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Any singing bass players?

#41
I sing. I love to sing. Almost as much as I love to play bass. Some days, more.

The hardest song for me in my repertoire is "Gonna Move" by Paul Pena - great song with a pretty busy bass part. Some calypso songs are also challenging because the syncopation of the vocal line is so different from the bass line.

As mentioned, working on each part individually really helps.
When a particular part is really hard, I will sometimes break it down very, very concretely, so I can figure out exactly how the two parts synch up (ah, *this* note in the bass comes on *that* syllable in the vocal, and...).
Sometimes that's what it takes. Not often, but it's been a lifesaver a few times.
 
#42
I'm one. Had a great gig yesterday. I have taken some lessons (but not really that much) and try to follow the singing techniques according to "complete vocal technique". I'm slowly getting a good grasp now on how to do distortion/grit safely, and I used that a lot yesterday without problems. Studying singing technique is definitely worth it if you often get hoarse or just want to expand your register and become more versatile as a singer. Everyone has at least a 3 octave register, and you can learn how to use most of that. Don't think you have a limit at high E or G or something (on the high guitar E string), because that simply isn't true. You can go way higher than that if you just learn how... :)

Playing bass and sing simultaneously is something you learn by doing it. After a while it gets second nature. Anyway, there's always songs that are trickier than others, but analyzing how the parts are in relation to each other rhythmically is very helpful. Nothing replaces the importance of practicing though. :)
 
#43
I sing about 1/4 of my band's repertoire and act as second frontman. Singing itself doesn't come naturally to me, but I've never had a problem singing and playing. I've managed to develop a pretty good voice over the years, but it took a lot of flat and sharp singing (still get it occasionally) to get where I'm at.
 
#45
Singing is how I started. Playing bass makes me indispensible.

I don't sing on Day Tripper and a few others which require more concentration, but I sing lead about 70% of the time, and background otherwise.

And I sing pretty high, so maybe bass playing was to compensate for not hitting all the low notes vocally. :)
 
#49
Here's when I go green eyed envious at all those folks who can sing. I wish I could, but it sounds akin to a baboon being repeatedly neutered with a pair of bricks :(

I agree with everyone as far as Sting goes, infuriatingly talented chap that he is :p
 
#52
I do this song pretty often:



It's a Swedish classic from the 80's, with a very recognizable bassline. It's one of the more difficult songs to play and sing that I do regularly, and it took a good while to make it work fluently. It helps that both the vocals and the bassline are very easy in this song, so all it took was to puzzle the parts together... :)
 
#53
Yes. I'm lead vocals and bass. Like many I suppose, I 'graduated' from backings to lead. This happened quite some years ago in a past band. With nobody else able to sing in that band - which is how it is in my present band - I do it.

To be really honest, I love being the centre of attention on stage :eek: so it siuts me fine. ;)

As I also play unlined fretlesses it gets me to meet some really good bass players (local guys...) who come over and shake hands just because I do lead with that style of bass.

My vocal range is less than 2 octaves and follows an industrial accident about 5 years ago where I breathed in some fumes. I'm more or less restricted to key of G but can, depending on the song, do E or A. For example, though the band doesn't do Beatles songs, there are very few Lennon Mc Cartney numbers I can sing without lowering the key.

Vocal training would be great but, unfortunately, it comes rather low on the list of priorities atm. I've tried the DIY vocal training stuff but find I'm better suited to receiving 'live' help!

John
 
#54
I'm the lead singer in my band. I was the rhythm guitarist, but after going through a few bassists, I became the bassist (which I never played before in my life).

I just play the songs on auto-pilot on bass - I've got a knack for playing on time without thinking about it. That allows me to concentrate on singing. A few songs are a little tricky, where the bass tempo is different from the vocals. But that just takes a little more practice...
 
#55
I've just been elevated to this role as our singer has dissappeared for the next month leaving the band as a 3 piece. Only prob is, my vocal timing, knowing the lyrics, interpereting the groove or even just where the song is going is better than his. I don't really want the job as I prefer to do just backup vox and play bass.
Whilst I have no choice in the matter, I'm sure it will benefit me in the long term even if it is only for the next month.
 
#56
RockNRollAl said:
I'm the lead singer in my band. I was the rhythm guitarist, but after going through a few bassists, I became the bassist (which I never played before in my life).

I just play the songs on auto-pilot on bass - I've got a knack for playing on time without thinking about it. That allows me to concentrate on singing. A few songs are a little tricky, where the bass tempo is different from the vocals. But that just takes a little more practice...
Click to expand...
So how are you liking bass compared to guitar?
 
#58
Thumper said:
My biggest problem is memorizing the words, I still use cheat sheets, they've become a crutch.
Click to expand...

Agreed. I have to do the same (I put it down to being middle aged, tho :eek: ). I have a music stand in front of me with the book of lyrics. I read them / they prompt me as nesc. I simply couldn't operate without this arrangement.

Funnily enough, it seems now to be an accepted of live music. Even for such as bar bands playing blues, there's the music stand with the lyrics. I was really self concious at first but it is accepted so I'm fine with it. The guys in the band have been really supportive over this so all seems well! :hyper:

John
 
#59
I sing and play fretless in a couple different bands. I'm not the #1 singer, but I sing all of my tunes and a few covers I like and can do well.

Some tunes are real easy, but sometimes I'll simplify a bass line a little to make it work.
 
#60
Chris Breese said:
Is there anyone out there who is a frontman/lead singer too? This is kind of inspired by the latest Bass Player mag. The lead singer in our classic rock band "retired" shortly after the new year, and the remaining members (3 including myself) have taken on the responsibility of being the co-frontmen/lead singer. It is a great challenge for me.
Are there any singing bass players out there? What are the most challenging tunes to sing? Do you warm up your voice?
Chris
Click to expand...

Hi Chris - I am a solo acoustic player and also a singing/rhythm guitar/frontman of some 20 years and have just bought myself a bass. Gotta learn to play it before I try singing with it - it feels wierd. And by "play it" I mean sound like a bassist , as opposed to a guitarist playing a bass:) Sting is the MAN for singing and bass playing - which is a great position to be in, having control of both the top and bottom end. Interestingly , I saw a DVD where he was showing Christian McBride a bass line and he kept screwing it up because he "can't play the bass and NOT sing"
 

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