Mirror, Mirror on the Wall...

[Jeff Hughes]

Leonard Cohen's guitar player said that LC liked to walk around naked in the hotel room so that you could pass mirrors and see if you needed to eat less or work out more.

The music store I used to work at had a strategically placed mirror so that customers trying out instruments could see themselves holding the instrument and might therefore be more likely to buy the instrument.

 

[InhumanResource]

I put two mirrors opposite each other and stand in the middle and set my looper pedal to "infinite". hehe

We were somewhere around the second verse of Highway Star when the drugs began to take hold

 

[HeavyJazz]

My posture isn't the best so from time to time I'll use the mirror to figure out what needs to be adjusted. It's been a good tool. My speed and comfort have both improved as a result.

 

[EatS1stBassist]

Today I just happen to do a 180 from the amp and look up, and I caught myself in the mirror. This reminded me of an interview I saw of Steve Vai, where he said that he looked at himself in the mirror all the time when practicing, because he wanted to practice looking cool, or something to that effect. I always thought that was kind of corny, and maybe even vain.

The funny thing is I kept looking, not because I was looking at myself, but because I was looking at how awesome my Bass looked. I also noticed that my fretting hand looked a bit tense while practicing “one finger per fret” technique, and proceeded to relax it. This made me realize right away that looking at yourself in the mirror while practicing could be a great tool to improve on technique. Kind of watching film but in real-time.

Anyways, got me wondering if any of you look at yourself in the mirror when practicing (or did at one point), either as an aid or just to admire your Bass? Or do I just add this as an item on my crazy list?

View attachment 3947027

I tried it once! The mirror cracked and told me not to join Facebook!

 

[Element Zero]

I put two mirrors opposite each other and stand in the middle and set my looper pedal to "infinite". hehe

I’ve heard that’s actually how you open the Stargate... Good thing Daniel Jackson never figured that one out. Ra would be having a field day with modern earth.

 

[Charlzm]

Today I just happen to do a 180 from the amp and look up, and I caught myself in the mirror. This reminded me of an interview I saw of Steve Vai, where he said that he looked at himself in the mirror all the time when practicing, because he wanted to practice looking cool, or something to that effect. I always thought that was kind of corny, and maybe even vain.

The funny thing is I kept looking, not because I was looking at myself, but because I was looking at how awesome my Bass looked. I also noticed that my fretting hand looked a bit tense while practicing “one finger per fret” technique, and proceeded to relax it. This made me realize right away that looking at yourself in the mirror while practicing could be a great tool to improve on technique. Kind of watching film but in real-time.

Anyways, got me wondering if any of you look at yourself in the mirror when practicing (or did at one point), either as an aid or just to admire your Bass? Or do I just add this as an item on my crazy list?

View attachment 3947027

I used to. I'd say it was about 50/50 looking at the bass and watching my technique. Well, 49/49 - there was a 2% "Don't I look cool?" factor.

 

[BarfanyShart]

Even better is recording yourself on video and watching/listening to it afterwards. When you hear something bad, you will generally see why it sounds bad - especially right hand stuff, i find it hard to correct right hand problems in the moment while practicing.

 

[40Hz]

We were somewhere around the second verse of Highway Star when the drugs began to take hold

 

[Yellow Bang66]

Today I just happen to do a 180 from the amp and look up, and I caught myself in the mirror. This reminded me of an interview I saw of Steve Vai, where he said that he looked at himself in the mirror all the time when practicing, because he wanted to practice looking cool, or something to that effect. I always thought that was kind of corny, and maybe even vain.

The funny thing is I kept looking, not because I was looking at myself, but because I was looking at how awesome my Bass looked. I also noticed that my fretting hand looked a bit tense while practicing “one finger per fret” technique, and proceeded to relax it. This made me realize right away that looking at yourself in the mirror while practicing could be a great tool to improve on technique. Kind of watching film but in real-time.

Anyways, got me wondering if any of you look at yourself in the mirror when practicing (or did at one point), either as an aid or just to admire your Bass? Or do I just add this as an item on my crazy list?

