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Strap Spins!

Yakob

Yakob

Nov 15, 2009
780
6
Philadelphia, PA
#1
Not sure where this should go (Live Sound? Technique? Misc?), as such, I will leave it to the mods, who have better judgment and are more well-informed than I.

I've been practicing strap spins all afternoon using my old GSR100. It actually hasn't been "relic'd" too bad from the experience. Plus, it ended up with a shiny pair of Dunlop Straploks! Bonus!

Anyway, while I've become pretty proficient at "front spins" (neck leads behind the back), I can't do a "back spin" (body leads behind the back) for crap. I always end up hurting myself. Truth be told, I'm fine with front spins earlier, just seeing if anyone else has run into this for commiseration and/ or tips for improving technique.

And before you ask, I just to learn it because I always thought it looked cool. Seriously, I'd see these guys up on stage get real intense and just go into guitar-acrobatics, totally off the cuff, swinging and looping their instruments like they were born to do it. Always stuck with me.
 
#7
Yakob said:
Anyway, while I've become pretty proficient at "front spins" (neck leads behind the back), I can't do a "back spin" (body leads behind the back) for crap. I always end up hurting myself. Truth be told, I'm fine with front spins earlier, just seeing if anyone else has run into this for commiseration and/ or tips for improving technique.
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First, need to know if you're a lefty or a righty.
 
#8
Mark Wilson said:
Wait, this is in basses?
Crap..

Um...Moved to Technique ;)
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Thanks Mark.

So far, my Ibby (the one I've been practicing with) has hit the ground a few times, but I've been practicing outside so it hasn't been too bad. Also, after installing some old Dunlop Straploks, it hasn't slipped.

Once you do it a few times, it becomes fun despite the rugburn on your neck and bruise on your shoulder :D.


dalkowski said:
First, need to know if you're a lefty or a righty.
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Righty. My main issue is that, with back spins, you're leading the weight AGAINST the force of gravity.
 
#9
Yakob said:
Righty. My main issue is that, with back spins, you're leading the weight AGAINST the force of gravity.
Click to expand...

yep. So you need to use your left hand to sort of push out and down on the headstock, as a sort of lever to push the body up and back with enough momentum to make a full revolution around your body. Not impossible, but also not the natural way of doing strap spins.

It's kind of like doing an ollie on a skateboard, where you have to sort of push down on the tail with your back leg while trying to jump up with the rest of your body.

Good luck.
 
#10
dalkowski said:
yep. So you need to use your left hand to sort of push out and down on the headstock, as a sort of lever to push the body up and back with enough momentum to make a full revolution around your body. Not impossible, but also not the natural way of doing strap spins.

It's kind of like doing an ollie on a skateboard, where you have to sort of push down on the tail with your back leg while trying to jump up with the rest of your body.

Good luck.
Click to expand...

Dammit. I never could figure out how to ollie when I did skateboard back in the day. Maybe I'll just perfect the front spins. I've already gotten pretty decent at them, and soon I'll have 'em lookin' goooooooood.
 
#11
Yakob said:
Dammit. I never could figure out how to ollie when I did skateboard back in the day.
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Me neither -- so you get the picture of the kind of challenge you're facing.

Yakob said:
Maybe I'll just perfect the front spins. I've already gotten pretty decent at them, and soon I'll have 'em lookin' goooooooood.
Click to expand...

Go for it. Also, try Aquaphor ointment on that neck rugburn. Or higher collars.
 
#13
dalkowski said:
Me neither -- so you get the picture of the kind of challenge you're facing.



Go for it. Also, try Aquaphor ointment on that neck rugburn. Or higher collars.
Click to expand...

It got easier once I through on a headstock.

Honestly, I had a moment of pure EPIC earlier today (what I refer to as an "excalibur moment") wherein I was playing along to My Life For Hire by the band A Day To Remember and timed the strap spin to coincide with his screaming just before the breakdown. It was awesome.
 

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