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Arm position while sitting
- Thread starter JamesInn
- Start date
Depending on what you are playing, either might be considered within normal parameters, although I think '1' is objectively 'better'. But the 'elephant in the room' is your crossed legs and bass on right thigh. You will get a much better posture by having both feet on the ground with the bass on your left thigh and lower body between your legs, as in a classical guitar position. Also, adding a strap will stabilise the bass so you don't have to hold it, thus freeing your hands for more fluent playing.
This is the way I sit.
It's comfortable.
The bass is braced between my legs and chest.
I sit on the edge of the chair so that the bass hangs a little below the seat.
Plus I always use a strap which is set so that the bass is at the same height a when I stand.
The weight is divided up by the strap and legs.
My right arm is kinda bent.
But it's not the "T -Rex"arm.
I could be strict about having a straight arm.
I could angle my bass against my left thigh like this........
It's comfortable.
The bass is braced between my legs and chest.
I sit on the edge of the chair so that the bass hangs a little below the seat.
Plus I always use a strap which is set so that the bass is at the same height a when I stand.
The weight is divided up by the strap and legs.
My right arm is kinda bent.
But it's not the "T -Rex"arm.
I could be strict about having a straight arm.
I could angle my bass against my left thigh like this........
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By way of illustration:
This:
or this:
The funny thing here is that from a distance my left hand looks pretty much the same in both. But if you look carefully you will see that in the second picture the positions of fingers 1, 2, and 4 are much more aligned to the frets. I didn't place them this way; it's just how they fell naturally. The reasons behind that might be worth thinking about for a bit.
This:
or this:
The funny thing here is that from a distance my left hand looks pretty much the same in both. But if you look carefully you will see that in the second picture the positions of fingers 1, 2, and 4 are much more aligned to the frets. I didn't place them this way; it's just how they fell naturally. The reasons behind that might be worth thinking about for a bit.
Good points everybody. Although the classical guitar position doesn’t work for everyone. For one thing it’s harder to balance the bass than a classical guitar because of the thinner body. Also on classical guitar you use a footstool to raise the left leg. Also the lower notes on bass are further away in the classical guitar position. But it’s a good alternative and certainly worth a try.
One thing I might add is that judging from the pictures your right hand thumb is too much to the left. Try keeping it closer to your index finger.
One thing I might add is that judging from the pictures your right hand thumb is too much to the left. Try keeping it closer to your index finger.
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Yes, I absolutely always have my left foot standing on something, to raise it while playing bass sitting. This, I thought, was indispensible and have always been doing this. As you have seen in the other thread, I have been playing the bass this way because of playing the classical guitar as a kid - but felt like I was doing something wrong with the bass since all YouTube videos I have seen, people put the bass on the thigh. I just couldn't, my muscle memory fights that position so I simply put a footstand or other object under my left foot, the bass in my lap, and off to grooving.
I have studied classical guitar but I don’t like this position on bass so much because of the things mentioned. It’s just not the same as with classical guitar. I guess that’s why electric guitar players hardly ever use that position. But everyone should do what feels good. There are no hard rules.
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Correction (I just found this video): not ALL YT videos advocate for bass-on-thigh position:
Lengthen the strap so that the lower part of the bass is a bit below the seat.
Sit on the edge of the seat.
Your back is not against the back support.
Then you can fret the lower frets.
(1st picture in post #4)
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