It's Impossible To Sing and Play The Bass

[MindSweep43]

@I0rdjimmy you misunderstood me. I didn't say that.. All I meant was is that it is even harder to sing and play with bow than it is with pizz.. And my comment about sting still stands whether he plays with a bow or not.. I know he is a great musician..but from what I have heard, he doesn't hold candle to schooled jazz or classical players of the double bass.

[MindSweep43]

Yes.. Some play and sing well... No doubt.. But try playing with the bow in the upper positions.. Long tones...and sing at the same time... Not too easy unless you have some other instrument giving you reference pitches.... And I know Sting is very talented. But he is not a real double bass player... Please... Never heard him play with the bow either.

[l0rdjimmy]

@MindSweep43 Just 'cause you don't play with a bow doesn't mean you're not a real double bass player

[ColossusShade]

Fucking rush bitch

[BOnEhEAdD]

sweet :)

[TheGalwayFarmer]

Sting can manage so there

[MindSweep43]

Wow! As a double bass player, I can identify!

Typically, when the d. Bass is playing with another instrument that has frets or fixed pitches, like a piano, the d. Bass is constantly making small adjustments in it's pitch. Correct me if I am wrong, but the voice does the same thing. And put the the voice and the d bass together...even harder, when one person does both..This guy says it best though! :o)

[misselucange]

the father of PRIMUS?



[nich0445]

now this was good and impressive but he does make a point "practice" you see how people plays the guitar? they don't look either or sometimes they don't even feel their way to the next chord and that's what he proves here it is possible

[cstviz]

Didn't even know John Malkovich could play bass.

[1i2cant3spell]

That guy is awesome!

[DanielMasterConsole]

Well, but it's just logic that playing the bass and sing is MUCH MORE OF A HELL DIFFICULT than playing the guitar and singing.

[ListedProduction]

Two words... Les Claypool

Also, good lesson embedded in this video

[TheBassgasm]

He cuts right to the chase of the matter. That's it. And I'm now listening to this the 20th time .. today. Well done, sir!

[alexwallace12]

well baby I hear the blues a-callin, tossed salads and scrambled eggs...

[TheBassgasm]

I learned the bassline and tried.. he's right. it's just not possible on a fretless =)

[MrBCRMBST]

Something I've never gotten, not playing this instrument: Why don't you guys use fret markers? It seems a lot easier...

[OpalisPissed]

@MrBCRMBST I personally did

When I began to play the double bass, I used a pencil to make little marks on the side. And a lot of other players do too.

[jdb5397]

this guy is such a tool..

[Juuuuuul]

Funny how watching Esperanza Spalding brought me here..

[fizzior]

Lemmy, Geddy Lee, Sting, Les Claypool, Glenn Hughes, Paul McCartney, John Entwistle, and many others

[Lomaxxx53]

@fizzior *facepalm* did you even watched the video before you write the comment?

[Kailoa36]

That's obviously true for him. But then, he can't sing without the bass either.

[shawndimery]

Is this singing?

[TheKevinshannon]

phil lynott.



[pencilblimp]

Geddy Lee that is all

[Fredrockroll]

Top rated comments didn't got the joke

[kristoffsz]

@Fredrockroll I did, just playing around ;)

[Fredrockroll]

@kristoffsz :D

[TTMichael18]

Les Claypool.

[Koliea123]

How did I get here from Jessie J and Saxophones?

[lesk8]

hahaha he's just joking although I can imagine Barre Phillips singing while he plays his bass...

[NewAgeEagles]

for everyone hating on electric and saying real bass you cant sing and play....... Avishai Cohen

who plays both because both are equally good

and sings while doing it and plays some percussion too

[chupy35]

He measn a fretless bass with improvizing jazz scales, some real bassist

[Gabysoficial]

Esperanza spalding. that is all.

[NezianBelcyder]

1:04 amazing

[jdb5397]

this guy is such a weiner.. singing about how he plays bass.. and making terrible jokes..jesus, this=glee (SHIT)

[TheCarolinacowboys]

He means real bass not electric.

[Qmorgan96]

Skillet

[SpaceRitual]

People are getting upset, like "Dude, you can so play the bass and sing at the same time!" Like they don't realize that this guy is playing the bass and singing... people don't appreciate irony.

[kristoffsz]

Only one damn word.

Lemmy.

[cromaticas]

@kristoffsz yeah,i can also play the same 3 notes over and over again over the whole damn song and sing.its not hard.

