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Singing Question

McHack

McHack

Jul 29, 2003
5,630
6
62
Central Ohio!
#1
Ok, here's my thing. I've been playing the bass for a while. I'm a dad of 4 teenagers, (16,14,13, & 12) Once the first two are getting out on thier own, I wanna get into a regular gig.

I can sing. I have one of those voices, where I can literally imitate anyone, so long as the range is within my reach. AND, think it'd be wise if I learned to do both,, play bass AND sing.

Here's the gist of my question, do those of you who sing, AND play bass,,, practice each individually? I have the toughest damn time, trying to do both,, & think I'm a lost cause... BUT, because I never really practice singing,, pretty much limited to my time in the car. BUT, I've got like 6 - 7 hours of mp3's I run through, for bass practice.

ANY input is appreciated.
 
#2
McHack said:
Ok, here's my thing. I've been playing the bass for a while. I'm a dad of 4 teenagers, (16,14,13, & 12) Once the first two are getting out on thier own, I wanna get into a regular gig.

I can sing. I have one of those voices, where I can literally imitate anyone, so long as the range is within my reach. AND, think it'd be wise if I learned to do both,, play bass AND sing.

Here's the gist of my question, do those of you who sing, AND play bass,,, practice each individually? I have the toughest damn time, trying to do both,, & think I'm a lost cause... BUT, because I never really practice singing,, pretty much limited to my time in the car. BUT, I've got like 6 - 7 hours of mp3's I run through, for bass practice.

ANY input is appreciated.
Click to expand...


The only really hard part about singing/practice for me is remembering all the lyrics. I usually have no problems remembering the form/structure of the playing end of things, but sometimes the last couple lines of the 3rd verse of a tune gets a little sketchy.

I usually practice both at the same time, I do the singing along in the car thing, too. Before I was more comfortable with singing and playing at the same time I had to practice each alone, but I'm pretty good at doing both without thinking too much about it.


Chris A. :rolleyes: :bassist:
 
#3
If you want to get better at singing and playing, that's what you'll have to practice. Work out your weak part until you're comfortable with it, and then throw in the stronger part. The weak/strong part can be your singing or bass playing. Practice doing them simultaneously and take some mental notes so you can work out your mistakes.

Also keep in mind that independence between your voice and bass playing is a goal worth striving for, but don't let that make you throw away the interdependence between you voice and bass. Use both to accomplish your goals.
 
#4
I am working on this now too as one of my bands needs severe vocal help and asked me to do what I could to pitch in. Although I could always easily sing and play guitar, I was suprised at how difficult it is to sing and play any kind of bass line beyond simple root banging. It gave me new respect for my wife who can sing while playing the keyboard. Two hands doing two different things, plus the foot pedal, plus the vocals....how in the hail does she do it? I've found some success in practicing singing while playing until I'm ready to puke from the repetition. I keep my bass lines as simple as possible at first, and do the songs until I literally don't have to think about the vocals anymore, then I find my fingers can add a little more creativity. It's still a struggle with each new song, but seems to be getting easier and easier as my brain learns to do two seperate things at the same time. Maybe next I'll tackle walking while chewing bubble gum... :D
 
#5
I like to sing and play bass - really just for fun, but maybe someday I'll be good enough to do it in an band. I find that when I'm working on singing a new tune I really have to do it at a slow tempo and pay attention to how the bass line and the vocal part fit together and then work on bringing it up to tempo.
 
#6
McHack said:
I can sing. I have one of those voices, where I can literally imitate anyone, so long as the range is within my reach. AND, think it'd be wise if I learned to do both,, play bass AND sing.
Click to expand...
I am at the 'glass ceiling' for exactly this reason. I think I can sing alright, (harmonies actually better than lead), have good pitch, just not enough confidence. I've done it in bands before, and it has been just fine, but not in the band I've been in for 18 months. No one has asked me to, though I've volunteered. I want to get back to doing it more.

