Bass is slipping away

[catyak]

This is probably pretty obvious to everyone that is not me...

When I practice while seated, I have the body of the bass guitar on my right leg with it pretty tight to my stomach. Problem is that the bass starts sliding out and away from me. I find that I'm hunching over it and raising my leg to keep it in place. Of course, hunching over hurts my back.

It's so annoying to me that I've started practicing standing up.

It's a j-bass and I'm finger-picking between the bridge and the pup. I'm trying to keep the weight of my arm off the body, too.

The one and only time that I played with an instructor, this didn't happen so I never brought it up with him. I don't know what was different with that time than when I'm at home.

Was it chair height? I'm using a chair from the dining room table.

I'd appreciate any pointers on what to do.

[I<34080]

How about a strap?

[tjh]

I play the same bass, the same way you do ... I wear my bass where it is nearly the exact same position seated as standing ... try wearing a strap when you play seated, and turn ever so slightly to the right with the upper body, so the bass is a little more over my right leg, gently touching it ... bass shouldn't slide and when you do play standing, it is not an adjustment as the bass is in nearly the same position ... JHMO

[catyak]

I tried using the strap. Sounds like thj is saying that I should pull it up higher than I'd tried. I'll give that a shot. Thanks.

[phmike]

Walmart, Target, Amazon, Ace Hardware, etc - non-skid shelf liner. Lay a piece on your leg and set the guitar on it = non-skid guitar.

[Chris K]

1. Always use a strap.
2. Do not rest your bass on your right leg;watch what happens to the bass once you play standing; such a big difference!
3. Do not sit on a bed, if you want to play sitting, use a stool in the highest position allowing your feet to be placed flat on the floor
4. Do not watch your fretting hand

[Chris K]

Originally Posted by catyak

I tried using the strap. Sounds like thj is saying that I should pull it up higher than I'd tried. I'll give that a shot. Thanks.

To strap the bass at the correct height: neck pocket on the belly button. Neck angle with the floor 30-45 degrees. Horizontal neck angle large enough to allow your elbow to move in front of your body with your hand as high as fret 5 or so; rest the bass on the abdomen and the right side hipbone.

[slybass3000]

Originally Posted by catyak

This is probably pretty obvious to everyone that is not me...

When I practice while seated, I have the body of the bass guitar on my right leg with it pretty tight to my stomach. Problem is that the bass starts sliding out and away from me. I find that I'm hunching over it and raising my leg to keep it in place. Of course, hunching over hurts my back.

It's so annoying to me that I've started practicing standing up.

It's a j-bass and I'm finger-picking between the bridge and the pup. I'm trying to keep the weight of my arm off the body, too.

The one and only time that I played with an instructor, this didn't happen so I never brought it up with him. I don't know what was different with that time than when I'm at home.

Was it chair height? I'm using a chair from the dining room table.

I'd appreciate any pointers on what to do.

+1 on using a strap, but it is ok to pratice without it too. The height of the chair has a lot to do with your position and most of the time I don't use a strap while practicing because I'm too lazy but what I do is put my foot on the toes and secure the heel on the chair's leg to higher my leg so the bass can stay stable like the classical guitarists that use a little stand for their right foot (left for me). Actually, finding a good position with a strap and playing sitted and standing up is a very important aspect that is too often overlooked and you should spend some time trying to find the right length for the strap and it should be perfect while sitting down. Unless you play the bass down to your knees as in HM music LOL. Take some time and experiment because it is important to feel good about your position. I suggest also to check Gary Willis's thoughts on wrist position to avoid a too curly wrist over the bass, almost like a right angle. This is beginner's mistake that can lead to tendinitis.

[pnut166]

The seat tilt of your chair makes the biggest difference. Try a different chair.

[elgecko]

If the strap isn't taking the weight of the bass then you're not really "using a strap" are you? Shorten that bad boy!

[behndy]

sub'd. the description of "neck pocket in ze belly button" is something i want to check when i get home.

WOULD sub discreetly but iphone's get stupid with drop down menu's sometimes.

good info!

[NateS]

sorry to be OT, but behndy. where are are you at at 3 n the morning that yo have to be on yo iphone? but i guess you're in cali, so it's only midnight...oh well. eiter way, where yo at? yo ahould be at home makin noize with your pedalboard.

as far as my strap, i keep it at totally different places between when i'm standung and sitting. when i'm sitting i keep it tight enough to keep it on my shoulder and resting slightly on my leg, but when i stand i have to have it at belt buckle length. strange, i know. can't sand playing standing up wth a short streap.

guess i should just shut up and go back to m four loko...q

[slybass3000]

Originally Posted by bassk81976

sorry to be OT, but behndy. where are are you at at 3 n the morning that yo have to be on yo iphone? but i guess you're in cali, so it's only midnight...oh well. eiter way, where yo at? yo ahould be at home makin noize with your pedalboard.

as far as my strap, i keep it at totally different places between when i'm standung and sitting. when i'm sitting i keep it tight enough to keep it on my shoulder and resting slightly on my leg, but when i stand i have to have it at belt buckle length. strange, i know. can't sand playing standing up wth a short streap.

guess i should just shut up and go back to m four loko...q

This is why I think it is important to find a length and a position that can be good for both positions if you like unless you only play standing up or sitting down.