View attachment 3947027

Yes, old bas teacher advised to look in the mirror when learning to alternate plucking ( right hand technique). I rarely look at my left hand in the mirror, because I m aware of the technique flaws already ,cause I'm watching it already. I'll also check how the bass hangs on me, I was surprised how low I slung it, I had just bought a new strap & was in the middle of adjusting the strap lock pins, I wanted it higher, closer to sitting position height, but that was way too high! I lowered it a couple of holes to the perfect height. Amirror can be a very useful tool, for practicing and not only for vanity, but thats not a bad thing, unless thats all your focusing on.a friend of mine used to stand slack jawed while playing mouth ajar, just short of drooling! I suggested if he ever played in front of a mirror to check his technique, hoping he would catch himself and hopefully cut down the slack jaw. It worked, but he still did it just not as much.

 

[Killing Floor]

So a few things right outta the gate:

Looking at your posture in a mirror is good for quick corrections/validations and it teaches you not to stare at your frets. Remember if you are performing you should be looking at the audience so forcing yourself to look away from the neck is a good thing.
Steve Vai didn't look cool.
Nice looking bass.
And you may be a vampire if the mirror doesn't reflect your face. Get that checked.

 

[PennyroyalWe]

I nearly always do at least a little. My wife has covered the house in mirrors to get the most from the natural light, at least one in every room, so they’re everywhere. When I was younger and taking lessons on upright, practicing in front of a mirror was one of those tips that my teacher told me for getting good bowing and fingering form. Guess I’ve just kinda stuck with it. It also makes it easier to learn licks watching people, because looking at the playing hand “backwards” becomes less foreign. And, yes, like Steve Vai, I stared practicing guitar/singing in front of a mirror some years ago to get less awkward and uncomfortable looking while I do that. There’s nothing entertaining about someone who looks uncomfortable performing in their own skin.

 

[Pdaddy1978]

Ahhhhhh heeellll no....
I don't even like using one to shave!

 

[dave64o]

I do it all the time butt naked with a bass strapped on!!!

Useful info for those of us who browse the For Sale forums!

 

[micguy]

If I see myself in the mirror when I'm playing, I'm doing it left handed, which confuses me. And I get freaked out about having to buy special basses just so I can continue playing.

So I don't do that.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Today I just happen to do a 180 from the amp and look up, and I caught myself in the mirror. This reminded me of an interview I saw of Steve Vai, where he said that he looked at himself in the mirror all the time when practicing, because he wanted to practice looking cool, or something to that effect. I always thought that was kind of corny, and maybe even vain.

The funny thing is I kept looking, not because I was looking at myself, but because I was looking at how awesome my Bass looked. I also noticed that my fretting hand looked a bit tense while practicing “one finger per fret” technique, and proceeded to relax it. This made me realize right away that looking at yourself in the mirror while practicing could be a great tool to improve on technique. Kind of watching film but in real-time.

Anyways, got me wondering if any of you look at yourself in the mirror when practicing (or did at one point), either as an aid or just to admire your Bass? Or do I just add this as an item on my crazy list?

View attachment 3947027

Never. I saw a video of me conducting a sales interview. Some people are camera friendly. Others?? Not so much. Regardless of how awkward I may appear on film (or digital media), it hasn’t prevented me from playing in public for well over 50 years.

 

[EatS1stBassist]

I’ve heard that’s actually how you open the Stargate... Good thing Daniel Jackson never figured that one out. Ra would be having a field day with modern earth.

Whoa! That reply has more info in it than a large portion of the human race is still not ready for!

 

[Pings Bass]

It's indispensable for learning arco on double bass. I also used a mirror quite a bit when I was working reeds to get the embouchure correct for different instruments. Never really bother with bass guitar, though I do have mirrors in the studio.

 

[Ostie]

Not since high school.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

I do it all the time butt naked with a bass strapped on!!!

Flea would be proud

 

[kentiki]

I know a guitar store owner that mirrored the walls of his large store because he said entry level players would buy based on looking cool. His sales went up after he did it.