What Are Your Reasons For Not Singing While Playing?

[micahwc]

It’s incredibly difficult for me to sing and play at the same time; the quality of my playing drops significantly.

 

[ThinCrappyTone2]

For me, it's the other end that's the problem.

 

[cymbop]

I've sung in a barbershop quartet. That takes chops.

But I can't play a damn note on my bass and sing at the same time.

 

[comatosedragon]

"What Are Your Reasons For Not Singing While Playing?"

Well, if I'm being honest it's because none of my basses will fit in the shower.

 

[mr_musica]

I've gone on and off of singing and playing, but sometimes it' because I ended up having throat infections caused by poor technique. And some experiences where I really didn't end up having the stage presence required by the band to connect with the audience (one ocassion where I started the set singing the singer got late to the venue).

I do backup vocals from time to time but it is getting less and less frequent as years go by.

 

[JimB52]

Mostly piteous pleas to stop from the bandmates.

 

[bassdude51]

I can't multitask! A one track mind. I can only focus on bass and if I sing (or try to sing), I screw up on the bass.

Interestingly, I read an article of famous musicians who can't sing and play at the same time. Among them, B B King and Frank Zappa.

 

[mike o]

I cannot sing. I truly wish I could sing. I’ve tried many times. Sometimes politely told “we have this” sometimes LOL

 

[BassBrass]

Preference for instrumental music, once was 50/50 now 100%. Lack of special vocal talent and total lack of desire. There are people that like to sing and a few of them are worth hearing.

 

[KevInDaBassment]

I can't even sing when I'm NOT playing lol

 

[jonasparker]

Bass playing is too important to assign the bassist another simultaneous task. It's like asking your pilot to sing. The bass player ties the harmonic & rythmic sections of the band together at the deepest level. The bass player is standing by, listening for any potential trouble, playing leading notes to help everyone remember the next chord without anyone having to think about it. The bass player, along with the drummer, is scanning his audience for any unconscious wiggle to be amplified into a show where everyone is dancing.

 

[Topkat13]

Not necessary.
Don’t know how.
Practice reserved for showering.

 

[muggsy]

I'm a lousy singer, and I find singing and playing at the same time extraordinarily difficult to do. I'd rather focus on the thing I suck less at.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

I used to do some singing while playing bass in different rock bands in the 1970's, then I retired from gigging for 28 years. When I returned to gigging in 2008 I made a decision to do no singing, and I've had no problem finding jobs in bands that already have enough vocal firepower. My reasons for not singing are:

1. I consider myself to be a better bassist than singer, and I choose to not dilute my brand by singing.

2. I find some songs difficult to play and sing simultaneously, and I'm not about to dumb down my playing just so I can sing.

3. I don't have to tote a mic stand.

I know that good vocals are hard to come by, but, honestly, I hear a lot of instrumentalists who also sing who I wish would simply stop singing, even if it means that the band does more instrumentals.

So, if you play but don't sing, what is your reason for doing so?

I sing, I just suck at it

 

[Jason Bonilla]

I think in many ways I might be a better singer than bassist. but i love playing bass and thats what im doing right now. I think i could pull it off if i simply took the time to practice. Still, I've never been someone naturally gifted with rhythm, and lots of my mind is working on making sure I'm keeping proper time while playing; adding vocals/harmonies to the mix would probably make me crumble lol. Another thing is that my range is very spotty, so sometimes I can pull of certain melodies but have to resort to harmony when my range gives out. Like I said, i simply haven't practiced enough to know. maybe I should, but I barely have time to play a few minutes nowadays.

 

[rutrho]

For me, its because I can't sing. I can make noises with my mouth and vocal cords while playing, they just sound really bad.

Like Les Claypool, Geddy Lee and Yoko Ono all being examples of having voices that are more pleasing to the ear...

 

[RichardW]

I knew how to sing long before I learned bass. I sang in both school and church choirs for many years. As I was learning to play bass (as an adult), I heard over and over how hard it is to sing and play at the same time and for several years I didn't even try.

But I jumped into some simple background vocals on a song the band was learning, and just took off from there. Now I sing back up on almost everything, and I sing lead on a bunch of tune. The number of songs at a gig where I just play are in the minority. I found that singing really enhanced my sense of being integral to the band and it really increased my sense of accomplishment and pleasure with music making.

I will simplify lines as needed; there's no shame in that.

 

[Ron Berenato]

I can't. I can sing harmony or a chorus, but a lead vocal requires singing a melody that is usually contrary to the bass line and I cannot do both - except "I'm Your captain/Closer to Home" by Grand Funk - the only exception. I'm a better singer than bass player so this is unfortunate. I'd like to do both but I have NEVER experienced the "muscle memory" that other players refer to. I'm too inside my head when I'm playing to concentrate on a vocal line.

 

[Steve Fox]

Public decency prevents me from all singing.

 

[ThunderV]

My band has a lead singer and a guitar player who sings as well......our drummer is a wannabe singer and I choose to not further complicate that situation.