This article is written by Toru Hoshino, a jazz bassist and instructor based in Japan who teaches online lessons to students worldwide. In this article, he writes about using a strap on bass.
The content here is exactly what the title says: I wear a strap even during solo practice at home, and I tell my students they should too.
Contents
Why You Should Wear a Strap Even During Solo Practice
The reasons to wear a strap even during solo practice include:
✅️ It stops the instrument from wobbling
✅️ It’s easier to play
✅️ It lets you simulate a real performance
…among others.
It Stops the Instrument from Wobbling
Without a strap, the balance is off. And when the balance is off, part of your attention goes toward just keeping the instrument stable.
What you actually want is to focus entirely on playing — but if your attention keeps drifting toward stabilizing the instrument, you can’t fully focus on your playing.
With a strap on, there’s no wobbling, so you’re free to focus on what you’re actually trying to play.
It’s Easier to Play
This is similar to the point above, but playing with a strap on is simply easier than playing without one.
Depending on the instrument, some basses have a heavy headstock and will “neck-dive.”
But even with an instrument heavy enough to neck-dive like that, a properly fitted strap lets you play with the instrument sitting exactly where you want it.
It Lets You Simulate a Real Performance
At an actual gig, you’re usually standing while you play.
If you get used to wearing a strap during practice at home, that same feeling carries over naturally when you’re performing live.
Strap length comes down to personal preference and genre, and there’s no single right answer, but personally, I adjust mine so the bass sits in the same position whether I’m sitting or standing.
Back when I was playing punk rock, I had my strap set long, so I’d practice standing even at home.
The strap is a genuinely important part of the instrument. It’s worth thinking carefully about how you work with yours in order to play your best.
The Strap I’m Currently Using
The one I’m using right now is from a brand called COMFORT.
I wrote up a full review of it here: COMFORT Strap Bass Strap Review: Why Its Memory-Foam Padding Feels So Good
It’s well-built, plush, and genuinely comfortable. If you’re on the fence about which strap to get, give it a try.
I hope this gives you a reason to rethink how you practice — and once your setup feels solid, getting feedback on how it actually translates to your playing is the next step.
Want Personalized Feedback on Your Playing?
This is exactly the kind of thing that’s hard to fix alone — and where having a teacher makes all the difference.
At Line on Bass, I offer an online lesson service where you send me a video of your playing, and I give you specific, detailed feedback — every single day if you want.
Students from around the world are using this to fix exactly these kinds of issues and steadily improve their jazz bass skills.