I take a poop before every gig. Past that, I tune up and set my controls for the room. That's about it.
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Do you have any bass rituals?
- Thread starter Jason Wilson
- Start date
I hope the bass is in the gig bag when you do this.
No, the bass and gig bag are different things.
In general -- not just for bass playing, but for everything I do in life -- I don't have "rituals" but I do have routines:
Before the first set I'll always tune up, run some quick scales or riffs just to make sure my fingers work and the bass works, then check the tuning again. After the set I'll always wipe down the neck, strings, & fingerboard with a cloth to get the finger grease off 'em.
No voodoo, just practical stuff that I make a point of always doing.
Before the first set I'll always tune up, run some quick scales or riffs just to make sure my fingers work and the bass works, then check the tuning again. After the set I'll always wipe down the neck, strings, & fingerboard with a cloth to get the finger grease off 'em.
No voodoo, just practical stuff that I make a point of always doing.
Three here: I have nail clippers in the bag - I hate playing and suddenly discovering a hang nail. Two:, rotate my belt buckle outa the way (I had five potential buyers for an old P-bass back out when they saw how ripped up the back was from my belt buckles) and three: Try to yank the neck strap off the pin (I have a Warwick - that's important!)
Best way to sharpen your senses before the show is to get a couple of guys and play catch with a cat.
This is just WAY more than we need to know.
I really hope that you wash your hands.
Either that or use flat wound strings!
My ritual involves plugging in and tuning and then playing a warm up at a low level just to make sure everything works before we sound check.
My guitarists ritual involves plugging and setting his amp to the volume that he will be playing the set at (very loud for a half empty bar) and hitting whatever chord makes the most noise then doing the same thing with every pedal on his board, then he tunes his guitar silently and repeats the process above until we sound check, unless the sound guy tells him to shut up at which point i laugh.
My guitarists ritual involves plugging and setting his amp to the volume that he will be playing the set at (very loud for a half empty bar) and hitting whatever chord makes the most noise then doing the same thing with every pedal on his board, then he tunes his guitar silently and repeats the process above until we sound check, unless the sound guy tells him to shut up at which point i laugh.
i warm up my hands and stretch out a bit , then the ritual begins a liter of the closest spirit to hand (either vodka,whiskey for jager) i then take a razor blade to my left arm and just cut deep enough so that it wont bleed for too long but still get a good bit of fluid out all the same i then rub blood from the wound onto my face and lick the remaining blood off my arm usualy as i come onto the stage but ive really toned it down lately instead of a razor i have a cigarette and a few beers 
First, this is a great thread! I always stretch my legs, arms and hands before playing. Once I load on stage or start to plug in i'll always twist my body from side to side with my bass on and crack my back. Really helps to relax me and gives me a good feeling for the weight of the bass. Usually, when i'm sound checking I try to play something ridiculous and as far away from my bands music as possible as well to see if I can make the sound guy or anyone else laugh. A favorite is "Smoke on the Water". I play in pop-rock or pop punk bands most of the time so no one ever suspects they'll hear that at the show.
No rituals before a gig, really. But there is one thing I'm obsessive about after the gig. Getting paid and putting the cash in my pocket.
- Apr 19, 2004
- 808
- 42
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- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Conklin Guitars (Basses)
Don't ask me how I know this, but the old group "The Association" played frisby in the seating area. And they were very good. Guys up in the rigging were targets! and if you toured with Linda Rhonstadt, you better be a good looser at Monopoly cause she could get really angry if you got Park Place. If she were loosing when the gig began, nobody touched the board, 'cause she'd have you right back there after the gig to continue the same game.
