Question:
> In my case the bass part goes on auto pilot and singing takes precedence. You > got to know the bass line well, so you don’t have to sweat it reguardless of > complexity. Remember that most of your audience is listening to the vocal and > don’t know if you’re playing bass or lead guitar. They see a guitar looking > thing and that’s it. Yes, it can get difficult, particularly when the bass line > and singing line don’t really match much rhythmically, hence the split brain > this. Vocals always have to take priority as it’s all lots of your crowd hears. > They don’t know bass from …..??
no mention of Philip Lynott, Greg Lake, Bootsy Collins, or Rick James?
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Claypool……
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What band is he in? — -rob O> /() ^^
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->And what about that >McCartney character? >Have I missed something? > Strangely enough, I have no trouble at all singing along with McCartney’s lines > as I play them. They typically aren’t that heavily syncopated, which makes the > task a little easier. > Edward G. > ‘It’s not a gang; it’s a club.’
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That’s too bad… I hear there’s an opening in Metallica. — -rob O> /() ^^
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->What band is he in? >– > -rob > Wings and some other band whose name escapes me at the moment. > Edward G. > ‘It’s not a gang; it’s a club.’
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<< Claypool…… >> That’s SINGING bass players – not babbling. 
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: I think Sting would be my hero for singing and playing. He does it every way : it can be done. I’d like to chime in with Geddy Lee, Mark King, and, if you call it singing, Les Claypool Tommy the Cat still drops my jaw, and I can barely carry a monosylabic conversation while playing — "I lie straight to the mirror, the one I’ve broken to match my face" James Hetfield.
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How come nobody mentions Glenn Hughes or Doug Pinnick? And what about that McCartney character? Have I missed something? Billy
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>And what about that >McCartney character? >Have I missed something?
Strangely enough, I have no trouble at all singing along with McCartney’s lines as I play them. They typically aren’t that heavily syncopated, which makes the task a little easier. Edward G. ‘It’s not a gang; it’s a club.’
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In my case the bass part goes on auto pilot and singing takes precedence. You got to know the bass line well, so you don’t have to sweat it reguardless of complexity. Remember that most of your audience is listening to the vocal and don’t know if you’re playing bass or lead guitar. They see a guitar looking thing and that’s it. Yes, it can get difficult, particularly when the bass line and singing line don’t really match much rhythmically, hence the split brain this. Vocals always have to take priority as it’s all lots of your crowd hears. They don’t know bass from …..??
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I think Sting would be my hero for singing and playing. He does it every way it can be done. Edward G. ‘It’s not a gang; it’s a club.’ I agree, especially with a noodley drummer like Stewart Copeland.
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jack bruce?
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>What band is he in? >– > -rob
Wings and some other band whose name escapes me at the moment. Edward G. ‘It’s not a gang; it’s a club.’
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Practice is definately the key. I simplify the part I have to play and sometimes slow it down,while doing the vocal. After a while I play the bass line back up to it’s relative complexity or speed and then carry on. Know the part and the singing inside and out and Practice. PG
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>I think Sting would be my hero for singing and playing. He does it every way >it can be done. >Edward G.
I agree. I watched him closely when he last played Chicago, and he does simplify the bass parts. Or maybe it was just the ease that he played. He has a very unique style of playing. Sort of "thumbs" the strings. Kevin
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I think Sting would be my hero for singing and playing. He does it every way it can be done. Edward G. ‘It’s not a gang; it’s a club.’
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I didn’t think I’d ever be able to do it, but one day I just could. I think, as someone else mentioned, that the key is to get so completely at home with the song that you can play it on autopilot. I used to do an extremely funk/slap version of Charlie Daniel’s "Call up Trudy on the Telephone" while covering the harmony vocal, but if I ever happened to "notice" what I was doing, I’d stutter either the bass or the vocal for a sec. I think it’s a Zen thing. 
