You pick up the bass the same way every day. It feels fine, so you never think about it. But if your hands are helping hold it up, your hands and arms are carrying tension before you play a note. That sounds silly and elementary, I know. Stay with me.
Quick answer
Rest the bass in the crevice of your left knee, centered on your body and balanced by your core. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and one foot in front of the other. Then take your hands off and wave them. If the bass stays put, your hands and arms aren’t holding it up.
Here’s how to hold an upright bass so your hands and arms aren’t doing the work, plus the simple test I use to check it before I play.
What the great older bassists all say
Ron Carter, Rufus Reid, Buster Williams, Gary Peacock and so many great masters were able to play into their 80s at an exceptionally high level. They’re great musicians, and they also mastered the art of playing without pain.
During my time at Juilliard and since, I’ve been very fortunate to spend time with some great older masters of the upright bass. Their bass lines are different, their approaches to soloing are different and their careers have been different. But the one thing they all say is that it’s of the utmost importance to learn how to play without pain or physical tension.
You’re going to feel a little tension when you push yourself outside your comfort zone. That’s fine. What isn’t fine is the kind of tension that makes playing the bass harder. We talk endlessly about our time, our bass lines, our solos and how to lock in with drummers. What we don’t talk about enough is how to avoid pain.
Playing with pain is the enemy of creativity, it’s the enemy of progress, and most importantly, it’s the enemy of the joy and love that we are supposed to feel when we play this music.
Cole Davis
Where should an upright bass rest when you play?
Pick up the bass and let it rest in the crevice of your left knee. It’s balanced by your core and it sits in the center of your body. (If you’re left-handed, it’s the right leg.)
Keep your feet shoulder-width apart, with one foot in front of the other, just like you’re walking. No pun intended. Both legs have a different job, the same way both hands do on the piano:
- Your left leg balances the instrument. It’s in charge of keeping the bass from spilling over. If it moves, the bass falls.
- Your right leg holds your body in place. It stays strong, like a tree. If it moves, you wobble, your left leg takes too much pressure, and you have to compensate.
If you stand with both legs on the same plane, the bass wobbles, because it can’t properly rest on the left knee. Put one leg behind you, and the left leg balances the bass while the right leg holds everything in your body together. That way you play in balance with yourself.
How do you know you’re holding the bass right?
The way you know you’re holding it properly is if your hands can be free. Under no circumstances should your hands hold the bass. If they’re holding it, how can you play it? You’re playing with added weight. You’re starting at a deficit, holding this big instrument up with your hands.
So here’s the test. With the bass on your left knee, take your hands off and wave them. I don’t care if I look like a nut. If I can’t do this, I won’t play, because it means my hands and arms are going to carry the tension.
Do it five to ten times, until you feel comfortable and you’re no longer wondering whether you can do it. The more you do it, the more you loosen up, and the more your body relaxes and knows it’ll hold the bass without relying on your arms.
If the bass falls, that’s important to see. Readjust your position until you can do it. Sometimes that means moving your right leg even further back. A really big player might play in a power stance, with the legs spread very far apart, and that makes sense. For me, it’s more important to keep my feet about shoulder-width apart, so I can fully control what’s happening in my body and my arms. Once I pass the test, then I address the instrument.
Every single time you play is different. I once read an interview with Keith Jarrett, probably my favorite improvising musician of all time, where he was asked how he keeps his improvising fresh. I expected him to talk about chords and devices. Instead, he talked about acknowledging the room he’s in, the piano he’s playing, how he’s feeling in his body and mind, and the people around him, and how all of that informs how he plays.
All of those things influence how you play the bass and how the bass feels. How tired are your legs? What room are you in? The same way you adjust to different drummers, you need to adjust physically to how you’re feeling. Some days my feet might be really close together, some days further apart, and some days I’m in the power stance with one leg behind. It doesn’t matter. All that matters is that you find the winning combination for this day. As long as the bass is in the center of your body and balanced on your left knee, and you can pass the test, you’re set.
And don’t overthink it. What if my calf is in this place? What if my arm is doing this? What if I have a gut? None of that matters. People get in their heads, and that gets in the way of playing free of tension and pain.
Keep your back straight and stand still
Your lower back is going to be engaged no matter what. It’s engaged when you walk (walk down the street, not walk bass lines), when you lift and when you run. But don’t arch your back and don’t hunch. Keep it straight.
That sounds obvious, but it’s easy to slouch, especially when the music feels really good. Everything’s balanced, you start to feel comfortable, and then you slouch. When I do that in the video, the bass tips over.
The bass players who work the most and have the longest careers are able to stand still. You’ll see bass players wiggle, stretch and loosen up between tunes or between sets. That’s a great time for it. Don’t loosen up during the tune. Stay put, balanced on your left knee, with your back straight.
Try this before you play today
- Pick up the bass. Center of your body, connected to your core, resting on your left knee.
- Set your feet. Shoulder-width apart, one foot in front of the other, with the left leg balancing the bass and the right leg holding you up.
- Take the test. Hands off, wave them. Do it five to ten times.
- Adjust if it falls. Move your right leg further back, or change how far apart your feet are, and try again.
- Check your back. Straight, not arched and not hunched. Then play, and save the stretching for between tunes.
Once the bass is holding itself up, your hands are free to do the playing. If your right hand is next, start with my right hand speed drills. If it’s your left, The New Simandl is my approach to getting around the instrument with freedom of movement at the center of everything.
Pick up your bass right now, take your hands off and wave. If it stays put, you’re ready to play.
Go deeper
The New Simandl
Fifteen Simandl exercises re-fingered around the open strings, so your left hand moves around the whole bass instead of locking into half position.
FAQ
Which knee does an upright bass rest on?
Your left knee, in the crevice of it, if you play right-handed. If you’re left-handed, it’s the right leg. The bass sits in the center of your body, balanced by your core, and your left leg is in charge of keeping the instrument from spilling over.
How do I know if I’m holding my upright bass correctly?
Take your hands off the bass and wave them. If you can, your hands and arms aren’t carrying the tension. Do it five to ten times, until you’re no longer wondering whether you can. If the bass falls, readjust your position. Sometimes that means moving your right leg even further back.
How far apart should my feet be when I play upright bass?
About shoulder-width apart, with one foot in front of the other, like you’re walking. A really big player might use a power stance, with the legs spread very far apart. It can change from day to day, too. What matters is finding the combination that lets your hands be free on that day.
Should my hands hold up the upright bass?
No. Under no circumstances should your hands hold the bass. If they’re holding it, how can you play it? You’re playing with added weight and starting at a deficit. Let the bass rest on your left knee, balanced by your core, so your hands are free to play.
What should my back do when I play upright bass?
Stay straight. Your lower back is engaged no matter what, the same as when you walk, lift or run, but don’t arch it and don’t hunch. It’s easy to slouch when the music feels really good. When I slouch in the lesson, the bass tips over.
