Playing the bass and singing at the same time

[mpisanek]

I have been playing bass for a few years now, and still have terrible problems singing and playing the bass at the same time.  Is it just me, or do other people have the same problem?  
 
There is no problem singing while I play the guitar, mandoline, banjo, or keyboards, but I just can not sing well while playing the bass!  It is really bothering me at this point, and I'm getting more and more frustrated with myself for it.
 
I was wondering how many bass players sing as well as play, and to what extent they did vocals.
 
Thanks,
 
Michael.

[keith_h]

I do mostly backup vocals these days but still do some lead vocals. In my younger years I did most of the lead vocals for the groups I was in. As I've gotten older I've found I need to simplify the bass part while I memorize the lyrics. Once they are memorized I can branch out into more complicated bass lines.  
 
Keith

[flaxattack]

uh yeah sure... you bettcha
been playing for 40 years and only singing for 1 yr plus
if i take lead usually i pick a fairly simple bass line songs///
guess its the walk and chew gum syndrome
but= the more i do both- the better it gets....
on both fronts
i dont take liberties with tunes i sing as i would do on songs i dont play, and when its the guitar solo time? i take some of it... tough noogies lead guitarists

[811952]

Michael,
 
My experience is that it really depends on a bunch of things I don't really understand.  Of course (for me), knowing the vocal part to the extent that you don't have to think about it helps, as does knowing the bass part just as well.  I haven't sung in a band for a couple of years, so I'm not up on it at the moment.  Simplifying the bass line helps considerably when you're first putting the two together, then once you've got the vocal part down I find I can start thinking about the bass line again and actually improvise some rather workable lines whilst singing.  The difficulty for me is that the bass must be precise just as the vocal must *breathe*, in addition to having two separate musical statements going on at one time.  I find I have to *let go* of one or the other (or both) and just let it happen.  I don't know if any of my meanderings on this subject will be useful to you or not, but I hope they are..
 
John

[stoney]

Hi Michael,
I've been playing bass and singing for 37 years. My vocal/bassplaying got put on the hotseat back in 1977/78 when I joined up with a 3-piece country/rock & roll band. Everyone had to sing back-ups and leads. I was already singing a few songs but they were ones with really simple bass lines so I decided it was time to up the anty. I chose the Linda Ronstadt version of Heat Wave.  It's got nice variation in the voice and a catchy bass line with a nice variety of walk-ups during the chourse. I just hammered the heck out of that song until I could sing it without worring about what my hands were doing. I think this is a left/right side of the brain arguement and it just takes time and practice, LOTS of practice. Generally when you're playing bass, you're playing on the off beat while when playing guitar and keyboards, you're more in sync with the melody. Oh yea, did I mention...practice!!!  Good luck,
Stoney

[lbpesq]

As a guitar player I've had the opposite problem.  I used to do more solo acoustic performing.  On some songs I had trouble NOT singing!  These were songs where I would finger pick.  When the instrumental came around I was essentially playing the same thing as when I was singing.  Yet, when I stopped singing and actually thought about the finger picking I would screw up!  Go figure.
 
Bill, tgo

[j_gary]

Michael, don't feel alone. I've been in a three piece for years requiring lots of singing and it is always difficult to do both. Particularly while running the PA, talking to drunks and stomping on the stage light controls.
 
My major malfunction on stage is remembering the dang words, not to mention the key. I find that if I can just relax and let my fingers do the walking they will usually do the right thing. If I fuss & fret I usually drop the ball.
 
In our group the guitarist has a photographic memory, perfect pitch too. Guy is sick. He can make you feel like a tard. I can lean on him when I get lost. The boys have learned that when I'm singing, buckle in, as the ride could get bumpy. I often take em where they have never been before. It's not always a bad thing. Usually is, but not always.
 
Oh yea, never, ever look at the gal in the tight jeans. You're just asking for a train wreck.

[David Houck]

Michael; for what it's worth, I think that being frustrated with yourself doesn't help and isn't fun, whether it's playing while singing or anything else in life.  I think it is helpful to be accepting of where you are now, accepting of your current level of playing and singing at the same time, and then, like Stoney said, just practice.  If a particular song isn't working now, that's ok; go on to something else and come back to it later.  Playing music is a joyful experience; if you're busy being frustrated, you'll miss the joyful part.  Of course, that's just my view; others will have differing views based on their own experiences.

