don't dispair ...it's rather difficult ...i started playing bass in bands this year to diversify and just cause i enjoy it so much ..it's much easier for me to sing and play guitar...just keep at it and don't get too frustrated ..only sing on what you can keep tight when it comes to live gigs!
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Singing and Playing...AT ONCE?
- Thread starter RufusSPatches
- Start date
I've found it immensely helpful to actually sing my bass line first.... Then sing the bass line and play it at the same time. Then continue by playing the bass rhythm on a root note and singing your part. It'll take a little bit, god knows how bad I am 
, but I've found that singing the bassline is super helpful 
, but I've found that singing the bassline is super helpful 
I've been the lead singer in every band I've played with and singing while playing is second nature to me now. One band I work with does lots of funk and fusion/classic rock tunes...some of the songs that were tough at first are Green Eyed Lady, I Wish (Stevie Wonder), Wild Night (Van Morrison), and Josie (Steely Dan)
All those songs have bass lines that move around a lot and are very syncopated, that's much more difficult than singing and playing 8th notes for instance. At this point I can't really find songs that I can't play and sing at the same time. People ask me all the time how I do it, and to be honest I don't really know.
But I think it might be because i was a singer long before I ever picked up a bass, so I already knew how to do that...for many bassists the vocal part seems to be a lot harder than bass...it wasn't for me.
I don't teach so I'm not good at explaining, but I do have a little visualization trick I do that I'll share: You know how you can set up 2 monitors on your computer and have different stuff happening on each one? Sometimes when I'm learning a song I will visualize the bass line written out on one screen, and the vocal melody written out on the other. I start by looking back and forth between them, but eventually I can sort of take both in simultaneously.
Probably sounds crazy, but it works for me.
All those songs have bass lines that move around a lot and are very syncopated, that's much more difficult than singing and playing 8th notes for instance. At this point I can't really find songs that I can't play and sing at the same time. People ask me all the time how I do it, and to be honest I don't really know.
But I think it might be because i was a singer long before I ever picked up a bass, so I already knew how to do that...for many bassists the vocal part seems to be a lot harder than bass...it wasn't for me.
I don't teach so I'm not good at explaining, but I do have a little visualization trick I do that I'll share: You know how you can set up 2 monitors on your computer and have different stuff happening on each one? Sometimes when I'm learning a song I will visualize the bass line written out on one screen, and the vocal melody written out on the other. I start by looking back and forth between them, but eventually I can sort of take both in simultaneously.
Probably sounds crazy, but it works for me.
- Aug 5, 2005
- 7,243
- 92
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: J.C. Basses
Practice. It's the only way. If I get good enough at a bassline (or vocal line for that matter) where I don't have to think about it, I can focus on the other. Sometimes it means breaking it down measure by measure and counting it out for rigid, structure practice.
RufusSPatches said:Okay, so next time the house is empty (not tonight, my wonderful guitarist/girlfriend/future fiance is coming over!) I'll have to try the woodshed theory. I've been trying to mouth the words, but I've hit a major realization: I think to much about playing. I started and still continue playing in Jazz bands, where the bass parts are VERY technical, so I always have scales, arpeggios, dynamics, and chord changes flying through my head no matter what I play, and at that point, the part of my slightly damaged brain that controls the vocals and "anti-drool-on-myself-system" ceases to functon.
I have that exact problem
playing jazz is fun but SO DIFFICULT to do well!!! I end up drooling and having a hateful look on my face until I pretty much have the song memorized. I find playing chords on acoustic guitar and singing very easy, but bass to be pretty much impossible (unless I'm playing chords on it
)
I've sang lead or backup in every band I've ever been in. I still consider myself a bass player who sings, so I have the bass DOWN first, then learn the vocal. Pay special attention to where the accents for each are. And practice until you play/sing the song in your sleep. It's nicer if you're doing a cover from a band where the bassist sings lead. If you're doing an original tune, relax - no one knows if you mad a mistake but you and the band.
+76... best thing to do
good stuff, I do this too, I listen to the difference in rhythm of the vocals and bass line.
Really?!?
tell me more...
So, I've been playing with all kinds of different local groups, but no matter how much time and effort i put into practice, theory, and learning new things to become a better bassist, there is one infernal little thing that gives me grief: singing and playing.
I'm not a great vocalist by any means, but I can hit the note that i want. my problem is that I am so bad at singing and playing that i can't even play straight 1/4 notes and say hello at the same time. it's like my mouth and hands trip over each other whenever I try.
I am looking forward to any advice you loony toons have!
Quote Sting (interview w Karl Coryat, BP Mag around 1999)..
"...it’s not that easy to sing and play bass. It’s easier to strum a guitar than play a line that goes against the melody. I learned to work out that little technical problem early on: I found I could learn to play and sing just about anything as long as I slowed it down to its constituent parts. You develop confidence when that works—and you can play something extremely complicated and sing against it as long as you start slowly and build up speed. ..."
