Double Bass Stability While Standing

[JtheJazzMan]

Yeah, Ive noticed some classical soloists like edicson ruiz. He uses a straight end pin, and obviously has no trouble navigating the bass, but damn, his posture looks like it will kill his back in years to come.

 

[Fletcher Lanning]

One of my favorite players in general, Edgar Meyer, plays like a hunchback half the time and he is still amazing.

And I just watched a video of Edicson Ruiz for the first time. It almost looks as if he's supporting the bass with the side of his torso. I've never seen that before. I play French so I'm not sure that position would even work for me.

 

[JoeyNaeger]

I recently saw Rabbath perform, and the one thing that really stood out to me is that his posture doesn't deviate at all from his normal standing position while playing the bass. Considering that he is still playing at a very high level at the age of 78, I think he is a good model to follow.

 

[JtheJazzMan]

Edgar meyers seems to dance around the bass so perhaps that keeps him flexible enough, and rabbath considers the natural posture of a standing or walking human.

So yeh, its worth devoting time to think about these issues sooner rather than later.

 

[Fletcher Lanning]

When holding the bass, I've mostly been taught to lean the bass a little back but to generally keep it upright. I see a lot of great bassists playing who seem to have the bass leaning back with the scroll significantly behind their shoulder. Is this the better way to play?

 

[Joe Gress]

I seem to move to much to the music to be able to sit and play. I do keep a stool nearby to sit on during rehearsals though.

 

[Les Fret]

I always play standing.

But now I want to try to sit for the first time. But only for practising. I think it will be better if you practise for a few hours a day. But I am not sure about that.

What kind of chair can you advise me? and how high does the chair have to be?
are there any good pictures of a good sitting posture?

thanks

 

[Les Fret]

I was looking around for info on double bass stools on the internet. But they are really expensive!

Will a drumstool also be just as well?

and what stool is comfortable (and also affordable)?

 

[Uncletoad]

I use a wood stool I bought at Target and cut the feet down about 2" so the height would be just right for me. I ran hide glue in all the joints to make them more solid. Then I went and bought another so I could leave one in the truck and one in the house...and have a backup.

 

[Don Higdon]

...if you choose to stand, a good way that you can set up your balance point on a daily basis is by doing 2 octave vomits.

I'm trying to imagine a non-bassist reading this post.

 

[davidAaronCarte]

Anybody have a short fat teacher who stands?

Nope, but I'm gettin' close to that shape and my teacher thinks that it's a good thing to rest the bass on, ahah
Posture is something I struggle with too, but I've been getting more comfortable lately by forcing myself to practice in the nose-bleeds - it makes ballancing in the lower octaves easier IMO

 

[unkempt]

I was looking around for info on double bass stools on the internet. But they are really expensive!

Will a drumstool also be just as well?

and what stool is comfortable (and also affordable)?

I use a basic model Pearl drummer's throne - cost me about $90 I think. It's quite low, relatively speaking and probably unsuitable for most people for that reason. I purchased it because I was playing in a community theater with a really shallow pit. A stool any higher would have had me blocking the stage from mid-chest up. The basic model throne is somewhat comfortable. I would definitely upgrade to a better seat pad (a rock-n-soc or something like that?) given the budget. By then, however, you are probably approaching the price of a real bass stool.

I would say a drummer's throne is useful if you want or need a particularly low perch, but not otherwise helpful.

 

[Uncletoad]

Yes, I'm very fat and short and I stand. It must look quite disgusting from the audiences perspective.

That's why I bought a big ass bass.

 

[Uncletoad]

9 1/4 at the ribs for me, 30" across. Baby got back!

Dang. Makes my girl look svelte.

 

[Les Fret]

I use a basic model Pearl drummer's throne - cost me about $90 I think. It's quite low, relatively speaking and probably unsuitable for most people for that reason. I purchased it because I was playing in a community theater with a really shallow pit. A stool any higher would have had me blocking the stage from mid-chest up. The basic model throne is somewhat comfortable. I would definitely upgrade to a better seat pad (a rock-n-soc or something like that?) given the budget. By then, however, you are probably approaching the price of a real bass stool.

I would say a drummer's throne is useful if you want or need a particularly low perch, but not otherwise helpful.

thanks. Then I will not buy a drumstool and look for a real doublebass stool. Any recommendations?

 

[Fletcher Lanning]

Most of the bass stools I've seen look amazingly comfortable but weigh 3 times as much as my bass. I use a basic 28" wooden stool for $20 from Wal-Mart. It's the right height, and travels very easily. I've seen videos of a few classical players using.

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(I don't mean that as an endorsement for that or any other site, it's just the only online vendor I could find quickly.)

It folds up and is lightweight but I can't convince myself to spend that much on a stool.

 

[robobass]

Most of the bass stools I've seen look amazingly comfortable but weigh 3 times as much as my bass. I use a basic 28" wooden stool for $20 from Wal-Mart. It's the right height, and travels very easily. I've seen videos of a few classical players using.

Invalid Link Removed
(I don't mean that as an endorsement for that or any other site, it's just the only online vendor I could find quickly.)

It folds up and is lightweight but I can't convince myself to spend that much on a stool.

Wow! $142? They sell almost the exact same thing in housewares stores here (intended for ironing) for less than 20 bucks. The downside is no footrest, and usually loud primary colors. Still, it's a very good design. Probably better than any other folding stool out there.

 

[robobass]

Wow! $142? They sell almost the exact same thing in housewares stores here (intended for ironing) for less than 20 bucks. The downside is no footrest, and usually loud primary colors. Still, it's a very good design. Probably better than any other folding stool out there.

Invalid Link Removed an example. You just need to rig something for a footrest.

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[CTakacs]

When standing, the bass seems to resonate more (on top of the fact that my head is more forward so I can just plain hear it better).

True that the bass resonates more, but the second half sounds a little backwards. At least for me, it is much easier to hear when your head is back and behind the neck of the bass. Every teacher I've studied with, Diana Gannett and Gary Karr especially, would say to keep the head back so you can hear yourself.

 

[Don Higdon]

When standing, the bass seems to resonate more (on top of the fact that my head is more forward so I can just plain hear it better).

True that the bass resonates more, but the second half sounds a little backwards. At least for me, it is much easier to hear when your head is back and behind the neck of the bass. Every teacher I've studied with, Diana Gannett and Gary Karr especially, would say to keep the head back so you can hear yourself.

Since the major resonating surfaces are the back and the top(i.e., front), the bass will be more hearable in both positions. The problem is, taken too far, both positions are bad for the spine.