Singing and playing...

[MNAirHead]

Issue is a good bass player is thinking a before the chart.. singing is with the song.

Start by singing scales and playing together.

Then simplify and get used to it.. ..

It's more comfortable to drone/backup notes for someone else until you're acclimated.

 

[blackshift]

I've been practicing with this song right here:




and it is tough. Concentrating on one part seems to mess up the other.

 

[plangentmusic]

The bass is the hardest instrument to play and sing at the same time. And I speak from experience because I also sing when playing guitar, keys and drums. Bass is the toughest.

Start with simple songs. If something gives you trouble, work on it.

It's as simple, and as difficult as that.

 

[Marty Forrer]

I sing and play on double bass and bass guitar. Double bass is harder because you have to maintain your intonation. I learn the bass part so well I dont have to think about it... it's second nature. Then I can concentrate on doing a good job of the vocals. I read an interview with Sting, and this was his approach too. Recently I've started singing jazz standards while playing double bass, that's a real challenge.

 

[nysbob]

First I have to be able to play the bass line without thinking about it. Then I start blending in vocals until I can 'hear' both bass and my voice together. Rinse and repeat.

This is essentially what I do. If I concentrate too much on either playing or singing, I'll mess up whichever I'm NOT concentrating on.

I do best when I just remember what the song is supposed to sound like - then try to bring that to life.

 

[miziomix]

Here's what I do. I look for those notes where the bass underlines the vocals and make them my anchor points. I play and sing with a funk band and bass lines can get quite busy. Without this approach I wouldn't be able to play busy lines and sing at the same time.

I also tweak both vocals and bass line to suit my style. I might have problems trying to play and sing like someone else. But I don't when trying to sound like me

 

[delta7fred]

I've been practicing with this song right here:




and it is tough. Concentrating on one part seems to mess up the other.

That's a tough one, too slow so you have to devote too much of your brain to the timing. I find the faster stuff is easier. Crossroads by Cream is a good one to practice on (but it is quite difficult). Anything by Dr Feelgood (I'm showing my age now) Back in the night, Milk and Alcohol are good and relatively easy. A nice steady chunk-a-chunk-a bassline that once you get started on just seems to take on a life of it's own. Some nights it even surprises me.

Riff based basslines are usually easier to sing over for me as I can set my fingers off playing a riff and they will do it until I instruct them to do something else. Fine for rock but not good if you want to play ballads. The less you have to think about your fingers the more brain 'time' you can devote to singing.

You have to be able play it in a detached way. I know that sounds strange but that is how I approach it. Learn it thoroughly first then set your fingers off playing it and you can concentrate on the singing. I have to really concentrate as I am not a natural singer but I am getting better. I now sing lead on about 10% of our stuff.

Playing guitar and singing is so much easier.

Best of luck

 

[themass]

Does anyone here sing lead and play the bassline to "september"? That one is kicking my ass.

 

[skwee]

learn each separately, then play downbeats while you sing, then play more as you sing.

 

[Audiophage]

Singing while playing has improved my time and intonation(on upright), as well as my general musicality. I recommend working on it.

Start with tunes that have rhythmically simple bass parts to help build the coordination between the two. Also, work on both parts separately before putting them together, just like beginning piano.

It's also a good way to avoid bass face. lol

 

[miziomix]

Singing while playing has improved my time and intonation(on upright), as well as my general musicality.l

how true! I feel I've become a better bass player since I started singing. It has helped me to develop more meaningful bass lines I can now feel rhythm and melody locking together.

 

[what the pluck]

i think youv'e got to focus, relax and practice heaps, but once you get it it becomes easier. Its taken me about 18 months to get confident enough to front my band.

 

[delta7fred]

i think youv'e got to focus, relax and practice heaps, but once you get it it becomes easier. Its taken me about 18 months to get confident enough to front my band.

Good point - confidence - it's no good being able to sing and play if you don't believe you are good enough and don't have the confidence to actually do it on stage.

18 months is good, it only took me about 30 years to muster up the courage to sing lead, but I love it now. I had sung backing vocals for about 28 years (of the 30) but lead is a whole different ball game to me, YMMV. I am not the most confident person in the world but now strap on a bass and I undergo a complete transformation.

 

[BrandonBass]

tapping your feet to the beat helps alot. progress from simple songs with straight 8ths first.

eg with or without you by U2.

 

[bassplayinggirl]

Until I'm 100% confident on a song I simplify the bass line while singing, then in between verses/lines I go back to playing full out.

 

[Ripley]

I have the same challenge as the OP, and agree with everyone's advice: learn the bass part 'til you have it down cold, first. Frankly, I have the same challenge with backing vox on some songs, too, and my solution/advice is to nail the vox when it's lead, and flip a coin on backing situations. What's more important for the particular song, the backing vocal line or the bass line?

I think the issue comes from this: there are very few bands with a lead vox/bassist. Let me rephrase that a bit: that band set up is a minority. So, you're tackling parts written by two different people who aren't really writing for the other person.

When I played in hair bands, it wasn't a big issue. Poison, Dokken, AC/DC, even Judas Priest - the bass lines aren't terribly challenging, so it's easy to sing over them. As I started playing Sabbath, Stone Temple Pilots and Iron Maiden, it became more of a challenge to mesh the two roles. (However, if you want a real exercise in frustration, try singing and playing Van Halen's "Mean Street". Yeesh...)

Ultimately, I think you just have to decide what will serve the song best and do that confidently. Most people won't cluck their tongues if you don't nail two parts simultaneously. Have fun!

 

[delta7fred]

Until I'm 100% confident on a song I simplify the bass line while singing, then in between verses/lines I go back to playing full out.

If you listen to songs where the bass player sings they usually have simpler parts while they are singing anyway.

In my experience as long as you play something most people would not notice.

I had a brain fart one night and forgot a whole song (that I don't sing), just could not place it but carried on playing something quietly. I eventually worked out that it was in A but that was about it I never did get most of the rest of the chords (Can't Buy Me Love - Beatles, I was ok on the verse but the chorus was a complete mystery to me). Our guitarist and drummer did not even notice. Sheesh sometimes I wonder why I bother learning the basslines, I should try just playing root notes one night, see if they notice.