Singing while playing ...

Lazzaro · 19th August 2003, 11:28 PM

I really can't do this, and people make it look so easy on stage. If I try to sing while playing my bass/guitar then I just fuck up completely.

Anyone have any advice ?

gord · 20th August 2003, 04:20 AM

nope. i can't do it either.... but then no way could i ever sing without a guitar, i'd feel naked. and no way could i only play guitar for a whole set.... i can't win!

Afro Joe · 20th August 2003, 07:33 AM

Just don't think about it while you're doing it
I find that i sing better if i'm playing a guitar or bass because, as gord said, i'd feel naked without one. Drums I've found are really fuckin hard to sing while playing. Unless it's just one long note, then you dont have to think about what you're doing). But if i practised singing and drumming half as much as i should i could maybe get it, one day

[edit]And guitar is a hell of a lot easier to sing with than bass. Not as much rhythm/getting the notes in exactly the right place involved

ianb · 20th August 2003, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Afro Joe

[edit]And guitar is a hell of a lot easier to sing with than bass. Not as much rhythm/getting the notes in exactly the right place involved

Oh, is that right? *somewhat angered by derogatory attitude toward guitars*

Sometimes it's easy, sometimes it's well 'ard. Just depends on the rhythm.

Becca Bomb · 20th August 2003, 08:31 AM

i find it easy as i've always sang while im playing so its second nature. Just practice lots doing it and you'll soon find it gets easier

Talcum · 20th August 2003, 11:37 AM

aye, it's all about practice, same as everything really. Start with simple ones like green day songs from insomniac. I can sing better when i'm not playing my guitar, but i rarely do it and as someone else said it leaves me feeling a bit nekkid.

Ross · 20th August 2003, 12:34 PM

It just takes a bit of getting used to. I've had to do it a few times when people in my band have been absent, and it's quite simple once you practise. I would say guitar is far easier to do it with than bass though- you fuck up royally singing and playing bass at the same time.

*Lynz* · 20th August 2003, 02:06 PM

ya there is no way i can play bass and sing at the same time, it's fuckin impossible, hehe.

Misanthropy · 20th August 2003, 02:19 PM

Yeah, bass is harder to sing with for some reason. Even playing with a pick it's difficult, I don't understand that.

It's really hard to hold two different rhythms in your head at the same time, so you should concentrate on where they both come together and work from there. oh, and practice *nods*

JOHN kondemned · 20th August 2003, 03:04 PM

Why do people think it is harder to sing with a bass? thats a loada pish. Sorry to all you bassists out there but bass is by far the easiest instrument to play. You can pick it up for the first time and play a tune hardly takes any learning or skill at all. There are alot of good bassists in death metal which is highly technical but not the usual punky/rock and even thrashy stuff.

I thought that i would never be able to do it but the trick is to know your song inside out, so you don't have to look or even think about what you are playing. Especially if you are a lead vocalist where vocals are just as, if not more important than what you are playing on guitar.

Don't start on an easy song either that is just a waste of time cos anybody with basic guitar and vocal skills could sing and play a Green Day song. Start off assigning words to notes/chords and then gradually bring it all together. It really will become second nature.

Afro Joe · 20th August 2003, 03:10 PM

Fair enough dude, bass may be easy to pick up and play but once you get past the easy start it gets fucking hard if you wanna get seriously good! And we're talking about singing at the same time and as alex said you gotta hold two rhythms in your head at the same time. Which is bloody hard

JOHN kondemned · 20th August 2003, 03:19 PM

"""as alex said you gotta hold two rhythms in your head at the same time. Which is bloody hard"""

Aye but ye have to do that whilst playing guitar too so how does that make bass any harder?

Afro Joe · 20th August 2003, 03:21 PM

Maybe it's different for you man but i just find that playing guitar and singing is easier than playing bass and singing

Misanthropy · 20th August 2003, 03:27 PM

I think guitar is easier, for me anyway, because you don't have to be that accurate with your strumming. Also, what john said about playing bass is so wrong I don't know where to start

Afro Joe · 20th August 2003, 03:36 PM

Yeah, exactly what he said

19th August 2003, 11:28 PM	#1 (permalink)
Lazzaro Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Dundee Posts: 6,065	Singing while playing ... I really can't do this, and people make it look so easy on stage. If I try to sing while playing my bass/guitar then I just fuck up completely. Anyone have any advice ?

