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Can i get some tips and help?

T

TallicaDeth

Jan 2, 2010
40
0
Everett/Sumas, WA
#1
So this was our band:
Singer= 6-7 years of singing
Me= 8 months of playing bass (not including playing guitar before that)
Guitar= 2-3 years of playing
Drums= 3-4 years of playing

WE JUST LOST OUR SINGER and theres no chance of him coming back. we decided we are going to become a power trio. so one of us must play and sing. we agree drummer shouldnt sing.
so far a list of songs we practice are:
smells like teen spirit-nirvana
kryptonite-3 doors down
children of the grave-black sabbath
crazy train-ozzy
whats my age again-blink 182

we can play them without singing. since niether me or the guitar player are good singers, have any experience singing, or can sing and play, i am asking for help.
How do you learn how to play and sing at the same time?
Would it be easier for bassist or guitard to sing?
What are some more songs that we should get, that we would could sing and play at the same time?
 
#2
Here's my 2 cents. I play both guitar and bass. I play guitar at home and write my own songs etc but not in my band. I can sing and play guitar pretty well. I play bass in my band and do backing vocals on most songs... not all. I got back into music 9 years ago after being out of it for over 20 years. I could not even say my name for the first 2-3 years while playing a bassline without messing up. Today, after practicing I can sing decent backups with my band...not lead vocals. Bass, IMO is much more difficult to sing with than guitar and I give huge props to those that can.

Go look for a new singer...bottom line. You will keep the band moving in a positive direction and none of you have experience or Time for a learning.
 
#5
Coming up to 1.5 years playing bass... and the only thing I can say is to learn the music like the back of your hand. If you are staring at your fretboard, you're not thinking hard enough about singing. The fretting should be automatic, and then you can start singing. Start by "talking" (no inflection, just words) while playing, then sing in tune later.

The key is to let your fingers have their own rhythm that is independant of your vocal rhythm.

Good luck!
 
#6
Dekker said:
Coming up to 1.5 years playing bass... and the only thing I can say is to learn the music like the back of your hand. If you are staring at your fretboard, you're not thinking hard enough about singing. The fretting should be automatic, and then you can start singing. Start by "talking" (no inflection, just words) while playing, then sing in tune later.

The key is to let your fingers have their own rhythm that is independant of your vocal rhythm.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

:D I wish it was that easy!
 
#7
Be able to play the song pretty much from start to finish without looking down. Start by just humming the melody while you practice this and not think about the words. Make sure that you are in tune when you sing (compare yourself to the recording as well as what you're playing) then add in the words and start trying to make it sound convincing.

Like everything else, the more you do it, and the more you practice it (the right way!) the better you will get at it. :)
 
#9
I find it a lot easier to play guitar and sing at the same time. I'm not sure that you're asking the right question though. The thing I want to know is can both of you guys sing well? I mean really well, to the point of being lead vocal material? I have a pretty decent voice, but I sure wouldn't stake a band on it if you know what I mean....
 
#10
The importance of skill instrumental skill level in almost any band, to most audiences , is this:
1.) vocalist
2.) drummer
3.) everybody else.

If your vocals or drummer is mediocre, your band is mediocre. non-musician Audiences generally can't tell good playing from bad but everybody knows when the Vocalist is bad, and when the drummer is sloppy. Don't make the vocals a secondary consideration, don't skimp on putting in the work as if you were really learning a new instrument. So whoever ends up singing had better really step up : take lessons, practice , etc. Treat the voice as their main instrument.

Singing well is NOT easy.
 
#11
I have a friend who is a lead guitarist and lead singer in one band, he was recruited by another band to play bass and sing lead also. He told me playing bass and singing is about 10 times harder than guitar and singing.
I have always played bass and lead sung (singed?), it can get tricky sometimes!
 
#13
mambo4 said:
The importance of skill instrumental skill level in almost any band, to most audiences , is this:
1.) vocalist
2.) drummer
3.) everybody else.

If your vocals or drummer is mediocre, your band is mediocre. non-musician Audiences generally can't tell good playing from bad but everybody knows when the Vocalist is bad, and when the drummer is sloppy. Don't make the vocals a secondary consideration, don't skimp on putting in the work as if you were really learning a new instrument. So whoever ends up singing had better really step up : take lessons, practice , etc. Treat the voice as their main instrument.

