Sitting vs. standing

lenosgood · #1 05-03-2011, 07:40 AM

Anybody have issues about playing standing up when you practice mostly sitting down? It seems to take me a while to play correctly when going from sitting to standing. I guess the only solution is to get off my lazy butt and practice standing all the time...

**Ben Mitchell** · #2 05-03-2011, 07:41 AM

Or just buy a stool and sit all the time?

I have always played sitting, I can't imagine going back and forth.

Michael Campbel · #3 05-03-2011, 07:52 AM

I practice standing, mostly. one of the first things my instructor showed me was to adjust my guitar so that when I sit, it doesn't move (relative to my body). That forces me to wear it a little higher, but that's fine with me.

That said, I do find it a little harder to play sitting down, even though my guitar is in the same position. Probably my sitting posture is crap.

NOAH_FX · #4 05-03-2011, 07:57 AM

One of the most important realizations i have made is, how other people setup their bass, dosent work for me. I don't play we'll with the bass super high, but also can't play alot of Chords Hammer on's etc, we'll with it too low.

Finding that sweet spot was important, and that was practice, playing with a band makes you stand. it also makes you play standing for a good period and it is what helped me the most. Now when i practice i tend to walk around aimlessly. Another big one (for me) is, start singing.. If your singing into a MIC you can't look at you the neck of your bass, and need to know where you are without losing yourself.

mam1862 · #5 05-03-2011, 08:00 AM

Right on Noah_FX.

lenosgood · #6 05-03-2011, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NOAH_FX

One of the most important realizations i have made is, how other people setup their bass, dosent work for me. I don't play we'll with the bass super high, but also can't play alot of Chords Hammer on's etc, we'll with it too low.

Finding that sweet spot was important, and that was practice, playing with a band makes you stand. it also makes you play standing for a good period and it is what helped me the most. Now when i practice i tend to walk around aimlessly. Another big one (for me) is, start singing.. If your singing into a MIC you can't look at you the neck of your bass, and need to know where you are without losing yourself.

The trouble is, when I start singing, people start running and my fingers quit working...

prd004 · #7 05-03-2011, 08:06 AM

I practice and record seated, I rehearse and gig standing up. Changing back and forth is no biggie as long as you do plenty of both. If I haven't played standing in a while there might be a slight adjustment period, but it's only one song or a few minutes. I usually rehearse at least once a week minimum, so I'm good to go either way.

mtonbass · #8 05-03-2011, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Campbel

I practice standing, mostly. one of the first things my instructor showed me was to adjust my guitar so that when I sit, it doesn't move (relative to my body). That forces me to wear it a little higher, but that's fine with me.

That said, I do find it a little harder to play sitting down, even though my guitar is in the same position. Probably my sitting posture is crap.

Skunk Baxter had it right.

As I've gotten older I've enjoyed sitting more and more - it's easier on the lower back AND I somehow can feel the tone and vibrations of my bass better.

Sort of depends on the music and the venue, too and if I am offering any background vox to the song.

Both but most importantly do what works for you.

NOAH_FX · #9 05-03-2011, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lenosgood

The trouble is, when I start singing, people start running and my fingers quit working...

Practice, practice, Practice :P

It has done nothing but help my internal clock, I found it EXTREMELY HARD, especially when you playing with wierd basslines, or lines that didn't match the songs.. Bad Habit by the Offspring sucked.. I hated learning to play and sing it.. But now i literally could explain to you my 5 Star chili Recipe and not miss a note. But I also don't have to think about it, it's ingrained into my mind. Thankfully I don't have to learn alot of songs at once, so when I learn a song I usually spend all week on it and just memorize it until It's ready. Than it gets stuck somewhere until it's needed.

hrodbert696 · #10 05-03-2011, 10:39 AM

Depends on which bass I'm using. My Washburn has a small body and I can play that sitting or standing, no problem. I usually sit when I'm working out a new song so I use it for that. My Yamaha BB just doesn't fit the same way when I'm seated as it does when standing, so I pretty much never use it unless I'll be standing to play the whole time.

mambo4 · #11 05-03-2011, 02:05 PM

Practice as you gig. I gig standing, so I practice standing.
If I'm sitting with my bass, I don't fool myself that its anything other than noodling/working things out.

LIONFURY · #12 05-03-2011, 02:10 PM

i play standing

elavate7 · #13 05-03-2011, 02:15 PM

in church, i usually sit. sometimes i stand to see the praise leader. in my other band, at rehersals i have been sitting, but i will probably have to stand at gigs.....but im fine with standing

Russell L · #14 05-03-2011, 06:59 PM

I usually gig standing. Some jazz gigs are sitting. I sit a lot when practicing, though, until I get to a part that I really need to work on, then I need to stand. Or, I might stand due to just getting tired of sitting, and vice versa.

One thing that is getting me, though, is being 61. And I'm Type II diabetes. And I have joint troubles, especially in my shoulders, back, and right knee. My feet hurt terribly sometimes when standing for four-hour gigs. And, at the end of the night I'm always looking for a place to put my bass case up on something, so as to not have to bend my knees and get down on the floor.

But, hey, who says ya can't rock n roll sitting in a chair? It may come to that all the time. One thing's for sure, I ain't quitting playing. I best keep my little Bassman 25 for practice when I'm laid up in the hospital sometime. Oh yeah! Ever tried playing laying down? LOL.

(For the record, I'm in three bands right now).

Staccato · #15 05-03-2011, 07:13 PM

Sitting and standing with a strap at all times. However, there may be different positions that one can sit depending on the contours of the bass...

lenosgood · #16 05-04-2011, 03:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russell L

Oh yeah! Ever tried playing laying down? LOL.

Actually, yeah, I have...not too tasty for the ears, but it kept my fingers moving...lol

Rockmusician · #17 05-04-2011, 04:01 AM

I alternate between sitting and standing.

machine454 · #18 05-08-2011, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lenosgood

Anybody have issues about playing standing up when you practice mostly sitting down? It seems to take me a while to play correctly when going from sitting to standing. I guess the only solution is to get off my lazy butt and practice standing all the time...

I practice standing because I wear my bass lower ,the top horn is alittle above my waist. When I practice sitting I find my bass is to high and the fret board is in my face, plus it gives me shoulder pain .

lenosgood · #19 05-08-2011, 10:51 AM

I've been looking for a cheap barstool to use for practice... closer to standing anyway. I've been practicing standing more lately and it's definitely making a difference. Thanks for all the tips and comments...I may become a bassist yet...

SteveC · #20 02-27-2012, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lenosgood

Anybody have issues about playing standing up when you practice mostly sitting down? It seems to take me a while to play correctly when going from sitting to standing. I guess the only solution is to get off my lazy butt and practice standing all the time...

I tend to stand at gigs and practice sitting down - usually in front of my Mac as I'm learning tunes. I bumped this thread to as I was searching to see what people think about sitting while playing. I know it probably depends on the gig, but there are players (BB King, Anthony Jackson) who sit while playing all the time.

Now, I'm not either of those guys, but I have considered sitting more as some physical issues present themselves as I get older. While I am trying to build strength in my back/neck by working out, I do still get pretty sore at times. I mostly play at church and jazz fill-ins these days. Both seem to lend themselves to sitting if I choose.

I do, however, find at times I just feel like I should stand - into the music, whatever. So I'm thinking have a stool and sit, and when so moved, get up and groove.

What' anyone else doing? Is it "OK" for me to sit? Does it make me seem less of a played, less "into it" or whatever. Thoughts?