When I concentrate...

[SevenJacks]

...I clench my jaw. I've seen pics people take and I can tell by my facial expression that I'm doing it. It looks like I'm kinda mad. I notice my jaw aches after some complex songs too.

[jlerner]

Take yoga...

[sparktone]

I'm the same. I've gotten grief about my bass face, especially from my kids who say I look mad. I'd rather smile, and I usually do once I become more comfortable and confident with a piece.

[Tsfender]

Dude, everyone's got their deal. I lick my lips. Always have chapped lips after a show haha

[Downunderwonder]

Your shoulders are probably tightening as well.

Alexander Technique, for developing a bodily consciousness with a healthy lack of unwarranted tension. Makes you float across the ground with a heavy load or nothing in your hands.

[RH434]

I used to do this. I bought some of these for when I practicing alone and not singing....

http://a1468.g.akamai.net/f/1468/580...252254/200.JPG

Don't use them much anymore, helps break the habit.

Couldn't get away with it in the band though, the guys want me to sing more.....

[totallyfrozen]

Why don't you chew gum while you play?

[T-zone]

My bass teacher used to yell at me for closing my mouth during lessons. He said if I could play with my mouth open I would be able to stay loose.d

[SevenJacks]

Nice T-Zone, I'm going to use that advice

[Tat2dHeart]

At risk of the horrible ribbing I know this will get me, I was aware that I tilted my head back and half-closed my eyes when I was really concentrating on getting a particular refrain "just so." I was learning some new stuff with a friend last week, however, and he observed, "it's not just the half-closed eyes, but they kinda roll back in your head. My wife, she does that before she, you know...um...in in bed. You know?"

[bound'n'blocked]

I'm bad for the "mad bass face" too. I agree on the chewing gum thing. I dont actually chomp away on the stuff, just put a piece in there before I go on and then it just being there seems to calm my jaws down a bit.

BnB

[MatticusMania]

Hmm, my face tends to melt when im playing...

[Stilettoprefer]

I look pissed when I play upright. It was really bad when I was going through tendinitis. When I play electric and really get into the groove I smile dance around a bit. I enjoy playin electric much more than upright

[JetBlackJazz]

lol right there. Schism, nearly bit my cheek in half first full time lol

[grifff]

A friend of mine breathes extremely deeply and irregularly when playing fast alternate picking runs on guitar. It actually sort of scares me because it doesn't sound healthy.

I'm able to stay relax and am conscious of my surroundings and my body when I play.

[oniman7]

I stick my lips out and pout. Sometimes I stare off into space... gets me into trouble with my singer being out front (I wasn't looking at her like that! C'mon guys!). What's really funny is when playing hard lines unamplified, I tend to grunt the notes when I can't hear them loud enough. I actually feel really anxious for some reason when I want the notes to be more powerful, so even through an amp, I grunt a lot. It's a lot better than screaming them, which I have a very strong urge to do when this happens.

[xxjazzbassist]

for laid back gigs and practice definately go with the chewing gum but for more professional gigs where having gum might be looked down on stick your tongue right on the gumline behind your front teeth. My prof told me to do this and i loosened right up

[Jason P Bass]

Originally Posted by Tat2dHeart

My wife, she does that before she, you know...um...in in bed. You know?"

Yeah, I know exactly what you mean! She does!

Haha just kidding.

[groove pump]

Even if I'm not singing backups, I like to sort of talk along with the beat in a "ooh-cuh-choo-bow-buh-choo" kind of way. It keeps me on the looser side so that I'll have more fun, lock in better with my drummer, and maybe stay a little more animated and ridiculous looking for the onlookers. Ah yes, the business of... show.

[Texan]

I lost my concentration in 1993...I still can't find it.