danthevan Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 Am I in a minority, or can any of you not do anything else whilst playing? What I mean is singing, talking etc? Even on the simplest of simple songs which I don't need to concentrate on, if someone asks me something it's either play the bassline, or stop to talk! The limit for me is shouting out chords to the rhythm guitarist who forgets with great regularity what's coming next! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpaceChick Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 Hubby tries to talk to me. Some I can talk back. Some I can listen. Some, well he should give up and come back later Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coilte Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 If someone asks me a question, I have no problem replying while playing, provided it is brief. However,there should be no need for talk within the band, once a song commences. There are subtle ways to communicate like eye contact and nods of the head etc. As for your rhythm guitarist, get him to write out the song structures, and keep them beside him. It is up to each person to play (literally) their part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danthevan Posted March 28, 2013 Author Share Posted March 28, 2013 [quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1364482715' post='2027095'] As for your rhythm guitarist, get him to write out the song structures, and keep them beside him. It is up to each person to play (literally) their part. [/quote] It's mainly on one song. He's been playing it for 3 years, I've been with them a year and im shouting out the chords in the solo to him. 5 different chords, 4 then 4, same as a verse, but every gig he looks at me as if it's the first time we've ever played it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danthevan Posted March 28, 2013 Author Share Posted March 28, 2013 [quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1364482715' post='2027095'] However,there should be no need for talk within the band, once a song commences. There are subtle ways to communicate like eye contact and nods of the head etc. [/quote] It's not musically related chat, it's more "Look at the t*t's on that" sort of thing. Yes or no answers i can do, just.......... ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Low End Bee Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 During a gig and in a single song I seem to be able to manage the following. Wondering whether I locked the back door at home, rough backing vocals, checking the clock to see if we can fit all the set in, glancing at the set list to see what's next, watching the door to make sure someone's on it and not letting in anyone for free, catching the guitarists eye to see when we're ready to go into that half time thing and remembering to get some milk from the petrol station on the way home. Then I wonder why I ****ed up that half time bit that we'd decided we'd drop last week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coilte Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 [quote name='danthevan' timestamp='1364482919' post='2027097'] It's mainly on one song. He's been playing it for 3 years, I've been with them a year and im shouting out the chords in the solo to him. 5 different chords, 4 then 4, same as a verse, but every gig he looks at me as if it's the first time we've ever played it! [/quote] There is always one song that trips us up. All the more reason for him to write out the structure and have it close by, for reference. It is not fair for him to be relying on you to tell him each time. Once or twice...maybe, but no more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coilte Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 [quote name='danthevan' timestamp='1364483024' post='2027098'] It's not musically related chat, it's more "Look at the t*t's on that" sort of thing. Yes or no answers i can do, just.......... ! [/quote] If people cant remember the chord structure of a song, but have the time to look, ask and comment on female members of the audience, then they need to decide what should take priority. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danthevan Posted March 28, 2013 Author Share Posted March 28, 2013 [quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1364483521' post='2027109'] If people cant remember the chord structure of a song, but have the time to look, ask and comment on female members of the audience, then they need to decide what should take priority. [/quote] Different band member, but fair point! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hot Tub Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 Interesting.... I'm firmly with the OP, in that I can play bass, or do something else, but I can't play the instrument [i]and [/i]do anything else at the same time. For example, I can't sing, but even if I could, I wouldn't be able to play and sing at the same time. It was the same when I was a very young teenager taking piano lessons. The tutor would talk to me about my playing [i]while [/i]I was playing, and if I had to answer her I'd have to stop. There must be something in the mind which some of us can't separate.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyonbass Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 What about when a punter aproaches you mid-song with a request? Annoying or what Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danthevan Posted March 28, 2013 Author Share Posted March 28, 2013 [quote name='andyonbass' timestamp='1364485822' post='2027154'] What about when a punter aproaches you mid-song with a request? Annoying or what [/quote] Glad i'm not the only one who doesn't like hearing "Play something you know!" mid set Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jezzaboy Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 Your are not a proper bass player unless you can give someone in the band (usually the drummer) dogs abuse for something whilst managing to play the bass line exactly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coilte Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 [quote name='danthevan' timestamp='1364484500' post='2027128'] Different band member, but fair point! [/quote] IMO, casual, unnecessary talk can and should be left until between songs or the interval. All other music related communication can be done as I suggested earlier. The situation "andyonbass" mentions, can be both awkward and annoying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamtheelvy Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 I think I hit a peak when I was singing, playing bass and playing midi pedals at the same time. Mind you, needed a lie down after... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L_Bass_Dog85 Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 Hmm, I can't sing but have been roped in by my bandmates to do backing vocals to a new song we're doing. It's singing to a very simple bassline but its fecking hard! I am always trying to practice, when there is no one in the house! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger2611 Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 My mulititasking skills alongside playing bass amounts to little more than "it's allright" from The Vaccines If You Wanna bellowed into a microphone...badly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lfalex v1.1 Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 Can't sing and play UNLESS the vox are on the off- beat! Can talk and play as long add it doesn't get to metaphysical. I can, however, watch a film whilst practising... With the sound down, reading the subtitles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefrash Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 Its weird because on bass I cant do anything else. I cant sing, I cant talk, I cant make any gestures. On guitar though I can sing and talk over chord changes no bother. I have no idea why. Perhaps because I've been playing guitar since I was 14 that would make a difference... but Im a much better bassist than guitarist! Its all weird! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdowner Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 Singing - I can't stop myself.. oh, and 'straight-man dancing' (and I mean that in a non-straightist way of course), again, can't stop myself. Well embarrassing... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okusman Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 I am very proud to say that at one particular gig, I was able to keep over-playing while kneeling on the floor to eat a Cornish pasty. It was the same gig that saw us perform the 'Bodyform' advert theme.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike Vincent Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 I can just about manage playing and standing up at the same time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judo Chop Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 I can sing, chat to the drummer and pick up his dropped sticks without missing a note. As long as the note in question is a constant open E Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fumps Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 I sometimes forget to breathe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismuzz Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 On Saturday night's gig, I took my bass into the toilets and had a piss while playing Killswitch Engage - My Last Serenade. My proudest live moment so far Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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