Singing While Playing

[Memphis Soul]

This is really hard to do. If you can do this, hats off to you! I have been practicing since buying a bass (never tried in 30 yrs on guitar). I have been trying by playing some of the Police songs since Sting plays and sings at the same time. Anyone who can do this got any tips or is it just practice, practice, practice?

 

[bwildt]

Something needs to go on autopilot-- either singing or playing. Despite what people think, humans can't multitask.

 

[Domespeed]

for me, it's practice...

But it seems the independence of bass and voice is getting better with more routine.
And yes, it's hard
no comparison to strumming a guitar and singing

 

[Memphis Soul]

for me, it's practice...

But it seems the independence of bass and voice is getting better with more routine.
And yes, it's hard
no comparison to strumming a guitar and singing

Yeah I can strum and sing. You are right not even close to the same thing

 

[Killing Floor]

I like to learn to sing the part alone (needs to be alone so coyotes won't congregate). Nail the vocals. Seriously know the words cold.
Then play through the bass. learn that.

Then I'd play a bar or 2 at a time, build to a verse, chorus, etc. A section at a time. String together 2 parts, then 3...

In my own stoopit opinion as someone who has sung lead and bassed, it is way more important to land the vocals. Sacrifice stretching on the bass until you have the vocals.

As weird as it sounds, I think it is easier for me to sing while playing guitar. Maybe because I'm not thinking about being locked. You can do it. Anyone can do it.

 

[Memphis Soul]

I like to learn to sing the part alone (needs to be alone so coyotes won't congregate). Nail the vocals. Seriously know the words cold.
Then play through the bass. learn that.

Then I'd play a bar or 2 at a time, build to a verse, chorus, etc. A section at a time. String together 2 parts, then 3...

In my own stoopit opinion as someone who has sung lead and bassed, it is way more important to land the vocals. Sacrifice stretching on the bass until you have the vocals.

As weird as it sounds, I think it is easier for me to sing while playing guitar. Maybe because I'm not thinking about being locked. You can do it. Anyone can do it.

Thanks for the encouragement and the advice.

 

[Wasnex]

This is really hard to do. If you can do this, hats off to you! I have been practicing since buying a bass (never tried in 30 yrs on guitar). I have been trying by playing some of the Police songs since Sting plays and sings at the same time. Anyone who can do this got any tips or is it just practice, practice, practice?

Singing and playing is often harder with bass than guitar. IMHO the process is study, analyze, practice, practice, practice. It should get easier as you build repertoire. So I suggest starting with a relatively easy song.

I think one of the things that makes bass harder is you have to deal more with aftertouch...I.E. controlling decay and muting.

The approach I use is to learn each part individually, and then figure out how the parts fit together rhythmically. Playing piano or drums involves a similar approach. With piano you coordinate both hands to play one part. With drums you coordinate both hands and both feet to play one part. When you sing and play, you view it as one composite part and coordinate your voice and both hands. Writing both parts out in a grand staff can help you see how everything fits together. Start slow and out of time, and then work it up.

 

[Memphis Soul]

Singing and playing is often harder with bass than guitar. IMHO the process is study, analyze, practice, practice, practice. It should get easier as you build repertoire. So I suggest starting with a relatively easy song.

I think one of the things that makes bass harder is you have to deal more with aftertouch...I.E. controlling decay and muting.

The approach I use is to learn each part individually, and then figure out how the parts fit together rhythmically. Playing piano or drums involves a similar approach. With piano you coordinate both hands to play one part. With drums you coordinate both hands and both feet to play one part. When you sing and play, you view it as one composite part and coordinate your voice and both hands. Writing both parts out in a grand staff can help you see how everything fits together. Start slow and out of time, and then work it up.

I am practicing Walking On The Moon right now. Rather easy parts to play and sing. Now if I can just get them both together.

 

[srosenthal13]

Solid advice from @Killing Floor.

