(Not) Breathing While Playing

[6-3-2]

So, as long as I can remember I sweat A LOT while playing bass. The sweat is like when I'm exercising hard, but I noticed my heart-rate isn't going up past like 100bpm. That's about what I hit just going for a walk, where I don't sweat at all. This even happens with songs I know by heart, so difficulty isn't the issue.

Then I thought, maybe it's my breathing. So I played some songs that I can easily sing along to and I noticed I instantly felt much cooler. That made me realize that if I'm not singing I'm not breathing properly while playing. Now I have to catch myself and take a deep breath while playing or else I overheat pretty quickly.

I doubt I am the only one, so any advice on this issue?

 

[bassGtar]

Can’t say I’ve heard of this before. Do you have anxiety when you are playing that the singing distracts you from, or is it strictly a matter of managing your breathing. You found one solution already, singing, would humming the bass line or reciting something quietly while you play have the same effect? Does this only happen in the summer? I’d ask my doctor about it if it isn’t related to environmental conditions.

 

[Groove Doctor]

Sounds like hyoerfocus

 

[6-3-2]

Can’t say I’ve heard of this before. Do you have anxiety when you are playing that the singing distracts you from, or is it strictly a matter of managing your breathing. You found one solution already, singing, would humming the bass line or reciting something quietly while you play have the same effect? Does this only happen in the summer? I’d ask my doctor about it if it isn’t related to environmental conditions.

I thought anxiety, but it even happens when I'm really enjoying my playing.

It really is breathing, when I stop to consciously catch my breath I realize I need a big gulp of air. And it happens all times of year, but of course in the summer it's worse.

Environmentally, it happens at home and at guitar shops.

 

[Groove Doctor]

Sounds like hyoerfocus

Here’s a bunch of other people it happens to also.
Click on this quote to go to the discussion thread.

 

[tb-player]

You may want to incorporate focused breathing into your bass practice routine. Otherwise, the drummer's gonna make you start wearing a CPAP machine for bass apnea, during the gig. (jk. Hope you figure it out)

 

[6-3-2]

You may want to incorporate focused breathing into your bass practice routine. Otherwise, the drummer's gonna make you start wearing a CPAP machine for bass apnea, during the gig. (jk. Hope you figure it out)

The elephant trunk look could be cool on stage though lol

 

[tb-player]

The elephant trunk look could be cool on stage though lol

Haha yeah. Very metal!!

 

[SkylineFiver]

This happened to me. When I switched from guitar to bass I took lessons from a guitar/bass teacher. A couple of lessons in we were working on turnarounds and he stopped and said “You just played 6 bars without taking a breath.” I had to start practice breathing while I played.
Shout out to Jamie Fox NYC

 

[LowFreqVeee]

Hello,

I am a new bass player, so I don't think my take is what you are looking for. However, I do have the same problem. I don't breathe when I play as I focus and concentrate way too hard on the notes. I get tense and I am trying to correct this and relax.

In regard to singing, I put together my own bass tab for 'One More Light' by Linkin Park that's fairly simple. It has allowed me to sing along, and I noticed that my playing is more on point when I sing the song. But I can't do this on a faster song like 'Kryptonite' by 3 Doors Down.

 

[JC BASS 91]

You may want to incorporate focused breathing into your bass practice routine. Otherwise, the drummer's gonna make you start wearing a CPAP machine for bass apnea, during the gig. (jk. Hope you figure it out)

The elephant trunk look could be cool on stage though lol

Thanks guys, this TOTALLY had me snort laughing at my desk!

 

[6-3-2]

Hello,

I am a new bass player, so I don't think my take is what you are looking for. However, I do have the same problem. I don't breathe when I play as I focus and concentrate way too hard on the notes. I get tense and I am trying to correct this and relax.

In regard to singing, I put together my own bass tab for 'One More Light' by Linkin Park that's fairly simple. It has allowed me to sing along, and I noticed that my playing is more on point when I sing the song. But I can't do this on a faster song like 'Kryptonite' by 3 Doors Down.

Welcome to the bass club!

I knew I couldn't have been the only one! Interesting that singing for you also worked. Maybe it's like other physical activities where it all works better when the body is relaxed. Maybe singing helps a lot of us relax our whole bodies and not just have relaxed hands.

I am also trying to develop the habit of reminding myself to take deep breaths while playing. It seems to help a lot in relaxing and responding to the music. I find my playing also loosens up and gets better too.

 

[HelpImaRock]

I went through this for about 5 years. Holding my breath while playing. Specifically, when I was taking lessons and teaching myself out of method books. For me, it's anxiety. Hoping I'll get through the section and being exasperated when I don't. This was me trying to do too much at the same time.

