Essential Posture for Bass Players

[@Mark-qc5ts]

Very well explained, so right.. after 40 years of hunching up and rounding my back, I've been diagnosed with c6,c7 disc nerve bi lateral compression and it's horrible and painful... Also got tennis elbow in my fret forearm, such an irritable pain... I've just purchased a foot stool and a better chair... No more sitting on soft sofa, hinhcing over like a large prawn... Thanks for the advice.. invaluable 👍👍

[@FBT]

I'm really sorry to hear about the nerve compression and the tennis elbow, hopefully the footstool/chair combo will help. The 'large prawn' comment really got me 😂

[@Mark-qc5ts]

😂 glad.tou liked.the comment.. keep up the great work 👍

[@byebyeoldusername]

i’m trying to learn electric bass while already being an upright player and these videos are really helpful to make sure i’m not just trying to play the upright sideways

[@FBT]

I often get the feeling that I'm just trying to play the electric bass vertically whenever I do an upright gig 😂

[@byebyeoldusername]

@@FBT i so feel the same way just opposite. years of technique built up, some of which does NOT carry over

[@JoolsGuitar]

thanks for this. I play my bass on my left leg but I thought it was wrong because no other bassist do that. Now with your explanation I am in peace with my posture

[@FBT]

Glad this was helpful! Hadrien Feraud often plays like this, so we're in good company...

[@iainctduncan]

me too! I arrived at it from some work with a physio helping with a nerve issue, so I'm glad to know it's legit!

[@artembrits3717]

Me too bro

[@Stewkeithmtb]

Thank you so much. Been playing since the early 80s and have never considered the points you raised in this video. My back and neck problems have returned with a vengeance since I started playing bass again after a few years away from it and I can now see why.

[@FBT]

Cheers Stewart, good to know that this is useful to people. I find that I have tons of back and neck trouble unless I'm hyper-vigilant about my posture so making this was really beneficial for me too!

[@Stewkeithmtb]

FreeBassTranscriptions your video on 21st century brain melt was a timely reminder as well. I have employed a scorched earth policy on social media, retaining only KZbin and Basschat. Also you made me realise that my daily meditation routine has relapsed and, surprise surprise, I am not such an even tempered person any more.

[@LilyArciniega]

I've had a couple of people poke fun at me for using the classical guitar position but it's so comfortable that I can't be bothered to do it the other way. :] it can be a problem when on frets 1-3 though, or if your jack is located on the side end.

[@FBT]

Well done for ignoring the idiots! It can get tiring if you're doing a lot of low register playing, I've never had a problem with the jack socket though - what bass are you using?

[@LilyArciniega]

I have a borrowed Gretsch Junior Jet. Its not like a huge problem but sometimes it leans on the thick part of the socket cord and I don't like that, lol. I think an L-shaped cable will make me stop worrying.

[@j.vermeulen5850]

Lily Arciniega in

[@monxyo]

Excelent advice.. from now on think i will practice standing.. leg pain just began a couple of days ago, and just realized was on the same leg i rest my bass....thanks!!!

[@jean-frustre8594]

Thank you so mutch for youre video it help me a lot . I was waking up with a lot of pain in my neck . You changed my life basically 💯🤘

[@FBT]

That's great, I'm really glad that you found it helpful!

[@PaapiPasito]

So I stumbled upon this video as I was looking for a tosin abasi bass in action because of its ergonomics.. tho couldn't find any videos of that bass being played in this position. I have a misaligned arm post-surgery... And this position is what seems to be the best... So glad to see you in agreement.

[@FBT]

I didn't know Abasi had started making basses, I'll have to check that out. Glad the video was helpful to you - I see Hadrien Feraud playing in this posture all the time and he seems to do alright!

[@PaapiPasito]

@@FBT will look him up... Thanks for the info! Here check out this video of the abasi bass prototype: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2WYYpyIq8iYadE I thought that they might have taken orders for it but did not come across any other such bass.

[@Camerz]

I play left handed, and when i practice sitting down, my bass rests on my right leg (equivalent of left leg for you, i can probably say "inner" leg in this case). i never found it comfortable to rest it on the "outer" leg, i prefer to have the body of the bass between my legs, but i rarely see that done on youtube. the other method is uncomfortable to me, so I'm glad to see it in this video. I also generally have the headstock of the bass at an angle that it is level with my shoulder/head, and i sorta have the neck pushed out slightly. it means my fretting hand (right hand for me) doesn't have a sharp angle, and neither does my plucking hand. but, then my fretting hand can get fatigued for being elevated, so it is tough to navigate. I've only been playing since the end of the 22nd dec, 2023 (as of now, it is afternoon christmas day), so I still have a lot to learn. thanks for this video!

