Is this weird?

[charles92027]

Hello All,
My name is Charles, I'm new to this forum (I just posted my new user announcement in the lounge). I just got an ABG for Christmas, I've never played bass before but I love it.
I've had some trouble holding the instrument like a guitar and I've found that if I set it on my feet and hold it with my knees like a cello it's a lot easier to play. Does anyone else do that?

[slackerdefined]

yes, it's very very wierd.

[lemur821]

Pretty strange, but at least you're not playing with your feet.

[user101]

time to get an upright

[BassChuck]

Originally Posted by user101

time to get an upright

or a teacher

[Matheau]

It isn't that weird necessarily you have trouble holding it like a guitar. The first few times I played bass while standing up, my shoulder would cramp up if I moved down the neck past where a guitar neck would end. It went away after a couple of times though. Playing at the bottom of the neck (part furthest away from the body of the bass), isn't necessarily a natural stretch if you aren't used to it.

[trasser]

Very weird indeed...that means, if you have to hit the hight notes, you would have to bend your knees...

[El-Bob]

i would try to break that habit very quickly

[lemur821]

Originally Posted by El-Bob

i would try to break that habit very quickly

Sounds fine to me, although playing standing up is going to be trouble. You'd need a special bass or something for that.

[fearceol]

Maybe a switch to slide guitar would be in order

[skaismyhero]

Take pics please

[jsbass]

Upright would be the right idea.

[Lord Henry]

Well it sounds like you've take it to an extreme, but playing with a low body and an almost upright neck it not that unheard of.

If you want to play that way, and it would feel nasty to me but each to their own, get a strap and set it as long as it goes. Pull the neck up almost straight and you should get the same feel whilst not having to use your legs. A few bassests already play this way.

That, or you could stay with what you are doing. If you don't get famous you will be called and oddball, if you do you will be a visionary. That's just how it goes.

Cheers

[charles92027]

It's much more comfortable... I broke my right shoulder in a motorcycle accident about twenty years ago, and the big body is just a bit too much to wrap my arm around. The upright posture makes it possible to play, and I'd rather be weird than not play at all. I'm going to put an endpin in it for standing play.
I don't see myself getting an upright, but maybe a Barker, or a Takamine B10 is in my future.

[Trestles]

Hi Charles,

I know some classical guitarists hold their guitars like a cello. It's not unheard of, but it's very uncommon. Here's an example:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Galbraith

Trestles

[Fontaine]

o now i get what u mean, i think id have trouble playing like that wow, but ya u sould break that habit very quickly cuz if u don't yer depending on holding it like that forever, but whatever works i guess?