Double Bass Playing with a stool

[Mike Goodbar]

I've tried both standing and sitting and am much more comfortable and feel I have more control of the bass while standing. The sections I play in are about 60/40 sitting/standing, with no snobbery about the preference in either camp.

The only time I've encountered a problem is when I shared a stand with a "low-sitter," whose stool was nearly as low as a standard chair. The make stand-height an issue, but we were able to work out a compromise.

 

[neilG]

Does anyone have any tips or tricks to how to get rid of back pain while sitting? Any sort of help would be greatly appreciated.

The easy thing would be simply to try standing and stretching at regular intervals.

 

[Skabasskid]

Only MONKEYS play with their stools, geez!

But on a serious note, to the OP, Ska Kid, Scoliosis is a serious issue when dealing with playing the bass. Before you embark on studying more bass, see what you can do to take care of it now! I developed a 29 degree curve in my spine during my last growth spurt, when I was around 12/13, and was told that unless it got worse surgery was too drastic a treatment and there were no other options to treat it.

I played this way for 14 years, until my wife recommended I see if a chiropractor could help. I had been told by several physical therapists that chiropractic treatment could not help my scoliosis, it was too late to correct it, and that I just needed to keep doing exercises to help balance myself out. HOWEVER, last fall I found a chiropractor in NYC who was able to correct my scoliosis around 10 degrees! My spine curved to my left, so it was my bow arm that suffered because my right shoulder was considerably higher than my left. Because of leaning that way I always had trouble to let my bow lay into the string, because my right arm did not swing freely. It was better sitting than standing, heck, I tried so hard and could NOT play standing.

However, the chiropractic treatment I had helped considerably and playing the last 8 months has been SO much easier, and because my bow is free I'm able to easily pull a completely different kind of sound, much warmer and freer.

So, SkaBassKid, or anyone who has scoliosis, don't just try to work around the problem, explore treatment options, and while there are many naysayers of chiropractic treatment, I found a chiropractor that helped me and my playing beyond what I thought was possible

I saw a chiropractor, and he told me if pain persists, come back, because at 6' 5", he's nearly sure I'm done growing

 

[PocketGroove82]

Do you people who sit find that you pull a larger sound when sitting, as opposed to standing up?

 

[Les Fret]

Some say the sound when standing is better. But this is very very marginal and not something you should worry about.

 

[PaulCannon]

Do you people who sit find that you pull a larger sound when sitting, as opposed to standing up?

It depends on how one sits, their comfort level and their instrument. Typically, more of your body is in contact with the bass when you sit, so that could theoretically dampen the sound to some degree.

You need to find a way to sit that is comfortable, minimizes your physical contact with the body of the bass, and allows you to use the full weight of your bow arm on all four strings with zero compromise. Sitting generally allows for greater left hand facility; thus, if you can find a proper seated position, the sonic differences between sitting and standing should be minimal, if not improved.

That said, many people have a much easier time standing once they have solved the problem of left hand facility. It's not always possible for some people to find a perfect seated position, particularly with larger basses.

 

[punkjazzben]

Do you people who sit find that you pull a larger sound when sitting, as opposed to standing up?

Weirdly, yes. A few years ago I was all wrapped up in Rabbath and refused to sit down. Then one day, my endpin screw broke and I couldn't extend my spike, so I had to sit on a low stool for the concert... but the sound was enormous!

I don't know whether it's something do with the way your body dampens the basses natural volume, or maybe it's something to do with the endpin transferring vibrations through the floor better or whatnot, but my sound is huge when I'm sitting and comparatively thin when I'm standing. It could also be something to do with the bowing arm being more relaxed while sitting, and so the free weight of your arm is transferred more effectively to the string.

 

[Mike Goodbar]

Do you people who sit find that you pull a larger sound when sitting, as opposed to standing up?

