I can't seem to sing while playing at all

[williamk]

McCartney and Sting are amazing, but have you seen what Geddy plays and sings at the same time? That's just incredible! (like Circumstances, that one's really crazy). But if you listen carefully, alot of the basslines imitate more or less the vocal melody and vice-versa. That's a good trick when composing.

 

[thekorean]

an easy song to start on I feel is all the small things by blink 182. Singing and playing is difficult as All the Small Things is the only song I can do except for Territorial Pissings.

 

[mpm32]

We're learning My own worst enemy by lit, I just had to go and look and see if the singer played anything while singing that song - I forgot. Nope just sings.

I almost have it but the lyrics line are off the beat - these types of songs always take me longer to get, once I do though, I notice that I am able to pick out the words that are off and where they fall. Once I figure that out, I'm good.

 

[Sparkdog]

It's important to note, though, that learning to sing while playing will make you exponentially more valuable in any band situation. I contract a lot of musicians for paying gigs and I would take an adequate bass player who sings over a monster bass player who doesn't every single time. Matter of fact, from my perspective (as someone who writes checks to musicians), if you don't sing, why even bother playing bass? Because there are guys who do sing and they'll always get the gig over you. Amazing instrumentalists have a very, very limited appeal- mostly to other amazing instrumentalists.QUOTE]

This is absolutely true. I know 3 or 4 session bassists that can play circles around me. They can solo over anything and you simply cannot stump them. But not one of them sings. We have a group of musicians we all know and they do a wide variety of gigs, hiring players as needed. I get WAY more of those gigs than the session guys do, and it's because I can contribute to the vocals.

I would consider myself a very solid bassist, but I'm a groove player, not into solos or flashy playing at all. BUT, I have a strong tenor voice, I can sing lead or backup, and I have enough theory command to be a harmony machine for other singers, i.e. they can sing songs I don't even know and I'm able to jump in with a harmony part that works.

That will really expand your options as a gigging musician.

The other posts here about learning the bassline so well it's automatic...that works for me. And after you do it long enough you will be able to do it on demand, i.e. with songs you don't even know. It's just another skill that comes with lots of practice.

 

[PunkRocker5693]

dude...you'll hear this a thousand times, but PRACTICE practice practice.

But more importantly, something I find quite helpful, is to play the song without any other music...just learn the feel you oughta hear.

Then play with music, get the rhythm perfectly. That'll help ya play it to begin with.

But then listen to it without playing and learn the lyrics, learn the incorporation of things etc etc.

And if need be...air bass it while ya sing.. hahaha

 

[Sizlack]

Not trying to hi-jack the thread, but this seems to fit here.
A short background first...
I did vocals for a metal band for a few years, growling and screaming, and never really had any problems with doing such. Took alot of energy and work on my breathing technique to be able to make it through a whole set without feeling like I was gonna pass out.

Started on the bass seven months ago with the intention of learning to play and sing. The singing part was planned to be worked on after I was comfortable with playing. After reading this yesterday I decided to give it a go on some really simple stuff where the vocals go along with the rythm of what I was playing. So started really simple...London bridge.
First couple of lines and I feel like I just chain smoked a whole pack of cigarettes, very winded and can hardly keep up the vocals. Not sure if its the added weight of the bass restricting my breathing or what.
Anyone got any suggestions on breathing technique whilst playing?

 

[gavnel]

I am attempting to play and sing, i had no idea it was going to be this hard. i either cant sing or cant play

 

[Hoover]

When I was in high school (mid-1970s) I was one of the primary singers in my band. When I got to college and for several years thereafter I wound up being either the lead or primary support singer in every band I played in. This continued up until 1989...when all of a sudden, I don't know what happened, but I ceased to be able to sing & play simultaneously.

Ever since then when I've tried to sing while playing my hands almost immediately turn to spaz mode and I screw up the bass part. It's like someone played a cruel joke on me, turned off the switch that allowed me to multitask.

I suppose if I wanted to work on it I could shed enough to regain the skill, but I haven't been motivated to do so. Which is probably a reflection on my interest in the bands I've played with since 1989, and I'm sure that is the real root of the problem!




(oh, and +1 to what corinpills said about the marketability of singing bassists. If I was hustling for freelance gigs I definitely would've addressed the vocal thing long ago. I envy the folks that can do it well.)

