Why is it easier to sing with rhythm guitar vs singing w/bass?

[lastminute]

I've tried singing while playing both, and I seem to have an easier time doing it with rhythm guitar.

I don't know why exactly myself; can anybody explain it for me?

[jdbernard]

In many styles, the bass part doesn't line up as well with the vocals as the rhythm guitar part does. So your brain is dealing with two separate lines going when trying to play bass and sing, where when playing rhythm you can sort of put words to something you're already playing. At least, that's how it is for me.

[laboitenoire]

See, I can sorta sing while playing bass, but not while playing guitar. Obviously it's impossible to sing while playing clarinet, but that's a different story entirely...

You really just have to try and get the bass line and vocal line really memorized individually before you can try and merge them. It's a bit like singing and dancing at the same time.

[Parabolic Box]

With rhythm guitar, your strumming might match your singing melody.

With bass, you (and the drummer) need to set a foundational rhythm that the other instruments can sort of glide on top of. It may not follow the melody.

[ClassicRock55]

I've always noticed that too. On guitar, once you nail down the chord changes in the song, then there isn't as much left hand work being done. Bass playing, even on a simple song usually involves more left hand work, hence the difference in difficulties.

[GreyBeard]

Rhythm guitar is pretty static and doesn't move that much while you are singing. Bass lines on the other hand often move in the opposite direction of the vocal line. More brain work.

[Stinsok]

It's tough. When we do "The Authority Song," my brain asks "do you want to sing it, or do you want to play it?"

[ras1983]

try to find some live mechell ndegecelo (spelling?) videos. Se plays some awesome lines and manages to sing at the same time. Blows my mind everytime because I can't sing and play at the same time.

[sublime0bass]

cause guitar is easy to play, DUH

[Enden]

I'm the same way. In previous band settings, I've had to switch to guitars on certain songs that I sing. I can sing with guitar 100% of the time. Bass, it depends.

[jsm81]

I sing and play bass at the same time, but I play the bass a whole lot better when I'm not singing. I can barely play guitar, but I can play guitar a whole lot better than the bass when I'm singing.

[hyp.spec]

SIMPLE ANSWER:

We are not Geddy Lee

[not_jason]

Here's what it comes down to for me:

When I play guitar, I keep a lot of rhythm with the motion of my wrist. Due to the nature of guitar, and my specific playing style, the motion is pretty wide and exaggerated, and also it's pretty consistent.

When I play bass with my fingers, obviously, this goes out the window. I have to keep the rhythm internally, and it takes up more space in my head, which makes it hard to concentrate on vocals.

And that's part of why I play with a pick in my band. Even still, it takes a lot more effort than it does on guitar. My picking motion is much smaller than it is on guitar, because it's single notes and I can't fall back on muting as much as I can on guitar.

[BruisedOoze]

I started playing guitar recently, or rather I bought my own and don't irritate the guitarist during practice And I found the same thing as well. I have a difficult time singing and playing bass to begin with (I never really practice it), but switching to guitar and playing rhythm I could actually sing some songs and play. My singing is bad but the point is I could do it

[Oric]

Originally Posted by laboitenoire

Obviously it's impossible to sing while playing clarinet, but that's a different story entirely...

Well, you can technically sing while playing clarinet, but nobody wants to hear the results.

[phektus]

Rhythm guitar - get your chord shape and strum - instantly get an acceptable sound on most cases. Just strum it and you give the harmony off, now you can sing with it.

Bass - you arpeggiate without a steady chord shape plus keeping in mind the groove and when not to play. That's what makes it harder, I think. You move your fingers far too often.

There are lead guitarist who also do main vocals. But I have yet to see them solo while singing. Playing bass offers that kind of complexity in playing.

[Sammy_L_D]

^ exactly what phektus said.

Though it's true some players have the ability to solo while singing, but we're talking about exceptional virtuosos who are few in eighty dozen.

[Stondis]

Originally Posted by Oric

Well, you can technically sing while playing clarinet, but nobody wants to hear the results.

Hahhahahaha!!!

[King Biscuit]

When in a band years ago, I used to play bass and sing lead about 60% of the time and sing backup about 40%.

Was always interesting to me that the guitar player thought it should be easy to sing and play bass, but when we asked him to play lead riffs and sing, did not happen.

The guy that I saw that really amazed me was a really good bass player that could play really good blues harmonica at the same time.

Dan

[Muusers]

because guitar is easier than bass