Old guys watching their left hands

[whero]

Imagine looking at your fretting hand while playing. Bunch of talentless hacks.

 

[Tim Skaggs]

Guilty as charged, but I look a lot less than I did in the 80s & 90s, 00s, & 20teens,

but circa 1983….

 

[Spectre Gunner]

Heck yeah I look at my left hand. I paid a lot for those custom luminlay dots!

 

[LBS-bass]

To be fair, I also have pictures where I'm not looking at my hands.

 

[Appogee]

I was playing an open mic night recently and, as I was part of a duo, I decided I needed contribute to the stage presence and be more engaging.

A video taken on the night shows I looked up from the fretboard precisely three times in three songs... twice to smile encouragingly at the audience, and once at a wannabe drummer who jumped on the spare cajon sitting behind me and started banging away so loudly I could no longer hear what I was actually playing.

(In the latter case, the smile was intended to convey "hey man, I'm so cool that I can pretend not to be annoyed that you are spontaneously ruining our act and preventing me from hearing what I'm trying to play" )

 

[Spectre Gunner]

Almost as bad as drummers watching their sticks.

 

[Rabidhamster]

My favorite is when people appear to be watching their hand as if they’re just the hype man for the hand, unaware of how it could be doing that, with overacted shock amazement facial expressions on each change like someone just jumped over 20 Volkswagens.

 

[LBS-bass]

My favorite is when people appear to be watching their hand as if they’re just the hype man for the hand, unaware of how it could be doing that, with overacted shock amazement facial expressions on each change like someone just jumped over 20 Volkswagens.

You mean like this one?

In my defense, I believe at this moment I was actually letting out a big "whoop" because the guitarist next to me did a brilliant harmony part with our lead guitarist on "Reelin' In the Years."

At least that's the only time I can recall ever doing something that might have looked like this. So I probably was genuinely excited since I try not to overact.

 

[Hevy T]

We have a posture that must be adhered to as a bassist! We must look at out fingerboards and look grumpy! If we fail we need to pass in out Bass player card and leave.

 

[selowitch]

I do look fairly often but with this reminder I will do it less.

 

[Rabidhamster]

You mean like this one?

View attachment 5103802

In my defense, I believe at this moment I was actually letting out a big "whoop" because the guitarist next to me did a brilliant harmony part with our lead guitarist on "Reelin' In the Years."

At least that's the only time I can recall ever doing something that might have looked like this. So I probably was genuinely excited since I try not to overact.

YES! Thats perfect, thats exactly the face I meant, and its all the better better since it was 100% unintentional!

Nice bass, too!

 

[LBS-bass]

I do look fairly often but with this reminder I will do it less.

I think you should do it more. In these pictures I posted, the bright blue tuner on my headstock is there as an homage to all of those here who tell me what I should and should not do. I have seen some stellar players breaking all the Talkbass rules so I think it's good to get in front of this and do it as often as possible.

 

[pfschim]

It really depends on how complicated the piece you're playing is. Something more repetitive that stays in the lower register, doesn't have to be looked at. Something complicated that uses more fretboard needs a glance sometimes to make sure you're in the right area. Playing different basses doesn't rally help either, the more familiar with one the easier to not look at your fretting hand.
Reading sheet music helps, it's good hand/eye coordination work. I read music daily, however I stand at an angle so I can see the music and kind of see my fretboard at the same time, to give idea of moving on the fretboard.

when more complicated parts, runs or riffs happen, I generally do NOT look at my fretting hand because I have found that, once I know the part, if I look at my hands, I am more likely to clam than if I just play the part and not look. I don't really understand this, but I know it to be true for me.

I do look to orient my fretting hand, and make sure my fingers are where I think they are, but I generally do not watch my left hand. Your ear will also tell you if your in the right place too (as long as you can hear the mix well).

I don't worry about it too much anyway

 

[QweziRider]

I try sooooooo hard to look all around the place. But the second someone takes a photo, it always happens...

 

[devnulljp]

GUILTY!
65+ and still a hack

View attachment 5103133

That is a nice looking bass! I'd look at it too.

 

[Jogobass]

I've seen many great players look at their neck. I've never understood why you would take away one sense that helps you play.

 

[5StringBlues]

They call `em fingers, but l dont see them finging! Oh, wait............... there they go....

 

[GazzBass]

As a bass player you should never look at the audience. It's just wrong. That's what singers and guitarists are for.

 

[Mastermold]

I close my eyes mostly when I play. So I am rarely looking at my fretting hand.

But if the lights go out somehow that causes issues for me. I guess I look for big position shifts but it’s subconscious or something.

I feel like a cheese ball if I force a smile for the audience, so I don’t do that. But lots of people have told me I look very happy while playing, and that’s when I am not thinking about it, so maybe not forcing it is ok.

I close my eyes often too, just happens. But performing generally involves audience interaction which comes with experience. Weird that "hand staring" would be an old guy thing. You'd think the opposite would be true.

 

[B String]

When soloing I often look at my left hand for "musical freedom". But if reading or just playing, I don't feel the need. After years of reading music, I kinda know where the notes are.