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Bad habits for bassists?
- Thread starter dideah
- Start date
I suspect that you actually intended for this thread to go in the "Technique" forum, yes? Since it's not essentially about bass players, but about bass playing...
That said, yes. Wrapping the thumb of one's fretting hand around the top edge of the fretboard or fingerboard is one of them. You'll see that many self-taught rock, pop & blues guitarists tend to employ this lazy, shortcut approach. It's bad enough when they do it. It's even worse when bassists do it. :scowl:
The thumb of the fretting hand should always be planted firmly on the back of the neck. Preferably in the middle of the neck. Always...
MM
Waknig up in a strange place and your friends have to tell you how much fun you had last night.
Now thats a bad habit right there!!!! I don't care who you are????? Could effect your bass playing?????
Now thats a bad habit right there!!!! I don't care who you are????? Could effect your bass playing?????
overplaying!!!
somtimes you have to keep it simple other times you don't
a good bass player knows the difference
somtimes you have to keep it simple other times you don't
a good bass player knows the difference
^^ you could not have convinced me there was anything wrong with the parties and blackouts, 20 years ago... I was kinda wild back then
Bending your wrists! It causes irreversible Carpal Tunnel, ie. it makes bass playing extremely painful...
to fix the fretting hand look at mysticmichael's post
bad habits with the picking hand....
most players, while in the sitting position and sometimes while standing, use the top of their bass to lay their forearm upon. That is fine except when the position of your elbow is too low and your wrist naturally bends. Also while moving up and down the strings they simply bend their wrist.
If you find yourself doing any of this I suggest you do the following which I'm still doing myself... (I "relapsed" back into my bad habits haha)
Get in front of a mirror with your bass (do both sitting and standing)
play any tune with your natural posture and composure
only observe your hands, do not try and change anything about your playing yet
note specifically what you need to change
now to fix it... adjust your elbow and the bending of your arm until your wrist is straight yet comfortable and keep it straight while cross stringing
it may seem too troublesome at first but it works after enough time is put into it and your wrists will thank you!
also cracking joints isn't considered "harmful" but still try and avoid it.
to fix the fretting hand look at mysticmichael's post
bad habits with the picking hand....
most players, while in the sitting position and sometimes while standing, use the top of their bass to lay their forearm upon. That is fine except when the position of your elbow is too low and your wrist naturally bends. Also while moving up and down the strings they simply bend their wrist.
If you find yourself doing any of this I suggest you do the following which I'm still doing myself... (I "relapsed" back into my bad habits haha)
Get in front of a mirror with your bass (do both sitting and standing)
play any tune with your natural posture and composure
only observe your hands, do not try and change anything about your playing yet
note specifically what you need to change
now to fix it... adjust your elbow and the bending of your arm until your wrist is straight yet comfortable and keep it straight while cross stringing
it may seem too troublesome at first but it works after enough time is put into it and your wrists will thank you!
also cracking joints isn't considered "harmful" but still try and avoid it.
