Bass Lady

Having had to retire from full time playing as I hit 30 I have read this thread with interest. Some great advice being given and as an orchestral player I used to sit in a similar fashion to Ubassman, right foot on floor to balance with left leg supporting bass. My problems though were caused way before I was ever taught how to "sit properly". As a kid, like the other bass players around, I would sit on a stool which was way to tall for me with the result that BOTH my feet used to be on the foot rest on the stool. This meant I was sitting with quite a curved back (stooping) to play and when we often used to play for hours and hours of rehearsals in a day this started my shoulder / back problems very early on. Being told "well if you want to be a professional you will have to live with it" was not a very helpful solution and by the time I got to music college, I think most of the damage had been done. To even prove my theory a little more, out of the youth bass section I played with (county level) 3 of us went on to play full time, the older two of us have suffered for many years with problems whilst the younger bassist who got told by us to sit properly (we had been taught properly by this point) has as far as I am aware not had the same problems. As a bass teacher I am very very concious of teaching a proper sitting posture from the very beginning of lessons to any pupil and have encouraged many other string teachers (non bass specialists) to do the same. Another issue though for causing back problems with bassists is how players carry their instruments. I know (before the wheel) I used to carry mine on my back using a strap, normally carrying a stool plus stand etc. This cannot be good either! LOL

[size=5][b]How many basses is too many basses?[/b][/size] [size=5][size=4]Is this question even allowed?? [/size][/size] [size=5][size=4]Apologies for purple heart getting in the way but lurking behind it is a Bridge electric double bass.[/size][/size] [size=5][size=4]Plus Paul Bryant, 1/4 and 3/4 "teaching" basses.[/size][/size] [size=5][size=4][/size][/size] [size=5][size=4][/size][/size] [size=5][size=4] [/size][/size]

[quote name='LemonCello' timestamp='1360701982' post='1975130'] Would be nice to have a play on your leccy 'Cello! [/quote] No promises but I will see what I can do.

A "growl" of bassists or for the fretless players a "mwah" of bassists................

Not a 100% sure but definitely going to try and make this. Sounds like fun!

Welcome Steve, I'm another newbie from South Wales too!

........... and a happy ending. Congratulations.

How are you getting on with the bow Pete? A little tip for putting rosin on your bow, hold your thumb over the end of the silver on the frog so you don't chip into the rosin blcok too much. Make the bow nice and sticky to get a good grip on the string.

More Warwicks please. Maybe a GAK ltd edition??

I know I post a pic a while back but just found the "proper porn" pics so thought I would share. Enjoy! Cheers, Rachel

Just wanted to say again Thank You for a very warm welcome from everybody and can't believe that so far I have come across 3 members that I have known personally in the past (20+ years ago!). Wonder if there are any more?

Owen, HELLO!!! Yes, it is me. My goodness, a very long time............ How are you my friend? Still tall and handsome?? You are now the second person I have met on here from a "shady LOL!" past. [quote]Is it music in general you teach and I assume to school kids? Do you have any up and coming stars in your class?[/quote] Hi Tony, music classroom teacher now although I spent many years as an instrumental teacher. Potentially, always a few possible little stars around school so a very noisy department indeed!

Hi LowEndLady, another celtic bass player! Very cool indeed. Rugby supporter as well??

[quote name='SpaceChick' timestamp='1357328888' post='1921259'] Hats off to you! I am a dreadful slapper (set another one up for you Mark sweetie ) although my teacher is awesome and is helping me. One of my 2013 goals is to get my slap bass skills improved One of my friends is a music teacher in Ammanford and a friend in work, his wife is on maternity leave from music teaching in a Swansea comp. [/quote] Amman Valley? Well I know two out of the three music teachers there very well and chances are I know the Swansea Comp music teacher too! Keep slapping SpaceChick, you will get there in the end. Is your teacher Funky by any chance? Fabulous to get to meet so many other Welsh bass players too!!

To Warwickhunt - just one word WOW

LOL! Was expecting that.

[quote name='bluejay' timestamp='1357166989' post='1918687'] Ooooo you used the s-word! Fie, fie, fie!! Only joking - I can't slap to save my life and I belong to the slap-unfriendly school of thought, possibly out of sour grapes [/quote] Well................... I was very much in that camp too. Having grown up in the 80s (double bass and bass guitar) all the boys were slapping but I couldn't do it (trying to resist typing "they said it was because I was a girl"). I gave up on the idea of slapping (although always imagined I could) until I got my first Warwick (Thumb). The brilliance of YouTube had me discover a girl / lady / female giving a "slap" lesson and hey presto, some very sore fingers later, a copy of the ledgendary "Slap It" book and many, many, many hours later I can proudly call myself a slapper! I'm no expert but I can freak the kids in school out and one of the "80s boys" who tried to teach me many moons ago is now thoroughly impressed. LOL!

Hi Silvia, good to meet you too. I have been quiet lately (work blah blah blah) but have discovered this place and enjoying lots of reading (okay mainly GAS) thought I would join in............. Quite often pop into the Warwick forum for a read but being on holiday I actually have a bit of time to get involved. Even managed to do a bit of slapping recently too LOL!

Even more warm welcomes, ta very much.

Always love looking at pretty basses and that purple streamer is very pretty Here is my little family of Warwicks

Cool, let us know how you get on. The Yamaha does play very well with a bow and of course has the advantage of being collapsable but if given the choice (and of course a little more for the budget) I would opt for the Bridge bass every time, apart from the beauty aspect, it is a much better / easier / closer to acoustic instrument to play. Beware, once you start with the bow you enter the world of weird and wonderful - where you get to ask the question French or German and don't necessarily mean Alps!

Thank You all for the warm welcomes. Swansea Valley SpaceChick

Hello there SpaceChick, hope you had a good ride. I hope you weren't too alarmed at that big, bright thing in the sky. Apparently it is called the sun, it is a good thing! Are you electric or acoustic or a hybrid like myself?

Thank You gents for the very warm welcome. Bert, I shall looking forward to meeting other Welsh bass ladies or indeed Welsh bass gents or indeed anyone who is around I was indeed flabbergasted that Bass Lady was available which did lead me to presume I indeed have not been a member here before but then again, who can say.....