Married guys - Do you wear your ring when you play?

[bassman1185]

I just got married about three weeks ago and I love it, but I honestly hate wearing the ring. It seems like it gets in the way of everything, and I can't play bass with it on. I've gotten in the habit of slipping it on my right ring finger if I'm just noodling around or in my pocket if I'm actually practicing or playing a show.

So how 'bout it? Do you get used to it or is it just always a hinderance for playing?

[tZer]

Do I wear the wedding band when I play?

I do. (Strangely appropriate pun-like anwer) - And Congratulations, by the way!

I also hated wearing it when I play when I first got it (and still do - after 9+ years). It really changes the way my left hand (fretting hand) feels. I am aware of the additional weight and the mass. Feeling it between my fingers and getting the occasional knock on the neck is a bit frustrating.

BUT I know if I were to take it off I'd lose it for sure. So I just suffer with it. I cope with it but would much rather not wear it when I play.

[jeremyr]

I wear mine and I never really hated wearing it. It didn't even change my fretting technique. I guess the years of piano payed off.

[MonetBass]

My wedding ring is smaller than what most guys get, and I've worn it long enough to where I don't even notice it's there when I play.

[DWBass]

You'll get used to it. I've no problems playing bass with it but when I was playing softball, I had to take it off!

[TheDarkReaver]

If you can't get used to it put the ring on a chain and hang it round your neck when you play.

[kesslari]

I found it snagged frets sometimes, not enough to be a big deal.
On fretless (which is what I'm mostly gigging ATM) it's no problem.

And I prefer to have it on at gigs, rather than not.

[CrashClint]

I do not wear it while I am playing, but I do put it on during breaks and after the gig.

[Humblerumble]

I don't even notice mine so I leave it on. I actually lost it a few months after we were married. It bugged me so I took it off and put it in my pocket and pulled out my keys and it fell out in the parking lot where I work which is in a downtown area. Luckily I found it laying there four days later

[Jazzdogg]

My wedding ring seemed conspicuous and clumsy when I was a newlywed. I only took it off for safety (when working with tools, electricity).

Now that I've been a widower for more than a decade, I miss the surge of connectedness I'd feel when I would see it, or feel it, on my finger while I was playing.

I'm still playing, but only for myself and my band mates. My wedding ring now resides in a box on my dresser.

[lefty007]

I've never been able to wear anything like that, no watches, chains, or rings.

I tried wearing my wedding ring for a few weeks, but always felt like a chained dog.

The wife understood, but in exchange she wants me to get a tattoo on my forehead that reads: "Property of. . . . "

[Phalex]

I leave my wedding ring at home with my wife when I play out. She's cool with it. I guess that's the upside of marrying a hideous bass player.

[bassman1185]

Originally Posted by Rich Williams

Definitely wear the ring! If you're anything like me, you know how easy it is to meet girls at gigs. Not wearing your ring is dangerous, as is flirting with groupies. I have a huge heavy ring and I'm totally used to it now. It also lends the wife some peace of mind at shows she can't make it to.

Ha, I'm not much like you, then. My wife has mentioned that, though, but she understands that when I'm on stage I have to actually be able to play, so she doesn't make a big deal of it.

[Human Bass]

Originally Posted by lefty007

I've never been able to wear anything like that, no watches, chains, or rings.

I tried wearing my wedding ring for a few weeks, but always felt like a chained dog.

The wife understood, but in exchange she wants me to get a tattoo on my forehead that reads: "Property of. . . . "

Im exactly like that too. Luckily my current gf said she wont mind if i dont wear a ring.

[Tnavis]

I always used to take my rings off when I played before I got married, and was honestly worried that my wedding ring would affect my technique. It was a little strange at first, but now I would only notice it if it wasn't there.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by bassman1185

I just got married about three weeks ago and I love it, but I honestly hate wearing the ring. It seems like it gets in the way of everything, and I can't play bass with it on. I've gotten in the habit of slipping it on my right ring finger if I'm just noodling around or in my pocket if I'm actually practicing or playing a show.

So how 'bout it? Do you get used to it or is it just always a hinderance for playing?

Congrats. I haven't taken mine off in 20 years.

Leave it on. I can't imagine how having a ring on would impact your playing unless you have absolutely horrible technique. If the ring does have an impact on your playing, I would recommend taking a couple lessons and getting that left had technique fixed up. The rign should be quite a bit away from the neck and strings at all times.

It also makes things a lot easier (if you are young anyway) in letting the nice women at the gig know that you are married. It's much easier to not get into trouble that way.

[smperry]

I have a few bands and if I wear one, it'll be a thin one. But sometimes I don't; it doesn't get in the way but my hand is just more comfortable. My wife doesn't care.

Marshall

[tZer]

Originally Posted by KJung

Leave it on. I can't imagine how having a ring on would impact your playing unless you have absolutely horrible technique.

OH! I've been skewered (unintentionally, I hope!) by my former Sensei!

Ken - I beg to differ on the horrible technique part. I have reasonably good technique (even if I do say so myself). I don't do the "baseball bat grip", I have my thumb in the middle of the neck, good wrist position, etc...

But I have an odd idiosyncrasy and I don't think I am alone - Let's call it "hypersensitivity to bulky things on my person". So things like car keys or my wallet in my pocket bothers/distracts me. I take my wallet out of my pocket when I drive or at work while sitting at my desk. My keys never go in my pockets - for the most part the only thing that doesn't really drive me nuts is a little loose change. But only a little.

The same sort of thing happens with my ring. It's not that it actually gets in my way nor does it exacerbate already bad technique - I am just highly aware that it is on my finger and that 'bugs me'.

It even bugs me when doing things like typing - and I have excellent typing technique too! (80 wpm last time I was clocked) LOL

I agree with you in that wearing a wedding band doesn't have an impact on the physical aspects of my playing - but it does hit my radar as a "nuisance" that I'd rather not have to deal with.

Think of as if someone were tapping you every so often while you were trying to play. Sure, it wouldn't necessarily cause you to physically not be able to do what you do, but it would bother you, right?

But like others have said, I don't want to take it off because I know I will damn sure lose it.

[john turner]

my ring is pretty thick, so it gets in my way when i play. no biggie - just put it back on when i'm done. not the ring that makes me married heh .

[bassman1185]

Originally Posted by john turner

my ring is pretty thick, so it gets in my way when i play. no biggie - just put it back on when i'm done. not the ring that makes me married heh .

That's kind of my issue. I have fat fingers, so I had to get a fairly bulky ring so it didn't just look like I was wearing a woman's ring, and it just keeps tapping the strings or frets and it seems to throw my other fingers off as well.