Any tips on being the singer/songwriter/bassplayer?

After many years of wanting to do it, I finally have my own band playing my own tunes (mainly) We've done four gigs in the past couple of months and have a headline gig coming up in a month. I've got to admit though, that while I've been the lead singer/bass player before, and I've got a few gigs on bass under my belt, doing it all at once with my own tunes and being the band leader is harder than I thought it would be!

What I'm finding is that I've got so much stuff on my mind, e.g. sing well, get a decent mix, don't play too loud, don't sing too loud, don't sing too soft, is the guitarist loud enough, etc etc and trying not to forget my own lyrics , I'm forgetting basics like making sure I'm getting a decent bass tone and getting right into the groove with the drummer... The end result is the band is sounding good, but not *great*. (I'm pretty sure we sound better and have more punch in rehearsals than at gigs)

I know this will get better with time as we get more gigs under our belt and I get settled into the role, but has anybody got any tips or advice they'd like to offer?

cheers,
chili

[BritPicker]

Originally Posted by lemonchili

After many years of wanting to do it, I finally have my own band playing my own tunes (mainly) We've done four gigs in the past couple of months and have a headline gig coming up in a month. I've got to admit though, that while I've been the lead singer/bass player before, and I've got a few gigs on bass under my belt, doing it all at once with my own tunes and being the band leader is harder than I thought it would be!

What I'm finding is that I've got so much stuff on my mind, e.g. sing well, get a decent mix, don't play too loud, don't sing too loud, don't sing too soft, is the guitarist loud enough, etc etc and trying not to forget my own lyrics , I'm forgetting basics like making sure I'm getting a decent bass tone and getting right into the groove with the drummer... The end result is the band is sounding good, but not *great*. (I'm pretty sure we sound better and have more punch in rehearsals than at gigs)

I know this will get better with time as we get more gigs under our belt and I get settled into the role, but has anybody got any tips or advice they'd like to offer?

cheers,
chili

I'm in the same boat as you! I'm the lead singer, write the lyrics and generally coordinate the whole thing in my 3-piece band.

It's an unusual and hard role, the bass/lead vocals, holding down that bottom-end and trying to remember words and project the personality on the top line. Many people just can't do it at all, so you're a member of a small but cool club (jack Bruce, Sting etc etc).

My tips would be:

1. Keep your bass adjustments and pedal action to a bare minimum. Cut out as many of these as you can. This will also help you to 'home in' on your good sound. I went to the extreme of cutting stuff from my pedal board that I hardly used and rewiring my jazz bass to have just 1 volume control.

Having a pedal board is good as I can set up in 5 minutes.

2. In your personal practice time, learn those lines thoroughly so you play them on 'automatic'. Try to play 'without thinking' - let those fingers do their stuff and don't worry about it. Obviously this takes time and effort to get into this zone, but the fact that you feel you do better in rehearsal says that you perform better when relaxed (don't we all), so you need to LEARN how to relax when doing that gig.

3. As for the 'mix', let the sound guy worry about it and concentrate on the singing and save any adjustments for inbetween songs. Hopefully with your simpler set up all you will need to do is adjust the volume.

4. I have my own microphone that I use at gigs/rehearsals - this enables me to learn the best mouth/mic placement so I can eliminate all the variables. For example, we have a song that has a kind of 'spoken/singing' verse (think the verses of Pulp's 'Common People'), then a screamy singing chorus. I know that my lips should just brush the mic on the verses but I back off 2 inches for the choruses. Having your own mic means you know the way it responds to distance. (plus its more hygienic!)

5. Try to get the band to educate themselves as to their own volume. Tell them that THEY need to think about it as you need to concentrate on your job.

6. I make 'cheat sheets' of lyrics - usually just first lines, printed out in big font so i can read it from its place on the floor next to my pedal board, or propped on the monitor. Usually I hardly look at it, but it makes me less nervous, knowing that I can.

7. Simplify your basslines where appropriate, especially when singing. Simple is often better anyway.

So in summary: simplify, eliminate variables, delegate responsibilities, prepare.

Good luck!!!



edit: hey just looked at your myspace.. we're in the same country, lol! That's a cool-looking bass you have there. No sounds though, I wanted to hear you!

[chaunceytoben]

^^^Thats some pretty good advice above. It's really important that you remember that in any band situation, the vocals are the most important element. Make sure those have your priority (i.e. it may be necessary to have your bass playing take a hit if it means more succesful vocals...basically what was said above).

Thanks, they are some good tips and the kind of thing I needed to hear to clarify what to fix first. At work at the moment, but will write more later.

Britpicker - where are you? I'm in Brisbane.

