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What to do when your lead singer complains

IMO, it's impossible to pick sides on this without hearing an example. Maybe your singer has a point, maybe he hasn't.

Ska typically has busy, but simple bass lines that usually stick to chord tones (root, 3rd, 5th, octave). If you play notes other than this, and factoring in the busy-ness factor, I can see how it could it get "harmonically confusing" for a singer that's new to the game. Is there a melody already written for your tunes or does he have to come up with them? If the latter, you may be asking too much of him...

Again, impossible to judge from the info we have (which isn't all that clear, to be honest).
 
I would try to politely but firmly explain to the drummer that he should seek new employment.

... I'm surprised no one has said ..

" fire the drummer". ;)

Dude, literally the post before yours, someone said to fire the drummer. You gotta make an effort to keep up. :roflmao:

Seriously though, to the OP, talk it out. Maybe you’re overplaying or you’re too loud. Maybe the singer is a moron. See what everyone thinks, and try to focus on what you all agree on.
 
Is there an, "elephant in the room" and I'm the first brickhead to mention it???

Hey guys,
I am new to the forum, but i have some questions and maybe others have the same.
I joined two guys who wanted to start a ska punk band, one is a drummer the other one is a singer with no band experience.
after making some songs we found a keyboard player and we where ready to gig and such, after the first gig we got a guitar player joining us. the new guys really get the feel and ideas we want to get trough. They follow my fills and ask a lot what to do.
But now, the singer is saying that my bass lines are to difficult to sing on, also he said that it is unfair for the other members. I wrote the music and instructed the new guys so they can play along and i do give them space to have a certain lead/percussive role. What can i do/say?


for a little bit of background information, he likes the new generation party ska punk and pop country whereas i listen to older generations rocksteady ska & 2tone. Also he is a virgin and i get all the chicks, is that a factor?

Isn't it obvious, they need to "fire the virgin" ??? LMAO
 
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He could be, and we do talk freely. But concrete talk is also important otherwise you could give the wrong impression, and i am not really sure what he meant with what he said.
I think you have to ask him where he's having trouble. What parts of the lines is he unable to work with? Ask him for an example of something that's too hard to sing over and ask him why and how it could be better. He might just want you to play 1-5-8 all the time. He won't know how to tell you that, so you'll need to get some examples from him.
 
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I would do this on my bass :woot:
 
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Crafting bass lines that support a singer is not necessarily easy. I’m not saying your singer is right, but I do think you should consider the possibility.

No matter how fabulous your parts and your music are, the audience will be drawn to what the singer does - a good human voice has a primal connection that no instrument can match. If you arrange things to mesh with and support what your singer can do, you’ll be a lot more successful than if you try to force fit his abilities into what you’ve come up with.
 
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Damn and blast, BurtMacklinFBI beat me to it. Fix him up with a girl.

Seriously though (Wait, I was serious), If the singer was good enough I'd work with him. Depends on his way of interacting. If he was sincere and cooperative, maybe some sessions with just the two of you figuring out what works best. If he's a whiner, I'd mention to him that other, needier bands, are desperate to hire a singer who has no experience at anything at all and is a highly talented complainer. Who doesn't have a girl or two.

Then I would decimate (reduce by ten percent through clubbing, beating, and/or stoning) his Barbie doll collection or rare Australian Football trading cards. Then I'd introduce him to a girl.

However, he might be the next Billy Eckstein, and you could be in store for a rewarding career if you would just do things his way. Girl.

So, forget everything else I've said, and go with the subtly implied girl idea. It will make him brash, egotistical, bossy and uncooperative; the perfect comfort zone of the insecure singer.

Good luck!

Tom
 
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screw the roots..this is ska...has the virgin ever even heard ska..jeez louise the bass is supposed to be moving its butt off..play him some ska for goodness sake so he realizes what hes up against or at the very least...get him some ,,,hook the brother up!!! or do i owe someone an apology?
 

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