Singing well is NOT easy.
Click to expand...

+1 to this entire post. I'd like to give it a +1,000 if I could.
 
#14
I sing some leads as a bass player. We also have a female vocolist/keyboard player and our guitar players sings leads as well. We all do backing vocals when not doing lead parts.

We make it a point to picks songs that compliment each of our voices.

It's not easy and sometimes songs that we really want to play get dumped because none of us can sing and play the parts on our instraments.

I agree that the easiest way to sing and play is to learn the vocal and instrament parts separate and make them "automatic". Then blend the two and play the hell out of the song until you get it right. Don't be afraid to adjust the phraseing of the lyrics slightly. It can help with timing. Also you may need to standerdise some riffs within the song to make it easier to play.

Practice, practice, practice. (Or get a stand alone singer or two.)


Good luck.
 
#15
you guys have all been really helpful. this band is going to go in one of these ways:
I take singing lessons and really practice bass and singing
The guitar player take lessons and practice
We find a new singer so there is less stress

What do you guys think about Slayer. Tom plays bass and sings. Ive noticed that his bass lines are actually not very hard. And he isnt exactly a great singer. But look at them, they are frickin' sweet. So im thinking about creating my own material, but having the bass really simple so i can actually sing not so bad, kinda like Tom. Then the drummer and guitar player can focus on playing more complex things.
 
#16
TallicaDeth said:
you guys have all been really helpful. this band is going to go in one of these ways:
I take singing lessons and really practice bass and singing
The guitar player take lessons and practice
We find a new singer so there is less stress

What do you guys think about Slayer. Tom plays bass and sings. Ive noticed that his bass lines are actually not very hard. And he isnt exactly a great singer. But look at them, they are frickin' sweet. So im thinking about creating my own material, but having the bass really simple so i can actually sing not so bad, kinda like Tom. Then the drummer and guitar player can focus on playing more complex things.
Click to expand...

You know neither Henneman or King are virtuoso guitarist, Araya plays very basic bass lines to support the song.

However he sings his ass off. Then add in Lombardo who is a stallion of a drummer and I think it supports the post that I +1'd above.

Go for it. But remember Araya sings his ASS off. Just listen to "Payback". Brutal song with speed and ridiculous vocals.
 
#17
Why don't you both sing, not necessarily at the same time, only if required. That way you will both encourage each other.

I play in a power trio and share the singing with the guitarist. You will soon find that one of you sings certain types of songs better than the other.

When you are singing keep your bass lines as simple as possible at least for a start. If you are not singing the you can put in all your fancy chops. I practice singing whenever I can, I have an mp3 player in my car and when I am driving I am singing.

The main thing about playing bass in a power trio is to get locked in with the drummer and just don't stop playing, don't leave gaps. It is harder work than if you have rhythm or keys, but immense fun. It also makes organising rehearsals a lot easier as there is only 3 people to accommodate.
 
#18
I might get flamed here but..oh well. Have you ever thought you might not have the voice....might not be a good singer period? Singing can't really be learned like bass etc IMO its more of a natural talent. Oh, you can take voice lessions and improve a poor voice but some are made to sing some are ..not.

You also have to have the power behind you voice to project and carry for a whole show. I have seen good singers who could not do this no matter how hard they tried...they burned out or lost their voices. Doing the Slayer type vocals could even be worse due to the power and volume you must use and do it for a whole show or set.

There was allot of good advice here but playing and singing (good) is not as easy as some make it sound here... IMO. I am not saying dont try. If you have the time to give to practice etc then go for it. If not hire a singer and work on backing vocals.
 
#20
ok, this is what we are going to do.
me= bass, lead vocals (kinda how Tom sings)
my buddy= guitar, backing vocals ( i will sing but when he has easy parts, he will have a turn to sing.)
my buddy=drums

we will create original stuff until we get used to the way the band is, then when we get good, we can do more difficult stuff. So, the bass will be really simple, so i can try to sing. I will practice singing alot. The guitar and drums could then play more complex stuff since i am the one singing. We have only been playing for a month together, but we already have developed our own sound. We are a metal band that kinda sound like a mix between Slayer, Black Sabbath and Nirvana, even more Slayer now i guess. Thanks for the help.
 

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