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Bassist's Guide to Singing

#121
I'm the sole vocalist in my jazz duo, playing fretted electric. I'm working on switching (on some songs) to upright. I do okay playing fretted but am struggling with the upright. It seems I sometimes miss slightly with pitch on either the vocal or the bass part. Here's what I have been trying:

*** Play the bass line, and sing the same line, but an octave higher. As previous posts noted, SLOW is better at first, and whole notes or even just root notes are easier to manage until you get confidence built up. (I think of George Benson singing along with his guitar leads, but not quite that free-form as a lesson.)

*** Next, play the melody of the song as a bass line and sing a harmony line to that, or vice versa. (The few times I get this right it is SO nice sounding.)

*** When that's solid, try playing a "round" for example "Row Your Boat" with the bass starting... "row, row, row your boat..." then your voice starting at the toop when the bass gets to "gently down the stream." Again, it will probably be an octave apart.

*** RECORD your voice! Listen back frequently. I often play and sing through headphones, which, to me at least, gives a truer representation of what you will really sound like live.

Thanks for all the great responses. TalkBass has been like going back to college, and I bow to all you great "professors" on here! Let me know what you think, okay?
 
#124
Hi, All: new to membership, but have been lurking for awhile--helped me make my Jaguar purchase this year. Thanks!

Anyway, to the topic. As primarily a vocalist who plays instruments as a supplement, I've always needed to really practice the instrument parts within an inch of their life to make them second nature. Then I can focus on the expression on the vocal in real time (which is easier for me since it's my primary instrument). I think that the experience entails finding the rhythmic places where voice and bass come together, which anchors both. Singing or playing syncopated stuff is much tougher, since the parts aren't coinciding.

I've found success by simplifying the bass or guitar part when I'm doing both, too. If the song isn't too groove-based, even playing downbeats can get you through a tough spot live.
 
#127
I've been singing and playing since 1990 (holy crap... has it really been twenty years). Here are a couple of tips that will help.

When using a mic stand, try to use one with a boom extension. Why? If you're not sure your fret hand is going where you intend, you're going to inevitably have to look at it. Having the mic on a boom allows you to pivot the bass up and forward so that the neck and your fingers are in your view, and you won't have to turn your head as much to see what you're doing.

The most important tip???? Practice!

Yes. I have been doing this for a long time, but it still isn't easy. I still make goofs every once in a while, even songs I've been performing for years, including "Highway To Hell", and "Message In A Bottle". Practice may not always make perfect, but it sure does make it better!

PS. Now that I also play a little rhythm guitar, I can say that playing guitar and singing is way easier than playing bass and singing. So, to all you guys who are learning the bass and sing combo; when it comes together, give yourself a HUGE pat on the back, by yourself a beer, or.....
 
#130
I was first a singer (of sorts!) then picked up the bass when our bassist quit. It was really hard for me in the beginning to separate the playing and the singing which are two different melody lines.

Eventually I got used to it, but then discovered many singing related issues I really didn't know about. The more I sang the more my voice strained and suffered, with the weight of the bass pulling down on my back & throat it really wasn't ideal.

So now that I am older & wiser I share with you this regarding vocal health for beginners:

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#131
I've been a bassist for 23 years. The heavily involved in vocal harmonies kind of bassist. I'm a big RUSH fan too. In 2008 I formed a band where I'm the singer (apart from a couple of them I hated everything about the singers I've played with -not only as singers but also as composers and lyricists-). I have to dissociate a lot when playing and singing in this new band. So I started to work on RUSH material to make it flow. I used the help of a mirror (your ear monitors your singing, your eyes control your hands). In about a week I was able to sing & play thru' "Virtuality" in its entirety (lyrics suck, but it's one of Geddy's most difficult creatures -they don't even play it live-). Helped me out. I can play&sing everything in our LP exactly as it is. Check this out (mostly the verses)...

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... or in a more HC approach...

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The mirror is your friend (may not be new for someone but I discovered it accidentally and for sure it did wonders). And Geddy might be specially helpful to develop the ability. I don't think of myself as a bassist nor a singer anymore. My body is a machine that produces sound, HAHAHAHA! It doesn't work like two things but as a whole "instrument".

Cheers!
 
#132
I have been singing and playing since the 1970s. I have found that the hardest songs for a bass player to play and sing are the songs with the Bo diddly beat. The bass has to pump out that groove and it can be distracting. It's a little easier to do this when you are playing with a drummer.

In general, practicing singing/playing with a drum machine makes it a lot easier. Unfortunately, I haven't figured out how to program my drum machine to make a bo diddly beat.

I have also found that practicing playing/singing during the summer months, with my studio windows open, inhibits me - and I don't project like I should (for fear of disturbing my neighbors). A soundproof booth is on my wishlist.
 
#136
BigOldHarry said:
zombie thread...
Click to expand...

Not if it's a sticky...

Let's see, bass players who sing and do both well, in no particular order...

Willie Dixon
Slam Stewart
Jay Leonhart (Okay, not the best of singers, but everybody knows "It's impossible to sing and play the bass")
Esperanza Spalding
Lee Rocker
Geddy Lee
Jack Bruce
Sting
Tim Schmit
Brian Wilson
Mark King
Sir P McCartney
Dusty Hill (Okay, this one's a bit of a stretch in the vox dept)
Richard Bona
...

Any other suggestions? (Great sticky thread BTW)

PS: Miles Mosley
 
#138
Feral Feline said:
Not if it's a sticky...

Let's see, bass players who sing and do both well, in no particular order...

Willie Dixon
Slam Stewart
Jay Leonhart (Okay, not the best of singers, but everybody knows "It's impossible to sing and play the bass")
Esperanza Spalding
Lee Rocker
Geddy Lee
Jack Bruce
Sting
Tim Schmit
Brian Wilson
Mark King
Sir P McCartney
Dusty Hill (Okay, this one's a bit of a stretch in the vox dept)
Richard Bona
...

Any other suggestions? (Great sticky thread BTW)

PS: Miles Mosley
Click to expand...

Pete Ceterra, Chicago
 
#140
After years and years of playing bass and being told that I couldn't sing, I am doing backing vocals on my band and receiving positive feedback!

From my own experience, the most important aspect is confidence. Every time during the years that someone told me I couldn't sing, it would make me worse. I was convinced I couldn't sing, and there was nothing I could do.

Recently, there was a need for me to sing backing vocals in the band and I built self confidence and started doing it. I am singing better and better every time, now that I receive support from my bandmates!
 
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