‘Shot – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I’ve always marvelled at the bass player that could play melodic or moving bass > lines and sing at the same time. Any of you out there able to do that? If so, > can you give me some tips on how to achieve this ability? Or is it just God > given? If so then I’ll continue to stand in the back next to the drummer. > Worked for Mel Schacher. > Thanks > Kevin Martin
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I rarely sing and play bass, but when I have to I break down the tricky parts slowwwwly until everything falls in the right place. Then memorize and speed up. btw, the thing that is hard for me singing live is singing with earplugs! In the shower or car my voice sounds normal, but I put those ear plugs in and it sounds scary! Also, if the monitor mix isn’t loud enough I can feel the vibration in my throat, but I can’t actually hear my pitch, making it very easy to go flat. jordan Singing.. anyone can do it, but it getting it sound right live.. there’s the tricky part!
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If you get a chance go see "Eddie From Ohio" the bass player plays harmonica at the same time!!!! Impressive. Smiley:-)
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I’ve always marvelled at the bass player that could play melodic or moving bass > lines and sing at the same time. Any of you out there able to do that? If so, > can you give me some tips on how to achieve this ability? Or is it just God > given? If so then I’ll continue to stand in the back next to the drummer. > Worked for Mel Schacher. > Thanks > Kevin Martin
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Check out Mark King from Level 42, he is unreal in his ability to sing and play killin’ slap bass at the same time! Aloha, Jerry
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I’ve played and sang for years, it just takes practice… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I rarely sing and play bass, but when I have to I break down the tricky > parts slowwwwly until everything falls in the right place. Then memorize > and speed up. > btw, the thing that is hard for me singing live is singing with earplugs! > In the shower or car my voice sounds normal, but I put those ear plugs in > and it sounds scary! Also, if the monitor mix isn’t loud enough I can feel > the vibration in my throat, but I can’t actually hear my pitch, making it > very easy to go flat. > jordan > Singing.. anyone can do it, but it getting it sound right live.. there’s the > tricky part!
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First be sure to practice in front of a mic while standing, if that represents your real world gig environment. It’s much harder that way than playing seated or standing while just singing in the air. Learn the song and be able to play it in your sleep. Now memorize the lyrics and be able to recite them in your sleep. Now practice both together. Most parts come with ease and will just happen naturally. Focus on the parts that give you trouble and just practice those parts over and over again until you just flow with it. I am very new to the bass and can do it. It’s like anything else. PRACTICE. I’m far from mastery because I still sing much better when I’m not playing. My playing doesn’t suffer though, just the vocals somewhat. I find it easier with a wireless headset than standing in front of the mic.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I’ve always marvelled at the bass player that could play melodic or moving bass > lines and sing at the same time. Any of you out there able to do that? If so, > can you give me some tips on how to achieve this ability? Or is it just God > given? If so then I’ll continue to stand in the back next to the drummer. > Worked for Mel Schacher. > Thanks > Kevin Martin
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I’ve always marvelled at the bass player that could play melodic or moving bass lines and sing at the same time. Any of you out there able to do that? If so, can you give me some tips on how to achieve this ability? Or is it just God given? If so then I’ll continue to stand in the back next to the drummer. Worked for Mel Schacher. Thanks Kevin Martin
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Singing and playing is one thing but Geddy plays bass, sings, and plays the Moog pedals at the same time! There was a discussion about Rush/Geddy earlier in here but there is no question that he is an amazing musician. They put on an amazing live show as well. Anyway, about singing and playing. Bass is obviously the toughest to do because you are not just playing 8th notes; you have to lock with the drummer’s kick, which usually does not follow the vocal rhythm. I recommend to learn the song very well first and then determine where the vocal rhythms fall relative to your part. Once you do this, don’t think about it anymore and just try to feel where the part falls. Kind of like separating your right foot on the kick and right hand on the high hat when paying drums. Practice each part separately and get an idea how each is placed in relation to the other and then put them together without thinking about it too much.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I’ve always marvelled at the bass player that could play melodic or moving bass > lines and sing at the same time. Any of you out there able to do that? If so, > can you give me some tips on how to achieve this ability? Or is it just God > given? If so then I’ll continue to stand in the back next to the drummer. > Worked for Mel Schacher. > Thanks > Kevin Martin