It's Impossible To Sing and Play The Bass

[@lordisern3024]

I'm a bass player, but I can hardly play the bass while playing the bass.

[@rg-ou1px]

me too

[@gustavomendes1746]

I'm a bass player but i can't play bass :(

[@technology5821]

same lol

[@IanHarrod]

@@gustavomendes1746 recognizing this is the first step

[@williamkenny6383]

Isnt that every bass player

[@GreNadeMusicNL]

You know what's harder than playing bass and singing at the same time? Playing the trumpet and singing at the same time.

[@VitaMaster909]

Possible though

[@jamesludwig9585]

Okay, but only at slower tempos...

[@dejectd2972]

GreNadeMusicNL called impossible

[@ynotdat1741]

You actually can. Just a little technique called "multiphonics"

[@noobbrosif]

It’s called singing into the instrument, DUH! XP

[@keiran110]

Unbelievable. For those who are not musically minded - this is a piece which was written intentionally to test the mind and fingers. There are complex rhythms happening between the vocal and bass lines which require extreme concentration of one's cognition! Well done on your rendition.

[@keiran110]

***** Your point?

[@keiran110]

Theee CandleMaker How so?

[@theeecandlemaker2197]

Ciaran DeCeol​ I was calling Z YT that

[@keiran110]

Theee CandleMaker Oh haha ok.

[@keiran110]

***** If only it was that easy!

[@peterdietrich8810]

It's also impossible to play the trumpet ad sing.

[@jackbho6594]

Oh wow I didn't know -_-

[@danielseals4211]

No it's not

[@Vulcanized1]

"ad sing" ?

[@peterdietrich8810]

***** It's like adlibing but for singing.

[@gj9665]

Pete Detrick lol

[@dsaillant811]

All my life, I've been waiting for John Malkovich to tell me I'm garbage.

[@felixh2926]

damn guy i just trust it really was malkovich because of you. :')

[@SmokinInsight]

2017 and people still can't decipher humor

[@MrDOOlevrai]

H...U... Oh I give up...

[@pepn]

The year we're in doesn't affect people's humor

[@FreezerPane]

That's where your wrong kiddo

[@Amlefox]

It's impossible for me to play any instrument and sing...

[@FranLegon]

same

[@РоманГогешвили]

You just need to git gud ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

[@PersonalJesus97]

It's impossible for me to play any instrument OR sing

[@РоманГогешвили]

facelessninetytwo i would kinda like to listen to that

[@YouriPoulin]

Try reggae (guitar lead), it is not that hard.

[@acowname3822]

Why is this in my recommended?

[@6jonline]

first important video of 2017?

[@Mirceabogdanstanciu]

reddit did it again?

[@beatflyy]

Acowname Cause it's a good video

[@kanekeylewer5704]

Because KZbin!

[@samuelcook4362]

I am glad it was in mine

[@AntonioKowatsch]

It's also impossible to play the violin and sing. Trust me, I tried.

[@davekent6023]

you're playing 'punk and hardcore' and asking about music. that's like asking chefs for advice on making hot dogs.

[@SnugJoiner]

Demon_Turtle89 on violin it's more like playing the single note as a chord. Possibly another string if you wanna get friggy with it. For violin incorporated in punk or hardcore, I'd check out folk punk or gypsy punk. Blackbird Raum is a good band to start with.

[@gnulen]

i can actually do that.

[@LukeDayInTheUK]

AntonioKowatsch, yeh that's bollocks really. I can do it Barry dransfield has always done it. Countless bluegrassers and folk musicians. It's just playing "off the chest" to free up your chin.

[@LukeDayInTheUK]

Dave Kent, boom! Love that joke.

[@stingy1304]

First video of the new year. off to a good start ig

[@zGuaripolo]

x2

[@ramonramirez2749]

We'll first video from KZbin. Pornhub took my first video of the year.

[@peanutschatzie4129]

Stingy Hell yeah, boiyo.

[@jackaroni9475]

This mail box is mine

[@ZEGTHEFISH]

AllTimeMyChemicalPanic!AtTheFallOut l-/ Your comment is mine

[@Juzu607]

I'm a drummer and ive heared so many people just crack jokes on the expense of bass players but i cant help but to love them i love the sound and i love to play along them haha

[@x0scimy0x]

Laughing at the people commenting bass players who can do this... You missed the joke.

[@0Black0Moon0]

i didn't get it. expalin it please

[@seanoconnor5730]

Kmmoon Mh it's a joke.

[@spectratio]

Kmmoon Mh hes singing and playing bass

[@purplegill10]

Jared Wilkerson I think they're joking too

[@TheBlazeThrower]

I literally found half a dozen people complaining about people not getting it and 0 people who didn't get it.

