Do you sing while playing?

#1 09-12-2005, 08:39 PM

How many of you sing while playing the drums?

I do and I can't help it. Seriously, certain songs, I get so excited that I can't help but to sing along.

But I hardly notice any other drummers sing while playing so maybe I'm an oddball.

#2 09-12-2005, 08:48 PM

Yup :) Actually, I think I sort of hum more than sing. I'm a bass player too, so I'll sing a sort of bass line around what I'm playing. It definately helps put your beat into the right context. You can play something that to your eyes sounds boring alone, but start humming with it and it totally changes the groove and feels better.

You could also do what Bonham did and yell while you're playing :) *lol* Bernhard posted one here, but I used to have a link with about 24 tracks of outtakes. Sadly, the site is down *sob* But on a few tracks you could hear him yelling over the drums, it was awesome :)

#3 09-12-2005, 08:57 PM

I can't physically sing and play at the same time. I can sing well but can't do both at the same time!! I either start slurring words, lose the timing of the lyrics, or completely lose my groove.

I also hum along sometimes with the bass or guitar.

#4 09-12-2005, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Milo

I either start slurring words

Drinking before playing doesn't help either ;)

Johnny_Stacks · #5 09-12-2005, 10:42 PM

lol. somtimes when im just screwing around with stuff ill do what airto moreira does. but not really loud enough for people to hear it..

John

Superlow · #6 09-12-2005, 10:43 PM

I hum when I play. I never really picked up on it until recording recently. They engineer had a good laugh about it in the control room. Listen to some Elvin Jones drumming, he growls when he plays, kinda cool. Buddy used to let out a yell here and there as well.

timpanigrip23 · #7 09-12-2005, 10:51 PM

[[font=Times New Roman]FONT=Impact]Yes I sing while playing. Besides my left foot keeping the time, me singing helps me stay in rhythm. Sometimes I get too excited and get off tune

timpanigrip23 · #8 09-12-2005, 10:52 PM

]Yes I sing while playing. Besides my left foot keeping the time, me singing helps me stay in rhythm. Sometimes I get too excited and get off tune

#9 09-12-2005, 11:09 PM

I'm actually a classical singer (you wouldn't think it now, would you). Drums are in fact my second instrument. In answer to your question, I can sing when I drum; just very badly. I end up losing it on both fronts. I have, however sung during a gig, just simple stuff. Didn't go too badly in the end, but it's not an experience I would particularly care to repeat.

Jaymasta · #10 09-12-2005, 11:26 PM

Sometimes when I'm playing along with anyone I'll sometimes randomly play anything and sing whatever comes to my head.....

MECHT4NK · #11 09-13-2005, 12:18 AM

I don't always really sing but I do make a lot of noise :) maybe because I don't exactly know all the lines or something but I noticed I just automatic start to sing or hum when I get into the song. I think it actually has a positive effect on my playing so just as long as I'm the only one hearing it it should be fine ;)

toteman2 · #12 09-13-2005, 12:55 AM

i don't know why, but i find myself humming when i play...I think it's just a natural reaction...This goes for everthing i play, it could be a cover tune, or improvisation...

DottedQuarters · #13 09-13-2005, 01:39 AM

yeah, singing always helps me keep better time...it also helps me focus on supporting the music more too. I also sing a few harmonies for my band, but sometimes I get so caught up in the song I forget to sing...oh well, I'd sacrifice my vocals for the rhythm anyday.

Dyaxe · #14 09-13-2005, 01:54 AM

i usually cant sing while play drums..well i havn't tried lol..anywaise...when i jam with my friends, i usually cant hear the rythm im playing with, so i usually hum it in my head. if that counts...

theduke86 · #15 09-13-2005, 02:05 AM

I sing constantly when I play. Loudly, as well. My friends call me the "Keith Jarret Of The Drums", minus the virtuosity of course. I'm ALWAYS singing, or grunting. Audible noises really help me to lock in. I actually need to curb it, sometimes I am a distraction at wedding gigs and whatnot.

#16 09-13-2005, 08:10 PM

I don't sing while playing but I can hold a mean conversation with someone.

