why do some players play their basses upside down?

[DavC]

like Wayman Tisdale ... also changes a few plucking angles ..! = slightly different tone

 

[SasquatchDude]

And in some ways it makes sense to play backwards. My non-dominant left hand does all the fretting. Maybe it's somehow advantageous for a lefty to do all his fretting with his dominant hand.

Good point... I've often wondered if it wouldn't make more sense to use our dominant hands for fretting. It certainly seems more finesse-demanding than picking/plucking.

 

[Bajo Clarkko]

Dick Dale played his lefty Strat strung rightie. (That is to say, what would be considered upside down. ) It worked for him.
It's just how some people learn.

 

[RED J]

I've worked with or known a couple lefty guitarists who played righty. Even actually a right hand player who hacked a beautiful Left hand Gretsch single cut into a righty.
I think the strangest thing I ever read about was bassist Greta Brinkman who was righty playing lefty strung upside down.
There was a band in days of yore called Crabby Appleton who had a guy who played a jazz bass upside down.The offset body and the fact the guy was beanpole skinny looked very strange.

 

[lug]

I learned upside down. The one thing I still like on a flipped righty is having the controls on top...just used to it.

 

[Nev375]

Samething for reverse headstocks

Reverse headstock is actually practical for basses, especially 5 stringers. More space between the nut and tuner is a good thing on heavy gauges.

 

[Angry Mob With Pitchfork]

Got it?!?

I'd say he's most probably gotten it. No need to hound the guy me thinks.

 

[rocu]

I saw a Beatles show in Las Vegas a few years ago and "Paul" was, of course, lefty. But there were some times when "Paul" played piano on some later songs, so one of the guitarists (don't remember if it was "John" or "George") played "Paul"s bass righty which meant that it was strung upside down for him. Not a single wrong note from him in those songs. I never could have done that.

I noticed that at that show too. Impressive.

 

[Bigbri]

Possibly said in the mid-sixties:

"That Hendrix g+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-++uy will never amount to anything unless he falls in line and does exactly the same as everyone else!"

Apparently he could play both ways. Clapton said he had bought Jimi a lefty strat and planned to give it to him the night he died. I often wonder if he would have switched or just kept playing the right handed guitar.

 

[Mosstone]

A friend of mine plays lefty but upside down. The reason is simple. His parents bought his older brothers guitars when they were kids and they couldn't afford to buy even more guitars because he was lefty. So, he turned them upside down and played them that way. He's a phenomenal player, but trying to watch his hands to see what he's playing is near impossible for me, even after taking lessons with him for a few years.

I saw a Beatles show in Las Vegas a few years ago and "Paul" was, of course, lefty. But there were some times when "Paul" played piano on some later songs, so one of the guitarists (don't remember if it was "John" or "George") played "Paul"s bass righty which meant that it was strung upside down for him. Not a single wrong note from him in those songs. I never could have done that.

They should get a Fender Bass VI for those songs.

Paul McCartney was known for being able to play right-handed guitars upside down, and would sometimes play one of John's guitars in the studio.

 

[two fingers]

Whatever works for Jimmy Haslip...

This. He seems to get by somehow.

 

[Dluxe]

TB member iamthebassman also does the upside down stringing.

 

[Mosstone]

Good point... I've often wondered if it wouldn't make more sense to use our dominant hands for fretting. It certainly seems more finesse-demanding than picking/plucking.

I had a friend who was lefty, but played righty... ^That was pretty much his reasoning too.

I'm somewhat ambidextrous. I'm right-handed, but about the only things I do righty are playing guitar/bass and writing/drawing. I do everything else left-handed. I play hockey left-handed, I golf left-handed, I bat lefty, I even eat left-handed. I sometimes think it wouldn't take me long to learn to play bass left-handed. Like if I joined a Beatles tribute band and wanted that extra touch of authenticity. But I dunno... some of them basslines would be tough!

 

[mcarp555]

Good point... I've often wondered if it wouldn't make more sense to use our dominant hands for fretting. It certainly seems more finesse-demanding than picking/plucking.

There are multiple threads about this; in a nutshell, rhythm is stronger in the dominant hand, so it needs to be controlling the notes. Fretting is relatively easy with either hand given enough time. But many people simply cannot do it, even if 'you' can.

Apparently he could play both ways. Clapton said he had bought Jimi a lefty strat and planned to give it to him the night he died. I often wonder if he would have switched or just kept playing the right handed guitar.

Jimi did play a true LH guitar on occasion:

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They should get a Fender Bass VI for those songs.

Paul McCartney was known for being able to play right-handed guitars upside down, and would sometimes play one of John's guitars in the studio.

Many left-handed players can use RH instruments to varying degrees. We get a lot more practice than rightys do with LH guitars/basses.

 

[Slevage]

1. They have the bass guitar immediately, so they don't have to wait for months.
2. Even if you can custom order it for that price, not all luthiers build lefties.
3. When it comes to the point where strings are upside down : this is called piccolo bass. Check out Jeff Schmidt who plays exclusively this way.

I agree with #1 and #2, but a piccolo bass is a small bass with higher strings. Pocito = little

 

[wintremute]

I'd say he's most probably gotten it. No need to hound the guy me thinks.

hmmmmm...username doesn't check out.

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

"Why do some bass players play their basses upside down?"

Pfft... you guys are all wet. It's because they are extraordinarily talented, and are showing off. For girls probably.

Or maybe the rest of us are upside-down.

Or they're from a parallel universe which mirrors ours.

I say we shame them into playing like the rest of us... conform or be cast out.

 

[Angry Mob With Pitchfork]

hmmmmm...username doesn't check out.

Yah, I lock away my pitchfork during a festive season.

 

[rufus.K]

Stop the Hendrix and McCartney misinformation!
Paul and Jimi both normally played with the strings strung correctly for a lefty.
Most of us lefties who play this way have some degree of ability to play with the strings upside down, as in flipping a righty over. This is because its how we encounter most instruments. It's a nessisity thing, not a preference. Neither of them have the ability to play to the full extent this way, it's just something you have to learn being a lefty playing in true left, in a right world.

 

[Mosstone]

Many left-handed players can use RH instruments to varying degrees. We get a lot more practice than rightys do with LH guitars/basses.

Apparently, McCartney was remarkably adept at it. I don't know if I could ever get used to playing chords wrongside-up. Too much muscle memory to undo. I can't imagine being fluid enough to switch back and forth and good enough to record playing a guitar upside down! Keep in mind, if he's playing rhythm, his strumming will have to be upside down too.