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Best at Playing While Singing?

Dr. Cheese

Dr. Cheese

Supporting Member
Mar 3, 2004
57,328
120,668
Metro St. Louis
#1
I was just playing along with some song from the first Graham Central Station CD like "Hair" "Ain't No Fun to Me" and "Can You Handle It?" and it just amazes me to think that Larry Graham played this stuff while singing lead. He has got to be one of the best ever at playing and singing. Who else would you guys list among the all time most coordinated?
 
#2
Someone that never gets mentioned arouind here-

George Hawkins of Kenny Loggins' "Feel The Fire" era band. The guy plays some nice syncopated, funky lines while singing harmony...and doing it LIVE!
 
#6
I don't think he belongs on the "best" list, but I really liked some of Entwistle's vocals on early Who tracks and performances like "A Quick One" from Rock and Roll Circus. I think his voice was pretty shot by the 80s, but in the Who's early career he was very versatile and added alot to the cool Who sound.
 
#9
Dr. Cheese said:
I was just playing along with some song from the first Graham Central Station CD like "Hair" "Ain't No Fun to Me" and "Can You Handle It?" and it just amazes me to think that Larry Graham played this stuff while singing lead. He has got to be one of the best ever at playing and singing. Who else would you guys list among the all time most coordinated?
Click to expand...

He may not have sang and played at the same time on the record. :D

Here's two more: Will Lee and Sarah Lee.
 
#10
Check out Nefarious of MACABRE, he plays great and fast lines on his 6 string, while singing.
Such guys are fascinating me. Cause there are so much bassists that are also singers and they play a lot less complicatet than the guitar-riffs really are. For ex. the Carcass singer/bass player or Tom aray of Slayer.
 
#15
abark000 said:
Dude from Big Business is pretty good.
The man who played Derek Smalls
Greg Lake
Nick Oliveri
Dan Rathbum
Phil Lynot
Jason Newsted
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Interesting to see that you mentioned Jason Newsted. Are his back-up vocals/basslines challenging to do? To me he just would not be an obvious choice when discussing bassists who are best at playing & singing. Is there any song(s) in particular that I should listen to?

By the way, no disrespect to Jason Newsted or any of his fans.

If I had to pick I would go with the following -

Geddy Lee
Sting
Paul McCartney
 
#16
spectorbass83 said:
Interesting to see that you mentioned Jason Newsted. Are his back-up vocals/basslines challenging to do? To me he just would not be an obvious choice when discussing bassists who are best at playing & singing. Is there any song(s) in particular that I should listen to?

By the way, no disrespect to Jason Newsted or any of his fans (me being one of them ;) )
Click to expand...

I've seen him play bass and sing lead on some songs, but I remember what they were. It's relative depending on your style.

Which is "harder" to sing and play correctly? The Great Deceiver by King Crimson or Disposable Heros by Metallica.

It's up to whatever style you are used to playing.

That said, I find the more my left hand is moving is a constant ostinato, that it is easier to play and sing together. Add a rest in there somewhere and I would have to practice it for a few days.
 

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