The Tallness Poll

[Howlin' Hanson]

All very interesting. Not certain how signifigant this data might be, except that the taller persons are likely to have longer arms as well.

Perhaps more signifigant for bass playing would be the distance from thumb tip to pinky tip on our fretting hands.

 

[basslinejam]

6'4" 190 here.

 

[PimasterPearson]

5'7 and 140 here... That's 170 cm and 63.5 kg for the sensible foreigners who use a base-10 system.

 

[D.M.N.]

You know who really fits the tall lanky bassist stereotypes and yet is not?

The dude right in the middle:

Mr. Mick Fleetwood. Seriously, if I didn't already know who he was, and I was just showed that picture, I'd definitely say he was the bassist.

 

[T Bassman]

Im 6'2 and 175 pounds, for what its worth. Haha. Always has helped me see over everybodys heads at live shows, and has translated well for me on camera in videos or live stuff ive seen myself in:-0

 

[SeaBassSteve]

Studies show that most people who are 5'10/5'11 tend to round up to 6' because its a magic number....

 

[Beej]

Interesting that this poll is already showing early signs of regression to the mean. Statistically, the average man is 5' 8", so as time goes on and this poll fills up, you're going to see a bell curve with the high part of the bell corresponding to 5' 8" (assuming people are honest). Simply because as you get shorter and taller data, they increasingly become outliers.

We're already seeing the development of the bell curve, even with such small numbers, but at the moment, its centred higher - probably some social effects going on: 1. men tend to overestimate and over-represent their heights, 2. shorter men tend to avoid this type of thing so as not to draw attention to their height - on a site like this it also will seek to erode anonymity, but not in a self-perceived socially appeasing form.

I wonder if my calling attention to this stuff will have any effect?

 

[Ladies_Bass]

so what i am gathering here... is that the majority of bassists on here are freakishly tall....

Way to go freaks lol

 

[Yawsbass]

Between 5'10" and 6'0" depending on whether I'm wearing shoes and what have you, so I said 5'11".

 

[rosanne]

I had assumed this poll was actual height. Not height with shoes. Am I wrong?

 

[Energy]

5'7'' @ 181 lbs, thus, kinda hobbit-shaped.

 

[John Wentzien]

6'3 and 200lbs....
I will crush you like a walnut!

 

[Lumpy_Bass]

6'4" 230lbs . When I say I am in a band people almost always guess bass player........

 

[GizmoTheOne]

6'3 here.

To the OP, I don't think that there's anything to your theory, although VERY tall people (near 7'0" or more) sometimes have coordination problems, which can make it difficult to be a good musician. But I have seen many many tall bassists, as well as many small bassists too, so don't feel awkward. Actually, being taller than others can feel quite fun sometimes.

 

[nodisco]

Between 6"1 and 6"2 (186 cm.)

 

[Lady Kayri]

I'm 5'7", fairly tall for a female, but obviously on the short side compared to the normal / average height of TB males...

 

[I<34080]

5'10" 145

well...149 after the holidays

 

[Shappo]

In my experience all the best bass players are around 5"6-5"9

No way Stanley Clarke, Jeff Berlin, Louis Johnson storm over that height.. haha.

 

[NKUSigEp]

In my experience all the best bass players are around 5"6-5"9, so I kinda feel awkward being 6"0 and still growing. So I was just wondering how tall are you guys? And is there something to my theory?

Finally!!! Someone found the key to being a great bassist!!!! WOOT! WOOT!

...to think of all those hours practicing that I wasted. :scowl:

 

[kruno_maestro]

6'-6" 217lbs