[Traeumeer]

@kristoffsz

Yeah, but Lemmy only plays "da-da-da-da-da-da-da". The things he's playing aren't that difficult.

[matiasalba46]

@kristoffsz other word Paul

[tgseraph]

Sting - The Police

Roger Waters - Pink Floyd

[recon437]

@tgseraph lmfao as if roger waters could play bass, or sing, period.

[Frankyphatmouth]

look i just wanna know what bass he's playin because it looks sexcellent!

[Blacksadback]

Epic.

[ogogaiht]

Esperanza Spalding does it LIKE A BOSS

liked this song anyway

[JazzAnnon]

where can i find/buy this live?

[ragnaroksama]

tom araya lol

[borisovicinovski]

charlie mingus

[borisovicinovski]

roger walters - Pink Floyd

[danguitar91]

@borisovicinovski do you mean roger waters?

[AdarnThomasMoran]

Didn't know Mark Knopfler can play bass.

[Slappinstyle]

David Caraccio!

[PageBonham68]

SLAYER FUCK YEA

[ssilikemarijuana]

tom araya SLAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYER

[doodleguitarist]

Geddy Lee

Phil Lynnot

Roger Waters

[CmdkyL]

tom araya

[xVxcuatrosupremoxVx]

awww yeaaaaaa im the 1000th like

[mr4y]

Chris Squire - Yes

[D3maine]

Years ago I played bass in a swing quartet. Walking bass and no drummer so I used embellishments to simulate the presence of a drummer, as you do. So it was reasonably technical playing. Then the band found out I could sing as well. Never ones to waste an opportunity, they threw a mike in front of me. Flippin' heck! Sing and play seperate melodies and syncopations on 'ain't Misbehavin' and stuff. Nice to see some pro's think it's hard too.

[ment4lbre4kdown]

Upright bass = fretless = you have to do slight adjustments by ear as you play = hard to sing in tune at the same time. Playing the electric (or fretted acoustic) bass and singing is just as easy (or hard) as playing the guitar and singing.

[Jwk1706]

@ment4lbre4kdown No playing upright is way harder than fretless... Much larger distances between intervals so you do need to concentrate more on that

[Luc88Cole]

It's actually not even that difficult too do. It's just like singing and playing anything else: slow it down, line up your voice and your instrument with the metronome, and speed it up when you're ready. Once you've trained your mind to sing and play, you'll hardly ever need to start with a metronome.

Seriously. This is something that any professional should know.

[Xho3546]

Chris fucking Wolstenholme

[armaggedonOUTAhere]

I guess this guy has never heard of Esperanza Spalding.

[freekazoid8489]

@armaggedonOUTAhere I guess his point was to be humurous about it.... Esperanza has admitted that it is VERY difficult to sing and play bass

[MrShutyourdamnmouth]

brian adams hahaha

[11nephilim]

You can; just electrify your bass (: now you have frets, enjoy!

[HawK047]

While you certainly can sing and play the bass, I do however think its harder then playing a guitar and singing.

[saberwing505]

awesome! roger from less than jake and chris #2 from anti flag both have wicked and fast bass lines but they sing as well!!

[heinygore2]

@saberwing505 those basses have frets

[saberwing505]

@heinygore2 yeah ok, but the technique is the same

[ThomasEmain]

@saberwing505 No, the technique is not the same. You have a wide square to place your finger on when you have frets, but with no frets you only have one spot. This lets you play way faster, but with less variety. Completely different technique. It's like saying a mandolin and a violin are played the same.

[saberwing505]

@ThomasEmain wow really. You can't compare mandolin and violin at all, they're two totally different instruments. The only difference with a right up bass and an electric bass is that electric basses usually have frets. And it's upright ofcourse. It's the same type of intrument, but it has frets, or no frets. Mandolins and violins have a different amount of strings, completely different tuning etc. The only thing they have in common are the fact that they are instruments.

[ThomasEmain]

@saberwing505 That is completely wrong. Mandolin and Violin have the same tuning. Mandolin has 4 sets of two strings with the same tunings as the Violin's 4 strings. A mandolin also uses the same f holes and popping bridge a Violin does. The wood is tuned the same. They are similarly sized. I'm not even going to argue with you if you just make up crap. I actually play several instruments, so I'll just leave you think what you want.