[@calebhohneke8482]

For those saying electric bass isn't that hard to play and sing together....try it for yourself. I have played electric bass and sang at the same time in a few metal bands. Fingers fling across the fret board, while singing...and still trying to maintain the "feeling" behind my playing was always tough to practice. I also have played guitar and sang....and I can tell you that the bass guitar is the harder instrument to be technical with while maintaining proper vocal control. You can't just let your fingers do muscle memory movements on bass, because you will lose all the "feeling" behind your playing. It's hard to explain, but other bass players will get where I am coming from. This was an awesome video btw

[@jasonodea9177]

Lol all of these people bringing up bass players who can sing while playing. He was just singing and playing upright bass in the video, the song is just clever fun with a good amount of truth to it.

[@Lazyguy22]

Now try it with a saxophone.

[@PrinceSwaggy]

Matilda that's impossible

[@FadedRxses]

@@jonathandover4761 HOLY SHIT YOU ARE GOD.

[@davedonnie6425]

You can it's called growling

[@andrelunaisatuna]

I can only sing Primus songs and play the bass.

[@C0nnie]

Andre Luna there is nothing wrong with that

[@Eebers]

i can't do either

[@edua2286]

how bout nofx? or motorhead? rush?

[@jpbass5913]

primus sucks

[@dreadskeleton]

primus sucks

[@lawrencegenereux8567]

To everyone who is giving names of singing bassists as examples of players who can do it, please keep in mind that the song specifically refers to an upright bass (no frets, no position markers). That's an order of magnitude harder than an electric bass guitar. Plus in the video, he's playing a walking jazz line, not a repetitive progression. Also, "It's Impossible to Sing and Play the Bass" is the name of the song, not a statement of fact. But if you've ever tried to sing and play upright in a jazz tune (and do both on pitch,) you probably already know that it is "nearly" impossible.

[@Randy_AP]

yep unless u dont think about it at all , that will nearly impossible

[@binglebop5877]

Les Claypool has a fretless bass guitar my dood

[@harrykuheim6107]

Check out "It's all about that Bass" by Post Modern Jukebox....

[@VegasA3]

I can't even play upright bass without screwing my fingers up.

[@crimfan]

It's absolutely not an order of magnitude harder than bass guitar. I made the transition pretty well. If you have good muscle memory, which is the foundation of your intonation, you can learn to do it without too much difficulty. I'm not saying the really advanced stuff, mind you. If you're trying to play a really difficult improvised walking bass line and sing a complicated part, sure that's going to be hard. But even a duffer like me can play through a blues or a fairly straightforward set of changes on a standard and sing the melody without slipping out of tune on either. If you want hard, try listening to someone sing and play fretless guitar. I had a recording of a friend of mine playing 1952 Vincent Black Lightning on a fretless guitar while singing it in just intonation. Not sure what possessed him to do that but he managed!

[@uptonbass]

What a great character!

[@gj9665]

He may have meant upright bass is impossible to play and sing but there's probably a jazz bassist up there who does/did sing while playing

[@rileymerino6340]

Gordon Gunn i know just thought id throw this fellar a bone and give an example

[@futurfry]

he's literally singing and playing

[@EricLawJazz]

Carlos Henriquez

[@doublenmusic]

esperanza Spalding

[@revdeleon8574]

Noah Nipp Yess exactly! Esperanza spalding is amazing

[@summers232]

Most of the comments: "Tell that to "famous bassist"."

[@juanvazquez5836]

Famous bassist is a great bassist tho

[@squiggyklane]

excellent harmony intervals when you hum along with bassline

[@kass4294]

This is good. This made me think of a new first line to this “People told me that nothing was impossible, but they could never say it to my face. I told them, to sing and play the bass.”

[@FishyFox]

Came here expecting a scientific lesson Stayed for the cool song

[@leonardcrainie9928]

Love it , the little harmony is great haha brill

[@hendrixjoe555]

I thought it was impossible until I saw Larry Graham doing it perfectly.

[@jchumley57]

This is one of my favorite things on the internet. Really.

[@erjio983]

is that jordan peterson

[@mennokuipers5709]

Er Jio fuck that guy

[@BeniBoyzGuitarSlamz]

1973 Why exactly?

[@mennokuipers5709]

Beni Vitai he says some decent to great shit but I can't understand his views on religion at all.

[@CousinBowling]

1973 why? Is he pro-religion?

[@mennokuipers5709]

Jeroim3142 uh... Yes? He thinks religion is very important.

[@paulmeir6528]

Clever lyrics and well sung, thanks for the upload!

