Singing while playing...

[SolomonsMarbles]

And I mean playing something quite difficult and opposite to what you're singing... some people say this is something only a few gifted people can do, but I think (while I can't do it so well) that it can be accomplished through endless voice and bass practice... anyone fairly good at this and have any advice in regard to exercises?

[ksandvik]

As with any other things in life, practice and it will happen, sooner or later, depends on you. --Kent

[Gawd]

practice, it's pretty easy once you get the hang of it.

[Bassin']

Learn each individually then practice them together.

What I try to do is look at playing and singing as one instrument, like playing something different on the piano with your right and left hands yet you're still playing the piano.

[phat daddy]

Originally Posted by Bassin'

Learn each individually then practice them together.

What I try to do is look at playing and singing as one instrument, like playing something different on the piano with your right and left hands yet you're still playing the piano.

+1.

The trick for me is to learn the bassline so fluently and effortlessly that I can concentrate soully on the vocals while performing the tune. Once the bassline is inherent, it's a lot like singing by itself, only your hands are occupied. I sing a whole night's worth of material with my band, and we're constantly doing something where the bass has a lot of movement and the vocals do to, only in a totally different way. All it takes is practice; if I can do it, anyone can.

[JimmyM]

I very rarely have trouble playing difficult lines and singing something counter to it, but occasionally I do have trouble, and Phat Daddy's advice is right on target.

[bass349]

Bassist's Guide to Singing

this is a sticky over in the management and performance side.. heaps of great advise in there!

[A.Scovanner]

The thing that works best for me when I'm challenged by singing and playing something at the same time is to break down both parts rhythmically and start with the lowest common denominator, so to say. I find the vocal pieces (or syllables) that fall at the same as my fingers or pick and nail those first. Once I figure out what my hands and my voice have to be doing together at the same time, it then becomes easier to fill in the other pieces when they're not. Everyone else is right, practice makes perfect, and none of us can do enough of it, and phat daddy makes a valid point that when you know your bass part so well it almost becomes effortless to throw in a vocal line in some cases, but in those where it's not so effortless, this has always been my starting point, fwiw....

[varunkapahi]

every one would ask you to practice but i would ask you to not to give up when its hard.
like learning any new technique there can come times when you jsut dont get it. i myself often get frustrated and chuck the goal aside because its just eating my head off
so do continue rehearsing if something is too difficult then step down on the ambitions a little and work on something a little simpler

[Kennethfaria]

honestly practice is the only way to go if you are not gifted in this.

Don't even think about it, just do it. Also "feeling" the song would probably help you.

[davkane]

Originally Posted by Kennethfaria

honestly practice is the only way to go if you are not gifted in this.

Don't even think about it, just do it. Also "feeling" the song would probably help you.

+1

I used to think it was not possible, but when I came to realize (or feel) the song as a whole, instead of my two parts (bass line, vocals), it was able to do it. Thinking about doing two things was hard, just doing it was easier. Practice doing this in your band (not just you and your bass). Good luck!

[Linkert]

I can't even answer my mother while playing..

[Kennethfaria]

Originally Posted by Linkert

I can't even answer my mother while playing..

Yeah when i play seriously i just nod when she says something

[Qvist]

Originally Posted by Linkert

I can't even answer my mother while playing..

LOL same!!

[kesslari]

[/quote]I can't even answer my mother while playing..[/quote]

Used to be the same for me.
Now I can sing lead or harmony while playing.
Comes with practice.

Gonna post a funny story about not being able to talk and play at the same time over in gig humor...

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