I Really Like Bass, But...

[Sceptical1]

Today, I picked up my bass guitar for the first time in a couple of months, and as I was playing away to a jazzy song on my iPod, i realized something: i really enjoy playing bass. I've been playing it on and off now for about a year and a half now, so I guess I'm not really that great yet. I've also tried guitar and I have been far less successful, it just doesn't feel right when i play. Which brings me to my first problem, I play guitar in a band and do the lead vocals, but I'd really like to switch to bass along with lead vocals (singing is probably my most advanced musical skill so i would want to keep doing vocals). Unfortunately, playing the bass means playing a more rhythmic part, which is really hard to do while singing. So my first question is how can I sing lead and play really cool/ funky/ rhythmic/ jazzy/ etc. bass lines at the same time?

My second problem is that I've really been considering what profession I would like take up once I graduate (I'm 16, and a rising junior in high school), and I really think bass guitar would be fun. The downside of this is that for the eight or so years I've been doing music, I've never been successful and managing to read music (I understand a lot of basic concepts behind the music, but i just can't seem to get past 4 or 5 measures...), and now I'm afraid it may be too late to learn, especially if the profession involves higher education because it would probably be a requirement that i read music. I'm considering taking music theory next year, would that help? Does anyone have any other suggestions/ information? Thanks for taking the time to read this post

[SamWebsterbell]

Well to the first point, I play alot of funky jazzy riffs, I am the backup vocalist for my band but in two of our songs I sing lead with a pretty complicated slap line. I know what you mean though guitar is sometimes more suited to the lead vocalist. Best thing is practise.

Secondly, if you want to study music you do usually have to beable to read music. But it depends on the courses you would want to do post graduation. For example, my lead guitarist is currently studying a music performance and technology course at university. He can't read music that well, but he is an amazing guitarist. He simply had to apply and do an audition to get in. But if your looking to study the traditional more academic Music course then you need to beable to read music well. Vocational, in my opinion is better for musicians.

To add, why can't you just play both. I play both Bass and Drums. I'm better at Bass but i love playing the drums too. You don't have to do one or the other.

Lastly what is the set up of your band, do you have a bassist already? if not then you should defo play bass. Bass is always needed!

[kesslari]

Bass players get work more easily, for what that's worth.

I sing and play. Practice is key. Sometimes you have to simplify a bass part to be able to sing with it. Sometimes you just need to practice it until it becomes something you can do without thinking - then you can focus on the singing. There are some good threads about that if you look here at TB.

Reading music - also is simply practice. A teacher once told me "read 8 bars a day, and you'll get better". He was right. It's a trivial commitment of time to read 8 bars a day. Find some simple material, and go for it.

Good luck!

[honestjohnny]

Congratulations! You're a multi-instrumentalist! Pickup the mandolin, ukulele, or melodica, harmonic or some other instrument and you'll be in demand. It will also expand your understanding of composition.

[Flipsnake]

I haven't tried the singing/playing thing...but I have experience with learning to read music.
A couple of months ago, I managed to learn how to read classical guitar music by myself by buying some books and playing/reading everyday. After a couple of weeks, I got pretty decent at it, with rudimentary sight-reading skills. Then I quit that, and now I'm hitting the bass clef.
And there must people here who learned to read in their 40's or even later. So just relax, and start a habit of reading everyday.
Oh, and I'm 19, so I'm not much older than you, and I was foolish enough to discover the joys of music AFTER I graduated High School, with its delicious music classes that would've advanced my musical theory/reading skills to 9001% of my current musical power level.

[ding_man]

If you have the fire, you'll find your way. I'm in school for music and I see guys that come in and don't know jack about theory or can't read music. But they have a fire for music. And they find their way.

[Mr wiggl3s]

What kind of music do you play man?

[Sceptical1]

thanks everyone, it's encouraging to hear what practice can do b/c sometimes i feel like i'm getting nowhere. but i think a combination of simplifying the bass part and practicing it until it's second nature will help a lot. As for reading, 8 bars a day seems pretty doable

[Buslady7803]

#1 Never too late to learn to read music.

#2 Don't think you can't play bass & sing / Look up Marco Hietala, he is lead vocal & bass in my favorite band Tarot. It IS a challenge but never impossible.

#3 practicepracticepracticepracticepracticepractice - I'm learning bass, I'm not all great but damn it's fun. :-)

#4 if you have the passion and love for music, you'll figure it out

[BroKenSticKs]

When i think of fantastic bass playing while singing the first thing that comes to mind is geddy lee. Some people like rush and some people cant stand it, but lets get serious....Geddy knows what hes doing. It takes work, but it can be done.

I cant read charts but that wouldn't be too hard to learn. You're only 16 dude. All the time in the world...

[Beginner Bass]

The Band Management forum has a sticky on the former topic. The best advice I have on the latter is lessons. That should help a lot with reading.

[Shakin-Slim]

I think change the bass lines so you can sing with them is a good idea. Check Rick Danko, that man is king! Also there are some clever ways of simplifying what you're playing while singing that nobody would notice. Check Jack Bruce for that. He is a legendary bassist and what a singer!

[Tricia]

I also sing and play bass. It's tricky, but so exciting when I get it right! It's true what they say...practice the bass line first, then add vocals when you have it down. it's so much fun!

[Sceptical1]

lol, they're both fun, so it probably is pretty fun. thanks for the suggestions of artists too everyone, the only person i could think of who sings and plays bass is the guy from the all american rejects... and i don't like them all that much really.

[BlakeJustBlake]

It's definitely not too late to learn to read music, and once you get to college, if you're still not very good at it, then you'll definitely learn.

[mrsrad]

Never ever too late to learn. I'm 54 and just learning bass. Haven't touched a musical instrument in 40 years, but what the heck, one never knows where something may take one.