[@FBT]

I think that every position has some sort of drawback, but the 'inner' leg with the bass angled so the headstock is in line with my left eye is my favourite!

[@eironbacon3308]

Im struggling so much with my bass, it has neck dive, When it's on my lap I always had to put my right arm on top of the body to stop the neck dive

[@FBT]

Do you use a strap when you play? I find that a good quality neoprene or leather strap can pretty much cancel out neck dive

[@james25013]

great video

[@FBT]

Thanks James! Glad you found it useful.

[@james25013]

yeah, you should do more videos like this... it certainly will make difference in lots of people's bass playing...

[@Wolfman038]

I started playing bass over 10 years ago I have the worst hand posture of all time, thanks to some serious double joints, trying to improve nkw

[@OldDolio312]

I’ve gotten a horrible muscle pain in my right lower abdomen area and while I don’t know what I did to get this, I think sitting on my couch and playing bass/guitar isn’t helping as my couch is low enough that I feel a lot of pressure in the affected area. Anybody know what is the appropriate height someone should sit at while playing?

[@FBT]

For me the sweet spot seems to be any seat that allows my thighs to be parallel to the floor - this seems to take the pressure off my lower back

[@elbehemoth386]

Any tips for playing with a pick?

[@FBT]

From a postural point of view? Relaxation is everything. More generally speaking: 1. Experiment with different thicknesses of pick 2. Try to keep your picking hand and arm as relaxed as possible and resist the temptation to anchor any spare right hand fingers on the bass 3. Alternate picking is the best strategy for most music 4. Try different right hand positions (in front of the pickups, closer to the bridge) 5. The angle at which you pick hits the string has a big impact on the tone you create

[@tmb1065]

Just found this video. This is how I play. However, It is negatively affecting my picking, as it it makes it hard to pick perpendicular, rather than at an angle, which causes the edge of the pick to slide on the strings. Any advice?

[@FBT]

If I'm sitting like this and playing with a pick then I tend to turn my wrist away from me so my pick angle matches that of the strings - it feels a bit like playing 'uphill' at first but it gets rid of any noise from the pick scraping against the strings. Hope that helps!

[@tmb1065]

@@FBT Thanks. Thats what I try to do....but hard AF to do that for 3 minutes of 1/8 notes at 180 bpm

[@georgeguevara6233]

Thank you🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@FBT]

You're welcome! glad you found it helpful.

[@tsiggy]

Thank you

[@Skelterbane69]

I usually keep my bass between the two positions. Means I can't sit down with it, but I have thick thighs anyway, so the bass gets pushed upwards lol But it does give me the best of both worlds, kinda.

[@fionakiely3505]

Thank you!!

[@FBT]

You're welcome, hope it helped!

[@nanophyr_4468]

If I'm standing and my bass rests in the centre of my body, my shoulder (left trap) aches whilst reaching to low frets. Any one else experience this or have any advice? Maybe I'm better standing with the body of the bass further right of the hip.

[@FBT]

I've had this a few times in the past. Shoulders are easy to injure as there are lots of small muscles that tend to be weak and inflexible, particularly the rotator cuff muscles - for me, it's a case of doing regular stretches, mobilisation and strengthening drills to keep everything in shape. If you search for rotator cuff exercises then there should be lots of suggestions, there are a lots of videos about how to get things more mobile (Kelly Starrett and Eric Cressey have some good videos on youtube). Better yet, go to a physiotherapist and get yourself checked out.

[@nanophyr_4468]

@@FBT Thank you so much for your response! I'll give those exercises and stretches a go. The hope would be not having to see a physiotherapist of course - but better to be safe than sorry if it continues.

[@BucketsOfCool]

Check out the Essentrics posture workout on KZbin - awesome strengthening and stretching of the ligaments and connective tissues in your shoulders specifically.

[@fab9566]

Très bon !

[@FBT]

Merci beaucoup!

[@unsent949]

Thank u sir

[@polarbear3427]

While standing with such a high poture: don't do this, unless you want an injury on your right hand. NO T-Rex hands!

[@SheepWaveMeByeBye]

The classical guitarists are moving away from the footstool. If used for a prolonged period of time it can cause a lot of troubles with your hips.

[@FBT]

What are they using instead?

[@Mykahaia]

That's how I intended to play with it since this is how I play guitar.

[@whatsaaappthesequel]

that pickguard is a warcrime