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Bassist's Guide to Singing
- Thread starter jive1
- Start date
You are absolutely right about the confidence part. I can't even sing a song I've heard a thousand times because I whisper it quietly.
Confidence is my big issue. I lose it when I practice even as I don't sound that great. Under cover of the band I can get it back and actually sing somewhat ok.
I only discovered this recently. Previously I had tried to sing a lead vocal at a jam night and just lost the plot. Sounded horrible and quit after two lines, so the guy just laughed when I said I'd be having a crack at backups some months later.
They launch into "Ticket to Ride" , a song I used to sing along with on CD many moons ago, long before I took up bass. Blow me down if we aren't doing a very good Beatles impression. So they asked me to join their band. Now I'm in trouble, they know I can sing.
I only discovered this recently. Previously I had tried to sing a lead vocal at a jam night and just lost the plot. Sounded horrible and quit after two lines, so the guy just laughed when I said I'd be having a crack at backups some months later.
They launch into "Ticket to Ride" , a song I used to sing along with on CD many moons ago, long before I took up bass. Blow me down if we aren't doing a very good Beatles impression. So they asked me to join their band. Now I'm in trouble, they know I can sing.
This helped so much! Thanks so much for writing it! I'm in a situation where I'm the one left to sing in my band and this really helped out a lot!
Great piece, thank you. He confirms something I've always thought: It really is all about muscle memory. I am going to try the singing syllables thing and see whether it shortens the learning curve at all.
I have been singing for years , but only recently began playing the bass (not yet 2 years now). When I sing, I tend to immerse myself in the song and truly "feel" it. It's very, very difficult for me to play and sing. I try, but ultimately, I stop playing....which is very bad.
I guess I'm truly a singer first, as it comes natural to me. I've never been trained as a singer, but have been told that I sing very well. I've even had people ask me, "With a voice like that, why do you play bass?".
I enjoy playing bass. It's something I've always wanted to do. I know if I could become even a mediocre bass player, but could sing while I played, I'd get some gigs. Trouble is, I have not been able to do it. My playing consumes all my "brain cycles" and I can't focus on singing.
Hopefully as I get better at playing, and don't have to think so hard while playing, I will be able to incorporate singing into the mix.
I guess I'm truly a singer first, as it comes natural to me. I've never been trained as a singer, but have been told that I sing very well. I've even had people ask me, "With a voice like that, why do you play bass?".
I enjoy playing bass. It's something I've always wanted to do. I know if I could become even a mediocre bass player, but could sing while I played, I'd get some gigs. Trouble is, I have not been able to do it. My playing consumes all my "brain cycles" and I can't focus on singing.
Hopefully as I get better at playing, and don't have to think so hard while playing, I will be able to incorporate singing into the mix.
I know it sounds trite, but when I talk to friends who feel they'll never be able to sing and play at the same time, I remind them that at one time they failed every time they tried to walk, and not giving up is the only reason they don't have to crawl anymore.
To quote Anthony Hopkins character from The Edge, "What one man can do, another can do." As long as you practice your bass lines until they come naturally you'll shortly start to acquire the ability to think about the singing while the bass line looks after itself.
One trick I've used for odd rhythms is to simply put dashes above the corresponding lyric to indicate where signature notes will be played - anything to get past the stumbling points.
To quote Anthony Hopkins character from The Edge, "What one man can do, another can do." As long as you practice your bass lines until they come naturally you'll shortly start to acquire the ability to think about the singing while the bass line looks after itself.
One trick I've used for odd rhythms is to simply put dashes above the corresponding lyric to indicate where signature notes will be played - anything to get past the stumbling points.
Something occurred to me this morning after a rehearsal. This is an original music band & we (I, mostly) were working out harmonies.
It occurred to me that harmony vocals are a lot like playing bass! I'm trying to work something out to complement the lead vocal, within & around the current chord, using the appropriate scales & modes. I'm probably not going to be tracking to the lead vocal, but finding something that complements it. If the lead vocal is moving, I'm probably staying put, & vice versa. Or, maybe the lead vocal is moving down, but I'm moving up (again, vice versa). I may be passing or walking from one note within the chord to another, using the appropriate scale or mode.
I thought I'd share that little fresh insight in case it helps anybody.
It occurred to me that harmony vocals are a lot like playing bass! I'm trying to work something out to complement the lead vocal, within & around the current chord, using the appropriate scales & modes. I'm probably not going to be tracking to the lead vocal, but finding something that complements it. If the lead vocal is moving, I'm probably staying put, & vice versa. Or, maybe the lead vocal is moving down, but I'm moving up (again, vice versa). I may be passing or walking from one note within the chord to another, using the appropriate scale or mode.
I thought I'd share that little fresh insight in case it helps anybody.
Many great tips in this thread.
I've been singing and playing bass since the late '60s. Something recent threw me back to a very important point. I started giving bass lessons to someone who never picked up an instrument before. When you first picked up a guitar or bass, remember what a klutz you were..making your fingers move across the frets and strings was impossible, never mind finger picking.