[@VegasA3]

All these "Tell that to (famous bassist here)" people are pissing me off.

[@orchdork775]

This is so amazing!! Such an unique composition. I would love to see this guy perform live :)

[@garbanzobeans6228]

It is impossible to sing.

[@birgitmyschi64]

Very good idea and brilljantly exceeded. I like this very much.

[@BruceForte]

And then he goes and fucking does it.

[@danr.5017]

he is doing spoken word not singing

[@IamHueGraves]

+Dan R. 0:57 you sure?

[@danr.5017]

IamHueGraves I double checked and yes. He indeed can not sing and play the base. I'm not sure he can sing at all even.

[@IamHueGraves]

***** I'm pointing out that he's singing not don't spoken word, he's just (like you said) not very good at it

[@baxizach]

the madman

[@cindycoxberry1662]

Perfect...thank you Jay

[@xonubeams]

what about corey taylor of nirvana?

[@adisgruntleddemo]

Did you even wacth the video? Lol

[@tobey1966]

***** corey taylor of nirvana? are you stupid?

[@iIMM4CuLLaTE]

+Astroman96 Dont you know corey taylor? He killed his self last year with herion when he injected a shotgun

[@sadberto7430]

+xo xe (xoxe007) what drugs are you on?

[@xonubeams]

meth and sometimes heroin, nothing special

[@alecblair11]

those maj 3rd harmonies hes doing with his voice during the breaks are smooth!

[@Markleadguitar]

18 people didn't watch this video.

[@tritian5874]

+Mark Roman or did not understand it

[@ERICx223]

I didn't know what I expected when I clicked on it, but I really enjoyed it

[@ugogirolami3322]

It's impossible to sing and play the tuba.

[@FiorenzoDelega-musician]

Ah ah! Fantastico!

[@brandonthebass]

"Failing" is another great solo piece for bass and voice. Add the property of the bow, giving an improvised speech, and trying to make it all happen at once while engaging the audience is also quite difficult. The double bass is just a weird instrument all in all.

[@jameswatson4394]

Brandon Miller failing was awesome

[@imlxh7126]

I remember finding this piece shortly after "Failing" was mentioned in an Adam Neely video. No shade to Tom Johnson at all (I just found his KZbin channel where he talks about a lot of his pieces, "Galileo" is awesome and "The Four-Note Opera" is HILARIOUS), but I think I personally like Jay's "impossible" bass piece better. But that's just me

[@fpranchas]

my kind of musicianship! Amazing!!!

[@steelwarrior105]

Lemmy still gets more girls than most guitarists

[@Stevesk0011]

+Gunslinger15 nope

[@hestia165]

+Stevesk0011 nope anymore xD

[@EagleDarkX]

+Al Bundy I think he still does, actually.

[@EagleDarkX]

***** Triggered.

[@lolololololol012]

+Gunslinger15 Lemmy played rhythm guitar on bass

[@andreashoppe1969]

it's impossible carrying your bass through the city without someone asking " wow, thats a big cello"

[@oldvlognewtricks]

“Your violin appears to have a pituitary tumour”

[@mickkennedy1344]

"It's Impossible To Play Xylophone And Fly A Plane." --- can you sing that one, Jay?

[@ColinDJPat]

This is wonderful,

[@mtsn]

Lemmy died for your sins.

[@Lerxst]

And then you have Geddy Lee, who sings lyrics like "Apollo was atonished Dionysus thought me mad But they heard my story further And they wondered, and were sad Looking down from Olympus On a world of doubt and fear Its surface splintered Into sorry Hemispheres", and plays some of the most complex bass lines, while playing keyboards/synths with his feet and whenever possible his spare hand.

[@DayWarrior6]

I always wonder why upright basses don't have position guides on the side of the neck. The go on the positions 3, 5 ,7 ,9 ,12, 15 , 17 ,19, 21, 24, and so on. Fretless electric basses have them; it's not cheating. It is kind of cheating to have fret markers and fret lines on the fret board, but dots on the side are fine. If I ever get an upright bass, the first thing I'll do is buy a set of those dots and put them on.

[@Rimsiakas]

Cheating? God damn, the elitism of some people...

[@eltorpedo67]

They put them on because most rock musicians are morons who aren't trained like jazz and classical musicians are.

[@OldWine]

Amazing Man and great Musician!!?

[@sting5956]

This is so good

[@MirameAcaEstoy]

He worked really hard and learned how to do it. He did a very good job. I enjoyed that.

[@vxkly1086]

he is my grandpa and im so happy to see him getting 1 mil views thats crazy lmao

[@madisoneckard4363]

Love this! I can already tell I am going to love playing it!

