Old guys watching their left hands

[FearNoEvil65]

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

Some of the sheet music I play through is pretty complicated and there's no way I can play some of it without looking somewhat. Especially past the 12th fret. It's not stuff that I memorize either usually so I don't know the music at all. New stuff almost daily. Sight reading for me is like reading a book, I do it on the fly and don't memorize parts. I'm pretty picky about it also and try to be as perfect as I can be. Rock songs and stuff with the band I play repeatedly, and memorize and get to know is different for me.
Then everyone is at a different level, you might be a lot better than I !! Rock or jazz on !

 

[Jeff Scott]

Here is evidence that I do occasionally not look at the fingerboard while playing!

 

[MynameisMe]

I glance at the fretboard but mostly stare at the drummer. When I look at the livestream (church) I see I look so serious and rarely smile. Pretty sure that's how I am most of the time. I have one 5 string and mostly 4's but it is seamless playing between them.
Honestly no one cares.
Then there is the shroud of invisibility which turns on when a bass player picks up the bass....

 

[rogerb]

I consider it similar to looking at a computer keyboard. People typing for 10 years that need to look for an ‘a’ on a keyboard, you know where it is man.

With a fretboard it is similar, although easier with a keyboard as there really is only one ‘position’ you always return to.

I’m just now playing without looking with pop/rock tunes, fretless too. I do go astray every once in a while. It takes practice but is liberating.

One can type way faster if you learn to not look at the keyboard, I wonder if there is something similar gained in not looking at the fretboard too?

 

[HHudson]

I took up violin in 2nd grade and our teacher was an old battle axe. She was very strict about eyes on the sheets and if we looked at our hands she’d whack my hand with a ruler.
It worked I suppose. Now I try to keep eyes out front. Everyone looks some times except for Robert Fripp.

LOL, even Fripp looks though, but when he is not looking he is not smiling at the audience , more of a disconcerting intensive stare.... e.g. here in the 80s with his brief Djangoesque foray into New Wave (w/ Sara Lee on bass)...




Fwiw, I'm 60+ & guilty of looking at the FB and at the drummer, the latter kinda with Fripp's facial expression...
-Henry

 

[alembicguy]

 

[Indiana Mike]

I just don’t see what the big deal is.
Are you instantly better if you don’t?
Whether or not does not necessarily prove musicianship.
The whole concept sounds a like teenage thought process to me.

 

[Dana R Gregory]

If you don't wear shorts, flip-flops and Hawaiian shirts and look at your fretting hand while you play your P Bass with tort and flats, are you even a talk bass member?

 

[dune]

Because I'm trying to figure out if my fingers are a blur because I'm shredding like Vai or seeing like Magoo.

 

[ThinCrappyTone2]

Because I'm trying to figure out if my fingers are a blur because I'm shredding like Vai or seeing like Magoo.

haha this cracked me up

Magoo is a seriously under-rated player though, for real

 

[ArtechnikA]

I'll stop when Manring stops...

 

[SpiderBass1965]

I have a couple of hundred photos taken in a night. Professional and just cellphone pics, I usually end up with a bunch where, for a split second when I look at my bass neck, the photo snaps. It happens. I always try and include the crowd in my performance when viewing from the stage. It can be hard with lights shining on you to find the camera and be ready for it.

 

[Lance Bunyon]

Every time I read the title of this thread, it sounds more and more like some strange Backpages proclivity...

 

[braud357]

This is ME ! Even my profile pic shows this - too far along to change and will not apologize for doing it. It is what it is !

 

[Dragan]

If you’re looking at that gorgeous Ray nobody will fault that.

That's not Ray

 

[Slevage]

I saw Frank Zappa once in the late 1980s. He gave a speech about Hairbands:
"I know I'm old and antiquated. I need to look at my fingerboard to make sure my technique is proper. I dont pose in front of a giant wind machine to blow my hair back. I'm really sorry I'm not as polished as today's lead guitarists..."
It was all tongue in cheek. Frank was one of the best guitar technicians to ever grace a stage. He taught me a lot with that speech. It's ok to look at your hands.

Zappa wrote some great songs.
I heard a 75 piece orchestra playing a Zappa medley. 7 Double bassists and a bass guitar among other instruments.
No hand watchers in that performance.

 

[ebo]

Whenever I play Day Tripper I get most of the way through the song without looking at the board. Gotta sneak a couple peeks.

 

[Geri O]

If you’re looking at that gorgeous Ray nobody will fault that.

Beat me to it! And indeed!

 

[Geri O]

I learned way early on to watch the lead singer up front. I've worked with so many singers that change things on the fly with either eye contact, body language, or hand signals. Fair or not, if it's their gig, that's just how it is.

Like this one at the time....

Or this one from NYE. The photog was waving at me to look his way (WTH, I know??) and I got tickled at the gestures this guy was making...

Now when I'm playing fretless, I no doubt spend a LOT of time watching the left hand..... If I played fretless more, that would maybe subside a bit.

Maybe....

 

[Five or Six]

I don't pay much attention to my hands. I rather watch the crowd than my hand(s). The only time I might look is if doing something above the 12th fret. If you look all the time are you a bass narcissist?