Putting too much weight on my right leg.

[Michael Case]

Nick,

I have a stool for practice at home, and most of my gigs have stools that I can use. I can never get that comfortable on the stool. Plus the rubber tip on my end-pin doesn't have any traction left and when I sit my bass is on an angle that causes the bass slide away from me.

Plus sitting would really drive home the fact I'm getting old and I don't want to admit that yet.

[bopeuph]

I'm 27, and I really like the sitting, but then again, I might be getting old for my time.

You may want to replace the rubber tip with one for canes you can get at any drugstore. I have one, and I have no problem with my bass sliding. Plus, I have one of those strap stoppers (whatever you call them) that are made for a cello for added stopping power. Then again, a cane tip may again make you think you're getting old.

Nick

[Marc Piane]

I tried a stool. It was ok but not worth the extra thing to carry for me. I have the "one trip from the car" thing down. If I added a stool I can't do one trip anymore.

Some restaurants/bars have stools you can use but I've had stools snatched out from under me when they needed a seat for a paying customer.

[Michael Case]

Originally Posted by bopeuph

I'm 27, and I really like the sitting, but then again, I might be getting old for my time.

You may want to replace the rubber tip with one for canes you can get at any drugstore. I have one, and I have no problem with my bass sliding. Plus, I have one of those strap stoppers (whatever you call them) that are made for a cello for added stopping power. Then again, a cane tip may again make you think you're getting old.

Nick

I recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of my 26th birthday. Sitting, cane tips, and being called sir are all touchy subjects for me.

[Damon Rondeau]

I have a strong tendency to do the same thing: put all my weight on that right leg. Several years ago I mentioned it to my teacher -- who's a few years younger than me -- and he told me he did the same thing and it's what converted him to a stool player. So I went with the stool for a year or so but never really dug it too much at all. I found with the stool there were also body issues, they were just different body issues. In other words, improvement meant I couldn't get around putting in the effort to work on body issues. In practice now I'm consciously trying to do two things: 1) widen my stance so it's a little more athletic and balanced, and 2) stop leaning forward so much, which I believe causes the weight transfer. I gotta say, though, it's one thing working on it in practice and it's another thing making it work on the stand.

A mirror really helps a lot. I suppose if I really wanted to get control of it I'd do some work in the Alexander vein -- I'm bound there sooner or later.

And carrying a big-*ss stool to a job pretty much destroys your chances of being a one-tripper. I hate making more than one trip.

[Michael Case]

Just to update (as if you care). I've been really aware of my stance when practicing lately and I can begin to see a difference.

[anonymous02282011]

Originally Posted by Michael Case

Just to update (as if you care). I've been really aware of my stance when practicing lately and I can begin to see a difference.

thanks for the update! that's great.