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Uncomfortable right lap - is it normal or am I doing wrong?

G

gusrb5

Apr 12, 2013
241
412
South Korea
#1
I have a Yamaha BB435. Yeah, it has a lot for the money. Sturdy neck, really good sound, resonant body, good looking design etc etc.

But, it has an absurdly small low horn which is really not ergonomic at all. I tried playing it with a strap but the problem is still there(I put my strap with a natural height while seating). It always trying to escape from my lap. And when I start to press it with my right arm to hold, it starts to dig my right lap. I'm so frustrated that I'm actually thinking to sell this wonderful bass. I'm a newbie and it is my very first one. How do you deal with this kinda problem?
 

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#3
gusrb5 said:
... it has an absurdly small low horn which is really not ergonomic at all. ... How do you deal with this kinda problem?
Click to expand...
Two solutions come to mind:

1) Adjust the strap so the upper horn hangs across your nipple, rather than your stomach/belt buckle. It may take some time getting used to the new playing position.

2) Get another bass. One always needs another bass.
 
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#6
I never use a strap for seated play....never, and don't have any such problem with any of my 85 basses, however I do not own the bass you're referring to.
How are you holding your bass? Is the waist of the bass straddling you right leg or is the lower bout between your legs?
What are you sitting on while playing?
Have you thought about a foot stool for your right foot? I typically have my right foot either on a foot stool or on a rung on a chair or if I'm playing while seated on my bed on the bed rail.
I did run into a similar situation that you describe while at lessons because the seats the instructor had were much lower than what I would use at home and had no rung to put my foot on so I would take my foot stool along to lessons.
stool.png

guitar stool.png
 
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#8
BurningSkies said:
Sometimes raising your right foot while seated helps. Even just a few inches. find a 'short step' and see if that helps you. Also, I'm not sure it's down to the lower horn being short, or that the body's whole lower bout is really rounded.
Click to expand...
You beat me to it! :)
 
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#9
B-Mac said:
Have you thought about a foot stool for your right foot? I typically have my right foot either on a foot stool or on a rung on a chair or if I'm playing while seated on my bed on the bed rail.
Click to expand...
I'm a foot stool convert myself. One bass of mine always felt like it was about to slip off my leg. No more!

Best investment of my whole bass playing career.
 
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#10
B-Mac said:
I never use a strap for seated play....never, and don't have any such problem with any of my 85 basses, however I do not own the bass you're referring to.
How are you holding your bass? Is the waist of the bass straddling you right leg or is the lower bout between your legs?
What are you sitting on while playing?
Have you thought about a foot stool for your right foot? I typically have my right foot either on a foot stool or on a rung on a chair or if I'm playing while seated on my bed on the bed rail.
I did run into a similar situation that you describe while at lessons because the seats the instructor had were much lower than what I would use at home and had no rung to put my foot on so I would take my foot stool along to lessons.
View attachment 3897341
Click to expand...

Way way back when young Skies took his first musical instrument lessons (guitar, not bass back in the early to mid 80's), my first teacher had a wooden box that she or someone made for her that was the exact height for her to use a regular chair or stool and have her instrument at the right playing position. I tend to be fine without with my current basses but have used a strap seated before as well. Please note that there are a lot of crappy but expensive straps out there that really don't go 'high enough' to hold the bass correctly at seated height.

I find this strap to be one of my favorites. It's a cotton weave, so it doesn't stretch and the adjustment 'buckle' holds well in place unlike some nylon straps. Since it's an adjuster rather than the leather slot/notch strap design you can really get a good range of adjustment out of it...and it won't break the bank. It's not 'slippy' on the shoulder and being cotton isn't as hot as a leather strap. I lent mine to another bass player who subbed for me on a short road-run because he was also using one of my Dingwalls, and he loved it so much that he went out and bought one too.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AWKJPN6/
 
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#11
gusrb5 said:
it has an absurdly small low horn which is really not ergonomic at all. I tried playing it with a strap but the problem is still there(I put my strap with a natural height while seating). It always trying to escape from my lap. And when I start to press it with my right arm to hold, it starts to dig my right lap.
Click to expand...
since you're new to this instrument: consider posting a picture(s) so that you get advice that isn't just 'a guess'. as you can see, folks want to help, but without knowing what you+instrument looks like = guessing! ;)
 
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#13
Thank you so much for giving me so many replys.
I'm posting my posture while seating, check these out -
KakaoTalk_20200709_230053728.jpg KakaoTalk_20200709_230034703.jpg

As you see, I spread my legs as same width as my shoulders. And I lay my bass at my right lap, adjust my strap with a same length, and play it. The posture itself is not hard at all, but my right lap feels a pressure that I don't like. I think this particular bass is just not comfortable because I feel better at Jazz bass or Ibanez SR, etc etc.
 
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#14
Your technique looks pretty good to me. If you were my student I'd say you were on the right track. Two specific tips I would give you:
  1. Try moving the strap farther out from your neck, more onto your shoulder. Maybe it's a trick of the camera but it looks like the strap is cutting into your carotid artery and restricting the flow of blood to your brain. ;) Also you might try a wider, "grippier" strap, like a nice leather one.
  2. You might try sitting with the bass between your knees instead of on your thigh. This alternative posture seems to work well for a lot of players.
Here is one of my favorite bass players (Paul Jackson of Herbie Hancock Headhunters fame) demonstrating the "seated with bass between legs" posture:

 
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#15
CatOnTheBass said:
Your technique looks pretty good to me. If you were my student I'd say you were on the right track. Two specific tips I would give you:
  1. Try moving the strap farther out from your neck, more onto your shoulder. Maybe it's a trick of the camera but it looks like the strap is cutting into your carotid artery and restricting the flow of blood to your brain. ;) Also you might try a wider, "grippier" strap, like a nice leather one.
  2. You might try sitting with the bass between your knees instead of on your thigh. This alternative posture seems to work well for a lot of players.
Here is one of my favorite bass players (Paul Jackson of Herbie Hancock Headhunters fame) demonstrating the "seated with bass between legs" posture:

Click to expand...


Thank you sir I'll try your advice. And also I'm thinking that maybe I should adjust my strap to lift my bass slightly up from my body. It seems to work out for me.
 
#16
CatOnTheBass said:
Your technique looks pretty good to me. If you were my student I'd say you were on the right track. Two specific tips I would give you:
  1. Try moving the strap farther out from your neck, more onto your shoulder. Maybe it's a trick of the camera but it looks like the strap is cutting into your carotid artery and restricting the flow of blood to your brain. ;) Also you might try a wider, "grippier" strap, like a nice leather one.
  2. You might try sitting with the bass between your knees instead of on your thigh. This alternative posture seems to work well for a lot of players.
Here is one of my favorite bass players (Paul Jackson of Herbie Hancock Headhunters fame) demonstrating the "seated with bass between legs" posture:

Click to expand...


I agree. That strap is about as far to the right on a shoulder as it could be. I'd see if I can comfortably move it to the actual center of the shoulder. Shifting that bass a bit to the left, while a longer reach very well might solve some of the balance issues.
 
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#19
spantini said:
Interesting problem. McCartney's Rick has a similar body & lower horn. He sets it in his lap with, apparently, no problem. His strap isn't supporting it either. Perhaps it's balanced differently.

View attachment 3897451

View attachment 3897452
Click to expand...

I love Macca but one thing I notice in both of those photos, is that one shoulder is significantly higher than the other. The right side of his body looks "slouched" and I wonder if maybe that's not the best ergonomics.
 
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