Playing behind your head

[Warmuth]

To be honest, unless you're a bass prodigy and you were playing something amazingly cool and unique.. if I saw a random bassist in some club trying to play behind his head, it would make me want to leave.. maybe even throw up in my mouth a little. I say spare yourself and your band of the pagentry. We aren't guitards.

Crowds ,who by and large aren't musicians, generally like this sort of thing and it's fun if it fits the vibe. Theres always the Rush concert to go and be musically impressed.

 

[Dead Set Dave]

I just want to make our live show more interesting, that is all. Making better music, being a better band will come with time, but until that point (and after) I want to make sure that when I'm performing I'm giving the crowd a show, for better or worse. I always get excited when I see a guitarist do it. Anyway, I shall just practice!

 

[mellowinman]

When we do Voodoo Child (slight return,) Arthur does the behind-the-head and teeth thing, and the locals go berserk.

I am going to try this.

Wish me luck.

I did this last night at our show. I didn't have the confidence to just let 'er rip, since I hadn't practiced, so I held the bass body firmly with my right hand, and played hammer ons with my left. It was meant just to be a joke, but it actually went over huge. Arthur's mom and dad were there, and they RAVED about it. I'm not sure if Arthur even knows I did it. I'm going to practice it, and start doing it now and then, only really playing, like he is.

 

[SunnBass]

My tip is to not do it.
Also, guitar/bass spins are a no no.
Super douchey.

 

[mellowinman]

My tip is to not do it.
Also, guitar/bass spins are a no no.
Super douchey.

Sez you.

 

[SunnBass]

Sez you.

I do sez.

 

[Dead Set Dave]

I did this last night at our show. I didn't have the confidence to just let 'er rip, since I hadn't practiced, so I held the bass body firmly with my right hand, and played hammer ons with my left. It was meant just to be a joke, but it actually went over huge. Arthur's mom and dad were there, and they RAVED about it. I'm not sure if Arthur even knows I did it. I'm going to practice it, and start doing it now and then, only really playing, like he is.

my hero! I am going for it!

 

[eukatheude]

When I want to showoff (which isn't very often) I play a la Quintin Berry:

 

[squidtastic]

My two main issues are getting it up there without missing a note, and then positioning.

Don't forget the third issue: namely, avoid smacking yourself in the head.

 

[ChefKen]

Once you've masterered behind your head try soloing with your teeth!!

 

[cnltb]

I'm getting pretty confident on a section of one of my bands tunes, and I'm trying to get the hang of playing it behind my head. Like a showboating guitarist haha!

My two main issues are getting it up there without missing a note, and then positioning. I'm almost there with the fingerwork, but it's just getting everything in place, it all feels so awkward. Any done this? Especially with bass? I need some tips and hints (apart from practice which I will be doing either way).

I've got a gig this Friday and would love to bust it out, but not at the cost of causing a trainwreck!

Honestly, all you'd get from me for playing behind your head is a tired and bored ha...ha..Yawn...

 

[cnltb]

Don't forget the third issue: namely, avoid smacking yourself in the head.

now that.... that'd get applause!

 

[Humbled]

I want to get one of those cable and harness systems to fly around while I play like Garth Brooks or David Lee Roth.

So far, none of the venues have been willing to come up with the equipment for it (pretty lame of them IMO), so I just scale my Markbass CMD 121P and jump off at the final note of the encore crescendo landing on a tightly inflated balloon culminating in a big "pop".

Sometimes I miss and have to stomp it a couple times, but I still think it's cool and chicks dig showmanship.

 

[squidtastic]

Once you've masterered behind your head try soloing with your teeth!!

Man, thinking about teeth on strings makes me cringe the same way nails on chalkboard or metal utensil on metal cookware does.

 

[Clef_de_fa]

remind me of that band

 

[mellowinman]

This has it all.

Arthur playing behind his head. Me playing behind my head. Arthur playing with his teeth. Me watching Arthur play with his teeth. A female from the audience sitting right by the camera, talking about how amazed she is by the whole thing.

An audience of young kids, (mostly under 30,) really enjoying a long, (over 11 minutes!) song featuring tons of guitar, from 1969.

 

[Lobster11]

Once you've masterered behind your head try soloing with your teeth!!

.... and then soloing with your teeth behind your head!

 

[Slevage]

Don't do it unless you have at least a 3/4 size acoustic bass.

 

[Dead Set Dave]

This has it all.

Arthur playing behind his head. Me playing behind my head. Arthur playing with his teeth. Me watching Arthur play with his teeth. A female from the audience sitting right by the camera, talking about how amazed she is by the whole thing.

An audience of young kids, (mostly under 30,) really enjoying a long, (over 11 minutes!) song featuring tons of guitar, from 1969.

HAHA YES! You are awesome dude, amazing work! Love it. I shall make this happen for myself soon

 

[Kmonk]

Why? I wouldn't be saying ooh ah, I'd be saying ***.

I agree. To me, it's nothing more than self indulgent nonsense. I would rather be known as a good player than a flashy one.