Singing while playing bass. (meant to post this in general instruction mb)

[dafunkmeister]

How do y'all do it? I've heard varying methods, from subdividing the song and knowing the exact vocal rhythm and how it relates to the bassline (this technique doesn't seem very helpful in a setting where we're making original music), to just having the bassline locked in and thinking about the vocals, or the complete opposite! I'm not exactly sure where to start, I don't have that independence in my brain. I can't even sing 8th notes and clap a bossa clave, for example, unless I accent the 8th notes. If anyone has tips, exercises, anything to start being able to do that, that would be great. Because right now if I try to sing (or talk) while playing, either the bass rhythm will change and become the singing rhythm, the singing rhythm will change to become the bass rhythm, or everything will just fall apart. I'm in a band (kinda? our drummer left so it's in the air right now) and I'd like to be able to do vocals at some point. Also eventually I'm hoping to be able to play trumpet while tapping a bassline with my left hand. Lofty dreams, I know, but I think it'd be sick, and gaining this independence is the first step to doing that.

In summary, I need tips on getting rhythmic independence so I can sing and play bass, rubbing stomach and tapping head yada yada.

EDIT: whoops, meant to post this in the general instruction forum, but you can't delete threads so it's here now lol

 

[pcake]

this comes up regularly.

i learn the singing part and the playing part completely separately. once i have each one totally down, i have no problems singing and playing. but if i have to think of a lyric or the next note, it all falls apart.

i used to do drum independence exercises. for me, they gave me more limb independence overall. you will need 2 drumsticks and something to whack. i used the older version of this


and if you want to add in your feet, maybe something like this?

Hand & Feet Separation - Free Drum Lessons

In this video drum lesson, Jared Falk shows you how to separate your hands and feet. Take these techniques to your kit and have fun with them.

www.drumlessons.com

you could probably do this without a pedal...

 

[KohanMike]

I usually don't sing when playing bass, but I do if I know the song really well.

 

[Geepers]

The human brain can’t consciously handle two things at once (multitasking is a myth, we actually just switch back and forth between two or more things). So we have to get one of the tasks under subconscious control - ie able to do it perfectly without thinking about it (eg brushing your teeth or driving a car). We commonly call this muscle memory. Get your bass part into muscle memory so that singing over it doesn’t disturb it*. If you start singing and it messes up your bassline you just haven’t put enough time into the bassline yet. No shortcuts. It’s a law of the universe. Well, actually, there kinda is a shortcut in the sense that the more you do this the quicker you seem to be able pick up new songs. My suggestion: start with something very simple. Don’t decide you’re gonna get Bohemian Rhapsody down! Start with a root-note 12 bar pattern and sing a simple blues over it. And then gradually expand out from there. Hope this helps. Good luck. It’s a great journey you’re embarking on!

* I play boogie woogie piano and this is exactly how we go about things. We invest heavily in getting that left hand automatic before trying to add the right hand.

 

[SteveCS]

How do y'all do it? I've heard varying methods, from subdividing the song and knowing the exact vocal rhythm and how it relates to the bassline (this technique doesn't seem very helpful in a setting where we're making original music), to just having the bassline locked in and thinking about the vocals, or the complete opposite! I'm not exactly sure where to start, I don't have that independence in my brain. I can't even sing 8th notes and clap a bossa clave, for example, unless I accent the 8th notes. If anyone has tips, exercises, anything to start being able to do that, that would be great.

It you really are starting from nothing, I would say the place to start is in singing and playing the same thing - if you can't do that then singing independent parts will remain a mystery. Start with really simple figures and melodies, playing and singing the same thing, Then add complexity with harmonised parts with parallel then contrary motion using the same rhythm:
'A' uses the first 3 notes of the major scale, singing and playing the same thing.
'B' is the same simple rhythm only using the 3rd, 4th and 5th notes of the scale.
'C' combines the bass from 'A' with the voice from 'B'.
'D' again uses the bass from 'A' but when the bass starts to descend the voice carries on up:

 

[Elk]

I start by identifying where the vocal and bass line 'sync up' rhythmically. If I know I have to sing the word 'rain' on beat 1 and 'sane' on beat 2, I practice that and slowly fill in the syncopations. That is probably the best advice I have.

