One of the most important things to do before you even play your bass is to have your strap adjusted correctly. This is so crucial in how you play whether you are sitting and standing. This was something I saw Billy Sheehan talk about in an interview he did in the ‘80s. I thought this was so simple but so important!

The length of your strap should be comfortable where you are not crouching over or that it is so tight that you cannot move. 

• Adjust your strap to be the same length whether you are sitting or standing: This is most important because it is not always realistic to adjust your strap constantly. 

• You may want to have your bass very high up so that you can see the frets easily or a lot lower if maybe you are a taller person. Whatever the reason may be, make sure that you adjust the strap to fit your body type and how you want to play. 

• Play around with the length: What may be comfortable right now may not be comfortable in a couple of weeks. You can adjust your strap to see what works and what does not. I have times that having the bass high up is beneficial while other times I need the strap to be a lot looser. 

I hope this helps make your time playing bass as painless and fun as possible!