Theory vs Reality

[Midnight Toker]

I have never seen that much coke at a party.

I have! The 80’s got pretty crazy for a while.

Oh, you mean the drink??

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

If we are really going to scrutinize the drawing, it appears that the guitar player is playing an unfamiliar chord...all four fingers are on the low E and A strings!

Looks like he's getting ready to rip off an ascending chromatic scale run!

 

[Bill Ashton]

@Roland, no I think he is probably playing a tenor guitar...not what the artist thought of, but what he wound up representing...

@Opsimath , the whole reason to learn to play guitar was because I was dismal at dancing...maybe you can't, but think back to the 8th grade in the 60's, you could invite a girl to come see your band play and that was as good as asking her to the dance!

@fronobulax I will support you, Sirkku and I met at college in the college-band...

 

[Uke]

I can sing or play bass but not both at the same time.

I have always been amazed at bass players who could sing at the same time (Sting, Geddy Lee, Jack Bruce, Chris Squire, etc.) It truly is, as the saying goes, chewing gum and walking at the same time. Over the years I've begun to think bass players have to be more talented than guitarists, especially those who sing and play at the same time.

 

[RBSinTo]

I began learning to play as a teen at the same time as my oldest friend. He went on to play lead guitar in a locally successful rock group, while I've only ever played for my own enjoyment.
I never, ever considered that my playing would lead to fame, fortune or carnal success. It was just another skill to learn for its own sake.
RBSinTo

 

[Bill Ashton]

@Uke, you seen to have left out Paul McCartney...hardly seems like he should be in "etc" =)

 

[Uke]

@Uke, you seen to have left out Paul McCartney...hardly seems like he should be in "etc" =)

Oh yes, I could have gone on for a while . . . . . . . Roger Waters . . . . I'll bet Bach could have pulled it off as well.

 

[Bill Ashton]

Fair enough, just that he might have been one of the first...but, I agree with your "walking and chewing gum" analogy...myself, I find a big difference between sitting and standing, just playing regular guitar...

 

[Uke]

Fair enough, just that he might have been one of the first...but, I agree with your "walking and chewing gum" analogy...myself, I find a big difference between sitting and standing, just playing regular guitar...

My wife is a pianist, and I watch her playing stuff with the left hand playing one line and the right playing another. I think that might be what goes on with bass players singing one line and playing another. I don't have that ability. I can do chord melody stuff, but everyting is being done by my left hand (the right is only generating string vibration). Who knows?

 

[awagner]

Over the years I've begun to think bass players have to be more talented than guitarists, especially those who sing and play at the same time.

Just curious, why is it more difficult to sing and play bass at the same time than to sing and play guitar?

I am not talking about singing and playing cowboy chords (I can't even do that), but singing and playing complex rhythm or lead parts simultaneously is very impressive to me.

 

[fronobulax]

My wife is a pianist, and I watch her playing stuff with the left hand playing one line and the right playing another. I think that might be what goes on with bass players singing one line and playing another. I don't have that ability. I can do chord melody stuff, but everyting is being done by my left hand (the right is only generating string vibration). Who knows?

The complexity of what is being played (on guitar or bass) probably determines the success of the singer or how much they have to practice. I have a friend, retired organist, who can simultaneously sing soprano with a vocal quartet and play the accompaniment on piano.

 

[Guildedagain]

t is probably one of them there fancy jazz chords.

Rock, 3 chords 1000 times, Jazz 1000 chords even one time, too many, I'm still resisting.

 

[Uke]

Just curious, why is it more difficult to sing and play bass at the same time than to sing and play guitar?

I am not talking about singing and playing cowboy chords (I can't even do that), but singing and playing complex rhythm or lead parts simultaneously is very impressive to me.

As an old professor told me years ago, "You (me) might want to think more about that statement." You're correct; if your playing cowboy chords and singing, this is certainly not impressive. But if your playing a complex jazz line on guitar and singing along with a different vocal line, that is as impressive as a bass player singing and playing. I stand corrected.

 

[Neal]

@Uke, you seen to have left out Paul McCartney...hardly seems like he should be in "etc" =)

And Sting.

 

[davismanLV]

You need to read more. I though I admitted to singing five services in seven days ending on Easter.

But, for all practical purposes, and many impractical ones, I can sing or play bass but not both at the same time.

How's your voice J?? I mean I saw the procession and I know there's TONS of singing. But you do that on the regular but for that many days?? You okay??

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

I have always been amazed at bass players who could sing at the same time (Sting, Geddy Lee, Jack Bruce, Chris Squire, etc.) It truly is, as the saying goes, chewing gum and walking at the same time. Over the years I've begun to think bass players have to be more talented than guitarists, especially those who sing and play at the same time.

Yes, it's much easier to sing over strumming chords then playing lead unless you're like George Benson and singing along with the lead.

Bass can be difficult when the bass line is quite different from the melody line in both notes and timing. The secret is to master the bass line so you don't need that part of your brain to sing the melody.

Here's a little self demonstration of this technique:

 

[Midnight Toker]

@Uke, you seen to have left out Paul McCartney...hardly seems like he should be in "etc" =)

Especially w/ Macca's counter melody bass lines. On top of that, on songs where he sang lead, when John would join him on the chorus, it was a Paul who who usually take the high harmony, switching back and forth, all while playing those bouncy bass lines.

Then you have Geddy, singing lead, playing bass...then switching to keys while playing bass pedals. Or even John Paul Jones...playing his triple neck acoustic, switching between 6/12/mando while playing bass pedals...and singing Sandy Denny's parts during The Battle if Evermore.

The one guy that really blew my mind live was Rick Emmitt of Triumph. He could sing extremely difficult stuff for any singer to pull off...all while playing a blistering lead on guitar. The guitar really has to be a bodily appendage at that point.

It all comes down to knowing your instrument parts to where you can play it in your sleep. You should have it down to the point if being able to hold a conversation while flawlessly playing a tune. I like to play while watching tv/movies. I can be fully engrossed in a film while playing a tune from start to finish without even thinking about what I'm doing. That's when you know you're performance ready.

 

[mad dog]

I never expected guitar playing would bring me female action ... so I certainly was not surprised when that result never happened.

 

[Uke]

Yes, it's much easier to sing over strumming chords then playing lead unless you're like George Benson and singing along with the lead.

Bass can be difficult when the bass line is quite different from the melody line in both notes and timing. The secret is to master the bass line so you don't need that part of your brain to sing the melody.

Here's a little self demonstration of this technique:

Yes, this is what I'm talking about -- your brain just has to be wired a certain way to do this.

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

Yes, this is what I'm talking about -- your brain just has to be wired a certain way to do this.

Well in my case I think it helped that I started on guitar and sang while playing guitar. Then when I picked up the bass I just kept singing along.

I have two freinds that are drummers and both of them sing while they're drumming. (Also difficult). Both of them started singing along from the beginning while they were learning to play the drums. This why it's just more natural then trying to learn later.