I just wondered why bass players like alex webster and some metal bass players put their bass between their thighs and not above their thigh while playing sitting down. Why do they do that?
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Bass position
- Thread starter Venturella
- Start date
It's show buzziness baby.....
Or he came over from upright bass... My money is on show buzziness.
Or he came over from upright bass... My money is on show buzziness.
To keep the same playing position as when standing up. I used to do that in my metal days, in the very few occasion I would play sitting down.
Holding the instrument between the thighs is the "correct" classical guitar posture:
Reasons why a bass player might use this posture include:
Reasons why a bass player might use this posture include:
- They've taken guitar lessons.
- They've taken lessons with a bass teacher who also plays guitar.
- They saw a guitarist use this posture and copied it.
- Bass guitar is a type of guitar, so why not use "correct" guitar technique on bass, too?
- The player experimented and discovered it to be a comfortable posture for them, independent of outside influences.
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Lets see ...
Because classical and metal are kissing cousins
Leverage on super heavy strings/extra long scale
Easier to move around on the fret board with the neck up like a double bass, especially above the 18-20th fret
Far easier to tap, especially if you're using both hands over the fret board a la Synyster Gates, Eddie Van Halen, etc. (I'm just starting to get here. My hands aren't quite strong enough yet. See heavy strings, extra long scale above.)
Basically if you're horsing it around like a high speed guitar, it's easier to copy the technique. I've tried 'folk' style and can't stand it, especially on my fretless. I suppose it would be fine if I stuck with traditional bass lines, but then I start fooling around with guitar solos and I'm right back to classical style. Hey, they keep drop tuning into upper bass range, I can poach their parts in return!
Because classical and metal are kissing cousins
Leverage on super heavy strings/extra long scale
Easier to move around on the fret board with the neck up like a double bass, especially above the 18-20th fret
Far easier to tap, especially if you're using both hands over the fret board a la Synyster Gates, Eddie Van Halen, etc. (I'm just starting to get here. My hands aren't quite strong enough yet. See heavy strings, extra long scale above.)
Basically if you're horsing it around like a high speed guitar, it's easier to copy the technique. I've tried 'folk' style and can't stand it, especially on my fretless. I suppose it would be fine if I stuck with traditional bass lines, but then I start fooling around with guitar solos and I'm right back to classical style. Hey, they keep drop tuning into upper bass range, I can poach their parts in return!
Holding the instrument between the thighs is the "correct" classical guitar posture:
Reasons why a bass player might use this posture include:
- They've taken guitar lessons.
- They've taken lessons with a bass teacher who also plays guitar.
- They saw a guitarist use this posture and copied it.
- Bass guitar is a type of guitar, so why not use "correct" guitar technique on bass, too?
- The player experimented and discovered it is comfortable posture, independent of outside influences.
Wrong. The legs in that pic are BENT. They are not straight. If the person in that pic were to set a strap on that guitar where it is snug, and then were to stand up, that guitar would be NOWHERE NEAR between his legs. It would be exactly where it is now with the top of the guitar 6" under his chin. It is impossible for that guitar to be both on top of his chest AND between his legs when standing. Surely, you must see that.
I honestly have no idea what you're talking about. There is no strap in that photo. I've never seen a classical guitarist give a recital standing up while wearing a strap.
The image is from wikipedia's "Classical Guitar Technique" page.
Alex Webster took acoustic guitar lessons when he was a little kid, so his familiarity with guitar technique might be why he holds the bass like he does (just a guess).
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(Sigh)
OK, look at the pic of the classical guitarist. Yes, his guitar is between his thighs. Now, imagine his guitar is velcroed to his chest so that when he stands up it stays in the same place. When he does stand up, it will not be between his legs. It will be much higher. His legs will straighten amd the guitar will stay on his chest.....and nowhere near between his legs. So, no, that bass player is NOT using proper classical guitar playing position. Not even close.
Find me one single picture of a standing classical guitarist that has his guitar down between his legs with his body all hunched over.
As I mentioned, I've never seen a standing classical guitarist. The instrument is traditionally played sitting down, without a strap.
I don't know who you mean by "that bass player." There is no bass player in the photo I posted.
This player's posture looks very similar to wikipedia's example of "correct classical guitar posture." Similar neck angle, hand positions, etc. the only major difference being one player is sitting and the other is standing using a strap. It looks to me like his strap is deliberately set to the length so that his guitar is in the same relative position, whether he is seated or standing.
Thanks for posting that picture. It looks like you got it from the Hill Guitar Stand-Up Model webpage. I found it to be an interesting read! [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
^ Girls, calm down. 
Judging from that picture: That position allows you to sling the bass low and be "cool" while at the same time, be able to play the upper frets. It's a stage presence thing I guess.
Judging from that picture: That position allows you to sling the bass low and be "cool" while at the same time, be able to play the upper frets. It's a stage presence thing I guess.
I hate to quote myself but it seems like my comment went over everyone's heads.
When you're playing standing up with the bass that low, your plucking hand is at a specific angle which allows for fast and powerful plucking. Sitting with the bass on your lap changes that angle dramatically and affects one's technique. Having the bass between your thighs and suspended on its strap, it brings the bass to approximately the same position as when standing.
Billy Sheehan's words stuck with me when he wrote in BP mag something like: "Find the strap length that works for you and keep it there. If you change the height of your bass, it changes the angles of all the bones in both of your hands."