An old school trick is to mute your TV and turn captions on so you have to read while you're playing. I'm not sure if the science holds up but I did it and it seems to do more than nothing.

 

[Reedt2000]

The human brain can’t consciously handle two things at once (multitasking is a myth, we actually just switch back and forth between two or more things). So we have to get one of the tasks under subconscious control - ie able to do it perfectly without thinking about it (eg brushing your teeth or driving a car). We commonly call this muscle memory. Get your bass part into muscle memory so that singing over it doesn’t disturb it*. If you start singing and it messes up your bassline you just haven’t put enough time into the bassline yet. No shortcuts. It’s a law of the universe. Well, actually, there kinda is a shortcut in the sense that the more you do this the quicker you seem to be able pick up new songs. My suggestion: start with something very simple. Don’t decide you’re gonna get Bohemian Rhapsody down! Start with a root-note 12 bar pattern and sing a simple blues over it. And then gradually expand out from there. Hope this helps. Good luck. It’s a great journey you’re embarking on!

* I play boogie woogie piano and this is exactly how we go about things. We invest heavily in getting that left hand automatic before trying to add the right hand.

This

I do a lot of singing while I play, lead and harmony. I have to be able to do one or the other (most frequently the bass playing) without thinking about it, just let my hands autopilot while I sing. Its taken many years of practice to get comfortable doing that. Start with tunes you know really well, and that aren't too rhythmically demanding and build from there.

 

[Bunk McNulty]

How do y'all do it? I've heard varying methods, from subdividing the song and knowing the exact vocal rhythm and how it relates to the bassline (this technique doesn't seem very helpful in a setting where we're making original music), to just having the bassline locked in and thinking about the vocals, or the complete opposite! I'm not exactly sure where to start, I don't have that independence in my brain. I can't even sing 8th notes and clap a bossa clave, for example, unless I accent the 8th notes. If anyone has tips, exercises, anything to start being able to do that, that would be great. Because right now if I try to sing (or talk) while playing, either the bass rhythm will change and become the singing rhythm, the singing rhythm will change to become the bass rhythm, or everything will just fall apart. I'm in a band (kinda? our drummer left so it's in the air right now) and I'd like to be able to do vocals at some point. Also eventually I'm hoping to be able to play trumpet while tapping a bassline with my left hand. Lofty dreams, I know, but I think it'd be sick, and gaining this independence is the first step to doing that.

In summary, I need tips on getting rhythmic independence so I can sing and play bass, rubbing stomach and tapping head yada yada.

EDIT: whoops, meant to post this in the general instruction forum, but you can't delete threads so it's here now lol

This is still here. From 2005! For me, anyway, this is one of the best posts in the history of tb:

Loading…

www.talkbass.com

 

[JC BASS 91]

Practice, practice, practice, practice...and more practice. Then, when you're done practicing, practice some more. This is the ONLY way I have been able to accomplish this. In some cases, I might have to make the bass line more basic, and practice it more at home. 20 years ago, I was both the bassist and the lead singer for the band. It was TOUGH! I managed to do alright with it. We actually did a Black Keys song called "Hard Row". It was nice because I could put my bass down and just sing. One of our regulars came up at the next set break after we performed it the first time and asked me, "Where the heck have you been hiding that singing voice!?!?" She was blown away. I told her it was a lot easier to sing when I didn't have to split my attention.

 

[Iristone]

I mostly can't sort it out, either. I've heard that Jack Bruce just practised the bassline so he went "autopilot", and could concentrate on singing.

 

[RichardW]

Lotsa good advice here, all of which I've used. Here's one more: I find that singing and playing is easier when I have my eyes closed. Not sure why this is, but my theory is that eliminating the visual input helps my mind better coordinate moving my fingers and my vocal cords at the same time.

