Does anyone sing or hum the bassline they are playing?

[Paul S]

No idea why it happens but I pretty much always either hum or sing the bassline while I am playing it. Sometimes even when I am trying to explain something to the rest of the band or get my head around something and it is just me, which does make me feel a little silly.

Anyone else do it? And does anyone have any explanations?

[The Funk]

Put a mic in front of you and you're Oteil Burbridge.

Edited October 1, 2009 by The Funk

[OldGit]

I think the medical term for it is Georgebensonism.

[Stu-khag]

I dont do it with bass although I will occasionally make a monkey face when concentrating. Whenever Ive had a go of a wah wah with a guitar I always make wah wah shapes and noises with my mouth?

[cheddatom]

I love it when a player hums along. I really like it when george benson does it. The bassist for Ben Harper does it for a solo on the live DVD and it makes it so much more funky!!

I can do it, but don't.

When I play the drums I hang my jaw down like a fish and lick my toungue out occasionally.

[OldGit]

[quote name='cheddatom' post='613628' date='Oct 1 2009, 10:28 AM']When I play the drums I hang my jaw down like a fish and [b]lick my toungue[/b] out occasionally.[/quote]

Drummers eh?
So what do you lick you toungue with, Tom?

[GreeneKing]

Richard Bona

[Paul S]

Yeah - pretty damned cool when George Benson or the guy above does it but maybe not when playing along to 'Smoke on the Water' bah-doodn-doodoo-doodoo-doodoo-doodoo etc

[sturm]

i do sometimes, mainly so that if i can hear the next note in my head i dont have to think about playing it it just happens, if that makes any sense at all

[Rayman]

Listen to or watch on you tube any of Janek Gwizdala'a stuff and he does it all the time. It's a good thing apparently for fretboard recognition and learning what the notes on the fretboard sound like before you actually play them.

I've started singing out loud when I play sometimes, much to the bands amusement, but they're generally all the wrong notes.

[JTUK]

Nope...don't do it at all... I am listening to how it all hangs togther
Only really hear what someone is doing if it is wrong.... or really really right, tho..!!!

[The Funk]

[quote name='JTUK' post='613699' date='Oct 1 2009, 11:41 AM']Only really hear what someone is doing if it is wrong.... or really really right, tho..!!![/quote]

Yes! Same here.

[pjbass]

I don't do it most of the time, but if there's a fast or especially lyrical bit i'm trying to imitate i find it helps me with timing. It really helped me recently trying to get the groove for fat larry's band - act just like you know.

[BottomEndian]

I do it when I'm drumming. Trouble is, my mouth's a much better drummer than my hands.

[Doddy]

I do it when I'm soloing. Sometimes quietly,other times quite loudly.