joeystrange Posted April 15, 2023 Share Posted April 15, 2023 I’ll tend to learn the bass part first, to the point where I’m comfortable enough that I don’t have to think about playing it, then I have the brain capacity to think about the vocals. Then after a little while I can do both without thinking. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJE Posted April 15, 2023 Share Posted April 15, 2023 I have sung in bands both backing and lead, as long as I have played bass, so I guess I learned to do both at the same time fairly organically. That being said, there are songs that I just cannot sing and play at the same time because of the melody and syncopation just make my brain hurt. Move on up by Curtis Mayfield is one example. It’s not hard to play but I just can’t do it. If you can lock down a bass-line and know it so well it’s muscle memory that helps a lot. Also knowing the lyrics well helps, so you don’t have to think about what your singing. Sometimes fairly simple songs are really tricky and sometimes the tricky ones can come easily because the rhythm and bassline slots nicely with the phrasing and melody. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snorkie635 Posted April 15, 2023 Share Posted April 15, 2023 3 hours ago, Reggaebass said: I can’t do either 😁 In that case, I'll get you a form to enable you 'compete' in any of those horrendous BBC 'Master Musician of the Universe' shows that plague TV every weekend, holiday, etc. Put yourself down as a singer who plays bass or a bassist who sings and you'll be a sensation. 😉 The world will be your oxter for a week at least. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waddo Soqable Posted April 15, 2023 Share Posted April 15, 2023 I can feel another "When slap bass goes horribly wrong" style reality show coming on.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snorkie635 Posted April 15, 2023 Share Posted April 15, 2023 1 minute ago, Waddo Soqable said: I can feel another "When slap bass goes horribly wrong" style reality show coming on.... Slap bass is horribly wrong when I think about it - unless on an upright. 🤔 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waddo Soqable Posted April 15, 2023 Share Posted April 15, 2023 2 minutes ago, snorkie635 said: Slap bass is horribly wrong when I think about it - unless on an upright. 🤔 Of course it is, in fact it's just plain Horrible.. ps.. maybe I've had a sheltered life, but I've never seen anyone slapping an upright piano... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snorkie635 Posted April 15, 2023 Share Posted April 15, 2023 3 minutes ago, Waddo Soqable said: Of course it is, in fact it's just plain Horrible.. ps.. maybe I've had a sheltered life, but I've never seen anyone slapping an upright piano... Cruelty to piano that is. What is the world coming to. Slapping regularly should be reserved for singers and drummers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waddo Soqable Posted April 15, 2023 Share Posted April 15, 2023 2 minutes ago, snorkie635 said: Cruelty to piano that is. What is the world coming to. Slapping regularly should be reserved for singers and drummers. Sadly pianos are wantonly destroyed on a regular basis, I got given an old one that was being thrown out, it was only a few streets away so myself and a couple of mates just wheeled it home down the pavement. I've seen lovely pianos just smashed up or thrown on a bonfire 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted April 15, 2023 Share Posted April 15, 2023 48 minutes ago, snorkie635 said: I'll get you a form to enable you 'compete' in any of those horrendous BBC 'Master Musician of the Universe' shows that plague TV every weekend, holiday I won the last one 😁 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waddo Soqable Posted April 15, 2023 Share Posted April 15, 2023 Just now, Reggaebass said: I won the last one 😁 Did you get a Blue Peter badge, or a Crackerjack pencil...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard Smalls Posted April 15, 2023 Share Posted April 15, 2023 51 minutes ago, Waddo Soqable said: I've never seen anyone slapping an upright piano I blew one up once for a chemistry demonstration video! We found just the shell, someone presumably having put the metal bits in a scrappers horse'n'cart... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted April 15, 2023 Share Posted April 15, 2023 13 minutes ago, Waddo Soqable said: Did you get a Blue Peter badge, or a Crackerjack pencil...? Bass lessons 😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waddo Soqable Posted April 15, 2023 Share Posted April 15, 2023 Just now, Reggaebass said: Bass lessons 😁 .. Derr.. Borinng... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waddo Soqable Posted April 15, 2023 Share Posted April 15, 2023 2 minutes ago, Leonard Smalls said: I blew one up once for a chemistry demonstration video! We found just the shell, someone presumably having put the metal bits in a scrappers horse'n'cart... Now I do hope that video is going to be posted right here, right now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Cloud Posted April 15, 2023 Share Posted April 15, 2023 20 hours ago, Philly said: I’m wondering how many of us bass lot manage to do backing vocals in bands. I play in a covers band and need to start doing some, but have had several attempts and usually ended in failure. Does anyone have any techniques to make this easier? I song both harmonies and lead vocals. I'm not sure that I can share techniques other than practice, practice, practice. It's kind of second nature now... Incidentally I cut my young teeth endlessly playing and singing along with the Rush album 'Exit Stage Left' in the 80's which must have helped no end. