Singing and Playing...AT ONCE?

[RufusSPatches]

So, I've been playing with all kinds of different local groups, but no matter how much time and effort i put into practice, theory, and learning new things to become a better bassist, there is one infernal little thing that gives me grief: singing and playing.

I'm not a great vocalist by any means, but I can hit the note that i want. my problem is that I am so bad at singing and playing that i can't even play straight 1/4 notes and say hello at the same time. it's like my mouth and hands trip over each other whenever I try.

I am looking forward to any advice you loony toons have!

[bassteban]

My method: Learn the song so well it's totally second nature. You want to be able to sing it in your sleep. Next, learn the vocal part to the same degree. NOW do both, at a very reduced tempo, focussing on one side of the task & bringing in the other a bit at a time. I read that Les Claypool does pretty much the same thing, or did earlier on.

Edit: This might belong in technique, or live sound..? Not really a *bass* issue, methinks.

[-=DanAtkinson=-]

I had the same problem. It is much easier for me (and most people) to play guitar and sing.

This is because when playing bass and singing, your brain is executing 2 different single-note melody lines at once. It would be similar to playing a guitar solo and singing simultaneously. How many guitarists do you see do that?

I found that I had to structure my bass parts to be very simple to handle singing at the same time. And for some reason playing with a pick (like Paul McCartney) seemed to work better for me than fingerstyle. It was easier for me to imagine myself strumming a chord on guitar.

Practice, practice, practice....you'll get it eventually.

[groove pump]

When singing and playing parts are out of sync with each other, I have to practice them out in the woodshed where I can make a trainwreck out of things and not spoil anyone's day. Once I can play the bass part almost unconsciously, it's usually easier to add the singing part while my hands are somewhat on cruise control.

Familiarize yourself with both parts as best you can and then mash them together while playing along with the recording if you have it handy. If it goes kerflooey on you in this solo practice setting, just keep going. You might surprise yourself as your head figures out how to "walk and chew gum" at the same time.

[RufusSPatches]

What about vocals that are totally different than the bass line? ie: fast heavy pedal technique bassline under angels and bunny rabbits singing?
Btw, my bad putting this in "Basses", i had a lot of windows open and started on the wrong one!

[Apt403]

Originally Posted by -=DanAtkinson=-

I had the same problem. It is much easier for me (and most people) to play guitar and sing.

This is because when playing bass and singing, your brain is executing 2 different single-note melody lines at once. It would be similar to playing a guitar solo and singing simultaneously. How many guitarists do you see do that?

I found that I had to structure my bass parts to be very simple to handle singing at the same time. And for some reason playing with a pick (like Paul McCartney) seemed to work better for me than fingerstyle. It was easier for me to imagine myself strumming a chord on guitar.

Practice, practice, practice....you'll get it eventually.

+1

I can play guitar and sing, but when it comes to bass everything goes to Hell. Time in the woodshed seems to be the only option.

When I'm singing, I write most of the bass parts to drop into whole notes, which tends to work pretty well musically in that the focus of attention switches to the voxs.

[Lesfunk]

I try to play my clever bits in between the words.

[DanNowhere]

Originally Posted by -=DanAtkinson=-

And for some reason playing with a pick (like Paul McCartney) seemed to work better for me than fingerstyle.

Funny, I noticed the same thing. My latest band has me singing backup a TON, way more than I'm used to. Practice is making it easier, but I'm still nowhere near ready to tackle a lead vocal yet. I've been doing all the bass playing with a pick. Not sure why it helps, but it does.

[Rockmusician]

A lot of people struggle with this and some can never do it. A good freind of mine is a great musician. He can play guitar and sing but can't sing while playing bass. I struggled with it for a while, but can now play just about anything and sing at the same time. What I found worked best for me was practicing singing and playing at the same time. It works well if you do both while you are learning a song because you learn it the same way you will be performing it. Even if all you do is mouth the words without actually singing, it will help you. Learn the song so well that you don't have to think about what you are playing.

