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Any singing bass players?

#23
I'd have to say that the most impressive singing bassist I've ever seen was Chris Squire. I know he's not a lead vocalist, but I saw him from the 4th row during the Relayer tour, and he drove me nuts. He'd be playing in one rhythm, singing in a different rhythm, and moving in a third. How does he DO THAT?
Aside from him, Martin Turner from Wishbone Ash was always really good. Jack Bruce, too.
I've done vocals here and there, but it's always been difficult. In one band, things just seemed to fall in place; I wish I could tell you how I did it, but I don't really know.
 
#24
I play the bass and sing in my band, Rainy Daze. It's a blast. All you really have to do is let go. Don't think about it too much, or else you'll get confused. Knowing the two parts by heart will make this MUCH easier, obviously! It does take some practice, because you're really expressing two different beats, most of the time. Take one at a time, when you're learning, and then just put them together, even when you're not completely sure of yourself. Maybe pick up the tempo a bit, and it's even easier. You don't have time to thing too much that way. Surprisingly enough, it works! Keep at it!

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Jennifer Elaine
 
#25
Wow !!!
I see no mention of Gene Simmons' ability to sing and play.
The band I was in in Sicily, I was the front man by default. The drummer would sing a few, but our guitarist was adament about NOT singing (I think he was just shy).

My easiest songs to sing and play are:

Rock and Roll All Nite - KISS
Nothin' to do with Love - Kenny Wayne
Higher - Creed
Livin after Midnite - Judas Priest

They're several others but these come to mind.
Livin after midnite is old and to some "cheesy", but is sooo easy, and a crowd favorite.

Believe me, I'd rather jump around and play off my drummer all nite, but sometimes you gotta step up to the mic, and do your part.

It's fun too!!!


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Michael Scott Shelton
Bass player "Medicine Stick"
 
#26
Wow !!!
I see no mention of Gene Simmons' ability to sing and play.
The band I was in in Sicily, I was the front man by default. The drummer would sing a few, but our guitarist was adament about NOT singing (I think he was just shy).

My easiest songs to sing and play are:

Rock and Roll All Nite - KISS
Nothin' to do with Love - Kenny Wayne
Higher - Creed
Livin after Midnite - Judas Priest

They're several others but these come to mind.
Livin after midnite is old and to some "cheesy", but is sooo easy, and a crowd favorite.

Believe me, I'd rather jump around and play off my drummer all nite, but sometimes you gotta step up to the mic, and do your part.

It's fun too!!!


------------------
Michael Scott Shelton
Bass player "Medicine Stick"
 
#27
has anyone hear heard of blink 182? well i have, and even though he makes a few mistakes here and there, (a lot), he can still sing and play bass at the same time. they are my second favorite band, other than the offspring. rock on, dudes!

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#28
i'm just starting out in a band and have been kind of delegated the role of lead singer. i actually quite like it. i also like to nail the bass lines before i attempt to put the two together. it also helps that we play songs i already know the words to. i find it pretty darn easy and satisfying to do both at the same time. i express myself two ways then; more range i guess. but then again i can sing......

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sitting on a castle, on the floor with Ezmeralda, waiting for the geezer, captain crunch to come around. felling suicidal 'cos of certain situations, hanging from the stairs too long, i think i'm coming down....it's time to CRASH!!!
 
#30
Gman, I was, and sometimes still am like you even though I sing about 20% of our stuff. I know that most of the time my playing suffers on those songs where I do vocals. It does get better, albeit slowly.

I know everyone says get the bass part down and then learn the vocal part, and I agree, although I usually learn them at the same time. However, the songs I do best are the ones where the vocals are on autopilot and I can concentrate on the "feel" of the bass part. But then I think almost anyone can play bass, what separates us is those who play with feeling even the most simple of lines.
 
#31

I was once reminded by a great lady who played upright bass and sang that no matter how good you are on any instrument, music is really about singing. She believed anyone who plays should learn to sing, even if its only a couple of songs.
I took her advice and learned to sing a simple tune. Singing is like learning an instrument. After a while I managed to stay on pitch all the way through the song and then learned another one. I can now get through half a dozen songs. You don't need to have a great voice but you have to learn to stay on pitch. No-one will ever hire me to be a lead singer but what the heck....knowing a song or two has served me well in jam sessions.
I'm glad I took the lady's advice because without it I would probably have never attempted to sing on my own. Its great fun too. I also found it makes it easier to find a few more melody notes in simple bass lines to make your playing a bit more musical. I also find singing helps get a better feel in your bass playing too
Thanks for starting this thread...some good posts.

 
#32
yeh i do lead v's but then again both me and the guitarist do lead v's more in a blink182 fashion. there is a little rule i tend to keep myself to that is
if the riff your going to play to the song is hard, well u havent got a guitarist or friends for nothing
but if you are going to lead the voc's for a song that is quite hard, get your band together and practise it as much as possible and dont even think of doing a gig with that song on the play list until u can sing it atleast 3-4 times without budgen up
 
#34
I've always been able to sing, but I've always been reluctant to sing in public. I'm a good singer, so I've been told be those who've heard me in the car or messin around, but playing and singing has always been intimidating. Thanks for this thread because you guys have inspired me to take my talents to another level. I'm gonna start learning to sing and play at the same time so I can kill those haromonys. I hear them in my head, now everybody else is gonna hear them too. The guitar player I work with has been trying to talk me into doing backups for awhile now. I'm gonna do it. I love you guys! :D

(not in gay sort of way.*)




[*...not that there's anything wrong with that :D]
 
#35
I am the lead singer in my band.
I always warm up my voice before going on stage. Then the guys and I pour down a couple of beers (You can drink when you're 16 in Denmark na na na :p ). I love singing and playing. If there is a tone I can't hit I just yell as loud as I can. (We play Rock&metal..)

~Lox~ (An Englishman in Copenhagen ;))
 
#40
Inspired by Mark King and Geddy Lee, I have tried my hand at singing and playing bass. I'm no legend, but I've done a few Killers covers for a laugh that worked out pretty nicely. I often like to play and sing along with Paul SImon's "Graceland", though when I'm live I really just prefer to play bass!
 

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