist and wrapping his thumb around the neck like holding a baseball bat.

I have my bass at exactly the same level whether I am sitting or standing. Why throw a new equation into the mix?

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by Blake Bass

It makes sense to keep the angles the same whether you are standing or sitting. I do the majority of my practicing sitting down, so I don't want everything to change when I'm standing up on a gig.

I don't recall ever seeing or hearing a player who can really solo and play with speed and dexterity wearing his bass down around his waist and wrapping his thumb around the neck like holding a baseball bat.

Not familiar with Rob Trujillo, are you?

[GaryM]

Here's a photo from my last gig. Not ergonomic by any means, but it works for me

[Cristo]

Originally Posted by arcellus

Sure, that and avoiding tendinitis. Trust me, when you wear your bass too low, your left wrist bends way more than it should and you're just asking for trouble - especially when you start playing for extended periods of time.

Keeping it higher puts your left hand in a much more natural position. The rule I use is to try to keep the strap adjusted so that the bass is in the same spot whether I'm standing or sitting.

Unfortunately, the opposite can also be true. If you wear it high, the right wrist bends, and that can cause problems too. Ergonomically speaking, the ideal position would be with both wrists neutral, but that may not be the best for technique or cool factor or whatever.

[bassbrock]

I keep mine strapped up pretty high for easy access. I find that it is easier to play.

[arcellus]

Originally Posted by seanm

I've never understood this. I play with the bass down around my belt buckle.

Sure, if it works for you, fine. It looks to me like you're hanging on for dear life. If you play in a more ergonomic position your left-hand fingers won't pile up and you can develop some independence.

Originally Posted by Cristo

Unfortunately, the opposite can also be true. If you wear it high, the right wrist bends, and that can cause problems too. Ergonomically speaking, the ideal position would be with both wrists neutral.

Definitely. You've got to find the place that keeps both hands/wrists as relaxed as possible.

I've had some trouble with tendinitis in the past - mostly as a result of poor technique on upright bass - that taught me the importance of good technique the hard way. I know now that if I want to really PLAY for the rest of my life, good form is a must.

[FoHBass]

I keep mine about waist level. I used to go lower (for the "cool" nu-metal look) and ended up being crippled by tendonitis in my left hand, not even being able to hold a pen, or type on a keyboard without immense pain. This was only after about 2 years of playing bass. I went to physical therapy and the specialist (also a bass player, I was lucky) had me bring the bass in, and after five minutes told me if I didn't do anything about the position of my left wrist, I might as well give up both bass and guitar. So since then the bass hasn't left waist level (a level he approved of). I took a two week break from playing to recover, and in the past 9 years or so have had pain in that wrist maybe three times.

[Flashback Bass]

See this thread for 8 pages on this subject;

(With pix too!)

Where does your bass hang?