Bass position...

[Dorado Pulido]

+1 classical position.
I have shoulder and back injuries so either classical position or standing.
Sitting with it on the right leg creates too much of a "chicken" wing with your right arm,
It's also nothing like how you play before an audience so why learn in bad form?

 

[Watchootognbout]

I too use this position when sitting.
Always have used a strap when sitting too.

 

[stevensivak]

So who made the blue bass on page one of this thread?

 

[4stringfarley]

View attachment 5022309

That's a real nice bass. I love the look of an unlined fretless.

I like it because the guitarists can’t tell where we are mid song. They have to learn to use their ears.

 

[Watchootognbout]

So who made the blue bass on page one of this thread?

Looks like a Ken Smith.

 

[Runlikegregg]

I rehearse standing up

 

[stevensivak]

Can't find painted KS basses?

 

[bucephylus]

I have found that my plucking hand is more comfortable when my wrist is close to straight which means the bridge side or the entire bass is lower than most bent wrist players. Sitting on a chair forces this bent wrist position. Obviously, standing gives me freedom to place the bass anywhere I want.
The problem is for practicing some form of sitting is easier on the body. I know you guys will say, "get a stool" but as soon as one has a bent leg under the bridge, it does not matter how high the seating is.
Other than leaning against a wall, is there something that I am unaware of?

You do need to keep your wrist straight. When playing pizz (with the fingers), this means swinging your right elbow up and out from behind you, such that your arm makes a 90 degree angle at the elbow. That will put your wrist in a correct position for pizz work. Don’t slouch the shoulder!

Edit: First, right hand technique is a personal choice with no right or wrong. But, it is important to play in any case, such that injury / carpal tunnel does not occur. Standard pizz right hand attack with the right hand elevates the hand above the strings much more than playing with a plectrum or using guitar picking poisition; and that is the technique most prone to issues.

Jaco, like him or not, was a master at technique. Here in this S&L performance, you can clearly see him with the right elbow pivoted up and out away from his body, giving his right hand un-strained access to the strings. Go your own way, if you like; but, for me, this is the way.

 

[4stringfarley]

I rehearse standing up

Recording I sit.

had a guitarist in the band that would always sit down at rehearsal. I took all the chairs out. Had to tell him we don’t play gigs sitting down, don’t rehearse like you will.

 

[Watchootognbout]

This man always sits.
Always.

 

[_Some Dude]

I used to think that those folks who play standing up with a low bass were doing it for
appearance sakes... No way I can sit with that same position... need to try a small stool or pile of books to see if that raised leg helps the situation.

Slinging the bass low while standing can be done ergonomically correct, and can be efficient, depending upon the style of music you're playing.

IMO, the idea of having the bass in the same position sitting while standing is a compromise. If you're going to perform standing, learn to play standing, and dial your bass/technique in for standing.

 

[GreyBeard]

I sit on a stool with my legs separated. This lets me keep my wrist straight

 

[Snarf]

This man always sits.
Always.
View attachment 5022497 View attachment 5022503 View attachment 5022505

The absolute KING of sitting.

 

[Dr. Mac]

Another possibility might be to try a higher elbow position like the one advocated by the person in screengrab from his Youtube video to facilitate a straight(er) wrist plucking hand. I don't use the technique personally, however.

 

[4stringfarley]

Another possibility might be to try a higher elbow position like the one advocated by the person in screengrab from his Youtube video to facilitate a straight(er) wrist plucking hand. I don't use the technique personally, however.

View attachment 5022592

That kills my shoulder after an half an hour or so.

 

[Fynn]

I had a similar problem yesterday. I really like playing standing up, but sometimes you just have to sit down. I noticed that I couldn't play some things comfortably. Mostly slap stuff, but it felt really uncomfortable to play things that feel completely fine when standing up.
Classic guitar position doesn't work for that, because that messes with the angle of my thumb too much.
Guess there's no good replacement for me in those situations.

 

[vvvmmm]

BTW, is the bass position in the Kama Sutra?

 

[steve_rolfeca]

Another possibility might be to try a higher elbow position like the one advocated by the person in screengrab from his Youtube video to facilitate a straight(er) wrist plucking hand. I don't use the technique personally, however.

View attachment 5022592

I'm with @4stringfarley.

I could do that when I was in my early 60's, but with 70 fast approaching, I'm starting to get right shoulder issues. I had a bout with frozen shoulder on the left a few years ago (motorcycle-related wear and tear), don't want to go there again.

Happily, I played classical guitar as a kid, so I'm familiar with hanging instruments off my left leg. I can do it quite comfortably with my Dingwall- fanned frets are helpful when you start playing with the neck slanted further upward.

 

[Groove Doctor]

Have you tried using shorter arms?

Try with your forearm more parallel with the strings. The inside of your forearm lays flat accords the face of the bass just above the strings… mine makes about a 30° angle to the strings in the same plane.

It’s a bit like you’re trying to hold it close to your body if you were standing and had no strap. Works for me.

 

[MrClassicMetal]

Another possibility might be to try a higher elbow position like the one advocated by the person in screengrab from his Youtube video to facilitate a straight(er) wrist plucking hand. I don't use the technique personally, however.

View attachment 5022592

That's not a so-called "relaxed" position. You're going to feel that in your arm/shoulder sooner or later regardless of age.