Here's the gist of my question, do those of you who sing, AND play bass,,, practice each individually? I have the toughest damn time, trying to do both,, & think I'm a lost cause... BUT, because I never really practice singing,, pretty much limited to my time in the car. BUT, I've got like 6 - 7 hours of mp3's I run through, for bass practice.

ANY input is appreciated.
Click to expand...

The one way I've been successful is one tune at a time. I have to work out exactly where I'll be playing a bass note and where I'll sing something. It's like serial communications for your brain, you just have to get the sequence down. Once I have the understanding, it gets easier and easier. The first run through is the hardest.

I have tons of respect for those who can play a walking line and be able to sing without seeming to be paying attention to playing (Sting, Macca, the new guy in Chicago, etc...). I can play guitar and sing, but playing bass is not the same. Seems like it has to do with playing on the 1 and 3 instead of the 2 and 4. I guess there is no substitution to working hard at it, at least for me.
 
#7
I find that because of doing this for as long as I can remember it is mostly easy for me to sing and play at the same time. It seems though that every now and then I run across a song or a part that is truely difficult. The way that I get it down is to practice the bass part by itself until it is solid then I work on the vocal part. On the impossible parts I go as far as to sound it out so to speak. Taking each phrase and breaking it down syllable by syllable, beat by beat, note by note. If this doesn't work then I just cheat the bassline a little. ;) Shhhh...don't tell anyone.

The trick is to just practice as everyone says and if you are doing harmonys make sure your pitch is on.
 
#8
Edwcdc said:
I find that because of doing this for as long as I can remember it is mostly easy for me to sing and play at the same time. It seems though that every now and then I run across a song or a part that is truely difficult. The way that I get it down is to practice the bass part by itself until it is solid then I work on the vocal part. On the impossible parts I go as far as to sound it out so to speak. Taking each phrase and breaking it down syllable by syllable, beat by beat, note by note. If this doesn't work then I just cheat the bassline a little. ;) Shhhh...don't tell anyone.

The trick is to just practice as everyone says and if you are doing harmonys make sure your pitch is on.
Click to expand...


Outstanding advice. I sing lead on about 1/3 of the songs in my two bands and sing backup on most of them. This was a very new thing for me about a year ago. I could do one or the other, but not both. Not without getting severely off time in one or the other. There is no magic formula other than practicing it. But this quote is probably the best advice for how to do it. If you have to cheat the bassline a little when singing.... that is OK!!! People will never leave your gig thinking... 'man that SOB could sing, but he sure did cheat on that bassline at the end of the bridge!'
 
#10
I've given this some thought, and here's some concrete tips for you:

1. While you are singing, try to stay in one position. Reduce the amount you go up and down the neck. Doing this will reduce the amount you will look down to see what fret you are hitting as well as the likelyhood of moving to the wrong note.

2. Work on your plucking hand. The plucking hand is what locks in with the drummer, provides the pulse, and pumps the groove. Missing with your plucking hand is more noticable than missing with your fretting hand. Practice plucking eighth notes, quarter notes, syncopated plucks, etc. If you are a finger picker, while you are singing along with the song on the radio in the car, tap out the pulse of the song with the index and middle finger of your plucking hand on the steering wheel.

3. Memorize some generic patterns with your fretting hand. Learn patterns for funk, rock, blues, etc. The patterns should be moveable, i.e. a pattern played on the E and A string can be moved to the A and D string, and a pattern played on the 3rd fret could also be played at the 5th fret. From there it's just a matter of learning the changes of a song and adjusting those patterns to them. The advantage of singing along is that you'll know when the changes are coming.

4. Use your vocals to cue your bass playing. The other tips are to help with independence, this one is for interdependence. Use a note or word to trigger the note you are going to play on bass. For example, when the first word of the chorus is sung make a mental note to play "X". Practice this and let your vocals and bass work together. It's sort of like how the two hands of a pianist work together. It will also make remembering bass lines and lyrics easier because you'll have another thing to associate them with.

