Musician Forum - Band Discussion Board - BandMix

Well folks, I've played bass for a long time now, but in the last few years, I've stepped into the lead vocalist role. With limited resources (musician-wise), it would be a really cool thing if I could do both. Only thing is, I really suck at playing bass and singing. I'm really looking for some tried and true methods (of course, I know that practice, practice, practice is the MOST tried and true method) to help me pull it off without one part or the other suffering. Any suggestions, tips, methods or neat little tricks would be greatly appreciated.

Hopefully they won't involve super glue or anybody cracking a whip... !!

I'm a beginner (VERY beginner) guitarist, but mainly a vocalist.. I'm working on the whole keeping the pace on each instrument thing (yes, the vocals is an instrument). Very difficult, imo.. I'm messing up less than before, so it must be -as usual- a practice-makes-close-to-perfect thing.

Umm.. tips? .. Just like everything else. Practise the easy stuff and very slowly.. take it line by line then verse by verse and so on.
I can't get too specific, because I don't play bass.. you get the picture though. Just ma 3 cents.

Thanks, Andragon. I think you're right. I really started focusing on guitar-mainly acoustic-a couple of years ago, and have never had a problem doing both...on the other hand, I've played bass for about 17 years, and struggle with it every time I step up to the microphone. Go figure.

Dude.. Singing and playing is a Zen thing. It just takes practice.

You have to be sure that what you're playing on your Bass, you have completely down. You need your Bass parts to be completely second nature to you. Then that other half of your brain can start kicking in with the singing.

The other thing is to make sure you're not over complicating your Bass parts while you're singing. Because I play and sing, I let it be known to the rest of the band members that I'll only be playing basic stuff while the vocals are going on, and it's up to them to compensate with any flavor, or any complicated stuff they feel like the song is missing. I haven't met a band member that's had a problem with that. Usually they're more than willing to take up the slack. Don't be afraid to scale back your Bass-lines to a minimum while you're singing. It allows the vocals to be front and center.

A good example is the sample I just put up called Carpal Tunnel. You'll see that in it's basic state, the vocals are right up front. It wouldn't bother me at all if the song stayed basic. However, this demo does need a little more flavor in the bass line. I'm not a Bass player, and I recorded it with one hand. But, I do like the "less is more" approach in my songs.

Anyway.. It's all about the Zen. It's like meditating when you play and sing at the same time. Left brain.. Right brain... Oooooohhhmmm...

Eventually the whole process becomes second nature.

Shred's dead on. Look at Guitarists like BB King, SRV, etc.. they play a chord or two when they sing and play killer lead only when they're not singing.
I'm just learning Bass and figure I'l have to just do something simple like root notes when I sing.

Guitar and vocals, no real problem, but I stay away from leads, it's too much. In some cases even fills between vocal lines is tough. And I learned to play guitar doing both from the very first song I ever learned at age 5. Strange thing is though, I can't talk and play..

Put me on bass, I can't sing at all...not lead vocals anyway, sometimes harmony parts don't give me too much trouble but lead vocals is out when I'm on bass.

I think just take it slow and easy, stick to simple bass parts while doing vocals, and of course lots of practice probably won't hurt...

I don't know how guys like Paul McCartney and Geddy Lee do it...

Yeah, there are so many good vocalists/bass players. I don't know how they do it! Shredd's zen philosophy has a lot of merit, and I figure I'll end up scaling down my bass lines...hate to though. I love playing bass and coming up with cool bass lines, and I hate that I have to simplify them (it's probably just my ego talking... ).

BTW, Shred, "Carpal Tunnel"-I really like that, man! I get a good vibe from it-kind of brooding. Great job!

Joeseph I find it easier to play guitar and sing than to play bass and sing. Maybe its the frequencys or something. I would agree with Shredd make your bass lines as simple as possible and really lock in with the drums. Watch a video of Sting, he plays such basic lines when hes singing.

You may be trying to overplay on the bass. When I listen to really tight bands I almost dont hear the bass cause its tucked in so well.

Keep It Simple

Yeah, Jo, it's a bear, but I usually manage okay.

I aint no crooner but it seems to me I am just singing with my guitar.
Does that make sense ? Maybe because the Bass is gezz I dont know its just a different type of music to me. I know that didnt make sense. try this analogy. Its like a house can be concrete floor and wood structure.
Its all "house" just different.

joseph6 wrote:BTW, Shred, "Carpal Tunnel"-I really like that, man! I get a good vibe from it-kind of brooding. Great job!

Thanks man..Brooding is my specialty. Along with sadness, despair, isolation, desolation, anger, depression, hatred, frustration, sickness and revenge. Then there's the occaisional good ol' fashioned sonic beating (or kick in the nuts).

Honestly, I can't remember ever writing a happy song. It's just not in my nature I guess.

My Zen isn't necessarily about being in my happy places, but rather tapping into my dark places and exorcising them.

Anyway, glad you like it.

Hey Gang,

I started out playin drums & bass and having to sing so over the yrs its become 2nd nature just like the Shredd said (say that 5 times fast.. ) its a ZEN thang between the RS and LS brain...When you try to incorporate playin bass to your current vocal muscle memory, it hasnt allowed for the hands to be doing what their doing while your singin the sycopated phrases THUS , the hemispheres of the brain are at WAR...(hey, Im pretty smart aint I...)
My advice would be to NOT play and sing on tunes your currently doing..ONLY learn NEW tunes and incorporate NEW muscle memory with the vocal and hands..THEN over time ,you'll be able to go back and RE invent the tunes with both...Make sense

John

Shredd6 wrote:Along with sadness, despair, isolation, desolation, anger, depression, hatred, frustration, sickness and revenge. Then there's the occasional good ol' fashioned sonic beating (or kick in the nuts).

Hell yea
Just had to shout that out.

Been playing bass and singing lead for 25+ years. Never liked my voice until recently. Best advice is to get the bass down COLD first, simplfied during the vocals is ideal. Then get the vocals down COLD separate from the bass. If you're doing a cover DON'T try and do the bass-line note-for-note. Chances are good the bassist you're trying to copy will be way more advanced than you. Get the bass down to a simple managable line. Don't try and copy the vocalist exactly either. Sing it the way YOU feel comfortable. You'll get the vocals down quicker. Now that you've got BOTH parts down COLD try and put them together. In certain parts of the song you may have trouble with either the bass or vocals or both. In those parts you're going to have to adjust things so you can get through them. Some songs will come easier than others. If you can't get a song don"t get frustrated. Put that song on the shelf and pick another one. You want to add songs to your repertoire you can DO. Work by yourself on songs you CANNOT DO. Don't slow up the progress of the band. It's frustrating to the other band members and yourself. The more you practice this method the quicker you'll get it. I had a helluva time when I first started. I was GIGGING within six months of playing bass. I was NERVOUS as hell. 25+ years later I can say that it has all been worth it. Lots of ups and downs but the good times and good sounds make it all worth it. Good luck.