Don't give up! I thought for years that I would never be able to sing and play at the same time, but now I can and regularly sing both lead and harmony with my band.

 

[timmus]

In a previous band I was in, I sang harmonies and played bass too...I needed to know the bass part cold before I could add my singing part. We practiced 2-3 times a week so it didn't take long. I usually memorize my bass part but to sing as well, I needed the lyrics in front of me.

I've always had issues memorizing lyrics. I'd be a terrible lead singer

 

[2thAche]

For me this was a recent thing. I started just a few years ago. At first, it was absolutely frustrating, with moments where I was thinking "this is just not gonna work" and could have just given up, but honestly if you stick with it it will slowly come together. I'll tell you what worked for me from the ground up:

I started writing my own stuff with acoustic guitar / vocals, just because I got the bug after not playing anything for many years. Not something easy to duplicate, but this led to the ground-work of figuring out how to become functional playing and singing. I applied it to bass when I randomly found myself in a cover band not long after starting back with the guitar thing.

1: Begin with songs where your bass line is very structured, like straight 8th notes / roots, not syncopated or meandering. Learn the bass line so you can literally not think about it at all. Play in front of the TV until the bass line is automatic and it's like your hands are doing the work, not your brain.
2: Sing along to the song in the car, or wherever you can, until it feels natural and not forced.
3: Start putting the two together. Start just by yourself with the bass and no track (metronome can help). When you know the points that trip you up, slow them down (metronome) and figure out the timing. It's all about teaching your brain the timing, The screw-up points are where your brain doesn't get where the words are vs the bass notes (on or between what note does that word start?...). Gradually speed up the tempo, and you'll be surprised that when you get the timing down at slow tempo, it will stay there at full tempo. This is the part that can make you want to give up, but you need to just keep working!
4: When you have that moment where you think "hey that wasn't so bad", pull up the Karaoke track of the song, and play along with it. Use the lyrics at first as cues, but gradually try to do it without looking at the screen.
5: Repetition. Play that same thing every day until doing the bass/vocals together becomes as automatic as doing them separate.
6: Try more challenging songs using the same process. The more the syncopation, the harder it will be, but if you keep with it and don't give up, it will get better every couple weeks. The more songs you learn, the quicker you'll pick new ones up. Your brain has figured out how to combine vocals with playing the bass line and the learning curve will shorten.

I hope this helps. My starting point was dreadful TBH but now it's something that I can just do and it's been really rewarding.

 

[Citizen Nara]

I mostly can't sort it out, either. I've heard that Jack Bruce just practised the bassline so he went "autopilot", and could concentrate on singing.

This works for me as well. And when it seems almost too tricky and too "separate" at the same time, I just practice the combination a log because the last thing we want is to compromise anything, right?
What helps me lock better with the drums and remain locked is moving around and dancing at least a bit while playing, but I prefer it like that even when I am not singing.

 

[Citizen Nara]

Lotsa good advice here, all of which I've used. Here's one more: I find that singing and playing is easier when I have my eyes closed. Not sure why this is, but my theory is that eliminating the visual input helps my mind better coordinate moving my fingers and my vocal cords at the same time.

THIS!!

 

[Crab Key]

I have been playing bass and singing harmony for many years. At this moment I have about (6) new songs to learn.
For me what works is learn the entire song on the bass first until the music is down cold.

Then I break it into bite size chunks and learn them one section at a time as it's very easy to get overwhelmed.
Relaxing is also very important - I sing most of my leads with eyes closed as it's easier to focus.

 

[Wannabebass]

Super simple bass and vocal rhythms is the place to start for sure. I started with wildflowers by Petty. Walking bass lines work too- stray cat blues by the stray cats came together relatively easily. I like the idea of first focusing on the lyric that matches up with the bass notes. Agreed that early efforts are laughably bad, but everything that is now easy was once less so!

