Adjustments playing-wise to help cope with hearing loss?

Fassa Albrecht · #1 04-26-2008, 04:17 PM

OK so a hearing problem I have is now affecting my bassplaying to the point where I can't even hear basslines in recordings and can't play by ear.

So I was wondering what adjustments I could make PLAYING-WISE to help me continue bass playing.

I had the idea of playing an octave higher to help me hear myself on crappy equipment and this seems to work.

Anyone?

toucher50 · #2 04-26-2008, 04:34 PM

Have you been tested for hearing loss freqs? My wife is a hearing specialist. A good pair of hearing aids can be properly adjusted to compensate for the low freq loss. If you already have aids, go in for a finer adjustment. Other wise the upper register is prolly your best solution.

Toucher

Fassa Albrecht · #3 04-26-2008, 05:01 PM

I've had a bleep test and I was cleared on that but that was a few months back and I've had more problems since then, including completely mucking up simple basslines and missing words in conversations, especially in lectures.

I might just quit.....

DocBop · #4 04-26-2008, 05:39 PM

I would say work on your ear training a lot. The great composers write without an instrument a lot because they know what things will sound like. They play later just to confirm or tweak. So work on your ear and can be at higher pitch, idea is to know your intervals and chords and lock it in your brain. Then you will be playing mainly from you think and listening to the drums and chordal instruments.

Definitely get some good ear protection so things don't get worse.

MarkTAW · #5 04-26-2008, 08:34 PM

Nowadays you can get a home hearing test, either software, hardware or CD based. None of them as as accurate as the real thing, but can be used to regularly track your loss.

If playing an octave higher works for you, then play an octave higher. You could also play an 8 string bass. You could also switch to guitar.

Just some thoughts from the peanut gallery.

Fnord Explorer · #6 04-27-2008, 08:16 AM

Hearing loss at your age is certainly not a good sign. I would stress the need to protect your hearing as much as possible. If you don't like the "sound" of things with earplugs, it will be well worth the investment in seeing a hearing specialist and having specially formed inserts molded for your ears that reduce decibel levels but don't compromise the fidelity of the actual sound.

Fender32 · #7 04-27-2008, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fassa Albrecht

I've had a bleep test and I was cleared on that but that was a few months back and I've had more problems since then, including completely mucking up simple basslines and missing words in conversations, especially in lectures.

I might just quit.....

The lectures, or the bass playing, Fass

?

Apart from the obvious health concerns surrounding hearing loss (which you should take every precaution to avoid

), you might be able to get around it by learning your bass parts really well at home and then letting muscle memory take over in your performances

!?

It's what I've relied on in the past, when I was in bands where I couldn't hear my bass at all d/t an abundence of Marshall stacks

!

All the best,

Andy

I said,

All the best,

Andy

Sorry treacle, couldn't resist that one

. You know that I'm not being nasty

.

Fassa Albrecht · #8 04-27-2008, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fender32

The lectures, or the bass playing, Fass

?

Apart from the obvious health concerns surrounding hearing loss (which you should take every precaution to avoid

), you might be able to get around it by learning your bass parts really well at home and then letting muscle memory take over in your performances

!?

It's what I've relied on in the past, when I was in bands where I couldn't hear my bass at all d/t an abundence of Marshall stacks

!

All the best,

Andy

I said,

All the best,

Andy

Sorry treacle, couldn't resist that one

. You know that I'm not being nasty

.

I love you!

Yeah, for some songs my hands just move automatically like you say but for the grand majority of stuff we play I just turn up to practices at church and we find out then what we're to play and I sight read....

RIFF WRATH · #9 04-28-2008, 01:06 PM

I just started with the bass and I also am experiencing hearing loss, as well as "ringing'. went to a local advanced testing clinic and I have lost the low end badly in one ear and partially in the other. as I am middle age this is unusual because as you get older you lose the high freq. about 4 months ago I went to the doctor with my concerns and he flushed my ears, and boy they needed it. then about 2 months ago it started again, and the passages were clear.
I am scheduled to see an ear/nose/throat specialist in July as all concerned find my situation abnormal. sure sucks trying to hear on the phone. I do not listen to loud music, and do not work in a noisy environment. thank goodness for Canada's heal care system.
I guess the point of this rant is to see a specialist (or pm me at the end of July and see how I am making out with my hearing problem...lol)
good luck
RIFF

**Freddels** · #10 04-28-2008, 02:28 PM

Definitely have your hearing checked. Another option would be to start playing a higher pitched instrument (guitar, mandolin, etc.) as the higher pitch may be easier to hear.

toucher50 · #11 04-28-2008, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fassa Albrecht

I've had a bleep test and I was cleared on that but that was a few months back and I've had more problems since then, including completely mucking up simple basslines and missing words in conversations, especially in lectures.