[valvil]

Singing while playing bass? After almost 20 years I just recently managed being able to simply say 'yes' or 'no' while playing...
 
Valentino

[chuckc]

Boy, talk about hitting the nail on the head.  Playing bass and singing is something I have just started to experience again.  I have played drums for many years and sang and it was easy as pie, even playing lead guitar was not a big deal but bass and singing, man what a challenge.  The only thing I am able to relate it to is the rhythmic nature of most bass parts usually never follow the vocals, at least not to the extent that a guitar player or drummer usually has to deal with.  Not to minimize the talent of playing guitar or drums and singing, but I appreciate Paul McCartney's playing the more I play bass and sing.

[dannobasso]

Been doing it a long time. I used to be the lead singer and bassist and played synth pedals at the same time. My heroes were Lake, Wetton, Lee, Cetera, Paige, Simmons, later Claypool etc. At least one of the activities has to be automatic. Now its just bass and backups. Still have the pedal setups just no call for them. Maybe in my later years i'll do a UK cover band?
Danno

[gbarchus]

I grew up singing and playing bass and took it for granted that it was normal. Of course, the fact that I grew up playing a lot of Beatles songs didn't hurt. I owe Sir Paul for that. I've noticed over the years that singer/songwriters who are also bass players (Paul, Sting, Peter Cetera, Louis Johnson) seem to be more careful of how the vocal and bass lines are created, maybe like blues styles where the singing and guitar parts compliment each other. In the 80s I was playing a lot of dance/funk music and realized that the singers were not the bass player, yet I had to sing the song! It took me quite a while to to be able to sing and play that music. First I would get the bass part down until I didn't have to think about it. Then I would learn the vocal part without playing bass. When putting the two together, I would discover the places in the song that created a conflict between the vocal and bass lines. In those places I would slow it down until I could recognize the rhythmic differences, like the bass part is a triplet and the vocal line has a dotted quarter note, for example. I would keep slowing it down until I could manage to play both parts together and then work on speeding it up. The problems are also complicated by the fact that the other players in the band may not be playing the song the same way, which would become a distraction for me. Getting past that point, singing and playing bass at the same time is a joy, especially when I can be creative on both parts, which happens ocassionaly. I don't take it for granted any longer. It's one of the main reasons I can make money as a musician! I love singing harmony and when someone is thinking about hiring a bass player, I would get the job over far better bass players. Lucky for me, I don't have to sing when playing The Chicken.
 
(Message edited by gbarchus on November 15, 2005)

[mpisanek]

What tends to happen to me is that I usually end up either playing what I am singing or singing what I am playing!  I don't usually sing lead, but am usually pushed for backing vocals.  I tend to sing a very high harmony part that adds a quite distinctive sound to most bands, and find that very natural.  Words are a real problem.  I can memorize them and practice them until the cows come home, but put a bass in my hand and I'm lost!

[811952]

Oh Danno.... A UK cover band would be most excellent!  Rendezvous 602...
 
I used to do the Taurus pedals thing too, while singing and playing a third part on the bass.  It was all so easy back then!  I still have a set of pedals, and am awaiting an opportunity (i.e. large enough stage) to start using them again.  I am told I'm getting a mic again soon, so I guess I'll be relearning old tricks.  Or at least trying to relearn old tricks!
 
John

[room037]

I had never singing as lead vocal, over 20 years.
But now, I am trying bass with singing.
My favorite artist is Pat Metheny group.
I wish to play like Steve Rodby, and sing like Pedro Aznar.
But It's Sooooo---- DIFFICULT !
 
I asked how to do the balance of bass and singing to Richard Bona at his clinick.
He simply said always singing while playing the bass and try again, repeat! repeat!.
I did it few hours and I felt both meaning.
Play like singing is good lesson for melodious bass play.  
Sing as bass playing is good training for listening ourselves. (Just like George Benson!)
 
Let's try it !