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Do you stand while practicing bass alone?
- Thread starter Tricia
- Start date
sweeeeet....two-foot lean shuffle.....start to fall one way, lean the other....and nobody knows nuttin....very nice....back in the day....done that....I think....
I practice standing almost all the time. No matter what I've done with the strap, I find the position of the bass is subtly different from standing position when I'm sitting. As a result, the only time I'll sit when practicing is if I'm doing something that requires me to frequently interact with my desktop computer while practicing, like working on a song via slowdowner and changing the looped measures frequently.
I watch a lot of bass lessons on youtube, and the guys are all seated while teaching.
I have created my bass lines sitting down for songs, and then at band practice, I can't reproduce them while standing!
I can't see the fretboard very well when I stand!
My bass position does not change whether seated or standing. I think ahem... ...male-vs-female physiology (?) may play a part in the situation you are experiencing. I'd defer to a female bass player perspective on this, actually. I think I am ill-equipped to opine further, in all seriousness.
Ladies?
for me, it's the way my spine relaxes while sitting. it lets the bass lean on me, and I see it more than I would while standing.
I stand unless I absolutely have to sit (reading something off the computer or whatnot). When I sit my anatomy (female) pushes my bass into a different position, and I found out playing sitting down too long triggers tendonitis/carpal tunnel symptoms in my right hand. Something to do with the angle. So I stand.
Besides, I found out when learning to slap that when I learned sitting I couldn't do it standing due to the angle change. Boooo. Practice how you perform
Besides, I found out when learning to slap that when I learned sitting I couldn't do it standing due to the angle change. Boooo. Practice how you perform
Standing.
I set up a practice station made out of restaurant rack shelving, (Costco).
Top shelf has a compressor limiter running into Bass Rockman, cd player and cat bed, above eye level.
Then a big space shelf for the various cd's, tapes, ipods that feed into the rockman. This shelf is covered with plywood so stuff doesn't fall thru. Hanging under that is an old computer keyboard shelf that slides in and out with more room to put out music, or take notes and the drum machine and metronomes.
Then a shelf with the stereo amp, tape deck, then speakers. I've got a bright light strapped to the shelf unit.
My headphone and guitar cords give me enough room to move about and get to other shelves that hold books and stuff. Room enough to move a few steps and wiggle around, with out hitting anything. And a mike stand to practice sing my parts and not getting crosseyed and dorking out by getting tangled in the mike or hitting the stand with the bass.
I can also reach the computer, but I'm not so sure that having a computer that close is a good idea. More of a distraction.
That covers 85% of home practice, nice and quiet, not bothering anybody. When nobody is home, I can hit the amps.
If I'm reading something or just noodling chords and scales I might sit down with a music stand. But I'm more comfortable standing.
Practice how you're going to play it live. Visualize the situations you will be in, with people in your face, the whole deal.
I set up a practice station made out of restaurant rack shelving, (Costco).
Top shelf has a compressor limiter running into Bass Rockman, cd player and cat bed, above eye level.
Then a big space shelf for the various cd's, tapes, ipods that feed into the rockman. This shelf is covered with plywood so stuff doesn't fall thru. Hanging under that is an old computer keyboard shelf that slides in and out with more room to put out music, or take notes and the drum machine and metronomes.
Then a shelf with the stereo amp, tape deck, then speakers. I've got a bright light strapped to the shelf unit.
My headphone and guitar cords give me enough room to move about and get to other shelves that hold books and stuff. Room enough to move a few steps and wiggle around, with out hitting anything. And a mike stand to practice sing my parts and not getting crosseyed and dorking out by getting tangled in the mike or hitting the stand with the bass.
I can also reach the computer, but I'm not so sure that having a computer that close is a good idea. More of a distraction.
That covers 85% of home practice, nice and quiet, not bothering anybody. When nobody is home, I can hit the amps.
If I'm reading something or just noodling chords and scales I might sit down with a music stand. But I'm more comfortable standing.
Practice how you're going to play it live. Visualize the situations you will be in, with people in your face, the whole deal.
Maybe I m just lazy, but when I practice i definitely sit, I try to have a good posture, but why overload and tire your body?
But I never felt any difference or needed adaptation from playing sitting or standing i have the strap set so i doesn t matter the bass stays the same and so do my hands so i'd rather save my back
At rehearsals I stand mostly, except when it gets late and we go over things we did a lot (after a while its ok the dancing groove has been practiced...) I love the barstool though, gives you a choice and a mix
But I never felt any difference or needed adaptation from playing sitting or standing i have the strap set so i doesn t matter the bass stays the same and so do my hands so i'd rather save my back
At rehearsals I stand mostly, except when it gets late and we go over things we did a lot (after a while its ok the dancing groove has been practiced...) I love the barstool though, gives you a choice and a mix
singlemalt....how do we know you not lying? Show us a pic cuz a picture is worth a thousand words AND every picture tells a story...don't it?
tjm
1) I'm old
2) I can't stand for long - more than a few minutes hurts
3) I sit on a tall stool
4) They have to accept that or I take my toys and go home.