#17 09-13-2005, 08:17 PM

I'm good in making sarcastic jokes behind my kit... I can sing a little bit while drumming, but you don't want to hear it... and I used to smoke behind my kit... I even managed one time to keep a groove in time, while light another cigarette... dude...

thinkintriplets · #18 09-13-2005, 09:18 PM

Sometimes. I cant sing to everything I play, but for a few tunes I have vocal parts (refering to my band).

I just sometimes grunt loudly. If I'm doing a fast roll or something and resolve it with a kick drum and cymbal, I'll grunt.

It feels good.

Marc.

Fur drummer · #19 09-17-2005, 04:53 PM

No, if you heard me sing you would know why I'm a drummer and not a singer. I keep my mouth shut and let my drums do the singing.

RudimentalDrummer · #20 09-20-2005, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iKwak

How many of you sing while playing the drums?

I do and I can't help it.

Seriously, certain songs, I get so excited that I can't help but to sing along.

But I hardly notice any other drummers sing while playing so maybe I'm an oddball.

Good for you if you sing when you're drumming. I guess some of us Humm eg. like a background Singer when we play a Song.....that is a very good trait, cause when you play with a band ... you just know when to come in at the perfect time (chorus, whatever) yeah ! ... cheers ... Phil Collins sings doesn't he ? .... hahahaha ... My 1st Reading/Playing Exercise on a Song Sheet by Yamaha is his "Easy Lover" ... well .. I'm an "easy lover" to beautiful chicks only !...whahahaha !

Jokes aside ...I'm a pretty good singer and when I sing to the girls ears - They Melt In My Arms ...kekeke.

#21 09-20-2005, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RudimentalDrummer

Good for you if you sing when you're drumming. I guess some of us Humm eg. like a background Singer when we play a Song.....that is a very good trait, cause when you play with a band ... you just know when to come in at the perfect time (chorus, whatever) yeah ! ... cheers ... Phil Collins sings doesn't he ? .... hahahaha ... My 1st Reading/Playing Exercise on a Song Sheet by Yamaha is his "Easy Lover" ... well .. I'm an "easy lover" to beautiful chicks only !...whahahaha !

Jokes aside ...I'm a pretty good singer and when I sing to the girls ears - They Melt In My Arms ...kekeke.

I'm a sh**** singer, but that don't stop me from belting out "Dizzy Miss Lizzie" against "Alley Cat".... (the grannies think it's something new)....

jamsjr44 · #22 09-20-2005, 05:50 PM

all the time if I know the words....I used to sing back up in my old band so I am kind of used to it.

Kris_jazz · #23 09-20-2005, 08:19 PM

I more hum than sing. Usually I don't notice it....

Vipercussionist · #24 09-25-2005, 05:53 AM

Yes I actually do "SING" while playing in my band, but I know you're talking about "non musical" singing, and, YES I do that too, it's why I have to utilize a mic on a boom stand rather than a headset mic that I had once used. The headset was picking up ALL of the grunts groans and "singing" that I was making at inappropriate times and broadcasting it through the PA, so alas, the headset hadda go!!

glynes · #25 09-25-2005, 10:01 AM

I started out as a singer, but the voice went bad and I've come up tone deaf and couldn't carry a tune any more if it had a handle on it.
But I do sing in my music room when I practice ... I relate first to the lyrics, then learn how the drum bits fit in.
I probably should stop, though. My husband keeps coming down to see if I'm torturing the cat!
8-)

Jesper Varn · #26 09-25-2005, 11:35 AM

In my little garageband, we're all bad singers, so to not embarrass our selves, we do the "firing squad-procedure". If everybody sings, there's no tell of who did the illdeed of singins off tune, off beat, off lyrics or just plain off. :-)

I, too, sing constantly, when I practice. I also "sing drumbeats" when we try to test new material in the group. Something like:

"Ragadagadishdish ' Let's get it on... ' bap, ragadish, bap, bombam bap, ragadish, ' Let's get it on..."
(To Marwin Gayes old tune, you know... I generally do not sing that, just an example...) *blush*...

RudimentalDrummer · #27 09-26-2005, 04:44 AM

My advice: We shouldn't be singing too well as a Drummer (even if we could) ... cause if you in a band ... your singer loose his job ....kekekekeke. Lets Hummmm instead .....hahahaha.

