raised my strap height ..

j-bass-kreep · #1 05-10-2006, 10:23 PM

hello , I used to be a low slung player ( had the bass at hip height) however Ive found out that I can't play as I want with my bass that low ... My wrists are killing me and besides my guitar player has his guitar high so there is really no reason for me to try to look "cool"

.

Anyways after I raised my bass I noticed a sudden improvement in my fretting technique . However I get these weird pains in my left thumb and in my left shoulder.. Is this normal ? should my thumb point to the headstock or to the sky ?

lyle · #2 05-10-2006, 10:26 PM

doesnt get any hipper than nipple riding! I rock that every gig.

TheSuzie · #3 05-10-2006, 10:50 PM

You may want book a lesson or two with someone who is known for teaching proper technique. An expert in technique can see things in person that we can't see over the net.

Here is what I have been taught and has helped me.

1. Thumb is never pointing at the headstock -Thumb points up opposite your middle finger. You should never have much more than light pressure on your thumb.

2. Elbow of your fretting arm should be away from your ribs.

3. Pay careful attention to tension in your shoulders and neck - either shoulder can have the tendency to to be tense and/or rise while while you are playing. Avoid this like the plague! Shoulder tension will kill your playing and create a lot of physical problems in the long run. A big problem is that people get used to playing with a lot tension and don't notice it until after it causes serious problems. Sometimes people don't notice it even after it has caused a lot of trouble because they have learned to block out the sensations associated with carrying tension while playing.

Try playing slowly alone and becoming aware of tension in all parts of your body, especially neck, shoulders, arms and hands. Stop and relax whenever you feel any tension. Continuing to play while holding the tension will just teach your muscle memory to constantly hold the tension.

Developing this sort of body awareness while playing can actually be a painful process for some of us since many players have learned to ignore so much discomfort while playing. In my personal case chronic pain that is not directly caused by playing makes it just that much more of a challenge.

Check out www.guitarprinciples.com for many helpful hints - IMO Jamie Andreas knows her s**t.

Hope this helps,
S

SamJ · #4 05-10-2006, 10:58 PM

If it works for John Entwhistle (RIP)

, then it's good enough for me, and cool enough for anyone! Ya hear what I'm saying...

Kronos · #5 05-10-2006, 11:30 PM

I've finally found a comfortable playing area for me. It's right over my belly. I used to play slung low, but when it comes to playing higher up, it's very difficult. I tended to pull a "Trujillo" by putting the bass on my knee. So, I decided to raise it up to slightly above my stomach (practically chest height...where I see a lot of people playing) and I found that it was too high for me to reach the 1st and 2nd frets comfortably. I found I was stretching to get to them and twisting my arm. So, I've found a happy medium.

wwittman · #6 05-11-2006, 12:19 AM

If the other 3 guys in your band are as exciting live as Daltrey, Moon, and Townshend, AND you're one of the 2 or 3 best bass guitarists in rock... THEN you can wear your bass guitar like a necklace like John did.

otherwise, you just look like a dork.

but seriously, if you're in pain, seea DOCTOR and get a good referral to a physiotrist... someone who will actually look at how you hold the thing and how you play and try to see what's really hurting you.

TheSuzie · #7 05-11-2006, 03:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wwittman

If the other 3 guys in your band are as exciting live as Daltrey, Moon, and Townshend, AND you're one of the 2 or 3 best bass guitarists in rock... THEN you can wear your bass guitar like a necklace like John did.

otherwise, you just look like a dork.

but seriously, if you're in pain, seea DOCTOR and get a good referral to a physiotrist... someone who will actually look at how you hold the thing and how you play and try to see what's really hurting you.

A doctor may be a good idea.

As far as all you boys who think wearing your bass down at your crotch looks cool, I can't help but disagree. IMO it looks foolish and like you all just wanna be playin with your junk instead of your bass.

