Singing and playing

[Leftybass12]

Hello, I've been playing bass for around 3 years now. I want to start sining and playing bass, mostly 'cause i'm in a three piece band (guitar, bass, singer). I have been singing in choir for the past seven years so I have the ability to sing well, but I have a problem with singing and playing. I cannot sing and play at the same time because I find myself unable to sing a vocal melody because I am concentrating too much on what my fingers are doing and I find myself being sucked into playing the same note I am playing on the bass. Any suggestions on how I can find some middle ground? Also, I don't know if this will help at all, but when I sing in choir I sing a low bass to baritone range.

[Howlin' Hanson]

There's a whole thread (stickied) in Band Management. Bassist's Guide to Singing

Good luck.

[Dirk Diggler]

For me I always had to get my bass parts down cold so I don't even have to think of playing them, get it automatic first.
Then you can concentrate on singing.
Good luck,
Dirk

[ggunn]

Originally Posted by Leftybass12

Hello, I've been playing bass for around 3 years now. I want to start sining and playing bass, mostly 'cause i'm in a three piece band (guitar, bass, singer). I have been singing in choir for the past seven years so I have the ability to sing well, but I have a problem with singing and playing. I cannot sing and play at the same time because I find myself unable to sing a vocal melody because I am concentrating too much on what my fingers are doing and I find myself being sucked into playing the same note I am playing on the bass. Any suggestions on how I can find some middle ground? Also, I don't know if this will help at all, but when I sing in choir I sing a low bass to baritone range.

There's nothing to it but practice.

[Bard2dbone]

Originally Posted by Dirk Diggler

For me I always had to get my bass parts down cold so I don't even have to think of playing them, get it automatic first.
Then you can concentrate on singing.
Good luck,
Dirk

DINGDINGDINGDINGDINGDINGDING! We have a winner!


This is the biggest key to singing and playing. What is messing you up is that you have to think too hard about your playing so far to sing over it. It's almost as bad when you have to think too hard about your singing while you're trying to play under it.

When you can do one of the two COMPLETELY on autopilot, then you can do the other simultaneously with much much less difficulty.

The first song I was supposed to sing backup on had no bass part playing under the part I was supposed to sing. And yet when that part of the song came up, I couldn't make a sound. But only about four months later I had to sing Billy Joel's 'Just The Way You Are' while playing bass and got compliments on my singing.

It's all about the autopilot.

[SelenaBassGirl]

I have the same issue..I sing karaoke and I play bass..but together?? NO! can't even hold a conversation while playing. Only one song I can talk thru whole thing and that is The Reason by Hoobastank..strange

[groove pump]

When I have a tough combo of vocals and a bass line that are really out of synch with each other, I practice the parts together while I'm jamming by myself... in my room... with the door shut! If I make a train wreck of it for a little bit, I can start to find the fit.

Sometimes getting a vocal part is easier while I'm just thumping quarter or half notes on the bass, even if that's not what works in the song. It's also much easier for me to do that tricky double duty in a live setting when I can hear everything well. Get enough of yourself in the monitor and it's easier to sing unconsciously once you know the part.