Practice: Standing or sitting?

[Alan Vorse]

It would make sense that if you perform standing, you should practice standing.

I work a full time job. I still try to put in at least an hour of practice a day. After a long day, I'm too tired to stand while practicing. So I will sit on the couch or a chair. The problem is, anything I can pull off pretty well while sitting (specifiically more "technical" things) sounds different (bad) when standing because angles of muscles and bones have shifted.

Who practices sitting vs. standing? Do you notice a difference in your playing between sitting and standing? Maybe I should just sit on a stool when I play live?

[Skel]

I "practice" sitting. I "rehearse" standing. You're right about the two being very different, however, practicing while sitting is much better than no practice at all, IMHO. Personally, I just have to adapt what I've practiced while sitting, to what I need to do while standing, and if I wasn't able to, I would practice standing.

[bassguitar]

I do a bit of both.

I know it generally looks cooler to have your bass around your knees, but if you play it in the same position whether you're sitting or standing then it pretty much feels the same either way. By making my strap a bit lower things have become much more consistent even though it is really a tad lower when I'm standing.

[yaniv]

um..look at yourself in the mirror on the way you hold your bass while standing,and then try to sit in the same position adjust strap height and try to put the bass on both of your legs with one leg a bit higher than the other (like a classic guitar)

[dhadleyray]

I'll add my 2 cents...

I was told that it doesn't matter, IF you wear a strap, and keep it at the same height whether you're sitting or standing. That way, the angles don't change.
If you set your strap up how you like it sitting, and then stand up, try to make sure nothing shifts to much. That'll help muscle memory..

If you're Anthony Jackson or Sid Vicious, then obviously, these points are mute...

[VanillaO]

Depends what mood I'm in. Plus I sit at my job and work at a computer, so, I'm not at all opposed to standing for 2-3 hours a night now and then If I'm rehearsing with the band, standing for most of it. If I'm playing along to something metal or funk in my room, I'm probably standing. Anything calm, trying to write my own stuff, stuff that's complicated, I will sit down (to either listen if it's not thaaaaaaaat complicated, or too look at the tab)

[JohnBarr]

I'm in pretty much the same situation and practice sitting for the same reason.

You're right, it does sound different standing. Better, I think. And it sure feels different and the few times I strap on and stand up it takes some getting used to.

Long term I think it's probably not a good idea to practice sitting down. But unless I get younger or the days get a few more hours with me less tired at the end, practice is gonna be sitting.

For what it's worth I'd recommend getting one of those padded 'piano' or electric organ stools (relatively cheap) or something that encourages you to sit up more straight. I sometimes think a drummer's stool would be best.

Gary Willis recommends sitting with the guitar in the "classical" position, legs not crossed with the guitar resting between your legs and against your left leg (if you're right handed), rather than cross legged with the guitar humped on your crossed leg. His point is that this is very similar to the position of the guitar when standing.
I think that has merit, though I find I don't do it that often, partly because my main practice bass is a hollowbody and they tend to have too large a lower bout to really fit that kind of position.

[Poop-Loops]

If I'm learning a new song or going through theory like scales, keys, chords, etc. then I'll do it sitting. Everything is a lot more tense since I have to think about which note I'm playing and where it is, so sitting down helps me relax. If it's just to play something I know fairly well and want to get up to speed or something, then I'll play standing.

[gkbass13]

i do a bit of both, but i play with my bass pretty high so there isnt much difference.

[ryco]

When practicing I usually sit on a stool, but I stand a lot as well - esp in the afternoon.
Practice jazz in the morning (sit), rock/funk in the afternoon (sit or stand)

For rehearsal I usually stand if it's a rock gig, sit for jazz - no real reason

For rock gigs I always stand - for jazz gigs I usually sit. Again, no reason.

I wonder; does this make me unreasonable?!

ps> Wear strap lo-mid so def a change in position, but have been doing it so long it doesn't matter

[Marson 101]

Either way when you have your own time like at home practicing new stuff do what ever feels comfortable for you but when your playing in a band setting you might wanna stand since you won't be sitting on stage ...... but realy its your preference

[markjazzbassist]

i practice both but mostly standing since that's how i like to play live.

[dangnewt]

I stand until I get tired, then I sit.

I have so much more playing time standing than sitting that I am pretty sure I sound better standing.

[BuffaloMO]

I stand most of the time when practicing. Occasionally I will sit, but not very often. Sitting just doesn't feel right to me.

[daffy]

+1 on the strap adjustment.

I have my strap adjusted so the bass is the same whether I sit or stand.

If you want your bass lower then try to find a stool or something that allows you keep your bass in the same position as you sit.

[Erick Lam]

Gary Willis recommends sitting with the guitar in the "classical" position, legs not crossed with the guitar resting between your legs and against your left leg (if you're right handed), rather than cross legged with the guitar humped on your crossed leg. His point is that this is very similar to the position of the guitar when standing.
I think that has merit, though I find I don't do it that often, partly because my main practice bass is a hollowbody and they tend to have too large a lower bout to really fit that kind of position.

That's how I practice, although it doesn't rest on my left leg. It just hangs from the strap. I don't see how your hollow body can be a problem. That's how classical guitarists play and they use large guitars.

[jsbass]

I always practice standing up, its the only way I can truly practice my chops (pickstyle player), since my bass hangs lower than it does when im sitting (take my avatar as reference).

[steveb98]

I practice sitting down always have, but I adjust my strap so bass is at the same height sitting or standing so when I stand playing feels about the same. I will sometime do some practice standing when prepping for a gig.

[BrandonBass]

when im learning a new song or practising scales i just sit while playing, then after ive nailed the song i play standing up. usually dont take too long to adapt

[chaosMK]

I stand. My bass is a little lower than sitting height, and I am not too tall/long armed.