Sometimes it IS better to hang the bass lower

[hrodbert696]

Just a discovery today. Seems like a lot of the advice I see about better arm and hand positioning suggests wearing the bass higher. With the bass I had been playing the last year (Washburn Taurus) I had hiked the strap up a few inches, not all the way on my chest but higher than it was, maybe centered in the zone between the belt and the belly button.

The big Christmas present this year was a Yamaha BB415 and I switched the strap from the Washburn to it without changing the length, for no better reason than that the colors matched the Yamaha better. Playing the new bass this week, and yesterday my right arm came down all crampy right below the shoulder. At first I thought maybe I'd pulled something, maybe moving the amp or something.

Then practicing this morning I realized my right arm was kind of hiked up unnaturally high. The Yamaha has a wider body than the Washburn and the shortened strap was pushing my arm out of alignment. So I let the strap out so the bass hung more at my hips. All of a sudden playing was so much easier and my arm is already starting to feel a little better.

Learn something new every day, I guess.

[oerk]

Funny you should say that. I began hanging my bass lower when I got my BB414. Playing with a pick is much more comfortable this way, and my wrist is at a better angle when plucking too.

Only downside: Reaching past the 12th fret is much harder now, but I don't have to do that very often.

[Vincent P]

I've seen this topic discussed/disputed many times. My theory, put it where it feels comfortable to you.

[Mark Perry]

That could be down to the angle of your wrist. An extreme bend will lead to problems, straight is better. I find it best to have the bass at an angle with the body lower and neck higher.

[mussla]

I have experimented with both high and low placement and I find it more comfortable for my wrist when having the bass low. It keeps my plucking wrist straight which I think is very important to avoid injury.

Interestingly, I also came to this discovery using a Yamaha BB :-)

[hrodbert696]

Originally Posted by Mark Perry

That could be down to the angle of your wrist. An extreme bend will lead to problems, straight is better. I find it best to have the bass at an angle with the body lower and neck higher.

Yes, I think this was the issue. I do normally keep my right wrist pretty straight; but with the wider BB body, keeping it straight meant lifting my whole arm higher from the shoulder, hence the upper arm pain.

[Samsound]

It's a balncing act with each individual's particular biomechanics. Most common variables will be wrist angle while fretting low frets and wrist angle on plucking/picking hand. These two can be affected by pickup mounting positions (if you rest your thumb on them); body dimensions and geometry, as the OP discovered; neck angle (do any basses use an angled neck, like some Gibson guitars?); and literally just about anything. That's why it's always a good idea to try different positions to find what works best for you.

[BuffaloBass]

Originally Posted by Vincent P

I've seen this topic discussed/disputed many times. My theory, put it where it feels comfortable to you.

Thats a reality. There is no right or wrong when biomechanics is at play. , its a simple optimization.

The "cool factor" mucks up logic frequently though.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by BuffaloBass

Thats a reality. There is no right or wrong when biomechanics is at play. , its a simple optimization.

The "cool factor" mucks up logic frequently though.

eh, if it feels good to wear it at a cool level, go ahead. as long as you're not in pain, it's good. so you can't play the upper frets as well...i can deal.

[Chris K]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

eh, if it feels good to wear it at a cool level, go ahead. as long as you're not in pain, it's good. so you can't play the upper frets as well...i can deal.

Wow Jim, I rarely have to disagree with you, but now I do.

RSI -like problems take their time to arise but they strike suddenly and unexpectedly.

Most posts in this thread are far too short to even come close to dealing properly with this complex matter. For an extended view, see:

http://chriskeuken.nl/health/strapping-the-bass.html

[JimmyM]

well chris, i don't know how you arrived at these conclusions as a guide for every single person on earth, but i am way more uncomfortable wearing my bass like you suggest than i am wearing it at my "incorrect" position. so i'll continue on as i am. it's good advice for some, not for me.

[Chris K]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

well chris, i don't know how you arrived at these conclusions as a guide for every single person on earth, but i am way more uncomfortable wearing my bass like you suggest than i am wearing it at my "incorrect" position. so i'll continue on as i am. it's good advice for some, not for me.

My exact point is that a single, correct way to wear the bass does not exist, and that a careful process should be followed to find a position that is both comfortable and safe.

'Low' or 'high' is a pretty vague description, certainly if you do not mention the neck angle. It's imaginable that wearing the bass 'low' in combination with a steep neck angle (45 degrees?) is both safe and comfortable. If you wear the bass low and keep the neck pretty flat, you are at risk of both tennis elbow and radial tunnel syndrome, a.k.a. resistant tennis elbow.

Some people will never develop RSI, whatever they do (I sincerely hope you are among them ), others have to be very, very careful.

[plangentmusic]

I used to think wearing the bass low was more of a rock poser thing and the serious guys wore it higher. Over time, I felt having some extension in the right arm is actually more natural. (And more similar to playing upright).

And research shows, wearing the bass lower provides a 75% better chance of getting laid.

[JimmyM]

well i'm down with preventing rsi or cts...i've had bouts with it and corrected a couple things. but as long as you keep wrist angles not extreme, i've found there's a pretty wide tolerance zone. so it's all about finding a balance...and of course, getting laid

[zachoff]

Mine hangs just below my belt to protect from projectiles gone awry.

[onosson]

My main strap which I've had for about 15 years has 4 holes on the bottom, each about 2 inches apart, so I can quickly adjust the height depending on the particular music/song that I'm playing. It doesn't make sense that there would be *one* ideal position for all types of music or styles, even on the same bass with the same player.

[Chris K]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

well i'm down with preventing rsi or cts...i've had bouts with it and corrected a couple things. but as long as you keep wrist angles not extreme, i've found there's a pretty wide tolerance zone. so it's all about finding a balance...and of course, getting laid

Finding a balance while getting laid you mean

[Chris K]

Originally Posted by onosson

My main strap which I've had for about 15 years has 4 holes on the bottom, each about 2 inches apart, so I can quickly adjust the height depending on the particular music/song that I'm playing. It doesn't make sense that there would be *one* ideal position for all types of music or styles, even on the same bass with the same player.

All very very true. But some general guidelines do apply, not just for bass positioning as such, but also for the procedure to customize that position. Starting from a neutral position(neck pocket on the belly button, neck angle 30-45 degrees, neck pushed out according to arm length) and working from there might give a clue to some (beginner) players who are at risk of developing bad habits.

[onosson]

Originally Posted by Chris K

All very very true. But some general guidelines do apply, not just for bass positioning as such, but also for the procedure to customize that position. Starting from a neutral position(neck pocket on the belly button, neck angle 30-45 degrees, neck pushed out according to arm length) and working from there might give a clue to some (beginner) players who are at risk of developing bad habits.

Agree completely ... I wish someone had stepped in to give me some pointers on this kind of thing at an early age!

[mambo4]

As one other has mentioned, I think the primary consideration should be keeping your left and right wrists more or less straight. The appropriate hieght for this depends on your body, your bass , and your technique. The only absolute is that if your wrist are considerably bent you will suffer for it eventually.