Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

So...I have an embarassing confession to make: I've played bass for over 25 years now. I can also sing fairly competently. But I can't do both at the same time!

What's WRONG with me?!!

I play finger style, never with a pick. I think that my fingers on my right hand and my mouth must be controlled by the same command center in my brain or something! If I'm playing and somebody asks me a question I have a real hard time answering.

I've noticed that many of the singing bass players seem to be pick players. I think I even saw Entwistle playing finger style on a tune that he sang lead on, grabbing a pick to use while he sang, then discarding the pick to finish the song off when he was done singing. (This could all be my imagination!)

Anyway...if you sing, how do you do it? Did it just come naturally when you started playing? Did it take a lot of practice to overcome some sort of mental block? What gives?

Help!

It's not just you Jeff....

I always wait till the "break" and do my "singing"...lol!! I'm not that proficient yet. I've always admired those that can really hammer out the bass and sing adequately at the same time...

Hi Jeff,
I have to be carefull I don't fall over. Like you I've played for a long time, and for most of the time I've avoided singing. If I play my mouth doesn't want to work, and if I'm singing the commands dont get to my fingers, I know what I want to play, I just can't get my fingers to start.

I think doing both is very similar to playing piano, your head has to run two different channels, and it takes practice.

Recently I'm being asked to sing backup vocals and blues call backs as well as playing bass. On some songs I use fingers others I play pick, both are as hard for me to do at the same time. I'm finding for now if I make the bass line simpler it makes it easier to sing. I'm hoping that the more I do the two the easier it's going to get.

That's my job.

I've been singing and playing since high school and it really just depends on the song. I started out as a pick player. After years of lessons and being beaten about by some pretty decent session players for teachers, I switched to finger style. For me it doesn't matter what the right hand style is as much as the pattern. Yes it takes practice but more importantly starting with the right tunes. I believe that the best thing to do is start with a song that plays notes on the quarter. Since you've been playing bass so long you should be locked into kick-snare-kick-snare quarter note thing. Once again it kinda helps to start out with a song that doesn't have alot of left hand either. I play in a cover band so something that comes to mind quickly is "Kyptonite" by 3 Doors Down. Basically 1/4 notes B G A sequence for the verse part. The key for me is remember the lyrics and have the bass lines to where I no longer think about them. When it comes to harder songs it sometimes is a matter of fitting voice notes into basslines like this word goes between the F and the G of this bassline. In any case yes it takes practice and like I said the best thing is to start with songs where the bassline is automatic. Practice those then move to a harder rhythym with the right/left hand. Maybe something like Johnnie B. Goode. Right hand playing 1/8ths, left hand moving over however many notes to play in the run. Once again this song has a steady rhythym so while it has something going on it's still easy. There are some songs I just can't play and sing and do the song justice. Of course I can't play the piano worth a darn either. I'll never get that right hand vs. left doing something different thing.

I actually learn the songs while singing my parts. I am the background singer, so I dont have to sing lead, but I actually practice both at the same time, so get it ingrained in my head that way.

I don't think there's anything WRONG with you, at least not based on what you've said here. How long have you actually been trying to do both at the same time?

I do think it comes more easily to some than others, but I don't think it's beyond the capability of any reasonably able musician. Just takes practice, I'm sure.

I've been playing guitar for 34 years, bass for 24 years, and singing along with each since the beginning. I don't remember any particular difficulty in doing both at the same time. I grew up watching lots of family members do both, so I just kinda assumed that that's the way it worked. Never thought about it, really.

Bass has been my main instrument for more than 10 years. I sing and play, sometimes finger style, sometimes with a pick. I don't find the coordination any more or less difficult either way.

I feel like I probably concentrate more on singing than playing.

Perhaps the best advice I could give is to practice both, and try to just let your hands do their thing without thinking too much about them, while you concentrate on the singing. Don't worry so much about accuracy in your playing, to begin with. I think that'll come with time. Also keep in mind the fact that it's very difficult to hurt your hands by playing "wrong," but your voice is another thing.

