playing standing up/seated

blueredgreen900 · #1 09-02-2007, 08:08 AM

I find it hard to play very well standing up. My fretting is slower and I find it harder to get good tone when I try to play standing up, and I was wondering if this a) is normal and b) ever goes away?

I know it's because I play with my bass hanging low, but I would ideally prefer to play this way. Does anybody have exercises, advice, etc. that would help?

theshadow2001 · #2 09-02-2007, 08:22 AM

You obviously have your strap too low. They say you should have your strap set so that its in the same position on your body regardless if your standing up or sitting down. I don't know a single person that does this though. I generally think most people find a position that isn't too low or so high that it strangles them. Something that's comfortable. When I started on guitar it took a while to get used to playing in a standing up position

Audiophage · #3 09-02-2007, 08:25 AM

If you really want to play lower then practice that way. Still, I think you are impeding your left hand technique if you play too low, no matter how much you practice like that.

blueredgreen900 · #4 09-02-2007, 08:28 AM

good points guys, thanks.

Baryonyx · #5 09-02-2007, 08:38 AM

Try seeing how Mark King straps his basses on, very high on the chest. Not only will it make it easier to fret, it will also give you better access to all areas of the neck when you play. Jonas Hellborg is also another guy who wears his basses nice and high.

headonastick · #6 09-02-2007, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theshadow2001

You obviously have your strap too low. They say you should have your strap set so that its in the same position on your body regardless if your standing up or sitting down. I don't know a single person that does this though. I generally think most people find a position that isn't too low or so high that it strangles them. Something that's comfortable. When I started on guitar it took a while to get used to playing in a standing up position

I have my bass the same sitting and standing and I have my strap set so high that when I sit down it doesn't rest on my knee at all – doesn't look very cool but I prefer playing like that! I find the contrary is true from the OP, I find playing easier standing up. For me anyway it's easier to make large left hand stretches because the arm is freer.

RickenBoogie · #7 09-02-2007, 08:56 AM

I've recently taken to playing in a "sit on a stool " position. Even though it's very un rock n roll, I'm more comfortable, and in turn, my playing is more precise. From a stool, it's easy to jump up when the music moves me to, though this doesn't happen too often. Be comfy, all else will follow.

jimbob · #8 09-02-2007, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris2112

Try seeing how Mark King straps his basses on, very high on the chest. Not only will it make it easier to fret, it will also give you better access to all areas of the neck when you play. Jonas Hellborg is also another guy who wears his basses nice and high.

Vic Wooten, Jeff Berlin, Billy Sheehan, The OX, Chris Squire immediately come to mind as guys who wear their basses high...seems to work for them.

JebSmells · #9 09-02-2007, 04:18 PM

my bass is always worn quite high, first and foremost i'm a jazz guitarist so i'm used to wearing my instruments at a very "un-cool" looking height, however my bass is always worn a little lower (to allow for a good wrist angle).

as a general rule (like the majority of posters will/have said) always try to keep ur strap so it's the same seated as it is standing, then you can't go wrong.

i always find it easier to play standing than sitting though

ah well...

PrimusNut · #10 09-02-2007, 07:39 PM

I will take this opportunity to point out 3 amazing basists who wear their basses very low: Cliff Burton, Geezer Butler, and Steve Harris.

Those that argue that wearing a bass low causes wrist pain, please explain to me how Geezer can have played for 40 odd years, and can still move his wrist, and play just as accurate as ever.

I think it all has to do with how much you practice standing up, and what feels best to your body.

rezin · #11 09-02-2007, 07:56 PM

personally i started out with my bass up high and it never quite felt right and at times downright awkward. but last week i bought a new strap and just stuck it on the bass to see how i'd have to adjust it, and it hung fairly far down but the angles of my wrists both felt perfect, so i plugged it in and tried and i could play just as well if not a little better.

i guess i had a strap length epiphany.

ultimately, like so many other things, you just have to find what works for and you. i have longer arms so i needed it a little lower

theshadow2001 · #12 09-03-2007, 10:24 AM

I think if there was an absolute ideal the body would be down lower and the neck would be up high. This would lead to straight wrists which is the best way to have them. It would also lead to one helluva weird looking bass.

From an ergonomic point of view I think you have to try to balance the break angle of the wrists. Too high you're plucking hand is really bent too low and your fingering hand is quite bent. That happy medium where both are reasonably straight will allow you to play most things with minimal strain on your tendons, which is a positive thing.

Not the traditional way of thinking but it's my theory and I'm sticking to it.