I might just quit.....

The bleep test is pretty basic, you should get bone conduction, speech recognition etc. Also there are situations where the ears are working fine but the brain is not processing correctly what the ears are hearing. Such as after a mini stroke etc. Don't give up on anything until you have a difinative answer.

Toucher

Fassa Albrecht · #12 04-28-2008, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddels

Definitely have your hearing checked. Another option would be to start playing a higher pitched instrument (guitar, mandolin, etc.) as the higher pitch may be easier to hear.

You're actually RECOMMENDING I become a guitard?! Are you mad?!

Quote:

Originally Posted by toucher50

The bleep test is pretty basic, you should get bone conduction, speech recognition etc. Also there are situations where the ears are working fine but the brain is not processing correctly what the ears are hearing. Such as after a mini stroke etc. Don't give up on anything until you have a difinative answer.

Toucher

I'm going to have to go back to the doctors anyway so I'll probably end up with another test....

**Freddels** · #13 04-28-2008, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fassa Albrecht

You're actually RECOMMENDING I become a guitard?! Are you mad?!

Well, you've seemed to have more ailments from playing (dizziness, loss of hearing, etc.) than most. Hearing lower frequencies is more difficult and therefore a higher pitched instrument might be better suited to you. I was going to suggest banjo but . . .

Petethebassman · #14 04-29-2008, 11:58 AM

You might want to try using an octaver, playing your lines an octave higher. And as many have already pointed out, protect the hearing you still have. I know what it's like to play with hearing loss, I was born deaf in one ear and the upper limit of my good ear is only 8 KHz, I've never heard anything above that. As an added "bonus" I've had mild tinnitus since 1994. The things that have helped me survive are earplugs (I never go anywhere without a pair in my pocket) and choice of musical styles (no metal, punk, hard core etc - I don't really mind because I hate most of that stuff anyway). Try to avoid obnoxiously loud guitards and drummers. When doing soundchecks insist on taking the time to get the stage balance right, it makes a huge difference.

Fassa Albrecht · #15 04-29-2008, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Petethebassman

You might want to try using an octaver, playing your lines an octave higher. And as many have already pointed out, protect the hearing you still have. I know what it's like to play with hearing loss, I was born deaf in one ear and the upper limit of my good ear is only 8 KHz, I've never heard anything above that. As an added "bonus" I've had mild tinnitus since 1994. The things that have helped me survive are earplugs (I never go anywhere without a pair in my pocket) and choice of musical styles (no metal, punk, hard core etc - I don't really mind because I hate most of that stuff anyway). Try to avoid obnoxiously loud guitards and drummers. When doing soundchecks insist on taking the time to get the stage balance right, it makes a huge difference.

Unfortunately playing an octave higher isn't an option with the kind of music I play. I play worship and I've tried this out in performance and it either clashed with the piano or the guitar.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddels

Well, you've seemed to have more ailments from playing (dizziness, loss of hearing, etc.) than most. Hearing lower frequencies is more difficult and therefore a higher pitched instrument might be better suited to you. I was going to suggest banjo but . . .

The only issue I then have is that I'd have to start over on the guitar and also quit the three bands I'm in......

**Freddels** · #16 04-29-2008, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fassa Albrecht

The only issue I then have is that I'd have to start over on the guitar and also quit the three bands I'm in......

Well, if you can't hear what you're playing they will eventually quit you.

Fassa Albrecht · #17 04-29-2008, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddels

Well, if you can't hear what you're playing they will eventually quit you.

Fair point.......

BadB · #18 04-29-2008, 09:12 PM

Did you damage your ears with super loud music? +1 on checking everything out thoroughly and don't be satisfied until a cause is identified. Hopefully you have an issue that will resolve itself over time. In the mean time, might you be able to split your signal and send one t an octave up device and then to a small powered monitor in an in-ear monitor?

Fassa Albrecht · #19 04-29-2008, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BadB

Did you damage your ears with super loud music? +1 on checking everything out thoroughly and don't be satisfied until a cause is identified. Hopefully you have an issue that will resolve itself over time. In the mean time, might you be able to split your signal and send one t an octave up device and then to a small powered monitor in an in-ear monitor?

I can't play an octave higher in band because I'll then clash with the piano. Also, I'm on a seperate bass stack whilst the rest of the band are on the PA so I'd have to connect the amp to the PA to run the monitors.

It'd be easier to learn guitar!