[derridiandrift]

Originally Posted by bassteban

My method: Learn the song so well it's totally second nature. You want to be able to sing it in your sleep. Next, learn the vocal part to the same degree. NOW do both, at a very reduced tempo, focussing on one side of the task & bringing in the other a bit at a time.

That's pretty much how I started too. Now I tend to think carefully about where each note in both parts lands in time, almost like I'm moving the parts onto the same staff, if that makes any sense at all. That's how I do it now, but I haven't been as successful teaching that method, so I teach something similar to bassteban's method.

[nillawaffa]

This is a crazy difficult thing to do! I couldn't do it for the longest time. I started out strumming an acoustic guitar when I was 13, and trying to sing to that was really difficult for me. Then when I switched to bass at around 17, it was impossible! 10 years later, I can sing harmonies and play bass in my band. The biggest thing has already been mentioned above. Know the vocal part by itself so well you can sing it without thinking. Then do the same with the bass part. If you're still having trouble, try singing quarter notes while playing quarter notes. Then, try singing half notes while playing quarter notes. Then whole notes. Then try singing the upbeats while you play the downbeats. Start really simple, then get as advanced as you need to in order to play the song. Hope that helps!

[RufusSPatches]

Okay, so next time the house is empty (not tonight, my wonderful guitarist/girlfriend/future fiance is coming over!) I'll have to try the woodshed theory. I've been trying to mouth the words, but I've hit a major realization: I think to much about playing. I started and still continue playing in Jazz bands, where the bass parts are VERY technical, so I always have scales, arpeggios, dynamics, and chord changes flying through my head no matter what I play, and at that point, the part of my slightly damaged brain that controls the vocals and "anti-drool-on-myself-system" ceases to functon.

[Ed Fuqua]

YouTube - Kristin Korb - Whirlin' Bird

[VictorG]

I feel ya. The only instrument I can play and sing at the same time is a drum.

[mambo4]

my cannned response:

==================playing and singing================

I think the primary obstacle to playing bass while singing is rhythmic:
You have to be able to execute 2 rhythms at once, the the bass part and the vocal line.

My favorite trick to deal with it is to put the bass down, and practice clapping the rhythm of the bass part while singing the vocal part.
Do it slowly and accurately at first.
Notice the spots where the vocal line matches up with the bass line
Pay special attention the spots where the vocals fall 'in between' the bass notes.

I have found that once I can clap the bass rhythm accurately while singing, It's pretty easy to grab the bass and play for real.

Actually singing well is another story....

[Stumbo]

Originally Posted by nillawaffa

....try singing quarter notes while playing quarter notes. Then, try singing half notes while playing quarter notes. Then whole notes. Then try singing the upbeats while you play the downbeats. Start really simple, then get as advanced as you need to in order to play the song. Hope that helps!

Start real slow as well.

[AgIdoc]

I don't have much to add except that there is some excellent advice on this thread! I literally have to know the song so well that I can play the bass line with my eyes closed in order to sing & play simultaneously.

[type C basses]

You mean I have to practice? Screw this, I quit!

[miltslackford]

Originally Posted by mambo4

my cannned response:

==================playing and singing================

I think the primary obstacle to playing bass while singing is rhythmic:
You have to be able to execute 2 rhythms at once, the the bass part and the vocal line.

My favorite trick to deal with it is to put the bass down, and practice clapping the rhythm of the bass part while singing the vocal part.
Do it slowly and accurately at first.
Notice the spots where the vocal line matches up with the bass line
Pay special attention the spots where the vocals fall 'in between' the bass notes.

I have found that once I can clap the bass rhythm accurately while singing, It's pretty easy to grab the bass and play for real.

Actually singing well is another story....

+1

and +1 to Stumbo, slow down. A lot!

[Killspringer]

Ah yes, this is tough. There is a certain playing style that lends itself to singing while playing bass... unfortunately it's not the style I usually write basslines in

Still working on this one... just takes a ton of time. There are certain lines I just can't play, like triplet basslines with quarter note vocals, for example, and I pass those off to our keys player until I'm ready to play them unconsciously, which just takes a ton of time