Strap Position

B8ssMan89 · #1 10-02-2004, 09:58 AM

How far up or down is your bass when you strap it on?
My bass is directly over my stomach. For some reason I can play better when its lifted up more. So where is yours?

Figjam · #2 10-02-2004, 10:00 AM

Depends on the bass. Usually around waist.

Josh Curry · #3 10-02-2004, 02:39 PM

I go by what both Stu Hamm and Norm Stockton say. It goes something like this....

When you practice, you are usually sitting down with the bass on your knee. Now, in order for practice to be effective and for muscle memory to work properly, the bass should be in the same position when you play standing up. Otherwise the angles of your arm, wrist, fingers, etc.. are all different, and you probably wonder why you can't play those 16th note scales @ 160 BPM like you could when you were practicing. So, what I do is this, sit down wearing your bass like you would be practicing. Set the strap in this position. Stand up and the bass shouldn't move (much). This is your ideal position.

B8ssMan89 · #4 10-02-2004, 04:04 PM

BassWhore..... you're so smart!
(not being sarcastic... honest)

nashvillebill · #5 10-02-2004, 04:11 PM

20 years ago, I'd sling it down close to my knees.

Oh we're talking about the BASS, oops...

Seriously, though, now I keep the strap pretty short. Now that I'm getting to be an old fart, it's much easier on my wrists to have the bass up higher.

Josh Curry · #6 10-02-2004, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B8ssMan89

BassWhore..... you're so smart!
(not being sarcastic... honest)

I wish I came up with it. Learn from the Pro's

6-3-2 · #7 10-02-2004, 04:57 PM

I just wear it where i can still reach the high notes with out too much trouble, and where I can keep my arm somewhat straight. I think it's just a dash below the waist.

pyrohr · #8 10-02-2004, 05:20 PM

What Basswhore said exactly!

Tym2cu_bass · #9 10-02-2004, 05:32 PM

Where is my strap? I like my straps down low!!!

Nick man · #10 10-03-2004, 12:31 AM

Depends mostly on what Im playing.

Lower around the hips for fast hard stuff, and higher for groovier stuff.

christle · #11 10-03-2004, 10:03 AM

I'm with Basswhore, except when I am playing my Artcore. That gets played a little lower due to the lack of contouring on the body.

Dan

John Deppel · #12 10-03-2004, 08:44 PM

I put the bass normally where my right hand hangs naturally. Seems easier to me, that way I can rest my picking hand.

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #13 10-19-2004, 07:53 AM

I wear my bass pretty high. When I practice, I usually slouch over a bit so I can see better, so I try to get my bass in the same position when standing. Currently my strap length from hole to hole is 35".

Brendan · #14 10-19-2004, 08:46 AM

Depends. Either fairly high, or around my hips. Depending on the music. If it's cro-mag rock, it's low. If it's more tech stuff, up comes the bass.

keb · #15 10-19-2004, 09:54 AM

I always keep it so it's in the same position either sitting or standing. My muscle memory is stubborn and won't have it any other way.

peteroberts · #16 10-19-2004, 12:03 PM

I always try to practice standing up. When I'm sitting and playing, I'm usually more in exploratory mode and thinking less about mechanics.

I used to wear my strap hella low, when I played heavy music. Trouble is, difficult passages are *REALLY* difficult to play when you've got your bass strapped around your knees! I had a lot of left hand problems.

Now I play with the E string about level w/my belly button. If I move it up too high I start to have right hand issues.

Wild Bill · #17 10-19-2004, 12:36 PM

I keep my strap at about waist level, I have long arms so Im ok with the length, and when I practice I usually practice it sitting to get it down then when I know the song I play standing up to get used to the difference.

Starrchild · #18 10-19-2004, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassWhore

I go by what both Stu Hamm and Norm Stockton say. It goes something like this....

When you practice, you are usually sitting down with the bass on your knee. Now, in order for practice to be effective and for muscle memory to work properly, the bass should be in the same position when you play standing up. Otherwise the angles of your arm, wrist, fingers, etc.. are all different, and you probably wonder why you can't play those 16th note scales @ 160 BPM like you could when you were practicing. So, what I do is this, sit down wearing your bass like you would be practicing. Set the strap in this position. Stand up and the bass shouldn't move (much). This is your ideal position.

Ditto.