(POLL) Do you sing and play bass?

[dalkowski]

would that I could, alas and alack. would that I could...

 

[shawshank72]

I do backing vocals but have done lead vocals in a pinch.

 

[Ostie]

I’ve sung BU and harmony for many years. For a while in the nineties I sang lead in a 5-piece blues band. Singing lead while playing bass is trickier than singing lead and playing rhythm guitar. I know cuz I started out as a RG player before I saw the light.

 

[vvvmmm]

I play bass and what I call, vocalize.

 

[Rezdog]

Greetings from the North,

On originals I can do either. On covers I'd rather do back ups.

Rezdog

 

[fdeck]

Singing and playing is on my bucket list. Just for fun, don't know if I'd ever do it on a gig.

 

[LBS-bass]

I got to sing some lead today in a rehearsal for a show I'm doing next week. Dusting off a few old bluesy songs to fill out a three set show next Wednesday. Honestly it's fun, and I rarely get to do it very much anymore, because everyone wants me for bass.

 

[Kmonk]

I have sang lead and harmony but I am extremely uncomfortable doing so. Especially singing lead. It's actually my biggest phobia. I am completely comfortable with my playing and I can play while singing without even thinking about what it is I'm playing. For some reason, singing terrifies me. When I first started playing in high school, I sang all the time. When I was in my early 20s, I developed a paralyzing phobia about singing. I was in a band about 20 years ago and sang lead on some songs but I was so self conscious about singing, that people usually commented that they could barely hear me. Several years ago, I was playing in a Foreigner Tribute. We were rehearsing Lou Gramm's "Ready Or Not". At one point the lead singer stopped and asked who was singing the high harmony. When I told him that I was, he asked why we needed him in the band. I have decent range. I used to sing "Come Sail Away" by Styx. I wish I could get the courage to sing lead again but as I mentioned, it is by far my biggest phobia. In fact, it's really the only phobia I suffer from.

 

[ajkula66]

Sing? Yes.

Play bass? Sure.

At the same time? Absolutely not, and it's not for a lack of trying.

Whether it's a mental block - since I can sing just fine playing guitar - or something else I never figured out, but gave up on the concept entirely decades ago.

 

[Cuzzie]

Only started playing about 5 years ago, but do both for the band.
Both singing amp rapping as well as playing.
It takes a bucketloads of effort.
I have to learn each part independently like the back of my hand and then merge them together relearning them together - that’s when doing covers. At times I have to simplify the bass parts to get the 2 to dovetail, but I always try to stay faithful with covers.
Originals is Slightly easier in that you build your parts to suit you and your style.

Picking the correct songs for you is the key for the band IMHO if you are doing both.

 

[JRA]

I'm interested in hearing from those who don't sing. Do you not sing at all?

i haven't sung in a band since my teeny-bopper band. i have 'imitated' singing for the benefit of teaching others who needed to learn parts when i was the MD/BL --- e.g., i understand harmony across changes. my jazz band is instrumental: we delight in not singing and not having to deal with the issue!

Do you just find singing while playing bass challenging?

mostly, yes...it depends.

Do you sing when playing other instruments?

not as a real singer (per the above comments), but i've taught a lot of vocal parts to others, at the piano --- way easier, IME.

 

[Nedmundo]

This has changed over time for me. During high school and college, I sang lots of lead vocals when I played bass, and was the primary lead vocalist in one band.

Then, during law school, I was bass, lead vocals, or lead guitar depending on the song, and never did backing vocals when playing guitar or bass.

Since then, I've mostly played in original bands, and have never done any lead vocals. I've done lots of backing vocals, which in one band were harmonies dictated by the BL. I wasn't terribly good at those, but usually got it right at shows.

In the other bands, I've created my own backing vocal parts. Some of them have a style similar to some of Mike Mills's backing vocals with R.E.M.

 

[vvvmmm]

Ah, a Philly lawyer (from one here in Chi - assume I'm not assuming too much).

 

[Nedmundo]

Ah, a Philly lawyer (from one here in Chi - assume I'm not assuming too much).

Yes, but I'm a recovering lawyer! Still a member of the bar, but haven't practiced in a long time.

 

[vvvmmm]

I'm still practicing, don't think I'll ever get it right.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Define singing.

 

[mapleglo]

I'm currently learning to sing and play The Story in your Eyes by The Moody Blues. This has got to be one of the most difficult songs to sing and play.



It's actually harder than Jackson Browne's Redneck Friend.

 

[LBS-bass]

I'm currently learning to sing and play The Story in your Eyes by The Moody Blues. This has got to be one of the most difficult songs to sing and play.



It's actually harder than Jackson Browne's Redneck Friend.

Those are both great songs!

 

[CallMeAl]

Right now I’m singing Backup only in 2 bands. I’m a pretty confident lead singer with acoustic rhythm guitar, but I find it more difficult with bass. I want to bust into the “lead singing bass player” zone; I have recently picked out 2 songs to sing with my country/bluegrass band and we just started working on them. Exciting!

Update: I’m officially a lead-singing bass player! (Well, one song, but it’s a start! )

Thanks @LBS-bass for the thread, and the inspiration!

More info here:
Gig report: Grassanova at Summerhill Brewing, Locke NY, 1/31/20

 

[GonePlaid]

Sang in church choir at an early age(9?). Have always sung to some degree although it's difficult while playing sax[I used to play sax, not any more]. I sing high falsetto or low tenor/baritone harmonies and baritone leads. A tenor I'm not. Lotta things I do sing lead on are in a lower key than the original. There are a few songs that there's no way I can sing lead against the bass line. "Knock on Wood", for example. I kinda get a kick outta singing 'color' notes-7ths, 9ths, etc.-if they fit.