What's with myspace these days? I'm getting the occassional message that the player doesn't work

[BritPicker]

Originally Posted by lemonchili

Thanks, they are some good tips and the kind of thing I needed to hear to clarify what to fix first. At work at the moment, but will write more later.

Britpicker - where are you? I'm in Brisbane.

What's with myspace these days? I'm getting the occassional message that the player doesn't work

Melbourne. Our drummer's from Brisbane. Can't even SEE your player in myspace. Other people's are OK.

[BritPicker]

There's just a big gap where it should be. Can't see your friends or any comments either.

Not sure what's happening there, and I can't check myspace from work
You can find us on facebook if you search for "the lemonchili project" though

[BritPicker]

Originally Posted by lemonchili

Not sure what's happening there, and I can't check myspace from work
You can find us on facebook if you search for "the lemonchili project" though

I've figured it out.. for some reason the player, 'upcoming shows', 'friends' and 'comments' boxes are positioned far to the right, and so are nor visible until I scroll to them. I think it's something to do with your 'about' box being very wide.

[fdeck]

If you're writing the material, make sure you copyright it.

Originally Posted by BritPicker

I've figured it out.. for some reason the player, 'upcoming shows', 'friends' and 'comments' boxes are positioned far to the right, and so are nor visible until I scroll to them. I think it's something to do with your 'about' box being very wide.

Hmmm... This happened a while ago and I thought it was fixed On my computers it looks like this...


Copyright is noted on my songs here and there, but I'm in the process of registering my originals with the Australian Performing Rights Assoc which should sort that out.

Re the earlier points...
1. My pedal and amp setup is simple, but I use a 4 and a 5-string and play a couple of acoustic solo tunes too. Setting up the acoustic is providing some drama's so I'm going to try and sort out a way to eliminate having to play the acoustic so that will be one less thing to worry about.

2. Yeah... I see what you mean. I should practice singing and playing more on my own than I do...

3 & 5 The band mix is probably the most distracting thing for me. The venue we've been playing has a powered mixer and it's pretty much up to the band to set it. I don't have the experience to get a good vocal sound out of it and I tend to set the vocals too low compared to the band.
This venue is easy to hit the noise limit, but we seem to be getting a handle on getting a balanced sound just under the limit, but the sound on the small stage is pretty bad, very hard to hear my own bass...
I'm thinking of trying to find someone to look after the mix for us, not sure who yet, but someone who is into the band and know's what they're doing.

4. I have my own mic, a beaten up old SM58 that I love, but need to mess around more and learn more about mic technique. I start singing lessons on wednesday which should help

6 and 7 Some cheat sheets and simplifying my playing is a good idea.

I am realising how much the vocals can make or break the gig, and my confidence and comfort with the mix on a particular night has a lot to do with that... I'm hoping the singing lessons will help.

I'm also making plans to do rehearsals with just the drummer to really get the feel right, so we can be "in the pocket" no matter how good or bad the mix is.

[bassbenj]

Originally Posted by chaunceytoben

^^^Thats some pretty good advice above. It's really important that you remember that in any band situation, the vocals are the most important element. Make sure those have your priority (i.e. it may be necessary to have your bass playing take a hit if it means more succesful vocals...basically what was said above).

I agree that Britpicker's advice is spot on and vocals are the important thing. My experience is that playing bass and singing lead is a VERY difficult thing to do for some reason. That is why I typically don't do it! Playing guitar and singing is MUCH MUCH easier.

My theory is that typically a bass and a frontman (singer/guitarist) have two different roles in a band. The frontman is to dazzle the audience and pull them in with force of personality. The bass player on the other hand is to use his instrument and musical skills to dictate what the band is going to do! If you try to do both you end up overwhelmed and nothing gets done right! If you are singing (or playing guitar) and the guitar stops or the singer shuts up, the music goes on. If the bass player drops out, the life drains from the band!

Thus the simple solution is to learn some simple changes on guitar and let someone else drive the band. Put the force of your personality into you vocals to hold the audience. That is my solution. Sometimes even minimal guitar accompaniment can detract from the force and control of your vocals. Which leads to another "answer" which is to practice your butt off! Get those accompaniment parts so cold that you can do them in your sleep. That again leaves you some residual brain cells to deal with your vocal duties.

So yes, singing and playing bass is VERY difficult for nearly everyone, not just you and me, and if you are determined to go that route then expect to really have to put in some serious effort to get your performances down to automatic routine.

[Moe Monsarrat]

Being a bass playing lead singing frontman for over 40 yrs & writing nearly all the material, I have a few things to offer. 1. Be in control of the drive and attitude of the band. After all they're your songs & if you aren't confidant who else can be? 2. Control the band's volume with your bass volume. If you play with pros, they will follow you when you turn down....they have to. 3. Always make the vocals the loudest thing in the mix. What's the sense of writing lyrics no one can hear? 4. Pay everybody every time. You're the band leader & your bandmates must have confidence & trust in you.