As I noted above, I stand when I play, but I noticed a big difference in sound a few years back when I switched from the bass-leaning-into-the-body position to the more straight-up position (a la Gary Karr). Again, I think it has something to do with using the weight of the right arm more effectively, and maybe with less dampening of the bass' body. Also, I feel like I'm using the weight of the bass to my advantage in regard to the left hand. The bass leans into the fingers rather than the fingers "hanging" from the bass, if that makes sense.

 

[Jordan M]

I feel as though my right hand can play much more musically when I'm standing, however I have much more experience playing that way so this doesn't necessarily mean anything.

 

[neilG]

Typically, more of your body is in contact with the bass when you sit, so that could theoretically dampen the sound to some degree.

Not so theoretical. My bass sounds like a towel is thrown over it when I put it against my leg sitting.

 

[PaulCannon]

Not so theoretical. My bass sounds like a towel is thrown over it when I put it against my leg sitting.

I say "theoretically" because it greatly depends on the bass being played. If the back is not particularly resonant to begin with, for example, then damping it with a leg may not make a difference.

 

[Big B.]

It also depends on how you orient the bass to your body. I used to sit with the bass more "into" my body with the arch of the back leaning against my leg. I now turn the bass out of my body and more in front of me, similar to a cellist. In this position my leg leans against the very outside edge instead of the center and there is a noticeable increase in volume.

Personally I am more comfortable when my body and the bass are positioned in a way that allows me to play with my back straight. My favorite chairs are the metal conductor's chairs that our orchestra provides. The have height adjustable pneumatic seats, swivel seats and a very comfortable back. I have a perfect spot where I can have my back against the backrest sitting just how I would if I didnt have my bass in hand. I can play for hours in one of those chairs and have no discomfort. Unfortunately they are expensive and very heavy so owning one for standard gigging is completely impractical. I have a nice bar stool with a swivel top that I find very comfortable. It has a contoured seat and sits about an inch taller than a standard barstool. The swivel is great for long gigs. It lets me readjust my sitting position without a lot of motion to draw attention to myself.

 

[Ross Kratter]

Do you people who sit find that you pull a larger sound when sitting, as opposed to standing up?

I get more arm weight sitting, by far.

 

[saltydog]

What a great discussion, everyone. I am a beginning arco player and have a terrible time with back pain when standing. I started sitting recently and even though though I thought I was committing a cardinal double bass sin, found it absolutely wonderful. (Hmmm is ALL sinning so delightful?) I am still experimenting with the orientation of the bass to the body, and haven't made up my mind just yet. I will pay more attention to the sound projection, but I do like having the bass nestled in, with the front straight ahead, like a cello player does. Thanks for talking about these kinds of issues.
salty dog

 

[Skabasskid]

What a great discussion, everyone. I am a beginning arco player and have a terrible time with back pain when standing. I started sitting recently and even though though I thought I was committing a cardinal double bass sin, found it absolutely wonderful. (Hmmm is ALL sinning so delightful?) I am still experimenting with the orientation of the bass to the body, and haven't made up my mind just yet. I will pay more attention to the sound projection, but I do like having the bass nestled in, with the front straight ahead, like a cello player does. Thanks for talking about these kinds of issues.
salty dog

+20000 to everything

 

[LouisF]

I devloped stenosis of the spine about five or six years ago, which, combined with bursitis in the left shoulder, looked like that was the end. I made a couple of significant switches: a much small shouldered bass than the Gagnon Maggini I was playing at the time; play on a low stool; using a yoga block or guitar foot pedal for my left foot, and angling the bass so that I kept the times when I had to bring my left hand and elbow higher than my shoulder to a minimum.

It took about a year to get all that "right" and to get a sound that was at least as good sitting down as standing up. The other thing I did, to match the more cello-like angle of the bass, was to change the way I held the German bow, so that the "grip" was much lighter in the hand, less pressure with the thumb, and more weight with the arm and elbow.

The result is much greater ease in playing.

Lastly, I recommend getting a "Butt Cradle" for your stool. It really works. (Home)

Louis