[saberwing505]

@ThomasEmain I know how to play bass and guitar, and one of my friends has a stand up bass and I could just play some tunes. The technique of the mandolin and are completely different (I know I have family that can play those instruments). So in the end, Because they look the same, they are the same? wtf

[ThomasEmain]

@saberwing505 No, they are completely different instruments with some similarities. I only compared them because they were so different. I said, "Like saying a mandolin and violin are played the same." It was a satirical remark because they are played completely different, but have the same notes and tuning.

[ThomasEmain]

@saberwing505 Seriously, do you have the IQ of a sea slug?

[saberwing505]

@ThomasEmain No that term would apply to you sir.

[floganhall132]

paul mccartney does it!

[detlevgebers]

great!!!

[gredangeo]

that's talented of him. Now lets see him sing and play the tuba same time. :)

[TheSRalston]

Being a bass player I really admire those who can keep the groove and sing the melody, unless there is a very similar cadence to them, I just can´t do it...and I rather concentrate on the groove. So to all those bass players who can sing, and do both well, I admire and envy you!

[SuperFunkedup]

The hardest part are the rhythms! !!

[bezale]

Geddy Lee - RUSH

[kc8ntp]

@bezale Les Claypool of Primus. SOB can do two hand tapping on a 6-string fretless, to a complicated rhythm while singing!

[FredCallicoat]

@bezale plays a fretted electric, this guy is talking about an upright

[TheZombieJC]

@bezale Geddy Lee played an upright?

[bezale]

@TheZombieJC no, Lee favoured Rickenbacker basses, but the principle is the same.

[TheZombieJC]

@bezale I know he did. I love Rush, but the principle is not the same. I play bass frequently, but playing an upright bass is something totally different, and, for the most part, much more difficult.

[MaxMultiBass]

@bezale Geddy plays on fretted electric bass, it's totally different.

[migo53333]

@bezale McCartney.............nuff said!!!

[DAVWAVE]

So the makes PAUL McCartyney even more amazing.

[hillbillygenius72]

It's not that hard, maybe on a double bass like that, but not a bass guitar, I do it.

[MrAxSAP]

@hillbillygenius72 Walking bass is pretty difficult ;) And 0:48, fretless ^^

[pvcaseyg]

is this from that npr program

[grayhairandblueeyes]

Most people that sing and play bass are largely guitar players that took up the bass for one reason or another. It like singing while your playing lead guitar riffs - your mind has to work on another level or your just oozing talent. If you want to see real talent watch Jack Bruce play a unlined Warwick fretless, sing and play harmonica all on the song Sitting On Top of the World, DVD - CREAM Royal Albert Hall - In a three piece band!

[grayhairandblueeyes]

Example not withstanding...

[CrewBaloo]

esperanza spalding..

[Jshaw1ful]

@CrewBaloo Yes! :D

[Drallern]

i'ts the hardest to sing and play bass, you think like- singing goes more with the guitar and bass more with the drums, pluss thinking a different melody

[carsonLILL]

Not true...Paul McCartney and Sting

[Fray789]

Two Words. Richard Bona:D

[TheElectricSalad]

this is gay

[frank12364]

@TheElectricSalad hahahah faggot

[bloodsling]

Mark King,Les Claypool,Kim Deal,Geddy Lee,Peter Steele,Paul Mcartney etc etc..it's impossible to sing and play for me though since I can do neither lol

[MrMatyboy3000]

@bloodsling he meens the Double Bass man : )

[georgetaliat1]

dude he is so right even though hes doing it awesome. i keep practicing to sing and play my bass (not even a fretless one :p) but i always make a mistake somewhere

[XzMortalityzX]

@georgetaliat1 personally think it's a thing of chords, once you get into a walk or anything of the sort and your not just chugging on chords, i find it never works out. of course geddy seems to be an exception but he seems to be an exception to a lot of things.

[Boogieb77]

Esperanza Spalding,...

[brooklynstudio]

@Boogieb77 yes!!!

[skatepark02]

Lets not forget Mark king. that guy can sing and damn can he play! and he does it all on a fretless too ;D

[frank12364]

@skatepark02 dont forget Les Claypool!!

[guillotinedeath]

im sure if the guitarist from NECROPHAGIST played the bass he could sing and play

[oml1]

@guillotinedeath ah Muhammed Suiçmez kicks ass :)

[leftclickben]

Two words: Les Claypool

[ejlizzz]

@leftclickben Three words: He has frets

[leftclickben]

@ejlizzz Firstly, that is irrelevant. The song title isn't "It's Impossible to Sing and Play Fretless Bass", is it? Secondly, you're wrong anyway, Les Claypool plays both fretted and fretless basses, while singing. Just looking him up on wikipedia would have told you that, but here's an example anyway: v=LBQ2305fLeA

[ejlizzz]

@leftclickben he sings that " a bass doesnt have frets" so it isnt irrelevant. I think its much harder to play and sing without frets. And does really Claypool play fretless bass WHILE he sings?