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skin Lewis Posted April 15, 2023 Share Posted April 15, 2023 (edited) I sing and play, mainly harmony BVs with the occasional lead. For me it's a matter of delegating one of them to a particular unconscious part of the brain to carry out automatically, so as I can concentrate on the other one. Generally it's the bass that I switch to automatic. Complex cross rhythms are a challenge, but when you get it right it can be exhilarating and satisfying, like walking a tightrope. Just don't look down or it will get messy. I guess it helps playing in an originals band, I write my bass lines and write and arrange the BVs, so I can tweak stuff it's it's not performable. As for playing and walking, absolutely not. I tried once, it was a catastrophe resulting in bandages. Edited April 15, 2023 by Skin Lewis 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard Smalls Posted April 16, 2023 Share Posted April 16, 2023 13 hours ago, Waddo Soqable said: Now I do hope that video is going to be posted right here, right now.. Unfortunately, I don't think I have a copy of the original VHS. And even if I did, I haven't got a VHS player! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waddo Soqable Posted April 16, 2023 Share Posted April 16, 2023 54 minutes ago, Leonard Smalls said: Unfortunately, I don't think I have a copy of the original VHS. And even if I did, I haven't got a VHS player! Damn, I was looking forward to that A mate had a few family VHS tapes converted to digital recently, so if you ever do... 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kusee pee Posted April 16, 2023 Share Posted April 16, 2023 Definitely a case of practising. For me, it's all about the rhythm rather than the melody, I need to work out where the vocal rhythm comes in relation to the bass rhythm then it all starts to fall into place. Mostly! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gasman Posted April 16, 2023 Share Posted April 16, 2023 Sometimes it's an absolute necessity! I was playing bass in a pickup band booked to play on the back of a truck for the Dorchester carnival parade a few years ago. One week before the event our vocalist/rhythm guitarist decided to go on holiday instead, leaving us with guitar, bass and drums only. So, as we would be moving through the town all the time and our audience was constantly changing, we decided to reduce the setlist to a few numbers that I could sing on autopilot (Knocking on Heaven's door, Valerie, Route 66, Rockin' all over the World, plus a couple of others but we dropped Bohemian Rhapsody). I did the singing after one rehearsal, and it turned out OK (well, no-one threw bottles of p*ss at me, at any rate...) Funny thing, I found that singing lead while spanking the bass was much easier than singing harmony, but I wouldn't want to do it again; another reason for saying no to that kind of gig is that playing on an open truck which is constantly starting and stopping you can end up with the mic smacking into your teeth, or the amps sliding around, or the band falling about like ninepins especially if the driver is cr*p - the only answer is to adopt a low, crouching posture aligned and braced with legs fore and aft like a wannabe rock guitarist - now as responsible bass-players we don't want THAT going up on YouTube, now do we? 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveXFR Posted April 16, 2023 Share Posted April 16, 2023 I've just started doing backing vocals. It's not as easy as I thought and all I do is mostly just randomly shout the f word or yeaaaahhhhhhhh Punk does not always require complex lyrics 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philly Posted April 16, 2023 Author Share Posted April 16, 2023 I might not get away with that at some of the weddings we play! 😀 Thanks all for the comments, some good advice, mainly stating what I probably thought which is practise, practise practise until one becomes autopilot. I will need to ensure an empty house for the early attempts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waddo Soqable Posted April 16, 2023 Share Posted April 16, 2023 1 hour ago, SteveXFR said: all I do is mostly just randomly shout the f word or yeaaaahhhhhhhh "Tourette's Metal" ... Duude that's awesome.... 😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveXFR Posted April 17, 2023 Share Posted April 17, 2023 8 hours ago, Waddo Soqable said: "Tourette's Metal" ... Duude that's awesome.... 😁 I can never remember the words and that seems to work. We don't do ballads 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Franticsmurf Posted April 17, 2023 Share Posted April 17, 2023 I can (and do) sing basic backing vocals but the bass lines tend to suffer and I try and modify them to keep them simple. As has been mentioned above, most punters listen to the vocals over the bass so where I am doing Bvs, it is those that get priority. I have taken a few lead vocals on songs but generally where either I know the song backwards or the bass part is simple and on the beat. I don't enjoy singing and I don't have a great lead vocal voice, so taking the lead vocals is a very rare occurrence. Which is probably a good thing for band and audience. 😃 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.