The important thing is to think about the split your brain needs to do. Firstly do you know the music and the words off by heart, or are you reading the bass line and the lyrics? If you are having to think about what next note to play, then how will you also think about which words to sing? Same thing but different is if you are reading. If you are a pianist, you can read two stave lines at the same time and play both. If you just play bass, then you probably won't ever have had to read two lines at once, and read the lyrics. Add these snags to the newness of playing live with your fretless and you're going to get a brain freeze. Now is NOT the time to shift from frets to fretless. I have always had a fretless, but play it rarely - and is the reason I gave up playing DB, just not enough need for it. When I do play the fretless, I find I'm consciously thinking about the next position my finger is going to hit. When I joined my current band, the big deal is vocals, so that was where I had to put in most effort. I'd got some great bass lines planned, but when my brain was concentrating on the accuracy of the harmonies, my fingers either stopped, or went back to basic roots and 5ths - kind of automatically. If I were you, I'd leave the fretless at home until you can get the singing sorted. even with a fretted bass, it's going to be tough. Is there anything giving you specific problems at the moment?
i have been working the 2 parts separately and trying to bring them together. i hate to sacrifice quality of either. i know woodsheding is the answer. i would love to find a better method to my practicing though.
