Do you dance when you play bass?

[talita mathews]

At last nights jam session, I had really excellent players and new Rotosounds 66s on my Thunderbird and the spirit of Flea and Billy Sheehan did rest upon me heavily and made me funky and mobile. Afterwards, I dragged my aged sweat drenched body to the bar where several lovely ladies came up and said they loved the way I danced while I played bass.

So, just wondering...do you move around a lot, or stand still like a zombie when you play.

Absolutely dance and get into it...absolutely love what i'm doing and for me, dancing is a natural response...can't help it and often have to restrain myself so im not standing out over the other musicians who are not moving around so much...everyone is different though...some people do their best dancing with their fingers on the bass love the question!

 

[LowBstring]

I know I dance because they tell me but I have no idea what they're talking about. If you ask me I'm just tapping my foot.

 

[Skerrvydog]

Nobody does the Bass Boogie Woogie like my man Mr Wood

 

[LowBSix]

I cannot play without feeling the pulse. I ALWAYS dance, if that’s what you want to call it. I must groove. That means I’ve got to feel whole notes or dotted half note as well as 16ths before and after any note value.

If you think just go boom-boom, it doesn’t matter, then that’s the type of gigs you’ll get.

Watch Leland Sklar, Abe Laboriel and Verdin White on video. Leland is the least animated and is ALWAYS feeling “it”!

If you want “it”, find and get “it” every way possible.

 

[The Mad Zak]

I always move. Not as much today thanks to a good case of arthritis in my knees, but I do move around. In the last good band I was in I would literally dance with girls on the dance floor in some songs. (I love being wireless!)

 

[steviesilvers]

dancing might not be quite the word..

 

[Brians356]

Dancing bassists? For my money, there was Jaco, and after him - why bother?
-

 

[Crooker]

I am always moving to the music, especially my body is moving in time with the BACK BEAT.
I couldn't imagine trying to stay in time while standing straight.

 

[dewd]

I fall more into the foot-stomper, top-tapper, head-bobber category when jammin.

My general attitude on any type of dancing other than a belly-rubber is, "stay off the dance floor".

 

[Tom Gallo]

I have enough trouble playing bass without dance moves!

 

[ScrewDevil]

That stuff is for frontmen and lead guitarists. Bassists don't dance. Lol

 

[swarfrat]

 

[ScrewDevil]

I occasionally flash my shiny chrome smile to the crowd in between headbanging and menacing. Lol

 

[tomyleft]

Not all the time, but yes, when the percussion ensemble I play with finally kicks it in with a driving soca or calypso. Playing a Kala solid-body UBass makes it easier than it used to be, too. I don't have to worry about the old Fender P-bass head smacking into something, or somebody, anymore. Happy feet.

 

[liquidfingers]

I dance like I have ants in my pants and my head is a maraca!

 

[Dreamsinger]

Some music hits me where I have no choice but to dance but being wired with a jack cord suppressed that quite a bit. Using a wireless loosened that up a bit but small stages and long necks still constrain me.

 

[ScrewDevil]

I dance like I have ants in my pants and my head is a maraca!

They have medication for that.

 

[Ville Billie]

I can't believe no one posted Tim's moves yet.

 

[rendevouz]

I dance like I have ants in my pants and my head is a maraca!

So basically you’re Elaine from Seinfeld

 

[Ozymandius]

Back in the day, I moved a lot. A LOT. Our female backup singer got real good at ducking- people just came to see if this would be the night I accidentally clobbered her. They finally fired me, in part because it just wasn't worth the risk. Thus, she got no stitches and I got no money. Fair exchange, I'd say.