First bass lesson today

[ARCtrooper225]

Nothing hurts I'm comfortable with 1, 2, and 3 fingers, all heights of bass (even Trujillo height), and different anchoring techniques, and can do any of them when called for, but he's telling me to dismiss that and do 2 fingers, thumb-pickup anchor, and nipple-riding bass height (which while comfortable, does inhibit my slapping speed and accuracy)

[seanm]

Originally Posted by Alvaro Martín Gómez A.

And I can tell you: That's a really important yet overrated aspect of playing (the first thing Billy Sheehan remarks in his first instructional video, BTW). Of course it may not be that important for a root-fifth bassline, but for something technically and/or physically demanding, it is something VERY IMPORTANT to take into account. You may feel the best when playing Level 42's "Mr. Pink" at home while seated, but that's not a guarantee it's going to work on stage if your bass' relative position to your body is fairly different when standing.

Do you *require* your students to play sitting down? I always practice standing and always gig standing. If I am never going to be sitting down, what difference does it make what height the bass is at (assuming it is not physically harmful)?

Maybe I am being naive here, but I can't see why bass height would be a big factor in teaching someone

And this is mainly a rhetorical question since, while I have never heard "Mr Pink", based on Level 42s other songs I am way more on the root/fifth end of spectrum.

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

Originally Posted by seanm

Do you *require* your students to play sitting down? I always practice standing and always gig standing. If I am never going to be sitting down, what difference does it make what height the bass is at (assuming it is not physically harmful)?

That's the point: I always tell them to play the exercises while standing, but most of them practice sitting. There have been cases in which some students tell me things like "I practiced this sitting and now that you tell me, I have problems trying to playing it while standing".

[seanm]

Originally Posted by Alvaro Martín Gómez A.

That's the point: I always tell them to play the exercises while standing, but most of them practice sitting. There have been cases in which some students tell me things like "I practiced this sitting and now that you tell me, I have problems trying to playing it while standing".

Ok, that makes sense then. Thanks for the clarification.

And now that you mention it, I have noticed that in a lot of the youtube videos of people playing they are sitting down. Which always seemed a bit strange for rock music.

[Grueber]

Originally Posted by TrooperFarva

One of the reasons that I'm happy with my current teacher is that he doesn't deal in absolutes

Only the Sith deal in Absolutes!