Originally posted by JUSTBOUNCE
Here are some other tips that I use:
1) Practice with ankle weights. Let's face it, your bass is probably going to be, (assuming your cool), slung down to just about knee-level. While it's hard to simulate that without the bass on, (and EVERYONE knows you should first practice without your bass on, you wouldn't want to damage that expensive bass, right?), you can get a similar effect with the ankle weights. Don't get too heavy ones though, or else the first time you take them off you'll go right through the roof!!!
2) Proper back technique. Pay extra special attention to this. Since your bass will be at about calf level, (let's be honest, only dorks have it as high as their knees), you'll need to dramatically hunch over, unless you're built like a weak-kneed contortionist. Trust me, it's not easy to have your back hunched over, focus on slapping the shiznit out of your bass, and keep your hair out of your eyes.
3) Get a huge mirror. Look, let's just be frank, if you don't look good playing, you don't sound good playing. It's just as simple as that. If you can't see yourself doing this, how do you know you look cool enough. You could also videotape yourself.
4) Are you wearing heavy clothes? Doc Martens, other heavy boots. Chains, dog collars, metal, spikes, chainmail? Anything like this is going to weigh you down. Dress light. Dark colors, (which look cooler anyway), are lighter, everyone knows that. Wear lots of black.
5) How heavy is your bass? Speaking of heavy clothes, when your bass is slung down around your ankles, (I mean, c'mon, who wears it as high as their calves anymore? Dorks! That's who!), you don't want some heavy Fender or sumthin' down der. Represent.
6) Use transparent stickers. Don't, I repeat, DO NOT, use sparkly stickers. Picture this, you're playing your butt off, you're loud, in charge, slapping quicker and shaking more than Michael J. Fox having an orgasm during an 8.5 earthquake, your bass is slung down below your feet and up around your back, and your shiny stickers elude the fog machine, with the disco light, and catch your eye at the right angle. You're going down quicker than Monica Lewinsky with a high ankle sprain. Be very careful.
7) Play LOUD! I'm assuming you're using two 810s. You should be anyway. If you turn it to e-lev-en, then the stage will shake and rumble while you slap the crap out of your low B string, (please tell me you ARE playing a 5 string bass!), and the shaking will help you get lift.
8) Try practicing on a trampoline. This time-honored method is really going to test your focus at extreme heights.
Good luck. God speed.
mmmmmmmmmmmm i cant really be assed with the jumping but ive worked out that standing and like playing the **** out ya bass - doing a few nifty moves on postiton on ya bass , its always a good laf to do ya down striking with ya pic down the thread of the string ( duno the real term) its good fun doing it with the guitarist show em the bassist can do the ****er too , i also backing sing so i have the stand/mic a few paces away so i get good headbanging space