[@zaxapitsa]

The main challenge I'm finding is that I must rely on my fingering and tempo without really hearing it. While I sing a note, it's like the bass disappears and my fingers go on their own, and hopefully find their way automatically. Another problem is that on bass the right hand needs to be tight and right in its place, so if I get too much enthusiastic with the voice I must manage to keep my hands steady and right on time, like they were controlled by another soul, while my lungs are all over the place. It sucks. None of this happens while playing guitar. The strumming and the right hand are much less demanding. Most of bassists singers play bass like a guitar. Sting just played fewer notes, so he could take mini breaks from the instrument... the only one I know who almost sounds like two people is McCartney, at least from the famous non-jazz players, and still he had to adapt his lines quite a lot. Jesus, what a ramble.

[@toniperez1323]

If you play fewer notes and leave holes that's a lot harder than playing melodic bass lines in my opinion. That's just me though lol.

[@zaxapitsa]

I know what you mean, you keep going with your hands like an auto-pilot, without having to think too much about it. I meant when I play songs by The Police, I take advantage of those holes to sing freely and it all feels effortless.

[@josephbathgate]

For those who complain about the commenters who are taking the title as a statement, IT'S WRITTEN AS A STATEMENT, and that statement is wrong. It isn't written as a song title or a bass lesson. It's click bait.

[@cameronutt6383]

This song was kinda funny. Les Claypool is the only person I knew off who could sing and play an upright bass, even with a bow (Mr. Krinkle for those who don't know what song I speak of.)

[@r1ghtarmy]

see MUSE - Liquid State live, the bass player is singing. or Muse - Save Me

[@cameronutt6383]

I don't mean to sound rude or condescending but note that I said UPRIGHT BASS, as in Cello, or double bass, or contrabasso. This video was meant as an irony type of thing mostly. Lots of ELECTRIC bass players sing, Les Claypool and Geddy Lee for example. But Les is the only person I'd seen playing Cello with a bow while singing is what I was saying.

[@jackbho6594]

Oh Mr. Krinkle tell me why

[@FranLegon]

Cello is not the same as upright/double bass

[@kaam32211]

It looks like none of you heard of Esperanza Spalding

[@marvinhanson9391]

Paul McCartney- "hold my beer"

[@tuomas3964]

How about esperanza spalding :D

[@mikehawk2148]

shhhhh shhhh

[@pyrotarkus6491]

Geddy Lee, Greg Lake, John Wetton

[@ValtteriNieminen]

Unlike most bass players mentioned here, Spalding actually counts because she does play the acoustic bass and sing. And when she plays an electric bass, it's a fretless one.

[@jackaroni9475]

Hi, I'm lazy so (maybe I'll look it up later but now right now) does anyone know how you can play without frets? I've only played like the uke, guitar, and a little bit of drums so I wouldn't know. I've been wondering for quite a while how you know where to put your fingers without frets.

[@hyalinamusic18]

There are two types of comments on this video: "Tell that to (insert famous bassist)" or "This is upright bass, not bass guitar, it's much harder to sing and play upright bass than it is to play electric bass and sing" And then you've got my comment lol

[@mariodiaz5961]

what do you think about billy sheehan. duff mckagan. jason newsted. lemmy kilmister and more... they play the bass and sing

[@la196]

I'm certain Jay did this video all in fun to bring attention to the fact of just how many bass players play a significant role in the main vocals:) It definitely takes talent. Nobody mentioned Sting:) Also no matter how simple a baseline may seem, go ahead and play a 2 1/2-3 hour concert with 1000's of people standing before you and also singing the main vocals---without screwing up once:) Night after night. Easier to stand back and judge than done:)

[@3rdna]

not bass guitar

[@homersimpson2975]

A great band in philippines called iv of spades ,their vocalist is a bass player

[@troystuart8870]

yeah KZbin this makes complete sense to recommend to me...Like wtf KZbin!!!?!?!

[@kappix]

Better than most of the bullshit that gets recommended

[@godza75]

Nice song! Keep it up!

[@timothyrice1621]

Get this man a P bass and a talkbox

[@moose43h]

teller?

[@Superabound2]

Nobody reads the articles. Nobody watches the video. All anybody does is read headlines and comment.

[@mangobalaclava3329]

So, you're brain works 3 different parts of the brain. Where to press your fingers on the stings, what stings to play, and remembering the notes. Singing works 2 main parts of your brain. Pitch and lyrics. That's 5 all together, not to mention if you have stage fright, or general anxiety, that messes with your head. This is truly impressive.