I've sung backup and some leads as a drummer.

Know your parts individually, then take it a phrase at a time. Break stuff down and go slow to give yourself time to process how things interact rhythmically.

After you feel like you have it somewhat together, record yourself. That's the best way to sort out any issues.

 

[Thumper]

All these guys have it covered, I will re-emphasize learn the words cold, so you don't have to think about them. Learn the bass line so you don't have to think about it. I use the Amazing Slowdowner to slow the tempo, start the tempo slow. Learn at what syllable or vowel in a word a line starts at and go from there. Work the speed up from there. Patience is required. It took me almost a year to sing and play The Boys are Back without having to dumb the bass line down, but then I have OCD....

 

[sydneytdc]

A few years ago I found myself spontaneously singing lines of songs I was learning the bass parts for, and something felt great inside. I loved how it challenged my brain - both left and right sides. So, I bought a SM58 and started to allow myself to learn to sing and play. Songs that have the bass and vocal line in counterpoint seem to be easier, but lines that are syncopated against each other I find much harder.

A year or so later I have a bunch of tracks I can happily do both on, and I really enjoy the mental exercise. It’s fascinating that on some days if I am stressed with something on another project I can pick up the bass and run through some tracks and suddenly I catch myself being completely fine with them. It’s as though I have something that distracts me from the singing and playing and it just happens.

 

[RomanS]

I have no problems doing it on guitar (unless very intricate fingerpicking is involved) or mandolin - but on bass: not a chance. Ok, playing straight eights on the root might work, but that gets old pretty soon.

What's absolutely overwhelming for me is someone like Melissa Carper playing upright bass and singing at the same time!

 

[dbflats]

Likewise, playing strumming style guitar and singing is easy and feels natural. Bass has to be precise and is often on the beat whereas singing may float around the beat. Much more difficult! Takes practice.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

There is mo secret to this. It's simply a matter of constant daily practice but also doing it very slowly at first. It's tedious and boring but 100% worth the effort

 

[tpaul]

I wonder whether playing with a pick would make it easier (more similar to strumming a guitar while singing)? It's one motion (up and down) rather than lots of independent movements with the fingers.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Police vocals and bass are pretty dificult. I recently read an interview with Andy Summers who said even Sting had to practice really hard to get some of his own songs down, it's almost all syncopated.

 

[Motorhate]

The secret I've found is to not associate the two as separate entities. If you've committed to sing and play bass then that needs to be your mindset - associate the two tasks as one. Admittedly I play in a few punk bands and it's more shouty than "singy" if you know what I mean but the prinicple is the same. I do backing or lead vocals in all of the bands and a great way to start is to go with backing vocals first, then attempt lead vocals. Easier said than done obviously, but it's how I've managed to do it. Now ... if only I could remember the words! :-(

 

[dune]

The hard rock bands I was in at the beginning of my career covered quite a few Rush tunes which I sang.
I remember thinking early on that the ability to play and sing lines like Geddy was something that one must be born with, but found it to be, as you say: "Practice, practice, practice."
I also think the idea of having one of the two on "autopilot" is accurate. Perhaps even more important is the belief that you're going to succeed in it and that it will become second nature. I think it's very similar to pianists comping with their left hand while soloing with their right.

 

[Bunk McNulty]

The best take on singing while playing is still here on tb:
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/bassists-guide-to-singing.173764/

 

[Five or Six]

I'm one of the lucky one's, I've always been able to sing and play. I guess it came naturally? But, there are still times when I can meet a challenge and, that is the fun part. But, I just go to the studio and work it out.

I sing lead on roughly 15-20 songs a night. I back almost all our songs. You get out what you put in. You can also mentally block yourself by pushing too much at one time. Trying to learn a song musically and vocally together can be difficult for some. Walk away from a tough one and come back to it. Knowing a song musically makes it easier vocally as well. Learn it musically then go to the vocals.