It is tough to sing while you play the bass

[Rod Barchetta]

I have recently started singing in my band. I have to be selective about the songs I choose to sing on. The bass line rarely follows the vocal melody and marrying the two can be super challenging. I have never had a problem playing rhythm guitar and singing. One of the most talented musicians I know (who can smoke almost any instrument) says the bass is the hardest instrument to play while singing. Who out there agrees?

 

[Reedt2000]

It's taken some time to be comfortable singing and playing but I've gotten to the point where I can play most anything and sing. I find that I have to be able to set my hands on autopilot to sing effectively. It's like anything else, time and practice

 

[KJMO]

It is hard. Guys like Les Claypool, Geddy, Larry Graham prove it can be done, but I agree it's harder than a lot of other instruments. Probably not as hard as saxophone though. I guess Ian Anderson made elf noises in between flute blasts, so that's kind of possible too.

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

True.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Bass parts tend to be tough to synch with singing - it's not just you.

 

[misterCRUSH]

I have recently started singing in my band. I have to be selective about the songs I choose to sing on. The bass line rarely follows the vocal melody and marrying the two can be super challenging. I have never had a problem playing rhythm guitar and singing. One of the most talented musicians I know (who can smoke almost any instrument) says the bass is the hardest instrument to play while singing. Who out there agrees?

I can play rhythm guitar and sing all day long. Bass is really hard for me. I find that songs with a simple funk line are easiest to sing with for me. Oh, and something like the trumpet would be the hardest instrument to play while singing. (sorry I couldn't help myself). Carry on.

 

[bikeplate]

Yes. Keep practicing. Been at it almost 40 years

 

[Chad Michael]

Loved singing backing vox while playing, didn't take much effort.

Lead vox? Maybe 3 per night, and it was a struggle for me.

 

[bholder]

 

[Rod Barchetta]

Loved singing backing vox while playing, didn't take much effort.

Lead vox? Maybe 3 per night, and it was a struggle for me.

Agreed. I started with backing vocals, but found I could actually sing better than my other bandmates, particularly the higher lines. The lead guitar player forced to become a lead singer out of necessity. I really enjoy the challenge.

Just got Smoking Gun by Robert Cray down. That was a mind bender. I have to slow it down and synch each phrase with the "auto-pilot" bass line. I basically learn to sing to the bass line.

 

[AboutSweetSue]

Hell yeah it is. Takes a lot of practice.

 

[ElMon]

Always wondered:


Learn lyrics/melody/bassline down cold ...

Practice all 3 real slow and build up?

Always works for me for practicing just bass.

 

[two fingers]

I enjoy that every single time.

Yes, there are ridiculously hard songs to cover on both bass and vocals.

 

[EdO.]

Always wondered:


Learn lyrics/melody/bassline down cold ...

Practice all 3 real slow and build up?

Always works for me for practicing just bass.

IMO no, get the bassline down cold first. Makes it easier to put it on autopilot as much as that's possible and then its (somewhat) easier to add the vocal, especially if you're more naturally a bass player than vocalist. Easier to do if only singing backup.

 

[aus_bass]

Macca, Sting, Geddy, Lemmy & a few others make it look easy. I couldn't do it, to save my life.

 

[Rod Barchetta]

IMO no, get the bassline down cold first. Makes it easier to put it on autopilot as much as that's possible and then its (somewhat) easier to add the vocal, especially if you're more naturally a bass player than vocalist. Easier to do if only singing backup than lead.

100% agree. Bass line until it's auto-pilot, then add the vocal to it line by line. It's a grind, but it is super satisfying when it all comes together.

 

[ElMon]

IMO no, get the bassline down cold first. Makes it easier to put it on autopilot as much as that's possible and then its (somewhat) easier to add the vocal, especially if you're more naturally a bass player than vocalist. Easier to do if only singing backup than lead.

When having either sing in tandem with a particular set of notes in the bassline, or attempt a vocal line that kind of goes outside of the regular time/across the bar (Sting is the master of this IMO) I just feel like something in my brain knots up and I usually mirror the vocal rhythm in the bassline, or else I nail the baseline and end up 'singing' in Pootie Tang speak/gibberish.

Hope to be a Cold Tony at it one day.

 

[LBS-bass]

Practice makes perfect. If you keep at it, something will click at some point, and it will suddenly become much easier. It's like any other skill that requires control over two separate parts of you. You just need to keep working at it.

 

[LBS-bass]

IMO no, get the bassline down cold first. Makes it easier to put it on autopilot as much as that's possible and then its (somewhat) easier to add the vocal, especially if you're more naturally a bass player than vocalist. Easier to do if only singing backup.

This is good advice.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Death metal and hard rock not too challenging to sing and play.
I limit myself to zz top and backing these days.