Singing while bassing.

Ste_m3 · #1 07-06-2006, 04:18 PM

does anyone find this quite as hard as i do?

I started with a bass. and have slowly taught myself acoustic guitar in my spare time for acoustic sets aswell. however, i find it much, much easier to sing whilst playing guitar than i do with bass. Also adding, i am NOT the lead singer, simply one of two backing singers.

im wondering if perhaps it has something to do with the vocals following a melody (explaining why i can sing whilst guitaring) and the bass playing the root etc etc. On the other hand, in our acoustic sets i only play root chords also...

im sure it will be one of those practise makes perfect things, but would like some exterior input!

thnking you /Ste

superbassman2000 · #2 07-06-2006, 07:57 PM

all it does is take practice...and don't start off with super hard songs, and i would suggest practicing with songs where the bassline is similar to the vocal line...i suggest something like sunshine of your love by cream

Spector_Ray · #3 07-06-2006, 07:59 PM

Practice, practice, practice. When I started playing when I was 14 during the L.A. metal years, I found it hard thumping an A groove and singing. As the years progressed along with my playing and singing, it's just now(in the last few years) started feeling like second nature.

mrmoonjam · #4 07-06-2006, 09:35 PM

Another vote for practice, it will keep getting easier! For me, the big problem is not the difference between the sung note and the note I'm playing. What trips me up are the rhythmic differences, usually somewhat syncopated vocal phrasing and usually fairly straightforwaard bass rhythm... or singing fairly straight on against a shuffle bass line. BUT: it keeps getting easier.

**Ryan L.** · #5 07-07-2006, 06:26 AM

Bassist's Guide to Singing

ihateusernames · #6 07-07-2006, 07:09 AM

The link is a good read.

As a 20 year guitar player I found that the syncopation of some songs could make it nearly impossible to sing with. Both for myself and in watching other players. Singing while strumming along on an acoustic is usually effortless for most players.

From an audience standpoint I feel that the role of a bass player or drummer is too important for them to be singing, regardless of talent. If their singing voice is that good they should drop the instrument and front the/a band.

That opinion is intensified every time a beat is off or a note is dropped just to make sure the vocal is there. A once in a while harmony, when required by the song, is okay, provided the music is covered as accurately as when not singing. This is where one or the other, or preferrably both are done on a virtually subconscious level. Again, all just IMHO.

I've seen bands play far more times than I've been on stage myself, and I've left bars and not returned to see bands more often than not because of players trying to pull off more than the song needed and over-estimating their talent and abilities.

Oh, forgot to answer the question. I do find singing while playing bass a bit more difficult than when playing guitar. Could be because I'm not 100% comfortable on the bass yet. I'll stand by my opinion that my job in the overall quality of the band is to glue things together and play solid lines that are accurate.

Precious · #7 07-07-2006, 07:14 AM

You know, lip-synching is EVEN HARDER!

mrmoonjam · #8 07-07-2006, 08:39 AM

I forgot to answer the ? too: singing and playing guitar is much, much, much easier for me. Not really a problem at all.

morf · #9 07-07-2006, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superbassman2000

all it does is take practice...and don't start off with super hard songs, and i would suggest practicing with songs where the bassline is similar to the vocal line...i suggest something like sunshine of your love by cream

I thought that was an Iron Butterfly song... Oh well, guess they must have covered it.

Basso Mempho · #10 07-07-2006, 12:25 PM

It must take tremendous talent and relentless practice... I have not been able to pull this off so far. Singing works fine with guitar most of the time, but I think trying to concentrate on the bass rhythm and get the phrasing right in a song is like patting your head and rubbing your stomach.

Spector_Ray · #11 07-07-2006, 04:13 PM

Quote:

From an audience standpoint I feel that the role of a bass player or drummer is too important for them to be singing, regardless of talent. If their singing voice is that good they should drop the instrument and front the/a band.

Tell that to dUg Pinnick, Geddy Lee, Sting, Don Henley, Gil Moore(Triumph)etc! I find it rather awesome that these guys are so talented in their craft that they can pull off both feats remarkably well.

mrmoonjam · #12 07-07-2006, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spector_Ray

Tell that to dUg Pinnick, Geddy Lee, Sting, Don Henley, Gil Moore(Triumph)etc! I find it rather awesome that these guys are so talented in their craft that they can pull off both feats remarkably well.

...oh yeah, and that McCartney guy!

Spector_Ray · #13 07-07-2006, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrmoonjam

...oh yeah, and that McCartney guy!

Holy crap....how could I forget that McCartney guy and that Bruce dude???

The Golden Boy · #14 07-07-2006, 05:57 PM

It's just much more difficult to sing and play bass.

The only thing you can do is "practice, practice, practice."

(does anyone remember those Miller Lite ads with Paul Hornung?)

B-NoteCowboy · #15 07-08-2006, 01:43 PM

It's harder because the bass is both a percussive rhythm instrument AND a melodic instrument. So, not only do you have to play the right thing, you have to play it in time and tempo - whereas with guitar you may be holding a chord or strumming instead of walking and playing a whole line.

It's not that hard when the vocals match up in both melody and beat progression but when they diverge - it's tricky as hell.

From an audience standpoint I feel that the role of a bass player or drummer is too important for them to be singing, regardless of talent. If their singing voice is that good they should drop the instrument and front the/a band.

This is just way too broad a statement. If the music they are playing allows for them to do both without sacrificing one over the other, than why shouldn't they? I sing nearly half of our leads and it just takes a little longer to learn than when I'm only singing backup. I would add Thin Lizzy and KISS as other bands with singing bassists who do just fine.

ihateusernames · #16 07-08-2006, 01:51 PM

Wow, I've been reading these forums for months before joining and posting. It seemed way more easy going than the crap on HC.

One of my first five posts gets analyzed and picked apart because I stated my opinion. Sorry for bothering everyone and taking up bandwidth. (and my comments are in reference to local hobbyist musicians, professionals are in a completely different league...but that's probabally too general of a statement for this forum)

I'll resort to trolling from here on. Don't misunderstand this as taking things personally, I just got a better feeling about this community than HC. How little difference there is.....

vindy500 · #17 07-08-2006, 01:54 PM

dude you said something contreversial that people didnt agree with. they made there disagreement vocal... dont be discouraged. if you want everyone to agree with you always just say nice things like... bunnys are cute, rabbits are cute, 18 strings are cute ect...

B-NoteCowboy · #18 07-08-2006, 02:00 PM

I'll resort to trolling from here on. Don't misunderstand this as taking things personally, I just got a better feeling about this community than HC. How little difference there is.....

What did you expect exactly? Many of us are bassists and lead vocalists and don't really think we are sacrificing one for the other. You basically said from your perspective, if I'm going to waste my time singing - I should drop out of the rhythm section and play a sixer. No thanks.

Trolling is probably a good idea if you don't like anyone disagreeing with you.

Spector_Ray · #19 07-08-2006, 03:22 PM

The problem with typing stuff on a forum is that the author's meaning is lost because there's no way to gauge their attitude solely on their words. When I replied to your original post, I just meant that me, personally, as an audience member enjoy seeing people play and sing at the same time, especially during a difficult piece. I just stated my opinion as you stated yours and just as you did, I did mine with no malice or sarcasm intended.

Tingly · #20 07-08-2006, 05:10 PM

"I do find singing while playing bass a bit more difficult than when playing guitar."

I agree. But, like anything else, if you practice, it gets easier, and you will get better at it.