Playing (on bass) and singing "One Headlight" by the Wallflowers simultaneously

[Jamvan]

Others have said it but when I had to do it, I resorted to using a rubber plectrum to give the same attack as finger plucking and just used an alternate picking pattern.

 

[SoCal80s]

Nailing the vocals is mandatory, nailing the bassline is optional.

Definitely.

Ask your bandmates what they think about simplifying things, and even give them some choices....

I would actually just play it simple at rehearsal and see if anybody even notices.

 

[Bob Coldwell]

Lots of good stuff in this thread that could apply to any song.

I played and sang " One Headlight and don't remember it being that tricky. But maybe I was playing it wrong.

Learning the parts air tight separately at first is a good tip. So is modifying the bass or vocal. It's all about problem solving.

Right now I'm learning "Man On The Moon" by REM. I'm using a pick, like Mike Mills does. And I find that "air strumming" helps me get the rhythm right.

Interesting that the gallop feel on "Do You Think I'm Sexy" was brought up. A bass player gave me a tip on that many years ago.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Let's ask The Wallflowers....



And from about a year after the song came out

 

[Lesfunk]

He's not galloping at all is he? ^^^^

 

[MultiScaleMale]

He's not galloping at all is he? ^^^^

I've heard the gallop is actually a tom covered with a bath towel

 

[Queue]

And there you go! Vocal nailed, bass line modified, nobody really noticing. (Except the bass players in the audience. )

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I was today years old when I learned that the lead singer from the Wallflowers is Bob Dylan's youngest child.

 

[themickster]

So this is a song our crowd would really like, and I'm the most Jakob Dylan-y voice in the band, so I would have to sing it.

The bassline is rather simple.

What I'm wrestling with is playing the bassline with the emphasis on the right beats while singing simultaneously. It's clearly supposed to have an emphasis like "DAH dadaDAH dadaDAH dadaDAH" and I'm having trouble playing the "dada" portion. I CAN just play one emphasized offbeat note while singing that would work with the rhythm, but it feels lacking. It would sound okay with "DAH daDAH daDAH daDAH" but even that is proving to be a challenge.

I can do it fine if I'm not singing but... that's not the problem here.

The chorus is relatively easy. It's the verses I'm wrestling with.

Suggestions?

I found the knack for singing over your own bass playing is not to listen too much to the bass. After that, it's know both well and keep practising.

You could swap instruments. Let the guitarist play bass on that one.

You could have someone else sing and not worry about sounding 'right'.

 

[Slevage]

Play the bass line as is when you're not singing.
When you are singing- play quarter notes or maybe eighth notes.

Don't play triplets-it would change the groove/feel.

 

[bassfiddlesteve]

I used to sing and play this song. The "galloping" 16th notes you hear are not played on the bass. If you listen to the intro, you hear that rhythm start before the bass comes in. The bass is actually playing eighth notes with a short note on the downbeats and a long note on the upbeats. I'm not against using a pick, but I always played this song fingerstyle and I'm pretty sure the bass player from The Wallflowers did too.

- Steve

 

[2thAche]

I find it easier to sing over "and a one, and a 2" than "one and 2 and" on that song. Do the bass line while you watch TV etc until it becomes automatic. Then play and sing over a karaoke track to start getting it all together. I find karaoke tracks help me the most cause they're like a metronome but with all the cues from the music. Do the karaoke practice a few times a day and it should come together.

 

[coy garcia]

slow it down...like way slow down and learn it measure by measure....you'll get it.

 

[DaveParker39]

Let's ask The Wallflowers....



And from about a year after the song came out

Interesting modifications.

I like the bridge school version. I think that Letterman version feels a little rushed. But interesting to hear their modifications!

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Interesting modifications.

I like the bridge school version. I think that Letterman version feels a little rushed. But interesting to hear their modifications!

Yeah, I think the Letterman one had some nerves going. Pros can have nerves too.

 

[Whousedtoplay]

He's not galloping at all is he? ^^^^

"One Headline" unplugged in the studio.

 

[Whousedtoplay]

I resorted to using a rubber plectrum

In this live version of the song, the bass player is playing with the pick.



In this video of the live performance, the bass player is playing with the pick and "galloping."

 

[Whousedtoplay]

I've heard the gallop is actually a tom covered with a bath towel

I think you are correct.
Here is the drum pattern for that song, just slower - 50% tempo.

https://www.talkbass.com/attachments/the-wallflowers-–-one-headlight-drumspattern-mp3.5131883/?temp_hash=aa3ef867c06837c00cd097ce6298d2c2

 

[Groove Doctor]

I find it easier to sing over "and a one, and a 2" than "one and 2 and" on that song. Do the bass line while you watch TV etc until it becomes automatic.

Then play and sing over a karaoke track to start getting it all together. I find karaoke tracks help me the most cause they're like a metronome but with all the cues from the music. Do the karaoke practice a few times a day and it should come together.

+2.

That's how I count the disco octave gallop when I play it.

Our band records "karaoke tracks" for our singers to practice our bands own special song arrangements with at home.

 

[Whousedtoplay]

The bass is actually playing eighth notes with a short note on the downbeats and a long note on the upbeats.

From "The Wallflowers - One Headlight (unplugged studio)," the bass is not "galloping."



As short soundclip of the EQ-ed (and slower) bass-line.

https://www.talkbass.com/attachment...9/?temp_hash=f73aa835772d68d02c6587e1f9937671


A nice (good quality) live performance of "One Headlight."
The bass-line is not galloping.