They sure are hoping for a lot... singing bass player

Busker · #1 02-01-2009, 07:29 AM

Wanting a bass player that can play solid bass and sing three part harmonies, and be ready to go in 4 weeks or so? If a band can find a bassist of that caliber that's willing to do so for a few hundred bucks a month in gig money, good for them. I guess if a person has been playing bass and singing harmonies for 20 years, no problem. Then there's guys like me, where singing and playing bass at the same time does not come naturally, it would take a lot of work. I know, if I can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.

I've been looking around for a band. This is what I'm running into. I have been s-l-o-w-l-y working on some vocals on my own time. But to learn all the basslines to 30 or 40 songs, plus memorize lyrics and harmony parts, in a short amount of time?

FWIW, I've been in a few bands that were just happy to have a bass player and didn't care if the bassist could sing or not.

tranceFusion · #2 02-01-2009, 07:36 AM

I wish I was able to sing while playing. I think I am a chronic single-tasker.

Anyway, to respond more directly to your post, I would think that if you can sing while playing, and it will improve the band, then by not doing so you are potentially hampering the success of the band due to your unwillingness/laziness/whatever you want to call it.

Maybe these bands would be happy with you learning the bass line in the short term and enhancing the songs with vocal harmonies down the road?

stflbn · #3 02-01-2009, 07:42 AM

Improves the band. Allows a band to do more with less people. Greatly improves you value to bands. Also greatly increase the challenge and reward in playing.

IMHO.

Been doing what you explained above for 25 years.

.

Busker · #4 02-01-2009, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stflbn

Improves the band. Allows a band to do more with less people. Greatly improves you value to bands. Also greatly increase the challenge and reward in playing.

IMHO.

Been doing what you explained above for 25 years.

.

Oh, I understand why they want a singing bassist. But I was thinking privately that if a bassist were that good he probably wouldn't be playing juke joints in the Midwest for peanuts. He'd probably be in Nashville, Branson, Las Vegas or L.A. or somewhere, and playing shows regularly and making better $$, maybe even a living.

I do see you're in Nashville.

**john turner** · #5 02-01-2009, 07:56 AM

was this from a band ad? where's the link?

Busker · #6 02-01-2009, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john turner

was this from a band ad? where's the link?

I won't post a link. What for? No offense to you, but I remember one guy who posted a link to a band's myspace, that he tried out for. Said they sucked and all that, then the band found out, came here and blasted the guy. Besides, its not only one band I'm talking about. Its bands in general really.

**john turner** · #7 02-01-2009, 08:05 AM

what for? because i'm interested in what they're doing. i happen to like harmony vocals, and if they request that level of performer from a bassist, i'm interested to see if they actually require it.

no ulterior motives here

.

Busker · #8 02-01-2009, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john turner

what for? because i'm interested in what they're doing. i happen to like harmony vocals, and if they request that level of performer from a bassist, i'm interested to see if they actually require it.

no ulterior motives here

.

Well, I see the ad has been deleted anyway. Maybe they found the right person. And of course, it probably wasn't absolutely required. But its what they wanted.

Of course, I might be guilty of assumptions. I know they have shows coming up in about 4 weeks or so. So I just assumed they expected a person to be ready in short order. I could be wrong, and maybe they'd be happy with vocals being worked in gradually.

jmccain · #9 02-01-2009, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Busker

Wanting a bass player that can play solid bass and sing three part harmonies,...

I couldn't do that without a couple of more mouths.

Intune · #10 02-01-2009, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmccain

I couldn't do that without a couple of more mouths.

How 'bout cranking out a lead vocal, a harmony wheeze & a whistling booger? O.K., knee cymbals too...

JustDavid · #11 02-01-2009, 10:32 AM

I dunno; it's their ad. Players exist, even around here, who'd do that. I'd imagine they'd be pretty intolerant of prima donna BS in a band they've joined; that 'package of skills' is easy to sell bands.

Busker · #12 02-01-2009, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustDavid

I dunno; it's their ad. Players exist, even around here, who'd do that. I'd imagine they'd be pretty intolerant of prima donna BS; that package is easy to sell bands.

Not sure what your meaning is. Are you saying I'm being a prima donna? Hey, I don't care if they want a singing bass player. They can want a bass player who can do back flips while reciting the Magna Carta, that's their right. I'm just not the one who can do it. And I will have to come to terms with that, or work harder on improving my chops. That's essentially what I was trying to say.

JustDavid · #13 02-01-2009, 11:13 AM

Edited for clarity; try it now.

Me, I'm never going to be a singer. Unless I join a Bob Dylan/Leonard Cohen cover band

But there are different skills you can bundle in; I'm pretty good at Sound & Stagecraft.

Busker · #14 02-01-2009, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustDavid

Edited for clarity; try it now.

Me, I'm never going to be a singer. Unless I join a Bob Dylan/Leonard Cohen cover band

But there are different skills you can bundle in; I'm pretty good at Sound & Stagecraft.

LOL. Thanks. Sometimes I think the best thing for me to do would be to take a few months, or 6 months, away from any band and just stay home and build chops.

I do enjoy learning songs on bass. And I did learn some simple harmony parts to a song last week. But it was simple, and not a lot of lines that required harmony. Just one line of harmony per verse, until the last verse, when the harmony had more to do. Not a real hard song to sing and play bass to. But a person has to start somewhere.

Chad Michael · #15 02-01-2009, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Busker

....I do enjoy learning songs on bass. And I did learn some simple harmony parts to a song last week. .... But a person has to start somewhere.

There you go Busker, you've got the right attitude and you're on your way.

Regarding a band's interest in hiring you:

1) honesty (bs artists always show their true colors eventually)
2) people skills
3) be flexible (song selection, schedule, etc.)
4) ability to sing, even in limited amounts

D.A.R.K. · #16 02-01-2009, 12:10 PM

you forgot:
5. owing a van
6. owning a pa
7. having a tust fund
(i kid! well...not really....)

Jefenator · #17 02-01-2009, 12:59 PM

I got coerced in to singing backup, way back when. Never did me any harm. *twitch*

Obviously it's not for everyone. But if you can manage at all, it certainly is an asset, even in a small town scene. (I'd say especially in a small town scene - how many ways do you really want to split $200?)

vinny · #18 02-01-2009, 02:43 PM

If we're talking covers here, and if you can sing at all in the shower, there are twenty or so tunes (like Keep Your Hands To Yourself, Lie To Me, & Old Time Rock & Roll) you could sing lead for. Then a bunch more that you can learn the harmony parts fairly quickly.

If you commit to doing it your stock as a bass player rises drastically. Plus, as was said, you can potentially split gig money one fewer ways. It's worth learning to do. It was very hard for me at first, but the more you do it the easier it gets. I find myself doing parts now that I used to be convinced I could never learn.

BTW, I'm neither a great player or a great singer. However the fact that I can do both together (reasonably well) gives me options that I might not otherwise have.

FenderP · #19 02-01-2009, 05:11 PM

I have played bass and keys in a band (including playing keys with my feet while playing bass) for awhile, and multi-tasking certainly takes work but isn't impossible. I've done minimal backing vox, but I agree it's better sometimes to bring more to the table than less if you can. Nothing wrong with being "just" a bass player, either.

Toshiro · #20 02-01-2009, 05:19 PM

IMO, the band OP referred to is looking for someone with specific skills. Sounds perfectly reasonable to me. Sure, really good singing bass players are kind rare, but better to set out
the requirements instead of something vague.

I'm not a great singer, but there are a couple handfuls of songs I can sing while I'm playing. As long as the bass part isn't too busy I can usually croak out something.