Keeping clean technique when playing live

[paf77]

I need some advice on how to keep my playing and technique clean when I play live. I've always hated it when the people on stage just stand there and look like statues, so I like to move around a bit. It's been hard for me to keep my playing clean though when I do this. I've been getting by, but I'd like to be able to move around and keep my playing clean at the same time. Any input on how to do this? Thanks!

[LaklandBass]

Two ways.

1. Adjust the height of your bass.

2. Move alot at practice.

[ogrossman]

I don't think there's anything wrong with standing still and concentrating for a more technically demanding part. It isn't necessarily a bad thing sometimes to sell the audience on how difficult a part it is.

[jellymax]

this is a a good subject

1 stay focused
2 play no extra stuff the song does not require
3 move to the beat, slightly at first, then a little more when you are confident.

[One Bad Monkey]

+1 on the moving while practicing. That goes along the lines of "If you perform standing up, practice standing up" type thing. It's more about being comfortable with what you're doing in the heat of the moment (i.e. on stage in front of people).

[BullHorn]

As someone mentioned in another thread, keep your bass high (Timmy C of RATM high). This particular height 'glues' the bass to your chest and abdomen and let's you move freely.

Another good idea is practice without looking at the neck. The strings are stationary. The frets are stationary. With practice, your hand will remember the location of the frets by itself. Looking up will give you the freedom to make contact with the crowd and allow you to look where you're going, rather than down at your fretboard.

[JimmyM]

Like anything, it takes practice. You need to learn how to control your movements so it doesn't affect your playing as much. However, between being entertaining and hitting every note exactly right, I'll take entertaining, so a little slop is OK now and then and never hurt anybody. Unless you're playing jazz

[pasta4lnch]

Ha! the last time I "moved" on stage I nearly ended the singer w/ the headstock of my bass . . . fortunately most of the places I play I barely have enough room to stand...

[Danny Fox]

Originally Posted by pasta4lnch

Ha! the last time I "moved" on stage I nearly ended the singer w/ the headstock of my bass . . . fortunately most of the places I play I barely have enough room to stand...

I've taken out many a fellow musician when I've gotten my "groove" on

[mas502arc]

I've knocked down a drum cymbal behind me once during a quiet part of a song, so I feel you guys.

Don't just move at practice, but if you're not embarrassed, practice moving at home. That helps me a lot. During the actual performance, build up your confidence, take a deep breath, and take it slow.
I find washing my hands with a thorough dry before a performance helps keep my fingers 'smooth' and a little more limber, so you can struggle less to keep your technique clean.

[groooooove]

the purpose of your techneque is to not need to think about it. i think this goes for classical upright players moreso than electric guys, because there really isint much strict techneque needed for an electric player. just practice enough so that your comftorble on your instrument, no matter whats going on.

[Billnc]

You know, I practice, sitting looking at my bass. Before I ever gigged I figured I'd look like Entwistle, just standing there. I move around quite a bit while playing live and have from the first gig I ever did, eyes closed or looking at the girl with the yellow underwear. The movement is all natural.

Now... I used to be able to drop to my knees and hop up from that position. At around 38 I did this and in full Spinal Tap glory I couldn't get up from that position.

[Groove Doctor]

"1. Adjust the height of your bass.
2. Move alot at practice
3. Play no extra stuff the song does not require
4. Move to the beat, slightly at first, then a little more when you are confident"

+100

Have you tried different basses? Some are easier than other depending on your body shape and moves. A red Steinberger can look really good or really really bad depending on the player

If you want a real laugh then watch U2 in Rock at the Rock - up til then Bono tried (and failed) to dance. After that he did his trademark exaggerated gestures. Whitney Houston and Celine Dion can't dance either but have their own trademark styles. Just find your 'thang' and stick with it!!

If all else fails, smile and bob your head
(....unless you're at a funeral gig)

[lolaviola]

"4. Move to the beat, slightly at first, then a little more when you are confident"
You do need to start minimally at first to locate yourself in space (so you don't knock into the other members!)

Here's a little dance I learned in my Afrobeat band, and it really loosened me up.

(One) Left foot moves out to the left
(and) Right foot moves left to meet the left foot
(Two) Right foot moves out to the right
(and) Left foot moves right to meet the right foot

You only need a few feet to do this, and eventually you will be more confident moving about the whole stage.

[nysbob]

This is really an amusing thread.

As for the "wear your bass high" advice - that really doesn't work for everyone.

If you need to concentrate on what you're playing, do that first and foremost. Showy stuff is lame if you're not doing your job musically.

Move around a bit on the easier groovy stuff until you become comfortable with it. You want to engage an audience? Look at them. Make eye contact with as many people as you can -as long as it doesn't interfere with your playing.

That's my 2 cents.

[WalterBush]

What you do at practice, you do when you play. Move around while practicing, and you'll move when you play.

It takes a little bit of time, but you can get it. As a more practical piece of advice, I wear my bass high, but whether that works for you or not depends on what you're playing, IME at least. Don't move around during technically demanding parts unless you're sure you can; practice a nifty looking pose if you do anything at all. Remember to smile , or scowl if you're playing metal ; people notice your face. Also, if you want to jump and play, be aware that the bass will still be moving upwards while you're coming back down; I keep my thumb planted firmly on the pickup and brace my hand to counteract the bass' motion.

The most important thing when learning to move is to always push your comfort zone, IMO. Even just little things like, "tonight I'll walk out on the subs instead of standing behind the mic all night" or "I'll look ten more people in the eye than I did last night" help me when putting on a show, as opposed to focusing on playing only.

[Valerus]

Good advice. You just gotta feel comfortable playing. And don't be a piece of wood up on stage. You gotta be confident in yourself and things start to move into place.

[ga_edwards]

I'm an advocate of Billy Sheehan's advanced techniques DVD. He mentions being absolutely comfortable with everything, from tone to strap length. If you're comfortable playing things at home and have trouble playing the same things at gigs, work out whats different in your setup. Do you sit whilst practicing, do you use compression live but not at home. Try to iron out all the wrinkles so you're as comfortable as possible, then it's one less thing to think about, and you can devote more brain power to enjoying yourself.

The other thing is to work out when you need to stand still! Don't run around for the sake of it. If you really need to concentrate on a certain part, do so. Run around when it suits you, not when you think the audience is getting bored.

On the flip side, are their any parts that are really easy and possibly boring to play that could look flashier? I highlight 'Shyboy' from Steve Vai's live at the Astoria DVD as an example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=141O3F8Mh70
The dual solos at 2:14 are quite easy to play but made to look more difficult by using unconventional fingering. Perhaps tricks like these can make up for times you really need to stop and concentrate!

[ColinGWood]

once at the end f the song i bashed a crash cymbal with my headstock and inverted it :|

learn to do that!

[ColinGWood]

inverted the cymbal, that is, not the headstock