[behndy]

lol. wassup playah? yeah. it's only about midnight. but i won't be home till about 3. my singer's getting loose and i'm the tee-totaling designated driver.

we just got done playing a show. i love being a 2 or 3 piece (we have more glitchy electronic extra drum stuff sequenced if our drummer can't make it), but it makes it VERY obvious when i screw up. and i RUINED a section with a lot of fuzz. like. had to drop out and come back in screwed up.

meh... on-ze-topic - i always was told to make the strap a length that makes sitting and standing identical. and i know we're all different beasts, but that's what i usually aim for.

i only notice slippage (giggety) when i'm playing the Conklin GT7. beautiful bass, but the cutaway is GIGANTIC. so there's not a lot of wood to rest on your precious human meat parts. man i'm tired.

human. meat. parts.

[catyak]

Originally Posted by Chris K

To strap the bass at the correct height: neck pocket on the belly button. Neck angle with the floor 30-45 degrees. Horizontal neck angle large enough to allow your elbow to move in front of your body with your hand as high as fret 5 or so; rest the bass on the abdomen and the right side hipbone.

I'm not getting this. When I try what I think you're saying, I'm twisting my lower back. Kind of like I'm facing towards the knee. When I'm standing up, the back is in a more neutral position.

You have a picture handy? Maybe if I can see what you mean, I'll be able to mimic it.

[Chris K]

Originally Posted by catyak

I'm not getting this. When I try what I think you're saying, I'm twisting my lower back. Kind of like I'm facing towards the knee. When I'm standing up, the back is in a more neutral position.

You have a picture handy? Maybe if I can see what you mean, I'll be able to mimic it.

Sorry to have been unclear. You are not supposed to twist anything. All my suggestions were for 'correct' standing position.
To assume correct standing position (try it without your bass on you!!): Stand with your heels about 30 cm apart, toes 40 cm or so. Now flex your knees minimally.

The rest will happen automatically. The top of your pelvis will turn backward, stretching the abdomen. Your shoulders will drop to the back and relax. Your neck will stretch, your chin will drop a little. Now try to relax.

After this, when you try it with your bass strapped, nothing much should change, except for the arms of course.

In my previous post I suggested to take TWO neck angles into account. The first one s the one everybody talks about, the angle with the floor, or the horizon, which IMO should be between 30-45 degrees. The wider the angle, the easier for both the plucking and fretting hand, but the harder to change to slapping, thumbing, picking since all of those work better with a less wide angle.

Now I'll try to explain the second angle a bit better. If you have your neck pocket on the belly button like I suggested, you may wiggle the bass pulling the neck towards you shoulder, or pushing it away from you. The neck pocket will be the center of a circle (at 30-45 degrees with the horizon), of with the neck is the radius.

My advice is to push the neck away far enough to not have to play with your elbow behind your shoulder line (depending of your lenght). This will give the arm of the fretting hand enough space to move up and down the neck.
Pushing the neck from you wlll move the lower end of your bass' body towards your right hipbone. For the right hand, this has the big advantage of being able to reach the strings easily if you keep your elbow away from the body. The forearm will not have to lean on the rim of the body (compromising the tendons) and the shoulder will not have to be moved forward.

So the general position will be very relaxed. There is only one 'drawback'. You will not be able to watch your left hand fingers anymore. But IMO, also this is an advantage. No constant neck turning to watch the left hand. Finally being able to read music and play. Or to watch the beauties in front of you when on stage

No pictures yet. Video coming soon.

[Twocan]

Bump to top for a great thread - took this advice and playing is much more comfortable.

[catyak]

Originally Posted by Chris K

No pictures yet. Video coming soon.

Tip #100 in Gary Willis's "101 Bass Tips" has a picture of what he calls the classical posture. It looks a lot like what you're describing.

I'll post a copy of the picture in the morning.

[BuffaloBass]

When sitting, it helps tremendously to have your right leg up on a small stool or riser. This solves the slip thing somewhat.

Alternatively, I stap it on tight so that I am not supporting the instrument with my fretting hand.

[catyak]

Here's that picture. One difference is that he's staring at the left hand. That implies that he's holding it closer to the body than you'd described.