I don't really have any advice for you. All I can say is that I used to struggle with singing and playing at the same time (I also do not use a pick). A few years ago I suddenly became comfortable with my playing (after only 15 years or so ) and that is when it became easy for me to sing and play at the same time. Even if it is a new complex song to play I have almost no trouble singing at the same time. My band has a singer that doesn't play an instument so I only do backups but I'm ready if he ever gets kidnapped by the mosh pit.
Fortunately I play in a metal band so the quality of my singing is a whole other story.....

I sing lead and play bass finger style (I never use a pick) simultaneously in my band a lot. In fact,I was essentially the ONLY singer when we first started.

In my opinion there are two keys to singing and playing.

The first is to put one of the two on autopilot. Usually my singing is on autopilot because I feel the bass has to be more "informed" with the rest of the band, but that isn't always true.

The second is to practice practice practice to get the programming of the autopilot in. Hand in hand with this oftentimes is a simplification of the bass line especially if it is not a critical part of the song.

Fortunately for me everyone in the band has gotten braver and all five of us sing now. So, if there is a song that I am too lazy to want to "program" I just toss it to someone else.

I have the same problem, although recently I was able to get through the "Paul" part of Hard Days Night" -- "When I'm home --" etc., but that's pretty simple and the melody and words are forever etched in my brain.

I can't even talk and play at the same time. If one of my band mates comes over and talks in my ear about some change coming up, I can listen, but as soon as I answer, I lose what the fingers are doing. Wierd.

I play bass, guitar (not in bands), and sing lead and back up. It is much easier to sing playing rhythm guitar. With a bass the simpler the line is the easier it is to sing with it, like others have said, the bass lines have to become automatic or you will be distracted by your playing while singing. It is also a lot easier to sing with staight bass lines. Songs with quarter notes are the easiest for me as others have said. A lot of the Beatles stuff is easy for me because it's straight and becomes automatic quickly.
But I much prefer to sit down with an acoustic guitar and just wang out chords, because I can really concentrate on singing then. I think like anything else, practice, practice, practice and you'll get it.
Oh, I almost always play with my fingers when I play bass, and you can get to the point that you can be adventuresome both with your voice and the bass. I started out slowly, I was prodded into it by other band members over the years. I started playing bass around 1968, guitar 1966. started singing harmonies (under duress, haha!) during the early 70's, started singing lead during the early 80's

Ronn, I didn't realize you were that tall...

Well thanks for letting me pick your brains, guys. You've offered some excellent insight and advice. I'm on the verge of being able to pull it off. I can sing backups on half of a song!

I think maybe I focus on the bass line too much and I'm a perfectionist. When I start to sing, I can't pull off the bass line as nicely and the singing isn't as good as if I weren't playing. The resulting frustration causes headaches for me fast. Then I quickly revert back to my happy place by playing something cool and fun with my mouth closed!

Another odd thing...I'm not much of a drummer, but I can mess around and keep a beat. I don't seem to have a problem drumming and singing!

Paul-That sounds exactly like what happens with me: Suppose the singer walks over and asks me what his first line is. I may know, but if I answer him my fingers crash and burn!

Its nice to know that others have to work at it and I'm not defective!(At least...not for this reason!)

And Dennis- I read between your lines:
"I don't think there's anything WRONG with you, at least not based on what you've said here." So what are you saying...something else is wrong with me?! What--my addiction to Rickenbackers or my fondness for pretty women?!

Thanks again guys, it sounds like I just need to take your comments into consideration and practice through the headaches and frustration for a while!

Yes, in the beginning at least you have to get to where the bass line is automatic.

I'm exactly the same. I can just about hold down a back. vox if I stick to quarter roots, but that's about it. As for talking and playing, it's a choice - bum note or chat? Funny thing, though, I can concentrate for a whole set on the redhead in seat C25 without dropping a note...