[leftclickben]

@ejlizzz Point taken on the lyrics, although there is a bit of artistic license there because he uses "basses" to mean upright basses only. I already posted a reference to a video where he sings and plays a six string fretless at the same time, here it is again: v=LBQ2305fLeA

[myweedislikemedusa]

i play and sing at the same time...a little better than this guy in this video, but who knows if he was doing this purposefully for the theme

[mancleave]

you can sing and play a fretted bass.. but good luck singing and playing a fretless & staying in tune! unless your bass part is simple

[Jakyle1]

That's why esperanza is so sick.

[metalhead10101]

Slayer for the win

[UnderTheBamboooTree]

haha, I love to play bass and sing, but no way i'm gonna do it in public :D

[ELBassodegrande]

The absolute master of singing and playing bass and hip comedy.

[jacobr512]

@theshamham. Has there been a time when you were right or just in your mind about something, and you were able to see the person on the other side realize that he or she was wrong. Did you see the shame brought upon them. I love my upright bass.

[ClusterFugue]

You may want to let Les Claypool know that what he does can't be done ;)

[Orangemongoose1]

Haha, this was hilarious! Lol @ all the people that don't get this

[SALLEMJAZZ]

Yes, Jay!

[azerty7889]

paul mccartney can /watch?v=3uzC5KC_260

[mcspaghetti19]

@archeryguy1121 uhmm,,off topic reply

[mrmaki7771]

just lyk the violin thts why the kids in my class (not me I'm the best) still need the tapes over the notes! and were in 8th grade!!!! thts sad

[heavybass4ever]

primus

[RemusStelistu]

Tom Araya can play bass and sing =D

[shogott]

@RemusStelistu

yes!

[MrSonicdestruction]

@RemusStelistu he can't play an upright and sing :p

[RemusStelistu]

@MrSonicdestruction he might be able to do it,we can never know

[xxxhendrixjoe555xxx]

not for Larry Graham

[wedgwood12]

Beautiful effort to put us singing bass players out if work, but no go!! It must anyway be possible with an upright. Time and practise conquers all. What was it he did?

[TeamMastaPr2]

I can do on electric (fret) bass guitar, but never tried with an upright bass (which is fretless).

[alancik123]

@TeamMastaPr2 You must to feel frets on that bass :)) You know what i mean.

[ElGrandeBanana]

If only I had one, but, so so expencive >.< (Poor little Student guy)

[nougiw]

Μαλακοτερός!

[kevinherbert]

Very very droll..and very very entertaining...thank you Jay L.

[moonbling63]

true true!

[fuugon]

Two words: Paul McCartney

[ElGrandeBanana]

@fuugon Two words: Electric => Frets

[RemusStelistu]

@ElGrandeBanana there are electric fretless basses too..lol

[Juicefani11]

I can sing while playing electric bass, but i havent tried a doghouse bass yet.

[DOWNandGONE]

Its impossible to sing and play bass;

So true.

Someone should tell Tom Araya.

[Mayokitty7]

@DOWNandGONE As much as I love Slayer, 'singing' really is used as a euphemism here.

[astig600]

wtf

[venskus2009]

Whay are bassists the funniest and most modest people?

[MichaelRushMusic]

@venskus2009 Everyone knows that not only are bassists the funniest and most modest people, they're also the smartest and handsomest.

[venskus2009]

@MichaelRushMusic so true! this guy looks like a model. and hes clearly old lol.

[KingOfPain35]

@MichaelRushMusic ...most intelligent, empathetic, good listeners, good looking, slow to anger, quick to get back on the "one"... HAHAHAHA

[Moiez101]

@MichaelRushMusic

that describes me pretty well! haha, i joke.

[MySoundEducation]

@MichaelRushMusic you are so right!!

[hombretao]

@MichaelRushMusic And, according to Les Claypool, also have the largest genitalia.

[venskus2009]

Why are bassists the funniest and most modest people in the world?

[XicoFlavio]

Jay, you are always good !

xF - Rio de Janeiro

[ProlificDepression23]

peter steele



[Darkit2099]

@bobmarleyisgod1 That's true, but then again you could get it down man. Just practice and practice and you'll see results