 

[Killing Floor]

I learn each part separately and particularly focus on the bass, I look for any bass stretches that fall under the lyric and maybe even simplify those to a root.
And back to step 1, seriously know the words, sing it a lot more times than you think.
Then I play and sing 1-2 bars at a time until I can string it together.

Some songs don’t take as much effort. Some are complicated.
For me it comes down to being comfortable singing lead.

Would you stand in your boots and glitter and sing it on a stage without your bass or guitar? That’s where I want to be, confident in the vocal. If you clam one note or reduce a walk to root nobody knows or cares. If you miss a word someone may notice.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

How do y'all do it? I've heard varying methods, from subdividing the song and knowing the exact vocal rhythm and how it relates to the bassline (this technique doesn't seem very helpful in a setting where we're making original music), to just having the bassline locked in and thinking about the vocals, or the complete opposite! I'm not exactly sure where to start, I don't have that independence in my brain. I can't even sing 8th notes and clap a bossa clave, for example, unless I accent the 8th notes. If anyone has tips, exercises, anything to start being able to do that, that would be great. Because right now if I try to sing (or talk) while playing, either the bass rhythm will change and become the singing rhythm, the singing rhythm will change to become the bass rhythm, or everything will just fall apart. I'm in a band (kinda? our drummer left so it's in the air right now) and I'd like to be able to do vocals at some point. Also eventually I'm hoping to be able to play trumpet while tapping a bassline with my left hand. Lofty dreams, I know, but I think it'd be sick, and gaining this independence is the first step to doing that.

In summary, I need tips on getting rhythmic independence so I can sing and play bass, rubbing stomach and tapping head yada yada.

EDIT: whoops, meant to post this in the general instruction forum, but you can't delete threads so it's here now lol

I can’t do it. Period.

 

[Pep]

How do y'all do it? I've heard varying methods, from subdividing the song and knowing the exact vocal rhythm and how it relates to the bassline (this technique doesn't seem very helpful in a setting where we're making original music), to just having the bassline locked in and thinking about the vocals, or the complete opposite! I'm not exactly sure where to start, I don't have that independence in my brain. I can't even sing 8th notes and clap a bossa clave, for example, unless I accent the 8th notes. If anyone has tips, exercises, anything to start being able to do that, that would be great. Because right now if I try to sing (or talk) while playing, either the bass rhythm will change and become the singing rhythm, the singing rhythm will change to become the bass rhythm, or everything will just fall apart. I'm in a band (kinda? our drummer left so it's in the air right now) and I'd like to be able to do vocals at some point. Also eventually I'm hoping to be able to play trumpet while tapping a bassline with my left hand. Lofty dreams, I know, but I think it'd be sick, and gaining this independence is the first step to doing that.

In summary, I need tips on getting rhythmic independence so I can sing and play bass, rubbing stomach and tapping head yada yada.

EDIT: whoops, meant to post this in the general instruction forum, but you can't delete threads so it's here now lol

First of all I would say it takes a lot of practice especially when dealing with bass lines that are "out of sync" withe the vocals. Fortunately I've had little difficulty doing that with one exception. I recall learning to sing and play "I Wish" by Stevie Wonder. After a couple of weeks of rehearsal with and without the group we were ready to dump it. I stayed on it and learned the bass lines, so they were second nature and felt completely natural. I concentrated on spots in the tune where the bass and the vocals were pretty much together. Once I had that down the remaining spots just fell into place.
I know this is a bit off topic, but on a side note, I'm a lot older now and due to some hearing issues (hereditary) I've found that my increased concentration on my vocals has caused my playing to deteriorate, so much so that just last week I gave notice to the band I created 14 years ago. It's a Chicago Tribute group and let's face it, you can't do those tunes justice without having all of your faculties at 100%.
I'm still working with a cover band that does tunes from the 50s up to current day. I sing a few tunes and do harmonies, but mostly I'm syncing with the drummer and it's a lot of fun. Let's face it, as we get older we need to evolve and adapt and that's what I'm doing, but that's another subject all together.