I'm not in this for the money - I don't dance, wave my hands or even wear matching uniforms when I play and they are happy if I just smile a little bit when I play.
I also try to not smile much to keep everyone's future expectations to a minimum.
That's all they get from me. Mostly I sit next to or almost behind my amp and the audience wonders where all that low sound is coming from.
Let 'em guess.
2) I can't stand for long - more than a few minutes hurts
3) I sit on a tall stool
4) They have to accept that or I take my toys and go home.
I'm not in this for the money - I don't dance, wave my hands or even wear matching uniforms when I play and they are happy if I just smile a little bit when I play.
I also try to not smile much to keep everyone's future expectations to a minimum.
That's all they get from me. Mostly I sit next to or almost behind my amp and the audience wonders where all that low sound is coming from.
Let 'em guess.
for me, it's the way my spine relaxes while sitting. it lets the bass lean on me, and I see it more than I would while standing.
This was the major problem I had while trying to play standing; I couldn't see the fret board at all, so I'd miss notes all the time.
Once I setup the strap properly the bass actually sits slightly tilted so I can see enough of the fretboard to play properly. With songs that I know well now I don't look over as much, and eventually I expect to look even less as I gain more experience.
Which reminds me that I haven't done the mirror thing, which would help with not looking. Now all I need is more time to actually do it!...
Wow I love the practice setup idea. Now that's awesome!
I have been known to lean on my amp at gigs if my feet hurt (working retail 9 hours a day doesn't make a 4 hour gig any shorter....). However, at the person who has to move it's request I just put casters on it so I won't be leaning anymore
.
OP should've put a poll I bet it'd be 80% stand, 15% sit, and 5% carrots!
I have been known to lean on my amp at gigs if my feet hurt (working retail 9 hours a day doesn't make a 4 hour gig any shorter....). However, at the person who has to move it's request I just put casters on it so I won't be leaning anymore
. OP should've put a poll
I bet it'd be 80% stand, 15% sit, and 5% carrots!
You want a picture with or with out the cat?
I want to be able to enjoy the crowd and keep an eye on my bandmates, so practicing a heads up stance, big smile and eye contact, and NOT looking at the fret board is my goal.
My fingers aren't getting any more interesting. Why watch them when there's people dancing?
When the cat comes down, I'll get a picture.
Future plans are for everything in my little area to be built at a height where I can stand at my desk and computer. That gives me lots of shelf space under the desk, and I'll get a tall rolling chair for sitting at the computer.
The back pain thing is an issue for me too, but its sitting that bothers my back. And heavy basses, nothing over 9.5 lb, I'm happier with 8-9 lb. 4" Italia straps stay on the basses so each one is set at the right height.
I want to be able to enjoy the crowd and keep an eye on my bandmates, so practicing a heads up stance, big smile and eye contact, and NOT looking at the fret board is my goal.
My fingers aren't getting any more interesting. Why watch them when there's people dancing?
When the cat comes down, I'll get a picture.
Future plans are for everything in my little area to be built at a height where I can stand at my desk and computer. That gives me lots of shelf space under the desk, and I'll get a tall rolling chair for sitting at the computer.
The back pain thing is an issue for me too, but its sitting that bothers my back. And heavy basses, nothing over 9.5 lb, I'm happier with 8-9 lb. 4" Italia straps stay on the basses so each one is set at the right height.
Hats off to ya!
Playing a bass line and singing at the same time are out of my ballpark!
If you also stand at the same time (whew!)- you might be Buckaroo Bonzai playing incognito.
Okay, here's the current look. The cat wanted no part of this photo shoot.
I can stand here and play till the cows come home.
This is a basement room, window sills about 5' above the floor, but south facing so I get good light. The heater keeps things nice in the winter.
The magnetic clip is cool for holding sheet music at eye level.
Notice the ancient Technics close and play turntable. Records!
Bass cabs are homebuilt TL-606's with 3015's.
Pretty much everything is old, my space needs a make over.
If I ever finish the bathroom remodel for my wife, I've got a 12x12 room gutted and ready for remodel into the deluxe mancave!
This set up keeps the peace, I can work while my son practices piano upstairs. Comfortable headphones are worth it.
I can stand here and play till the cows come home.
This is a basement room, window sills about 5' above the floor, but south facing so I get good light. The heater keeps things nice in the winter.
The magnetic clip is cool for holding sheet music at eye level.
Notice the ancient Technics close and play turntable. Records!
Bass cabs are homebuilt TL-606's with 3015's.
Pretty much everything is old, my space needs a make over.
If I ever finish the bathroom remodel for my wife, I've got a 12x12 room gutted and ready for remodel into the deluxe mancave!
This set up keeps the peace, I can work while my son practices piano upstairs. Comfortable headphones are worth it.