I sing a lot of backing vocals in my covers band. I have 3 things I have learned to share.
First, as other have said, learn both parts well before trying to do both at once.
Second, break down hard parts bar by bar. Think of it as left and right hand on a piano. Break it down slowly and it will come together.
Third, resign yourself to the fact that there's some things you just cannot get to grips with. There's a couple of tunes we play that I just cannot grasp the vocal whilst playing. Luckily the rest of the band also sing so I just step out of it and concentrate on playing bass.
First, as other have said, learn both parts well before trying to do both at once.
Second, break down hard parts bar by bar. Think of it as left and right hand on a piano. Break it down slowly and it will come together.
Third, resign yourself to the fact that there's some things you just cannot get to grips with. There's a couple of tunes we play that I just cannot grasp the vocal whilst playing. Luckily the rest of the band also sing so I just step out of it and concentrate on playing bass.
1. Pick your battles. find a few different grooves that you can get comfortable singing over. Find material that fit's those to start and then work to develop more grooves to open up new material possibilities.
2. Recognize that at some level, one or the other activity is going to occasionally take precedence - If you;re singing lead, then it will have to be the vocal and you're going to have to find a different but still acceptable way to negotiate the changes in your bass line. Basically - sometimes you have to simplify the line and favor the vocal.
3. Practice, practice, practice...
2. Recognize that at some level, one or the other activity is going to occasionally take precedence - If you;re singing lead, then it will have to be the vocal and you're going to have to find a different but still acceptable way to negotiate the changes in your bass line. Basically - sometimes you have to simplify the line and favor the vocal.
3. Practice, practice, practice...
Its like rubbing your belly and patting your head. It just aint natural.
In 40 years of playing, I do not know the words to any song I every played. I am a good bass player, but I am a bass player, not a singer.
In 40 years of playing, I do not know the words to any song I every played. I am a good bass player, but I am a bass player, not a singer.
I'm having the same issue as the OP, even when trying to grab a band members attention during a song I trip over myself and drop out of time with everyone else!
We've recently found a new female vocalist who's fantastic, but the other band members and myself are looking to get in on some backing vocal action. I just can't get the hang of it! I'll either nail the backing vocals and fluff the bass part, or nail the bass part and forget what I'm singing!
We've recently found a new female vocalist who's fantastic, but the other band members and myself are looking to get in on some backing vocal action. I just can't get the hang of it! I'll either nail the backing vocals and fluff the bass part, or nail the bass part and forget what I'm singing!
Funny thing is, I had NO coordination of this skill whatsoever up until 2 years ago. I was playing bass with my band and my rhythm guitarist/lead vocalist got a sore throat. Having a halfway decent voice, I was set as temporary vocalist until he got better.
How did I nail the play and sing combo? I only memorized one song to play along with--the first metal song I ever heard--For Whom The Bell Tolls by Metallica. Once I plugged in playing fingerstyle and singing along couldn't be easier. My two cents: practice playing and singing along to some songs you like, and the talent just comes naturally.
How did I nail the play and sing combo? I only memorized one song to play along with--the first metal song I ever heard--For Whom The Bell Tolls by Metallica. Once I plugged in playing fingerstyle and singing along couldn't be easier. My two cents: practice playing and singing along to some songs you like, and the talent just comes naturally.
I find that playing an electric guitar and sing at the same time. Bass is a low tone, but we already know that don't we? But the fact that singing and playing a bass at the same time is harder, it makes it more fun to lern. But a good thing to do is listen to a song you like, sing it all the time memorize the song, then listen to the song and hum the baseline, then play it on the bass.. After that sing it and in low tempo play and sing the song till the point you can do it faster and faster, then the song with the baseline with the right tempo. This method always worked for me.
yeah I'm pretty sure *MOST* of us would have trouble with that one. I'm getting better at singling & playing...but right now when I'm singing all my basslines are pretty easy/simple. no triplets for me
Great advice given here... I'm the bass player for a Philly based Beatles trib. I play and sing on every song (either lead or backup). It just takes alot of confidence and alot of practice. 1st, learn the bass line until you can play it in your sleep, then run through it very slowly while singing your parts a few times till you get it down well, then speed it up to normal tempo... easy once you get used to it... The key is practice slowly...
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
- 38,939
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- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
I hate singing. I have a really rough time doing it. I only do it out of necessity, and usually only with simple punkish basslines. I have learned however to sing over just about anything. My video below is a good exaple.
The key for me is practice, patience, determination, and going at ridiculously slow speeds. Playing and singing the same few measures over and over at super slow almost non musical speeds gets the body to memorize what's goin on without having to think about it. The more I do it the easier it gets also. Still rather just play bass though.
The key for me is practice, patience, determination, and going at ridiculously slow speeds. Playing and singing the same few measures over and over at super slow almost non musical speeds gets the body to memorize what's goin on without having to think about it. The more I do it the easier it gets also. Still rather just play bass though.
