Moving your body in sync with your playing

[champbassist]

How many of you actually find yourselves moving some or the other part of your body as you're playing (as opposed to remaining totally still)?

I read somewhere that it's a good habit for a bassist and it helps keep a solid sense of time and rhythm. I actually find this to be quite correct, especially if the rhythm is tricky or there are odd time signatures involved.

How about you guys?

Thanks!

[Devo-lution]

I am said to breath sync with the music... My drummer calls this a very bad habit...

[snyderz]

Actually, I think about a different song than I am playing, and move to that one.

[BigOldHarry]

(Resisting the urge to make a smart-ass comment like snyderz...)

I tend to stand in one spot on stage and gyrate with the beat - - I have had dudes tell me that ANY movement is NOT COOL, and other dudes say "Why don't you move more??"...

Do what's right for YOU. If you need to tap your foot, shake your booty, bob your head, go for it. If you think you SHOULD jump around like Flea or stand rock solid like The Ox, then get over it. Do what makes you sound better.

[champbassist]

Originally Posted by snyderz

Actually, I think about a different song than I am playing, and move to that one.

Your sarcasm is impenetrable

[Paul M]

I would be happy to just stand still but I try to move with the music. It probably does help to keep the groove and it is a little more interesting for the audience. It shows that you actually like what you're playing.

Even when I am enjoying the music some people have said that I look angry when I play – and not in the histrionic death metal or hip hop sense – just pissed off. So I try to move.

[varunkapahi]

i tend to move to the off beats

[panama]

[Exploiter8]

When I was playing out on a regular basis in the 80's, I was mostly a statue. I did sing occasional lead and back-up so I would obviously move to use the microphone. Also there was a lot of eye contact with bandmates and, of course, smiling with the audience. Now decades later, I sway from side to side, shifting my weight from one leg to the other. This is due to having a bad back and follows it's own rhythm.

X8

[ohskigod]

it's good enough for DeluxRed

[bassasm33]

Haha I'm constantly moving when I play. Especially live. My friends in the audience make fun of me for moving around so much.

[rocknrollbandit]

I rock the **** out, so much fun

[maturanesa]

i think more important than moving your body is having a mental following of the beat, like an internal click, then the body moves naturally

[I<34080]

My foot moves on its own, but I have to force myself to move anything else

[subject42]

I've noticed that my overall amount of bodily movement remains constant. The less my hands are moving, the more the rest of my body moves.

If I'm doing a fairly complex, jazzy number, I'll tend to stay stock still as my hands fly over the fretboard and strings.

If it's another Weezer cover, I get made fun of for looking like "a Muppet".

[mambo4]

I can't NOT move when playing. I "dance" what I'm playign with my bass. Bop my head move around, mime the dynamics at my drummer, oogle whoever is playign a solo...I try to physically embody what I a playign as much as possible.

In some African languages, the word for "song" and "dance" is the same. I agree.

[M0ses]

Originally Posted by mambo4

In some African languages, the word for "song" and "dance" is the same. I agree.

I disagree, but I can definitely see where they're coming from

It definitely takes a conscious effort for me to not make some movement while having a good jam. It's usually not TOO radical: I go from tapping my my feet to just generally rocking out, jumping around a bit.

[pasta4lnch]

oddly, I move (and tap my foot) to completely different tempos. my singer kinda walks in place, like a dance from one foot, twice, to the other that I tried to adapt cuz it kinda looks cool. couldn't do it to save my life. very strange . . .

[nysbob]

The thing you DON"T want to do is contrive something.

If I'm getting into a tune and laying it down, it's only natural to move to it...but if you have to be real conscious about it and it doesn't come naturally, I'd say it's not a great idea.

There are plenty of great players who run the gamut from doing absolutely nothing to turning themselves inside out. Do what you feel.

[Zooberwerx]

Yes, I stick my left foot in, I stick my left foot out......aww, you know the routine.

Riis