[@johnb2122]

one word: Slayer

[@kaingates]

bass guitar.

[@haakman123]

Next video: Paul McCartney on the Upright Bass.. and he's singing

[@biffsupreme3418]

It's kinda hard to play fife and sing

[@GabrielNanniChannel]

Incredible!!!! amazing!!!

[@maucadete]

It said 3:00. I enter. It says 2:59. I wtf.

[@antechinus100]

He's the man between the drummer and the musicians.

[@wozardofiz1242]

Les Claypool plays bass when he is sleeping. But not singing. He can't sing when he sleeps.

[@michaelbergman1708]

That reminds me of a quote from Steve Martin: "It's impossible to put a Cadillac up your nose. It's just impossible."

[@hutt8919]

Davie504: Hold my beer

[@transimpedance]

loved it!

[@Tristialawirtz]

Geddy Lee would be laughing his ass off right now

[@sinbysin666]

Yes. Laughing at you, because he plays the electric bass. Which is like playing a guitar.

[@doctorfeelfunny584]

No, Smasher. The electric bass guitar is still a bass. The (erroneous) idea that a person can't sing while playing the bass is not based on the shape of the instument or how you hold it, but rather the role of the instrument in that single notes are played, usually not corresponding to the meter of the vocal line. It's similar to the (also erroneous) belief that a lead guitarist can't sing while playing. It's more difficult than singing while strumming chords, but obviously not undoable.

[@kaingates]

Man for calling yourself a doctor you're pretty dumb. He even explains it in the song, when you have the frets you don't have to play it by ear, you need the muscle-memory jotted down. That doesn't work with a double bass. Based on your argument a person could improvise a brand new technique over a melody he already knows, and that's not true. Every person who improvises and sing at the same time has practiced the scales and shapes they play months before they do it live, maybe to a different rhythm or beat but still. But most of all this is a joke.

[@doctorfeelfunny584]

That's a fun idea, but Geddy Lee plays several fretless bass guitars as do many modern bass guitarist/singers. Did you think people who play fretless instruments necessarily stare at their fretting hands while playing? I understand the argument you and he are making. I'm just pointing out that it's nonsensical and demonstrably untrue.

[@kaingates]

A fretless bass guitar has the same intonation and scale and frequence as a normal bass guitar, trust me man. I play fretless electric guitar and the difference is minimal compared to double bass and a bass guitar. You still only need the muscle memory jotted down.

[@lucasbragg1755]

The joke when Jay says "And I pray to god to come and intercede, and he'd only sit and laugh... and she would only laugh" is so true today lol. Why can't people just be regular

[@6weeniehut956]

it is impossible

[@kayakchrispy]

I couldn't do it when I was younger. But I revisited and relearned Fugazi's waiting room on the bass while able to sing the vocal line as well, for me, it always seemed like playing the piano left and right hand , in my brain while I was trying to accomplish the song. I never could play the piano

[@estebanfernandez9883]

kayakchrispy I fucking love that song man

[@crogmaeb24109]

paul mccartney

[@tormentor502]

Les Claypool has entered the chat

[@User-es2yz]

Rick Danko from The Band anyone?

[@anthonythorne8963]

Check out the piece 'Failing' as performed by Chi Chi Nwanoku. That is pressure for the performer. Double bass with bow. Must play from a score while reading words on score. After that performence I feel certain that Chi Chi could sing and play the bass. She is on you tube check it out.

[@tegctom5532]

Damn, Jordan Peterson is good at the bass

[@cocacowboy21]

And what of paul mccartney?

[@hushquarter]

Why am i watching this?

[@user-zv7yb4yp9g]

I've listened so many "We are number one" memes and I thought this dude was singing "We are number one" at the beginning

[@akunohana6029]

This man has just sung and played the bass and people talk about Lemmy and Sting It's sarcastic ... Did you catch that or not? I'm not sure

[@Chebab-Chebab]

How about sing and play harmonica (or any other wind instrument)?

[@REALrileygames]

Paul McCartney?

[@vadidithy]

Lemmy Kilmister.

[@dylonoverton3738]

Dad

[@Nolina99]

This is amazing

[@blooeagle5118]

He means this kind of bass, not bass guitar

[@avery3009]

Bloo Eagle are people not allowed to make jokes?

[@t00bgazer]

Manga Grandpa i thought jokes were funny???

[@axeman2638]

It's that same for either, not about the instrument, it's the rhythms.

[@bartoszjanprzybyszewski1891]

1:33 THIS MAGNIFICENT HARMONY

[@mcjunior011]

Lemmy?

[@StenSturesKanal]

I will never complain about how hard it is to sing and play bass again.