20th August 2003, 04:20 AM	#2 (permalink)
gord of the rings Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Dundee Posts: 2,727	nope. i can't do it either.... but then no way could i ever sing without a guitar, i'd feel naked. and no way could i only play guitar for a whole set.... i can't win!

20th August 2003, 07:33 AM	#3 (permalink)
Afro Joe Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Glasgow Posts: 7,272	Just don't think about it while you're doing it I find that i sing better if i'm playing a guitar or bass because, as gord said, i'd feel naked without one. Drums I've found are really fuckin hard to sing while playing. Unless it's just one long note, then you dont have to think about what you're doing). But if i practised singing and drumming half as much as i should i could maybe get it, one day [edit]And guitar is a hell of a lot easier to sing with than bass. Not as much rhythm/getting the notes in exactly the right place involved

20th August 2003, 08:31 AM	#5 (permalink)
Becca Bomb Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: the ghost train Posts: 3,738 Band: The Leatherettes	i find it easy as i've always sang while im playing so its second nature. Just practice lots doing it and you'll soon find it gets easier

20th August 2003, 11:37 AM	#6 (permalink)
Talcum Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: wherever makes me c00l, dickhead. Posts: 1,129	aye, it's all about practice, same as everything really. Start with simple ones like green day songs from insomniac. I can sing better when i'm not playing my guitar, but i rarely do it and as someone else said it leaves me feeling a bit nekkid.

20th August 2003, 12:34 PM	#7 (permalink)
Ross Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Lenzieshire Posts: 3,613	It just takes a bit of getting used to. I've had to do it a few times when people in my band have been absent, and it's quite simple once you practise. I would say guitar is far easier to do it with than bass though- you fuck up royally singing and playing bass at the same time.

20th August 2003, 02:06 PM	#8 (permalink)
Lynz Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Glasgow Posts: 2,189	ya there is no way i can play bass and sing at the same time, it's fuckin impossible, hehe.

20th August 2003, 02:19 PM	#9 (permalink)
Misanthropy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Dundee Posts: 4,101	Yeah, bass is harder to sing with for some reason. Even playing with a pick it's difficult, I don't understand that. It's really hard to hold two different rhythms in your head at the same time, so you should concentrate on where they both come together and work from there. oh, and practice nods

20th August 2003, 03:04 PM	#10 (permalink)
JOHN kondemned Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Dundee Posts: 275	Why do people think it is harder to sing with a bass? thats a loada pish. Sorry to all you bassists out there but bass is by far the easiest instrument to play. You can pick it up for the first time and play a tune hardly takes any learning or skill at all. There are alot of good bassists in death metal which is highly technical but not the usual punky/rock and even thrashy stuff. I thought that i would never be able to do it but the trick is to know your song inside out, so you don't have to look or even think about what you are playing. Especially if you are a lead vocalist where vocals are just as, if not more important than what you are playing on guitar. Don't start on an easy song either that is just a waste of time cos anybody with basic guitar and vocal skills could sing and play a Green Day song. Start off assigning words to notes/chords and then gradually bring it all together. It really will become second nature.

20th August 2003, 03:10 PM	#11 (permalink)
Afro Joe Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Glasgow Posts: 7,272	Fair enough dude, bass may be easy to pick up and play but once you get past the easy start it gets fucking hard if you wanna get seriously good! And we're talking about singing at the same time and as alex said you gotta hold two rhythms in your head at the same time. Which is bloody hard

20th August 2003, 03:19 PM	#12 (permalink)
JOHN kondemned Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Dundee Posts: 275	"""as alex said you gotta hold two rhythms in your head at the same time. Which is bloody hard""" Aye but ye have to do that whilst playing guitar too so how does that make bass any harder?

20th August 2003, 03:21 PM	#13 (permalink)
Afro Joe Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Glasgow Posts: 7,272	Maybe it's different for you man but i just find that playing guitar and singing is easier than playing bass and singing

20th August 2003, 03:27 PM	#14 (permalink)
Misanthropy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Dundee Posts: 4,101	I think guitar is easier, for me anyway, because you don't have to be that accurate with your strumming. Also, what john said about playing bass is so wrong I don't know where to start

20th August 2003, 03:36 PM	#15 (permalink)
Afro Joe Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Glasgow Posts: 7,272	Yeah, exactly what he said