Hi,

This question is for the handful of singing Stick players and those who accompany other singers.

Since you're probably not playing the melody in this context, how does that change how you play? Do you have a typical approach for such songs?

Thanks,
Simmon

question: are you going to be playing solo with a singer or singers ??

off topic - but I once had the chance to do solo electric bass - fretless - with a female singer, real dramatic stuff - and the thing I found was I had to change my timing to more follow her voice - or based on her voice, as opposed to any kind of actual tempo.

it was quite striking, the end result.... and I always wished I had the chance to really focus on that path more, but sadly I didn't.

Still off topic, but along that same line, Steve Lawson & his wife Lobelia have several albums of solo bass & vocal, e.g.

Live In Nebraska and Live So Far

Getting back on topic. This subject came up in Bob's Zoom call few weeks ago because after many years of solo instrumental playing Jim Meyer has started working with a singer & asked for advice (some of the others on the call have such experience).

In due course archived copies of the calls appear at https://www.stickmusic.com/live-video-streaming

I don't recall exactly which session it was? Of the sessions ones currently uploaded it may be worth trying the Nov 5, but I can't be at all sure.

Or, if you're available at 9am California time on Saturdays you could come along & ask yourself? There's a link for the meeting on the page I linked above.

I've accompanied several singers over the years, most of whom also played guitar: Peyton Tochterman, Vicki Pratt Keating, Dave Matthews, to name a few.

In that setting I try to come up with either a very simple bassline that "counters" the guitarists licks, or something that doubles them.

Working the right hand in usually involves "avoiding" the guitar part, often focusing on more textural things, playing lead lines when the guitar is in rhythm or exactly double it

In situations where I accompanied a singer who wasn't playing guitar, as in Code Magenta, I had more ground open to me, so the only real rule is "try to stay out of the singer's favored vocal range.

Here's a video of Peyton and I