For me, there are two solutions:

First is simplification. Do one thing. Then do another. Then combine the two. If that means working on two of the most basic exercises so I can put them together later, well then that's what I do.

Second is treating overall anxiety. Learning an instrument is stressful. Find the things that let you decompress and do those. The trap here is procrastination, which itself is a form of anxiety. I should write a book about it but I've just never gotten around to it.

 

[LowFreqVeee]

Welcome to the bass club!

I knew I couldn't have been the only one! Interesting that singing for you also worked. Maybe it's like other physical activities where it all works better when the body is relaxed. Maybe singing helps a lot of us relax our whole bodies and not just have relaxed hands.

I am also trying to develop the habit of reminding myself to take deep breaths while playing. It seems to help a lot in relaxing and responding to the music. I find my playing also loosens up and gets better too.

Thank you! I have been focusing on my breathing today after reading your post as it is now on my mind haha. It throws me off because it's another thing I need to think about even though it's only breathing. But I should develop good habits early on, so I need to keep at it.

Second is treating overall anxiety. Learning an instrument is stressful. Find the things that let you decompress and do those. The trap here is procrastination, which itself is a form of anxiety. I should write a book on this but I've just never gotten around to it.

For me personally I think it's just when I focus on something I forget to breathe. The same thing occurs when I am coding. I've only been playing for about 3 weeks now and it is amazing what the bass has done to my mental health. It's all I want to do!

 

[6-3-2]

Second is treating overall anxiety. Learning an instrument is stressful. Find the things that let you decompress and do those. The trap here is procrastination, which itself is a form of anxiety. I should write a book about it but I've just never gotten around to it.

The anxiety part is interesting, because I don't feel anxious. I've been playing for decades now and always felt good about my skills. Then again, a key step in any mental illness struggle is recognizing how it affects your life. I may just think I'm not anxious, because I'm playing fine. You've given me a good thing to reflect on. For now I probably need to intentionally relax before playing. Definitely gonna try meditating before playing.

 

[Groove Doctor]

For now I probably need to intentionally relax before playing. Definitely gonna try meditating before playing.

Pro Surfers do this. Sprinters do this. Surgeons do this. Actors do this. Public speakers do this. I do it regularly, especially when snowboarding advanced ski runs or skateboarding steep or technical runs. A real game changer.

It is a massive help. It puts you in the zone - a mentally relaxed but highly focussed state. It centres us & tunes out all the background noise in our minds & the mental chatter. Things are much easier to do.

Add stretching to your breathing exercises for a deeper physical relaxation. Visualise yourself doing that thing well. Lay down on the floor for a complete body relax feeling.

Add a mantra (key word) so when you say it all the relaxed thoughts come with it. I had the phrase ‘smooth like silk’ for my bass playing which helped me relax, not overplay, and refine my technique & note choices. I tuned in better to the other players too, esp the drummer. I stopped playing from my head and played what I would feel.

 

[FunkHead]

So, as long as I can remember I sweat A LOT while playing bass. The sweat is like when I'm exercising hard, but I noticed my heart-rate isn't going up past like 100bpm. That's about what I hit just going for a walk, where I don't sweat at all. This even happens with songs I know by heart, so difficulty isn't the issue.

Then I thought, maybe it's my breathing. So I played some songs that I can easily sing along to and I noticed I instantly felt much cooler. That made me realize that if I'm not singing I'm not breathing properly while playing. Now I have to catch myself and take a deep breath while playing or else I overheat pretty quickly.

I doubt I am the only one, so any advice on this issue?

I do the same thing. My solution is to move around constantly. If I walk around the stage/rehearsal room as I play, I breath better.

Also, I practice the 4/5/8 breathing technique. Breath in for 4 seconds, hold it in for 5 seconds and exhale for 8 seconds. This increases lung capacity and help regulate my breathing.

 

[Hummergeist]

Interesting. I know I used to hold my breath for long periods when concentrating on anything, including bass, but I don't think I do it now. BUT I'll try to be conscious of it tomorrow when I practice.

 

[6-3-2]

I just did a 3 minute meditation before playing today and my slap got noticeably more relaxed and as a result my tone and pocket was better. Barely any sweat either. Not a total 180, but it seems like I was too tense and it was messing me up. I appreciate everyone chiming in a sharing their experience. Goes to show that even with experience, you've still got to get your mind clear to really focus on playing.

 

[LowFreqVeee]

That's really cool that meditating before playing worked for you. I'll give that a try and see what impact it has on my breathing and general feeling afterwards.