Advice on singing harmonies while playing.

[deadhead]

I know this isn't really a question about bass playing per se, but it is part of performing while playing so I think it is still relevant.

I have a show tonight and I've sung in shows a few times before but playing an instrument has always made singing harder on a couple of counts: You can't hold your finger to your ear for better hearing, you can't adjust yourself due to bad PA setup easily and it is just harder to be concentrating on two things at once than if you were just singing. I play bass as well which makes the beats a little weird.

Now none of this is something I can't handle but I am singing much more tonight so I wondered if anyone had any last second advice for me for my show tonight on how to warm up or get my harmonies in my head or make sure I'm singing the right pitch......? Thanks.

[DeluxeRed]

Avoid dairy. Cut back on smoking for the day. Sing a little on the way there to warm up. Avoid shouting matches!

Would you start the gig if the lead singer couldn't hear themself? Or if the guitar sounded crappy in the PA? My point is that your voice is your instrument, so don't compromise: make sure the monitors are working and that the mix is good during the sound check. What you're doing is just as important as what anyone else is doing, but if it's not important enough to you, why should it be to anyone else?

I also work out where my harmonies are in regard to what I'm playing. That is, when practicing/rehearsing, I find the note on the bass that I'm singing, even if it's not the one I'm playing. At least then I can see in my head what the interval should be, and that helps me find the right note to sing.

Go get 'em and break a leg! Off to the first of a two-night stand myself in just a bit. *Ahem Ahem hack* LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA...

[Ubersheist]

This is probably too late, but maybe it'll help someone else...

Warming up your voice is the single best thing in my opinion. I personally try to get warmed up the day before, and then immediately before getting on stage (which isn't always possible). If you're not sure if you can warm up your voice before yo9u go on stage, do it sometime earlier that day. Scales are a great way to go - the same way you do with your bass, except do vowels. Go A- E -Ah - Oh - Ooh - that covers the basics of vowels.

There's also a ton of Youtube videos with warm up exercises. Watch a few and follow along.

Also, avoid dairy (even cheese), cold drinks (yes, even beer), as they both mess with your trachea and your vocal chords. As mentioned before, lay off the smoking (of anything), if you can. Dairy coats your throat with fat and enzymes that doesn't come off too easily, and sticks to your vocal chords and throat. It's sort of like if someone poured a soda all over your bass making it all sticky - it's tougher to do your job. Smoking and cold drinks constrict the muscles and other tissues in your throat. It's analogous to having hand cramps and then trying to play bass properly.