Hope this helps
 
#12
paniak17 said:
My best advice would have to be just DO it, dont think about it, hell ive only played for 8 months and singing and playing is almost a 2nd nature to me. So dont think about your bassline or else your going to get screwed up.
Click to expand...

Great stuff Jive, I've been doing #2 for years (while in the car), & never really realized it. In fact, my wife hacks on me about it.

Paniak, i know,, i know... Thing is, when you do something a certain way, & then do it that way,, for a long time (since the 80s) new habits can be stubborn. Plus, since the singing part is still outta my comfort zone, I'm freaked out...

Actually, I've had friends totally **** on me, for even TRYING to sing before,,, so I'm kinda mind f'd about it. But, my wife assures me I do have the voice for it. So, you're right, just doing it is the best way...
 
#13
McHack said:
Great stuff Jive, I've been doing #2 for years (while in the car), & never really realized it. In fact, my wife hacks on me about it.

Paniak, i know,, i know... Thing is, when you do something a certain way, & then do it that way,, for a long time (since the 80s) new habits can be stubborn. Plus, since the singing part is still outta my comfort zone, I'm freaked out...

Actually, I've had friends totally **** on me, for even TRYING to sing before,,, so I'm kinda mind f'd about it. But, my wife assures me I do have the voice for it. So, you're right, just doing it is the best way...
Click to expand...

hmmm i see, well this is my new advice then, take your bass, and a song you know to heart, Meaning youve played it and played it and played it, now your probably ready for the vocals to that song, so TRY to add them it, without thinking of bassline, just TRY it, then once you get that done, do others, O the fun in singing and playing! :bassist:
 
#15
I played piano for years and I could NEVER sing and play the the same time. Ever. Now I'm trying ti with the bass and if it's an easy line I can do it but I my left hand always goes a little too far and I play on the fret and get that crappy sound! Ack.
 
#17
jive1 said:
I've given this some thought, and here's some concrete tips for you:

1. While you are singing, try to stay in one position. Reduce the amount you go up and down the neck. Doing this will reduce the amount you will look down to see what fret you are hitting as well as the likelyhood of moving to the wrong note.

2. Work on your plucking hand. The plucking hand is what locks in with the drummer, provides the pulse, and pumps the groove. Missing with your plucking hand is more noticable than missing with your fretting hand. Practice plucking eighth notes, quarter notes, syncopated plucks, etc. If you are a finger picker, while you are singing along with the song on the radio in the car, tap out the pulse of the song with the index and middle finger of your plucking hand on the steering wheel.

3. Memorize some generic patterns with your fretting hand. Learn patterns for funk, rock, blues, etc. The patterns should be moveable, i.e. a pattern played on the E and A string can be moved to the A and D string, and a pattern played on the 3rd fret could also be played at the 5th fret. From there it's just a matter of learning the changes of a song and adjusting those patterns to them. The advantage of singing along is that you'll know when the changes are coming.

4. Use your vocals to cue your bass playing. The other tips are to help with independence, this one is for interdependence. Use a note or word to trigger the note you are going to play on bass. For example, when the first word of the chorus is sung make a mental note to play "X". Practice this and let your vocals and bass work together. It's sort of like how the two hands of a pianist work together. It will also make remembering bass lines and lyrics easier because you'll have another thing to associate them with.

Hope this helps
Click to expand...

That's amazing jive1! Copyright that.

The only thing I'd want to add is for #4, you can also use your playing to queue your vocal. I guess it's how you mentally think of the song. At least that's how I go about backups.

I'm stuck with a really limited range- but I'm good in falsetto. You have a gift, use it because guys like me would kill to be able to have the ability to sing well.
 
#19
I sing lead on about 1/3 to 1/2 of the songs in my band. It just comes naturally to me now, but in the beginning it took some work. But, I have no real advice to add, Jive1 and Edcwc pretty much summed it all up. :)
 

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