Peace,
Susan

Pruitt · #8 05-11-2006, 10:16 AM

I used to play my 4 string slung pretty low. Down just above my knees. When I made the switch to a 6 it became quickly evident to me I had to bring it up way higher or I was going to break my wrist trying to go up the neck.. Now I wear it in about the center of my torso. I'm relatively tall though (over 6'5") so I could go higher still if I wanted. lol...

tZer · #9 05-11-2006, 12:00 PM

I just 'restarted' lessons last week and the first thing my teacher corrected for me was the way I wear my bass. He asked me to sit on a stool and play some scales. When I was finished he pointed out that I should be resting my bass on the inner-thigh of my left leg, not on top of my right thigh. He then showed how the bass contours fit my body better that way - the contour on the back was molded to my torso properly and the relief cut on the top (where my picking arm comes over) was now aligned perfectly.

Then he demonstrated how I should be able to stand up and not have the bass change positions. So when I stood, the bass did not drop to a lower spot.

It is going to take some getting used to, but I see the logic and am going to stick with it.

teedub · #10 05-11-2006, 12:18 PM

I, too, have just recently raised my bass back up to it's "proper" position.

Now that I'm out of the "rock" scene, I can get away with having it up where it should. However, now that I'm older and more experienced, I doubt I will ever change it back for any reason. That pic of The Ox confirms that.

My playing really plateaued (stylisticly and technically), but now that I'm playing with different musicians, and have my instrument sitting where it should, my fingers are just exploding with ideas, and my technique feels more natural and far more efficient than before.

iamlowsound · #11 05-11-2006, 07:26 PM

Just because you play metal or rock doesn't mean that you have to have your bass low. Ryan Martinie wears his high as does timmy c.

lowsound

Dave · #12 05-11-2006, 07:34 PM

I used to be in the low slung crowd too. Now the body sits right in the middle/upper part of my torso. Itd be in the upper part of my abs, if I wasnt packin a few extra pounds.

Dave

teedub · #13 05-11-2006, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iamlowsound

Just because you play metal or rock doesn't mean that you have to have your bass low. Ryan Martinie wears his high as does timmy c.

lowsound

I tried that argument, but it didn't seem to fly at the time.....

We were trying to adopt a "look" and it didn't involve wearing your instrument where it should. I now know better (and actually knew better back then).

Never again.

JimmyM · #14 05-11-2006, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheSuzie

As far as all you boys who think wearing your bass down at your crotch looks cool, I can't help but disagree. IMO it looks foolish and like you all just wanna be playin with your junk instead of your bass.

You say that like it's a bad thing!

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #15 05-11-2006, 10:37 PM

Ah, so the REAL reason JimmyM sticks to narrow-necked four-strings comes out!

SamJ · #16 05-11-2006, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheSuzie

IMO it looks foolish and like you all just wanna be playin with your junk instead of your bass.

Peace,
Susan

Your just jealous!

clanner · #17 05-11-2006, 11:52 PM

man, I just lowered my strap, it was at my stomach but now is at my hips, it's more comfortable for me, I use straplocks and have it turned with the neck at about a 30-85 degree angle, plays like an upright even though I haven't had any formal training on one.

to each his own i guess.

blast_tyrant · #18 05-12-2006, 12:01 AM

I switched from the "Buddy Holly", just below the nipples height to where the pickups of my bass are just about even with my belt buckle. I have no pain or tension and I can get anywhere I need on the fret board. I change mostly because of the "look", but it feels comfortable to me no matter what I'm playing.

SamJ · #19 05-12-2006, 12:04 AM

Couple of Georgia boys chimed in almost together.... getting kinda late over there.. get to bed!

I think the to each his own is the true answer here... I personally have to wear it high to get any real speed on the neck, otherwise I start to mess up my scales..

Cristo · #20 05-12-2006, 08:33 AM

All perspectives on appearance, coolness, rockstar-looking, etc., aside...

From an ergonomic viewpoint, BOTH wrists should be as straight as possible at all times, i.e., in the neutral or "handshake" position.

Again I'm speaking about ergonomics, not what looks cool, or what is "classically correct", or what your bass teacher says is right, whatever.

As you move the bass down, your fretting wrist will bend more. As you move it up, your plucking wrist will bend more.

Too much in either direction, and you *may* find you start getting pains in the overly bent wrist. Some people will have problems, others won't.

Everyone has to find what works for them personally, but if your wrist hurts, you better move the bass.