I'm not really much of a singer but I can play and sing for a couple bars. It all gets slightly confusing after that.
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Poll: Do you sing?
- Thread starter bassteban
- Start date
What Up,Bassteban! I sing very well,but not while playing.I even need experience with back-up,just havent had any,and Ive played in some large arrangements.I have to say,I love playing with horns.I do agree with stuonbass,it sounds just like something Jaco would say,If He were here,and I wish He were. PS-still workin on that pic of my 7-string Bassteban,as soon as I shoot some-Youll be the first to see them.Also,Ill send you a pic of my first 7,its a poloriod-but youll get the idea. Be Blessed Chaz.
About a year ago I didn't want anything to do with a mic, but I've found it to be a lot of fun since then. I sing backups in my original project The Red Limit, and a bit of both lead and backups with my mostly-cover band The Great Offenders.
I'm pretty similar to cutthroatmolloy, I'm great at singing while playing, it's the being a good singer part that's the hardest for me. But it's all about practise I guess...
I'm pretty similar to cutthroatmolloy, I'm great at singing while playing, it's the being a good singer part that's the hardest for me. But it's all about practise I guess...
I sing and play bass but when I try them together I fall over. So I voted on the gum thing. But I'm going to learn it. The only problem seems to be that unless you are really really good with both you need to dumb-down your bass playing. Or so it would seem. Hopefully I can sing backgrounds or even lead some day.
I am learning to sing backup.
So far my repertoire extends to the backup vocals to "I Love Rock N Roll" by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts (at about 40% volume so it's just filler noise)...
Oh, and the spoken words of You Gotta Keep Em Seperated from "Come Out and Play" by The Offpsring, if that counts
Once, when our singer was late, I "sang" White Wedding by Billy Idol. I thought it would be easy what with mainly running notes, but I lost the plot after the first verse, coz thats all I knew by heart. Sounded terrible too...but felt pretty good mumbling into the mike nonetheless, and my band mates who saw it reckoned it took some balls to give it a go, having never really sung before. I was standing proud in all my lameness!!
So far my repertoire extends to the backup vocals to "I Love Rock N Roll" by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts (at about 40% volume so it's just filler noise)...
Oh, and the spoken words of You Gotta Keep Em Seperated from "Come Out and Play" by The Offpsring, if that counts
Once, when our singer was late, I "sang" White Wedding by Billy Idol. I thought it would be easy what with mainly running notes, but I lost the plot after the first verse, coz thats all I knew by heart. Sounded terrible too...but felt pretty good mumbling into the mike nonetheless, and my band mates who saw it reckoned it took some balls to give it a go, having never really sung before. I was standing proud in all my lameness!!
I've always sang at least 2 leads a night, and probably contributed to 50% or more of the harmonies. (I couldn't find a category to fit me since doing 2-3 songs a night isn't really sharing the lead)
I sing lead in about 8/10 of our set list while I play bass...
as you've already said, the difficult part is to be a GOOD singer. singing while playing, while difficult, can be exercised...
as you've already said, the difficult part is to be a GOOD singer. singing while playing, while difficult, can be exercised...
I have always thought that the ability to sing backup vocals is important for a bass player. IMO, excellent, polished vocals are one thing that really separate a great band from a good one, and I want to be part of that equation.
That said, the more backup vocals I sing, the more I find that a lot of popular basslines are rather contrapuntal to the vocals, so I really have to woodshed to be able to do both well.
My other challenge is that, seemingly every fall, I get a bad cold that degenerates into an upper respiratory infection that sticks around for two months. It keeps me from singing much or well, and just recently I have found myself coughing and hacking on stage. Ugh.
That said, the more backup vocals I sing, the more I find that a lot of popular basslines are rather contrapuntal to the vocals, so I really have to woodshed to be able to do both well.
My other challenge is that, seemingly every fall, I get a bad cold that degenerates into an upper respiratory infection that sticks around for two months. It keeps me from singing much or well, and just recently I have found myself coughing and hacking on stage. Ugh.
I do BU vox most of the time, and about 5 or 6 leads. I think I sound better doing the harmony parts. My lead vocal is just pedestrian; competent, but nothing special. I have to practice a fair amount to play and sing. I appreciate those that seem to do it with ease.
I sing backup sometimes - usually the high falsetto part. I don't sing particularly well, but for some reason I don't have any problem singing the high part on pitch.
I sing lead vocals on about 25% of our tunes and I do backup in the rest, so I pretty much sing on just about every tune in some fashion or another. At first it was a challange, but now it's 2nd nature. I only started singing with the band 2 years ago.
I found it harder to sing, play and punch in effects at the right times ... I do a lot of looper work and chording behind the guitarist, so in the beginning I was messing up, a lot, while I got used to everything ..... now it's a piece of cake ....
I found it harder to sing, play and punch in effects at the right times ... I do a lot of looper work and chording behind the guitarist, so in the beginning I was messing up, a lot, while I got used to everything ..... now it's a piece of cake ....
I prefer not singing lead. Especially when playing bass.
But I'm perfectly capable and happy to be doing backup vocals.
But I'm perfectly capable and happy to be doing backup vocals.
scottbass
Bass lines like a big, funky giant
None of the choices fit my situation. I sing lead on about 15% of the songs and backups on about 50% of the songs.
As noted, it is much more difficult to sing lead while playing a moving bass line than it is to sing lead while playing rhythm guitar chords. My bass playing tends to be much more rudimentary when my mouth is open.
As noted, it is much more difficult to sing lead while playing a moving bass line than it is to sing lead while playing rhythm guitar chords. My bass playing tends to be much more rudimentary when my mouth is open.
I sing lead in my main band almost exclusively. My voice is really good, but I don't put it over playing at all. Playing bass is definately #1 for me. In fact, I think singing gets old sometimes, and I'd rather just play and do harmonies/backups.
I really don't have much trouble singing and playing at the same time either. There are a few numbers we've written though that have been rough.
I really don't have much trouble singing and playing at the same time either. There are a few numbers we've written though that have been rough.
- Jan 17, 2002
- 1,249
- 23
- Disclosures
- I paid for all my gear myself. Well, me and MasterCard.
I do BG vox on most of my band's songs, and take a couple of lead vocals that the (female) front person can't handle because her range is too high. Most songs it's not difficult, but some songs with syncopation happening between the vocals and bass are a challenge. I will sacrifice the bass line if the vocal is more important.
In most of the bands I'm in, I'll sing lead on 2 or 3 songs a set and backup whenever I can. I do it to give the lead singers a break and to change things up a little bit.
As valuable as a BassPlayer is, you'll find even more work if you can sing. In fact, the work will usually find you.
As valuable as a BassPlayer is, you'll find even more work if you can sing. In fact, the work will usually find you.
No, never, nada. In my opinion, bands have a choice. Do they want a guy who plays root notes and sings backup, or do they want a bass player?
If a band wants backup vocals, they don't need/want victor wooten or jaco to do it for them.
If a band wants backup vocals, they don't need/want victor wooten or jaco to do it for them.
- Nov 7, 2006
- 751
- 19
- Disclosures
- Endorsing-Trace Elliot,Peavey Basses,PedalTrain,Starkey inears
