Playing and singing Back-ups... HELP

SacOnBass · #1 02-11-2005, 04:41 PM

Well, I have the bass part and vocal part down seperately but as soon as I try and put them together I start messing up. Im brand new to this sooo I dont know if its an experience thing or what. It's usually the bass parts where I mess up when the two come together. I think due to the fact that I so worried about the back-up vocal part.

Im would realy like to hear some of your suggestions on solving this issue. Practice techniques, mental preperation etc......Thanks again Guys

Freaky Fender · #2 02-11-2005, 04:48 PM

Practice the line, over and over. To the point where you can watch TV or hold a conversation with someone in person and have it pretty dead on. Then practice it and sing at the same time. Repeat.

**IvanMike** · #3 02-11-2005, 04:51 PM

i still wrestle with this one, but not so much on backups. ummmmmmmmmmmmm practice.

to me the big difficulty is when the rythm of the 2 parts is different. Phil Lesh (of grateful dead fame) once said "playing the bass and singing is like trying to dial two different numbers on two different telephones at the same time" - and that was in the days of rotary phones

**David Wilson** · #4 02-11-2005, 05:14 PM

it's tough, for sure. Like Harry and IvanMike said, practice is the key.

I did it 15 years ago in a band I was in. Took ages to get it down pat. Then I didn't do backing vox again until a few months ago, and it's been back to square one for me. I'm getting there gradually.

bryan bailey · #5 02-11-2005, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freaky Fender

Practice the line, over and over. To the point where you can watch TV or hold a conversation with someone in person and have it pretty dead on. Then practice it and sing at the same time. Repeat.

That's how Les can do what he does and do vocals.

He'd watch cartoons while practicing.