Bass and singing

[metalbass66]

Yes, i know that there is a sticky posted about this, and yes i have it bookmarked. My band kind of needs help in the singing department. I'm a decent singer, and they want me to help with the lead singing, which I am willing to do. Problem is i have trouble singing and playing bass at the same time. I was wondering if any one has been in my situation and could offer any tips/easy songs to start with.

[cnltb]

I'd start by playing what you sing, as you are singing, then play the root notes of each chord with first little and later more rhythmic variation ,as you sing the melody, build up grooves ect.
The more you excercise the better you'll get( stating the obvious )
Anything by sting or rush might be good for exercise.
Have fun!!

[Kronos]

Try doing the Ace of Spades at a practice for fun. It's easy as all hell, and you can sing along to it as you play.

[Kwesi]

is it even possible to practice that or is it like being double jointed, either you are or not? I like singing and if i could sing and play bass it would be awesome.

[Jim Breece]

I don't think there's a secret trick to it. You just keep doing it until you suck less. It's easier for guitar players than for bass players, but it's fun and fulfilling regardless. My experience is that most of us are willing to bore and annoy the whole neighborhood learning how to play, but most of us quit singing at the third or fourth quavery note. You've already humiliated yourself, now take the next step. Some songs are easy to sing and play, some hard. Find some easy ones to start and the harder ones will follow.

[Kronos]

Originally Posted by Kwesi

is it even possible to practice that or is it like being double jointed, either you are or not? I like singing and if i could sing and play bass it would be awesome.

I couldn't do it at first...

The way I go about it is to make whatever song I'm playing second nature to me. Once you can play it in your sleep, and you're able to let your mind wander while you play, then start thinking about the lyrics as you play. Then you're able to speak the lyrics. Then after that, work on the melody.

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I agree with Kronos, you have to learn the bassline and play it without thinking. After that, you can concentrate on the vocal line. Sometimes simplifying the bassline can work as well to make it easier.

Another thing that has helped me on a few occasions is to write out the rhythm of both the bassline and vocal over each other. Once you see the different rhythms, you can understand what's going on and it will be easier bring both parts together. Reading and writing skills required.

[HMZ]

I can't do. I wish I could. I think its easier to play guitar and sing.But thats just me.

[Plookie]

Originally Posted by Kronos

I couldn't do it at first...

The way I go about it is to make whatever song I'm playing second nature to me. Once you can play it in your sleep, and you're able to let your mind wander while you play, then start thinking about the lyrics as you play. Then you're able to speak the lyrics. Then after that, work on the melody.

I agree with you Kronos:

I always learn the bass lines first, and then the lyrics 2nd. When actually playing the song(s) for the first time whether rehearsal(s) or live, the first few go 'rounds I envision where I should be playing on my bass, you know, the lines. Then the singing part comes to me a bit easier.
Oh yes, I do mess up, but don't dispair. Like Miles Davis said....if you mess up, repeat it! Hahahahaha!

Really, just hone in on your playing and singing together, and watch it all fall in place.

There are a lot of songs, when I'm doing covers that I can't even get near to playing and singing, and I have been singing lead vox and playing the bass guitar for awhile now.

Good luck my bredda!

paste this link, and you can see me pluckin' n thumpin' n singin'.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDA35oSIs38 [/i]

[need4mospd]

Sing along EVERY SINGLE TIME you practice by yourself. On EVERY song, not just the ones you have to sing on. Sing along during band practice to the songs you're not singing, just don't sing into the mic. Every chance you get to sing at the same time, do it. I went from sucking terribly a couple months ago to doing a show last night and singing 4-5 lead songs that rocked the house. Ok, it was mostly old people, but they still rocked.

[HMZ]

Originally Posted by need4mospd

Sing along EVERY SINGLE TIME you practice by yourself. On EVERY song, not just the ones you have to sing on. Sing along during band practice to the songs you're not singing, just don't sing into the mic. Every chance you get to sing at the same time, do it. I went from sucking terribly a couple months ago to doing a show last night and singing 4-5 lead songs that rocked the house. Ok, it was mostly old people, but they still rocked.

We Call that a blue hair gig. Old people can be fun.

[ThunderLizard]

Metal-
To paraphrase the great boxing coach Cus DeMato 'You got to let your hands go, kid'!!
The only way I could do it when I started singing was to play some eight's or quarter's on the root note. But after a while, I was able to keep some 1,3,5 progressions going.
Just remember that singing lead or backup is one more tool in your inventory. When you reach a certain level, it's almost expected. It helps your band and it will certainly raise your value as a musician.
Good Luck To You!!

[snowbird]

The reason it's so difficult for bassists to sing well and play well at the same time is that it involves singing and playing two different lines/melodies at the same time and often two different rhythms at the same time. Rhythm guitarists can do it because they're playing mostly chords. Lead guitarists usually don't sing along with a lead lick. Frankly, even though I do sing some, I can only do it by dumbing down the bass part which I don't like doing. Some of the previous posts should be helpful if you keep working at it.

As to how many of the top bass players sing, it's really hard to tell sometimes. Jaco? He's listed with vocals on at least one album I have. Vic Wooten? I have no idea. When vocals are listed on an album, it may just be backup which just about anyone can do. Depends on the kind of music you're playing, too!

Good luck!

Chris

[RickenBoogie]

It's definately a tough one. I can only manage some backing vocals, but my bass lines become very simple to do it. I suppose determination and practice are the only route to making it better.

[mjolnir]

Vic sings, or live at least. Listen to his live version of Me and My Bass Guitar, that's him.

Then again, Vic is like the bass guru.

[snowbird]

I'll put Vic on right now. Just got that 2-cd set as a gift and haven't heard all of it yet. And I agree with you about Vic being the current bass guru, par excellénce! Thanks!

Chris

[mjolnir]

Check out Good People and U Can't Hold No Groove, too. Think he sings in those...

[snowbird]

I just listened to "Me and My Guitar," and in all due respect, that is great rap but it is not singing. There is no discernable melodic line at all. Also, I could do without the one full minute of talk at the beginning. But it was worth the wait, especially for the final few bars. Thanks for the tip!

Chris

[mjolnir]

...Erm. Yeah, I forgot to mention he was basically just talking, but the point is he was doing it in the middle of a bass riff. He actually does sing in U Can't Hold No Groove, though I'm not entirely sure that' him in Good People.

[manjar]

I do a lot of singing and playing together, and I would *not* say that it comes naturally to me. In fact, I used to go to great lengths to avoid it, until I found a reliable method for getting through the learning process. Here's how I approach it:

First, the rote part, which does not require much focus or thought.
* completely write and/or learn the bass part until you can play it without thinking about it
* do the same for the vocal part.

Now, start thinking again.
* specifically, try to mentally "hear" the combination of both "lines" as one line, kind of the way you hear a drum pattern as one pattern even though it is played on many individual instruments.
* identify the trickier parts and think of them as phrases, again as if they were on a drum kit or other multi-part instrument.

The easy parts are where the vocal line and/or the bass line are doing some steady-state thing, like an eighth-note pedal. The hard parts are where the bass and/or voice are doing something syncopated, especially where the syncopation differs from one to the other. In this case, again really try to hear this passage as "phrase" that simply uses both instruments (bass and voice).

Get used to making lots of mistakes and just dive in. Also, I think it can really help to record yourself doing this (with something like GarageBand) and play it back to hear which parts you need to drill into more (either because you are flat out muffing one or the other parts, or because doing both things at the same time has caused more subtle stylistic problems which you will *never* notice unless you record it and play it back (for the same reason that it is happening in the first place)). I'm the world's biggest advocate of doing this anyway.