 

[Barfy]

Yep. That's how it goes. It is danged hard to play bass and sing -- much harder than guitar.

Really? Well, that does make sense actually. Geddy Lee just rose several levels on my ranking system.

 

[Sparkdog]

Oh, trust me, Geddy is not just good at singing and playing, he is a freak of nature. The independent control he has of both his vocals and the bass line is simply amazing, maybe the best I've ever seen.

Here are a few tunes you can try that will help you master the singing/playing thing. Anything with a straight 8th note feel is very easy, think AC/DC or Kiss (I'm talking about the coordination between the vocal melody and bass line, not the vocal range):

Smoking in the Boys Room - doesn't get easier than this
Some Kind of Wonderful - Grand Funk

There are thousands of rock songs like this!

Blues tunes with walking bass lines are a bit harder, but are a good next step:

Further on Up the Road - Clapton
Red House - Hendrix

When you have those down and want to push yourself, try these:

Green Eyed Lady - Sugarloaf
Superstition - Stevie Wonder

These tunes require a pretty advanced ability to coordinate the bass and vocals independently, but are a blast to play.

Not easy at first, but once you have them it will open the door to lots of other tunes.

Hope this helps...

 

[dukeisdog]

I've been working on this, too. Just playing bass in my room and doing it, I don't have any plans to actually do it in a band, just a nice thing to be able to do, and I'm struggling.

I'm playing lots of new punk, Anti-Flag, Rancid (not so new), and it's tough, but I am gonna keep at it, and eventually be able to do it.

 

[Elmo Oxygen]

All great suggestions! I have one word to add:
Nirvana.
Simple lines, simple vocal patterns. You have to "seperate" those two areas of your mind, and this is an easy way to get started.
Try songs like "Polly". It was primarilly that song that helped me learn how to play and sing.

 

[chadhargis]

I've been singing for years, but just started learning to play bass. I can sing, and never think about it. It's just natural for me. Born with it. But playing an instrument requires me to really think about what I'm doing.

I can imagine getting so preoccupied with playing that I forget to sing.

 

[SMILEYSIXX]

I can't do it either. It's tough, but it's just a matter of practice.

 

[Stumbo]

I've read that some bass players play more root note lines(if possible) while singing.

 

[KimblesNimble]

"Matter of fact, from my perspective (as someone who writes checks to musicians), if you don't sing, why even bother playing bass?"

? Really?

That was pretty insulting. So anyone who does not have a natural singing voice or chooses not to sing, should just stay clear of bass guitar altogether? I totally agree with the rest of your post but.....that statement is pretty foolish.

 

[guroove]

After decades of just playin the bass and hating/struggling with the playing/singing thing, I'm doing my first performance this friday of all my own material - and fronting the band. Can't say I like doing it yet, and it took a lot of work for some parts, but it's absolutely doable. Trust me cuz I was the absolute worst at it.

What worked for me was practicing really really slowly, over and over. There's a song on my myspace page below, "wash my hair" where I'm singing over a riffy kind of thing. it was impossible 2 weeks ago, but by goin real slow and committing myself it's now 2nd nature. i truly believe that anyone who can play bass and sing in key, can do the both of them together if they're just patient enough to work at it till they don't have to think about it.

^ This is key. One thing that I often get hung up on is when the bass part and vocal line don't line up. Sometimes you realize when putting the two parts together that syncopation is going on. Practicing slowly is almost the only way to get this right.

 

[BassFace01]

In my opinion, the singer in the band who ONLY sings works best. The singer works the crowd better, isn't in one spot the whole time while singing, and often has an easier time singing more complex vocal parts. Other than a power-trio of course.

 

[Sizlack]

"Matter of fact, from my perspective (as someone who writes checks to musicians), if you don't sing, why even bother playing bass?"

? Really?

That was pretty insulting. So anyone who does not have a natural singing voice or chooses not to sing, should just stay clear of bass guitar altogether? I totally agree with the rest of your post but.....that statement is pretty foolish.

Yup I agree with you there...I can't sing for ****. And seems after making many attempts at doing metal vocals (growling) I can't do that while playing either.

I guess the added weight on me is restricting my breathing, as I'm always outta breath.

 

[::::BASSIST::::]

I'm getting there, but very slowly.

You have to push yourself.