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this sounds stupid but is it ok to play punk live while sitting down not standing up?
- Thread starter Cole Allar
- Start date
Depends what you're sitting on. A rodeo bull would look cool but a high chair wouldn't.
It doesn't matter what the internet thinks, even (gasp) TB. It matters what your bandmates will think and what the crowd will think at a gig. If you have a band whose vision for their stage show entails playing punk tunes while seated, if you'll be playing for an audience that will be into it, then great. The pushback you're getting here, though, is just a preview of the pushback you're likely to get there.
But here's the other thing; I remember the video you posted in another thread, playing Basket Case. That video showed that you have technique issues when you play seated, specifically that you tilt your bass out, with the bottom away from you, so that you can see the fretboard to find notes. That makes it pretty much impossible to use a proper left hand position and also means you aren't learning to find notes by feel. After seeing that video I advised in a post that you start practicing standing up to correct that, and lo and behold now we have a thread asking if it's really necessary to play standing up. So what I'm really hearing is that you don't want to change, you don't want to improve, you don't want to learn, and you want TB to validate that. If school is so tiring that you can't stand up to practice for half an hour a day in the evening then I can't imagine how you're going to handle a two- or three-hour band practice, standing or sitting, let alone a gig where you have to load in and out.
But here's the other thing; I remember the video you posted in another thread, playing Basket Case. That video showed that you have technique issues when you play seated, specifically that you tilt your bass out, with the bottom away from you, so that you can see the fretboard to find notes. That makes it pretty much impossible to use a proper left hand position and also means you aren't learning to find notes by feel. After seeing that video I advised in a post that you start practicing standing up to correct that, and lo and behold now we have a thread asking if it's really necessary to play standing up. So what I'm really hearing is that you don't want to change, you don't want to improve, you don't want to learn, and you want TB to validate that. If school is so tiring that you can't stand up to practice for half an hour a day in the evening then I can't imagine how you're going to handle a two- or three-hour band practice, standing or sitting, let alone a gig where you have to load in and out.
Practice with your strap on. Let the bass hang down and get used to the angle. It won't take much getting used to.
I think it's the most punk thing you can do. All those hot topic punks stand up and jump around. Why not let the man know you're an individual by sitting on a lazy boy and sipping lemon water from a coffee mug. You could stand and pogo like all the others but if you want to be talked about AND remembered, have a seat...wear a tye dye shirt...comb your hair real nice.
I wouldn't steer you wrong, trust me.
I wouldn't steer you wrong, trust me.
The only time punk had "no rules" was before anyone started calling it punk. Once it got a label, the whole thing was ****ed.
But I gotta ask.......how old are you? You work at a fast food joint and are in school, so I assume you are 24 or younger.
How is is that you are too tired to stand up to practice? Sounds like too lazy to me. Assuming I am right about your age, there are guys here two and three times your age (like me), with far more going on in their lives than you, who manage to pull it off. Unless you have a medical condition, get off your a$$ and work a bit. As I am 50, I deliberately practice for long sessions standing just as gig prep, so that my back, neck, knees, etc. all know what they are in for and are ready come gig night.
Have we really raised a generation so soft? Sheesh!
This kid just add more embarrassment to bass player for not willing to practice play while stand up.
You have any better reason for not practicing?
It's a music stage ethics and hardly will change (except bar, some wedding, etc). Accept it or get yourself ready for another embarrassment.
You have any better reason for not practicing?
It's a music stage ethics and hardly will change (except bar, some wedding, etc). Accept it or get yourself ready for another embarrassment.
Huh, reminds me of another punk bassist...
Oddly enough, he didn't know how to play either.
Maybe a career as a 'sit down' comedian is on the cards.
Why did you ask a question that you had already made up your mind about?
I do not get people that ask for opinions and then argue with the opinions when they don't like them.
It would have been punk if you did that without bothering to even ask an internet forum and not giving a crap.
Since you need to ask if it's punk or not, doing as the answers will make it inevitably non-punk.
Since you need to ask if it's punk or not, doing as the answers will make it inevitably non-punk.
If that's the way you really feel, then why did you bother asking?
(Answer: Because you know it would look dumb.)
Join a punk band when you are not too busted tired to gig. Gigging is not a right. Do the job if you can do the job.
Have you run this by any band mates? I would be absolutely amazed if any punk band said "Sure dude. Whatever. As long as you're comfy, go for it. Yeah man. That's totally punk. Rock the hell out of that stool bro!"
If that happens, let me know. I will need to get my affairs in order for the big frozen hell event.
Seriously, I need to know what your band mates think. This should be great.
Edit to add: By the way, YOU are the one who started the thread "this sounds stupid". And you did that because it does.
Maybe try playing sitting on one of those computer knee chairs and no strap...now THAT would be punk...or at least more visually stunning....
"Showmanship" thank you @chungweishan that is a great word to put it! I really think you can't get the energy sitting down + people will be used to seeing a live band play standing, and at a punk gig?