[BritPicker]

Originally Posted by lemonchili

Hmmm... This happened a while ago and I thought it was fixed On my computers it looks like this...
Attachment 153948

This is how it looks to me - zoomed out so you can see what's happening - at normal resolution you can't see the player / friends until you scroll. Looks like you've got some funny codes in there that you need to remove.

[John Wentzien]

Originally Posted by Moe Monsarrat

Being a bass playing lead singing frontman for over 40 yrs & writing nearly all the material, I have a few things to offer. 1. Be in control of the drive and attitude of the band. After all they're your songs & if you aren't confidant who else can be? 2. Control the band's volume with your bass volume. If you play with pros, they will follow you when you turn down....they have to. 3. Always make the vocals the loudest thing in the mix. What's the sense of writing lyrics no one can hear? 4. Pay everybody every time. You're the band leader & your bandmates must have confidence & trust in you.

Good advise!
As Sting stated "I need a Benevolent Dictatorship" to operate.
(one of the reasons he left the Police)
But...with this is a lot of responsibility.

[BritPicker]

Originally Posted by lemonchili

3 & 5 The band mix is probably the most distracting thing for me. The venue we've been playing has a powered mixer and it's pretty much up to the band to set it. I don't have the experience to get a good vocal sound out of it and I tend to set the vocals too low compared to the band.
This venue is easy to hit the noise limit, but we seem to be getting a handle on getting a balanced sound just under the limit, but the sound on the small stage is pretty bad, very hard to hear my own bass...
I'm thinking of trying to find someone to look after the mix for us, not sure who yet, but someone who is into the band and know's what they're doing.

When you are setting up I'd try this: Move out front with the mic stand and bass (long lead), have a sing, you can then hear what level you are at out front, just tell the band to keep playing even when you stop to adjust it, and you'll pretty quickly get it. I don't mess about too much with the settings, just set all EQ to mid/zero, maybe a little bass cut on your mic, and a *small* amount of reverb once you have the volume correct. Note these levels, then when you start your set, just give it a notch more volume and make sure no one turns up their amps and messes up your balance!

Getting a friend to keep an eye on the mix at these DIY mix gigs is a good idea, for sure. I also get him to give us a 'thumbs up' during the first song if it's sounding OK. This helps the confidence knowing that out front its all good, even if you can't hear a thing!

[Moe Monsarrat]

Being a musician in a band is a huge responsibility even if you aren't the leader. If you are the leader it's even more....that's why there can be only one. When you walk on stage you assume the responsibility to entertain the audience & give them what they paid for: your talent displayed in a glorious fashion. Later, you are responsible for making sure your band mates are paid, happy & above all...treated fairly. Never dress down a band mate you intend to keep in front of the others. Do it in private. If you do it in front of everyone, you destroy his integrity & the respect of his band mates. Both groups will respect you more if you handle things this way.

[Moe Monsarrat]

PS. the "guy checking to make sure our mix is right" is called "the sound man". Either find a way to communicate with him or bring your own PAID guy who is a bona fide experienced sound tech & have him mix the show. Don't bring some friend who's not on the payroll & maybe not a musician OR a sound professional & have him try to control the sound with hand signals. I don't understand how bands can go through all the trouble & expense & long hours of practice to sound great & then not hire someone with just as much talent to control The Sound. Our sound tech gets the same pay as I do. How could I afford to pay him less? He's holding our whole reason for existence in his hands.

I've often thought about trying to find a 4th member of the band, our own sound guy, and when you say "He's holding our whole reason for existence in his hands" that kind of cements the idea for me. Where to find such a person I'm not so sure, but I'll start asking around, and the local audio engineers school would be a good place to ask too I guess.

While it's accepted I'm the "leader" of the band, and both the drummer and guitarist are generally happy* that everything is done fairly, I wouldn't say they're "inspired" and that's something I need to work on... time to dig out the leadership text books... though a "Benevolent Dictatorship" sounds appealling

(*Maybe not 100% true, but that's another topic.)

I started singing lessons this week and I think that's going to help with a lot of things, particularly related to my confidence on stage

[foq1978]

I really like "Slip Away". You're good: I wish I could play the bass and sing at the same time.

Good luck with the band and the singing lessons!

[Moe Monsarrat]

There are little things you can do to make bandmates feel & be more involved. Include them in the writing process, if possible. You should always refer to the songs as "our songs"...not "my songs". Give them something to be part of & proud of. Put yourself in their shoes and figure how you can make things better for them & their families. Sometimes you will be called on to settle disputes (sometimes even domestic ones). It's a big responsibility and you learn from your mistakes as you go. That's what being a good leader is.