How do you hold your bass while sitting?

[Carver]

Ok, this may be a useless topic, but I had a friend (who also plays bass) ask me why I hold my bass the way I do.

I've always played with the instrument in between my legs, so the neck is at the same angle as it is when I stand. I never put much thought into it..It is just more comfortable to me. Like this: (Pic not of me)



He plays like this: (Pic not of my friend)




I did a little research, and I suppose the first position is referred by some as the classical sitting position and is thought to be the more correct way to sit and play...this seems to be the consensus among classical guitar players. I couldn't find much info for bass players.

I just thought I'd see how my fellow TB'ers play while sitting.

[Bassman8416]

I hold the bass as a classical guitarist would, and I even got one of those foot stands..and I try to incorporate the same approach when I stand.....its better on the hands, wrists,forearms and shoulders....

[RobertPaulson]

I hold it like mr. jean shorts there.

[HogieWan]

I do both - depends on what I'm playing, but I tend to stand most of the time because it's more comfortable. Holding it like a classical guitar puts the first fret pretty far away from you, something classical guitarists don't have to worry about as much with their short little necks.

[ysand]

I bet 95% of people (me included) play it like the dude in pic No2.
I don't think that playing in the position of pic 1 gives any bonuses.

[kdiggity]

Originally Posted by HogieWan

I do both - depends on what I'm playing, but I tend to stand most of the time because it's more comfortable. Holding it like a classical guitar puts the first fret pretty far away from you, something classical guitarists don't have to worry about as much with their short little necks.

Agreed. I think that the theory position 1/classical style is derived from guitar playing, where the neck is much shorter.

I have tried holding it that way, and even with my long arms and fingers it's a stretch to reach those first frets on a full scale bass (doable, but not what I'd call comfortable).

I stand a lot more than I sit, so it's not much of an issue. I usually find it harder to get into the groove if I'm sitting down, even if it's a really mellow song.

[Infernal Affair]

I prefer to do #2. (Pun intended.) Neither is wrong though. It just comes naturally to me since it's easier to access the lower register notes of the neck. The only detriment I see to it is it mighty be slightly uncomfortable for some who pluck near the bridge. However, I pluck on my bridge pickup and I don't think it's so bad.

I have been messing around occasionally with the classical guitar pose, but #2 works better for me.

[LaughingGroove]

(for electric) I hold mine like the guy in pic #2, but I have my strap short enough that the bass is just barely high enough so it doesn't touch my leg.

(for acoustic) When I had one, I held it vertical with the body towards my feet/no strap and played it kinda like a DB. (don't ask me why, cause I don't know) just was easier. LOL

[ryco]

I now use the position in fig. 1

used to sit cross-legged.

Fig. 2 feels weird to me and makes it hard to get to the upper frets.

[rcarraher]

I set with my right knee crossed over my left and the bass (between the bouts) resting on my right thigh. Just always have....now a days I sit on a stool, rest left foot on a rung in that position. Bad knees don't let me jump around and dance like I used to.

[NoobOnRoad]

i hold it like pic #1 and i don't found the first fret far??? Maybe i've got long arms.... I tried number 2 but i hate that position...

[warnergt]

I know the pic #2 position is common but I use the pic #1 position.
It's much easier to get to the upper frets and the position of the
plucking hand seems more natural. Note how far the guy in pic #2
has his arm tucked behind him; I wouldn't be able to stand that.

Another factor is where the strap attaches. I pretty much need my
strap when sitting. If the strap attaches to the horn like pic #1, the
bass will pretty much hang in that area. I would be awkward to
hold it like pic #2. However, pic #2 has the strap attached at
the top of the neck; this moves the center of gravity back making
the #2 position more natural.

You should create a poll.

[Hopper]

I think this is a really important topic as the sitting position in modern bass guitars often gets overlooked. Modern basses are often made with no regard to a comfortable sitting position and feature tiny, useless lower horns - so they in fact slip off the lap quite easily. I wanted to find a bass that pivots something close to the standing position - so in the end I had to design one; here's a photo of the hardboard mock up:



You can see the pivot angle sitting is very similar to standing.

Feel free to check out the build thread below (on the UK basschat forum)

Kev

[Erick Lam]

I sit like #1.

[Carver]

Originally Posted by warnergt

You should create a poll.

Done!

[MD]

I sit, 100% of the time; #2. (yeah, yeah... sitting and #2 jokes, skip'em!.

[Ric5]

hold it like this ...

[backline112]

I play like #1.

#2 is uncomfortable, and sometimes it is difficult to reach higher pitches (15th fret and above.)

[vision]

When I play seated the bass isn't resting in my lap or on my leg at all...it is fully supported by my strap. I'm not very comfortable playing with it resting, so it stays higher than that because of my strap. My height probably has something to do with that though - I'm 6'5" so if I had it on my knee/lap I'd have to hunch over while playing.

[shamus63]

On my right leg (or lap).

P-Basses have a natural feel when sitting in this position.