How to sing and play?

[LBS-bass]

You have to get the bass line down so well you don't think about it, then add the singing. Or get the singing down so well you don't think about it, then add the bass playing.

Yep, this. I've been playing and singing for 40 years and I still find it challenging, to a point. One of the two things needs to be automatic. Usually for me that's the playing, because singing well requires a lot more concentration than playing well does. What's frustrating for me is that when people hear me while I'm in the middle of working stuff up, they think I can't do either one of those things well. But it gets better.

 

[ArtechnikA]

To sing without thinking about it, practice by talking without thinking about it.
At this point, you may have an alternate career as a politician...

Interestingly, 'Politician' was the first song Jack Bruce realized he'd have to be able to sing while playing.
I'm no Jack Bruce...
I play fretless mostly, and the idea of having to keep track of _two_ variable-pitch instruments at once, along with making meaningful sounds and remembering the words boggles my mind...
I ain't Sting, neither...

 

[MVE]

One trick I use when learning a new song, I find it helpful to identify lyrics that coincide with accented notes and learn them first.
Its like little anchor points. I find it easier to fill in the rest of the lyrics once Ive learned those anchors.

 

[NOVAX]

First off - be born with it. Seriously, learn to play drums and develop independent thinking with arms, legs and your mouth. I play and sing and the best thing I ever heard was "get out of your own way"

 

[Slevage]

You have to get the bass line down so well you don't think about it, then add the singing. Or get the singing down so well you don't think about it, then add the bass playing.

Spot on

 

[Bboopbennie]

One trick that worked for me is to just play whole notes and sing. Then add half notes, then slowly progress to the bass line. Songs with De-syncopation and counter melody bass lines are TUFF!!!

 

[jdh3000]

It seems difficult at first... Try playing whatever song, yet only hitting the root note , and singing, then start adding other notes.
Once you get a feel for it, it'll become second nature... You'll be able to play complex bass parts while singing. Just take it in small chunks to start.

 

[Bunk McNulty]

Read through @jive1's tutorial/thread on singing/playing. It helped me immensely and I keep it bookmarked whenever I am struggling with a new song.

Bassist's Guide to Singing

I still go back to this also. Practical, useful advice.

 

[Spirit of Ox]

As a lead singer and bassist myself, I can say one thing. Practice those basslines until you can play them without looking at the fretboard. This is what Geddy Lee does.
If you start looking at the fretboard while you play and sing, you will naturally take pauses in between words.

 

[Tim Skaggs]

I've recently decided I want to create my own songs where I sing exclusively amd play bass.
I am having a very tough time trying to play a traditional bass line and sing. So I end up strumming the bass like a traditional 6 string.

How can I get better? (other than practice). Is there anyone who has or is struggling like me?

'llMy melody is ok at best. It's the singing during a chord change that is kicking my butt. I have to stop, change chord and continue. So everything ends up sounding like a hybrid rap sing thing. Not there is anything wrong with that but I am not aiming for that.

What I am hoping to find is a tip or trick I can utilize. I am open to all suggestions.
Except the smart @$$ who suggests I stop singing even though my neighbors suggest that .

I think the ability to do it is somewhat genetic. I'm not saying a person can't improve, but those who can play & sing stuff like Roundabout or Hotel California have some born-in ability that didn't run in my family....

 

[Tad]

Well, I find that once that I know the bassline to the extent that I can play it through, that after I have played through the song about a 100 times, really, a 100 times, that I will find myself singing backups without thinking about it.

After I have played through the song about a 100 or a 150 more times, I can sing and play the song without thinking about it.

That’s what works for me. I’m pretty sure that is not what you were looking for though.

 

[logdrum]

This is where being a guitarist-singer in the past helps

But here's a really good singer playing upright bass and telling the story of the bass.

Jay Leonhart

 

[juancaminos]

This may sound snarky or maybe too obvious but it was an epiphany for me:

Pick songs that you can sing and play at the same time.

In the beginning they will be simple and few but as your skills improve you will be able to grow your repertoire.

THIS

 

[juancaminos]

I can sing to a walking bass line like "tore down" and I can sing to a root-five country beat. But that's about it.
I like what Mambo 4 suggests.

 

[Malcolm35]

...…. Also, the bass players (and even some guitar players) in my area that do sing almost stop playing entirely or play the most very basic of thing they can possibly get away with while they sing.

Ditto ^ Their voice is the main instrument, the bass or guitar just furnishes the harmony. Harmony can be dirt simple and still get the job done. This calls attention to the lyrics being sung and is easy to do.

Start simple and work from there. For example a root note at the chord change and nothing more till the next chord change.

 

[two fingers]

You have to get the bass line down so well you don't think about it, then add the singing. Or get the singing down so well you don't think about it, then add the bass playing.

This is it. Period.

I've been doing it for a couple decades now. But it was HARD at first.

I've been able to do both ways depending on the song. But @DrewinHouston is exactly right. Either the bass line or the vocals have to be so engrained that it's like breathing. Then you can have fun and be more expressive with the other.

There are songs I sing the same way every time and allow myself some freedom on the bass line. Then there are song I just chug along on bass and go more nuts on vocals. There have been a few over the years that just felt so good I could really sink my teeth into both.

But, at first, youyou gonna have to repeat one or the other so many times that part just falls out of you without even trying.

 

[two fingers]

By the way, I have played bass and sang lead on Rush, Yes, Zep, etc. But the hardest thing I have ever done in my musical career came just a year ago when my current band formed. We have co-lead male a female vocals. (I'm only doing lead on a few songs.) So I'm called upon to do lower harmonies for the first time in my life. Playing bass and singing a vocal part that may be less than an octave above my bass line has been BY FAR the hardest thing I've ever done.

 

[Malcolm35]

Yep we guys sing lead 99% of the time. Singing accompaniment takes some training.

 

[Magthegrate]

I have this amazing super hero ability. It consists of every time that I open my mouth, my playing goes to absolute unintelligible garbage.

I can for reals juggle 5 tennis balls (or even clubs) at once, but singing while playing is orders of magnitude more difficult.

I work on it by having my wife talk to me while I'm playing. I try to hold a conversation. I actually have a decent backing vocals voice. I'm working on it, but I'm not there yet.

 

[Just George]

I've been a singing Bass player for many years and this may be an over simplification but the trick for me was singing despite what I was playing rather than with it. I just divide my thought processes regarding what I'm singing and what I'm playing. Hang in there...You'll get it and Good Luck!