To add singing to playing is just like starting all over. Practice, Practice, Experience, Experience.
Learn your bass part backwards and forwards. Learn the lyrics same way. Dilute your bass part to as much as you can do and carry the vocal and keep some kind of rhythm. As has been noted here a number of times,"the folks listening will never notice the missing bass notes, the vocals are what they are listening to. The more you do it, the easier it will be.
Major point!! Guitar players are generally playing on the rhythm, bass players are playing something else which crosses the rhythm from time to time. That's why guitar players, rhythm guitarists are often the lead singers. Lead guitarists know exactly what I'm talking about and will sympathize/help you to accomplish your chore.
Practice with tapes, metronome, drum machine or your drummer. It does get easier...eventually.
Someone a while back, mentioned "disturbing the neighbors". My band rehearses direct into the board, then to a headphone amp, as well as with digital drums. The only thing heard in the room, is the vocals. Side benefit, you can adjust your headphone volume.
I've been singing and playing bass since the late '60s. Something recent threw me back to a very important point. I started giving bass lessons to someone who never picked up an instrument before. When you first picked up a guitar or bass, remember what a klutz you were..making your fingers move across the frets and strings was impossible, never mind finger picking.
To add singing to playing is just like starting all over. Practice, Practice, Experience, Experience.
Learn your bass part backwards and forwards. Learn the lyrics same way. Dilute your bass part to as much as you can do and carry the vocal and keep some kind of rhythm. As has been noted here a number of times,"the folks listening will never notice the missing bass notes, the vocals are what they are listening to. The more you do it, the easier it will be.
Major point!! Guitar players are generally playing on the rhythm, bass players are playing something else which crosses the rhythm from time to time. That's why guitar players, rhythm guitarists are often the lead singers. Lead guitarists know exactly what I'm talking about and will sympathize/help you to accomplish your chore.
Practice with tapes, metronome, drum machine or your drummer. It does get easier...eventually.
Someone a while back, mentioned "disturbing the neighbors". My band rehearses direct into the board, then to a headphone amp, as well as with digital drums. The only thing heard in the room, is the vocals. Side benefit, you can adjust your headphone volume.
I've been looking all over for this thread. I read it in passing years ago, but this has become a hot topic for me lately, and I needed some of the advice from in here. I couldn't remember which forum section it was in, and it took me a while to finally locate it, but I'm glad I finally have!
Thanks to all who participated over the years in creating this treasure trove of information. I especially like the suggestions for songs to start with that some have made. That has been a great help to me to get started.
Thanks to all who participated over the years in creating this treasure trove of information. I especially like the suggestions for songs to start with that some have made. That has been a great help to me to get started.
hey neighbor we should meet up one of these days. I work in brick building looking over Stew's....
Back when this thread started, I was always the one to say to church music directors "I can sing, or I can play bass. Let me know which one you want on each song". Now I direct one of the choirs and often sing AND play. For the really tough vocals, I give my son the bass and just sing.
But in my bar band, out of the 40 - 45 songs we do over three sets, I sing backup on 17 and lead 4 of them. It all takes practice, practice, practice and a decent knowledge of what has to be in the bass line to make sense for the song.
But in my bar band, out of the 40 - 45 songs we do over three sets, I sing backup on 17 and lead 4 of them. It all takes practice, practice, practice and a decent knowledge of what has to be in the bass line to make sense for the song.
*bookmarked*
I need to come back and read through this entire thread. The hardest thing for me is playing while singing, as I'm sure is the case for many (most?) of us.
I need to come back and read through this entire thread. The hardest thing for me is playing while singing, as I'm sure is the case for many (most?) of us.
Looks like I'll be taking the lead on covers of Bruno Mars "Runaway Baby" and "The Lazy Song". Fun stuff.
I think I should share my little story,
I have been going through this thread ever since i bought my bass (3 weeks ago) ,and i have been practicing seven nation army ever since,I used to sing lead in my band before i got my bass.Anyways I have been trying alot techniques and i find that this one works the best.Basicly you slow the song you are learning to 80% of the orignal speed,playing the bass line along and increasing thebspeed after each yime.Once you get to 120% of the orignal speed you will find yourself doing it on auto pilot giving you "space" to think about the vocals..
Thats what Im doing and it is working for me,I can play and sing Seven nation army
,thanks forbthe amazing thread..
PS excuse my poor English ,it is not my first language
I have been going through this thread ever since i bought my bass (3 weeks ago) ,and i have been practicing seven nation army ever since,I used to sing lead in my band before i got my bass.Anyways I have been trying alot techniques and i find that this one works the best.Basicly you slow the song you are learning to 80% of the orignal speed,playing the bass line along and increasing thebspeed after each yime.Once you get to 120% of the orignal speed you will find yourself doing it on auto pilot giving you "space" to think about the vocals..
Thats what Im doing and it is working for me,I can play and sing Seven nation army
,thanks forbthe amazing thread..PS excuse my poor English ,it is not my first language
