OT: playing and singing

[GassieBall]

It's sorta weird. I grew up playing piano so I can disconnect my right and left hands, but I can't sing and play bass worth a damn.

There was this one time, at band camp, when the drummer asked me to tap out quarter notes in my left hand and quarter note triplets in my right hand and he said, you have to do it right the first time or else you s*ck. Well, I s*cked.

 

[bovinehost]

I can sing "Istanbul (not Constantinople)" and play bass, but can't play something dead simple like "Whole Lotta Love" and answer what time it is.

Weird.

 

[KennethB]

It is hard at first. The key for me was to slow the tempo way down and really nailing the rhythm. Like forcing my brain into submission! It takes regular practice. Also one thing that I've found that helps a lot is to simplefy your picking. Like instead of playing with two fingers on the rigth hand, try with one or play with the thumb, Sting style. Of course sometimes you have to play with two (or more) if it's a really complex part. In the band though, I just do backing vocals by choice because for me if I sing lead while playing I find that the vocals suffers a bit in the "emotional department". But then again I'm not really a singer, allthough I enjoy singing, especially harmony singing.
Two of the more difficult ones where I'm able to do both is the Chili Peppers' "Naked In The Rain" and Stings "Love Is Stronger Than Justice".

 

[AnthonyD]

When I was younger I sang and played - pure "auto-pilot" as mentioned by others. I played those songs so often and knew them so well there was never an issue.

Picking up the bass again some years back after a very l-o-n-g hiatus proved singing and playing impossible! And playing less frequently now this second time around has required a bit of paitence to get back "up to snuff".

Knuckleheads Jam aside I am no lead singer, but I am beginning to get a bit more comfortable with the singing & playing thing and do provide background vocal support.

It just takes time - like everything else!

 

[tiffles]

i love singing and playing together. used to lead my old band.

its how i practice by myself when theres no cd.

but then i am a girl and can do two or more things at once.

for instance right now im typing...im also painting a watercolour masterpiece with my feet.

 

[Aussie Mark]

i am a girl and can do two or more things at once

I've seen that done in movies many times.

 

[GassieBall]

I've seen that done in movies many times.

 

[MingusBASS]

for instance right now im typing...im also painting a watercolour masterpiece with my feet.

Ha! I've gotta say, your posts crack me up. I'm glad you've been hanging around here more. Now Stankface, he can get a freak'n life.

 

[Dees]

Thanks for all the tips! I'm not trying to be a lead singer, I just like to play/sing some songs.

 

[prickly_pete]

Singing and playing bass at the same time is hard. Mark King and Geddy Lee are just freaks.