Strap length. on your chest? or at your knees?

[SoVeryTired]

I agree with you to an extent. It's like saying "I don't care how I look, I just wear whatever is comfortable" which is fine when you're chilling out around the house, but it may not work when trying to find a job or to meet girls.

I hear you. I guess my 'gigging' is like playing at home in terms of how comfortable I feel and how interested anyone is in how I look.

My 'showmanship' is just me moving around, enjoying the music and communicating to the crowd that it's okay for them to do the same. If a 'correct' strap length kept me stuck to one spot, unable to really get into it, then I would probably sacrifice some comfort for overall freedom of movement.

Interesting discussion.

 

[Seb_VitusFreak]

I still don't care what anyone else thinks, but I think it's hilarious how many of you put down showmanship like it's some horrible distraction to the music. Can't wait to see you showmanship haters putting audiences to sleep sometime in the near future

+1

 

[SoVeryTired]

I still don't care what anyone else thinks, but I think it's hilarious how many of you put down showmanship like it's some horrible distraction to the music. Can't wait to see you showmanship haters putting audiences to sleep sometime in the near future

I must have missed the showmanship haters...

From my side at least I just find it a little sad if some guys play their bass low/high because that's what people expect that they should do, given their musical style. I'm all for some showmanship, and individuality with it.

 

[Russell L]

Somewhere in the middle for me. Whatever allows me to play comfortably.

As to showmanship, I move to the beat and look around, enough to show I'm getting into the music. Mainly I'm just me up there. One gig when I was sick a guy came up at the break and told me I was cool up there, the way I just stood there with no expression and never moving. I laughed and told him I was quite ill that night.

 

[Joedog]

What does showmanship have to do with how low/high you wear your bass? Some of these threads crack me up.

 

[jmclearnon]

I adjust my strap so that it is at the same length when Im sitting or standing. It never made sense to me that we practice most often sitting down then attempt to play with the bass much lower when we stand. Anyway, a higher strap position allows me to play much better than a low hanging axe.

+1

 

[JimmyM]

What does showmanship have to do with how low/high you wear your bass? Some of these threads crack me up.

Some people feel they can put on more of a show if they lower their strap to a "cool" height. I don't necessarily agree with that, but if it helps them put on a show, then whatever they have to do is fine by me.

 

[superheavyfunk]

I didn't read the entirety of this thread but I wear my bass at about my belt buckle, with the neck pointing slightly more upward than is probably usual. I find that this allows both my wrists to play comfortably and with as little strain as possible.

 

[SoVeryTired]

I didn't read the entirety of this thread but I wear my bass at about my belt buckle, with the neck pointing slightly more upward than is probably usual. I find that this allows both my wrists to play comfortably and with as little strain as possible.

I've been experimenting and I think I've ended up back at this point myself. More comfortable for me and my arms than the 'sitting' height. But whatever works for each of us is cool.

Or did I just decide that lower looks cooler?

 

[Joedog]

Some people feel they can put on more of a show if they lower their strap to a "cool" height. I don't necessarily agree with that, but if it helps them put on a show, then whatever they have to do is fine by me.

Yeah, I agree Jimmy. Heck, you can wear it upsidedown, backwards, play with your toes, whatever, as long as you kick butt, stay in the pocket, and put on a show.....whatever feels right for the person. It just sounds silly that to hang it a certain way is "cool" or better showmanship. If it feels good for ya go with that! Viva la differance! I could care less what "the survey" says!

 

[Phinn]

I still don't care what anyone else thinks, but I think it's hilarious how many of you put down showmanship like it's some horrible distraction to the music. Can't wait to see you showmanship haters putting audiences to sleep sometime in the near future

I think showmanship is awesome. I just think it's hilarious how you think your strap height is such an indispensable part of your showmanship.

 

[hxcJORDAN]

Just below the belt, body rests along my right leg. Low enough that windmill spins and posi-jumps look freaking sweet.

 

[Lobster11]

Does anybody find that their ideal strap length differs depending on whether they are playing fingerstyle versus pickstyle?

 

[InternetAlias]

Absolutely, and not only strap length but also the angle and position of the bass!

 

[Lobster11]

Absolutely, and not only strap length but also the angle and position of the bass!

How so, exactly?

I'm asking about this because after playing exclusively fingerstyle for a dozen years I'm now trying to learn to play with a pick, so I'm looking for any tips that might help. So far it seems to me that when playing with a pick I like the bass to be more horizontal than when I play with my fingers, which makes me wonder whether I also want to shorten the strap a notch....

 

[InternetAlias]

How so depends on where you'd play with a pick, really. Find a position where you get desired tone and your hand is comfortable and there you go. I don't play with a pick anymore because I can't find a position that's both comfortable and good enough sounding, so I refrain to fingers.

 

[Sav'nBass]

I adjust my strap so that it is at the same length when Im sitting or standing. It never made sense to me that we practice most often sitting down then attempt to play with the bass much lower when we stand. Anyway, a higher strap position allows me to play much better than a low hanging axe.

This... I used to do it lower but it just seemed more natural to do it that way to me. Otherwise I would have to always practice standing up or play sitting down or play two ways.. This seemed more practical to me and it works well enough for me.

 

[boynamedsuse]

. . .

So far it seems to me that when playing with a pick I like the bass to be more horizontal than when I play with my fingers, which makes me wonder whether I also want to shorten the strap a notch....

I suspect that you are on the way to answering your own question.

 

[Floyd Eye]

Neither. It is a little higher than I'd like though I suppose. I probably ought to look into a new Comfort Strapp. I'm just afraid I'll spend all that money and it will be too long. lol

 

[Warmuth]

Does anybody find that their ideal strap length differs depending on whether they are playing fingerstyle versus pickstyle?

Playing pickstyle I definitely hang my bass lower than going fingerstyle. I pretty much never use my fingers though so it's a moot point. I do adjust my strap for certain songs though. My normal height is a bit too low for songs that require big stretches so I hike it up a little. That's maybe one or two out of every twenty songs though and the rest of the time my it's more comfortable for my bass to hang around my upper thigh.