I've seen Good Drummers who sings so well here that he became the singer, and they got another new drummer who doesn't play as well as him....Well the former singer...I really don't know where he is now...so funny !

LongSnapper · #28 12-27-2005, 03:43 PM

I absolutely refuse to!

I guess, like everyone else here, my first band was a cover band.

I had the deepest voice of the four of us, so I was "stuck" singing a couple numbers.

I will date myself here, but in those days you couldn't be a band unless you did "Colour My World," and "Smoke on the Water". It was a piece of cake to sing and play "Colour My World". That wasn't an issue.

I worked and worked on the studio version (Machine Head) of Smoke on the Water until I could cover Ian Paice beat for beat. And I was pretty proud of myself for doing that, I might add! I even did that beginning hi hat stuff one handed...

We get together and start practicing. As it turns out, the rest of the guys like the way I sustain the the tone during the refrain, and they liked the raspy tone I inflected. They decided who was singing that song, not me!

Quite readily, I realized that I could not concentrate on the drumming and sing at the same time. To accomodate the vocals, I had to simplify my drumming to the extent that it was painful! All that work and I couldn't show it off...

Later on in my brief and unstoried careeer I refused to even sing back up.

NUTHA JASON · #29 12-27-2005, 07:23 PM

i'll sing if it gets me the job or keeps in it. heck i'll do a lot for the priviledge of performing. i hat seeing other bands and then not beingable to play. these days when i go out i always play drums and get paid...what a joy.
j

nate · #30 12-27-2005, 07:32 PM

i sing a few songs for my band. it's funny at soundcheck -
ME: (to sound guy) can i have some reverb please?
SG: hows that?
ME : a little more
SG: ok?
ME: no, more
SG: huh, really...
ME: more, more, more
SG: ok thats all i got...
ME: maybe a bit of delay as well then and can you mix me real low....

Dr Drums · #31 12-27-2005, 09:09 PM

hhhhhhh, i don't really sing,. but i kinda buzz while playing in effort, and i seriously can't help it

#32 12-27-2005, 09:12 PM

Nope i dont sing but i wil find myself yelling at people when im playing

lfdy · #33 12-28-2005, 06:01 PM

Nope, i don't sing...

I can sing while playing, but i choose not to, to maintain my focus on the drums :)

avengedxdrummer · #34 12-28-2005, 06:49 PM

i do it allll the time hahah and if the song stops all u hear me humming haha :-D
SOMEONE HAVE ANY ADVICE 4 me with the double pedal , im so scared well nervous that i wont get the hang of it, ANY ADVICE????

Drumsword · #35 12-28-2005, 11:23 PM

I actually sing lead in my band while playing. There are 3 of us that share the lead singer duties depending on the song, So I also found a wireless headset mic to be invaluable.

And before that, I sang a little backup and before that..I used to hum to whatever I was playing.

Sticksman · #36 12-28-2005, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theduke86

I sing constantly when I play. Loudly, as well. My friends call me the "Keith Jarret Of The Drums", minus the virtuosity of course. I'm ALWAYS singing, or grunting. Audible noises really help me to lock in. I actually need to curb it, sometimes I am a distraction at wedding gigs and whatnot.

Haha! That's great, you wouldn't want the couple-to-be look over and see the drummer going into conniptions!

rendezvous_drummer · #37 12-29-2005, 07:19 AM

I don't sing, i yell. It annoys everyone but when im playing really fast or something, i yell loudly! At my recording session, there was a track where my yellin could be heard over the drums at some points.

JustDrum · #38 12-31-2005, 07:16 PM

I attended a Jeff Hamilton clinic where he said that he is constantly "moaning" as he plays. It is kind of a low groan/moan from his stomach (when I try it, I feel it more from my throat) and he said it really helps him get the feeling he needs as he plays; especially from his ride cymbal. So I definitely have this low moan going on, and sometimes I'll sing a part when I really need to get the feel from a groove (although I don't think it is loud enough to be heard by any one else).

Also, I remember Mr. Hamilton saying that you have to watch how loud you sing/moan while you play (as some have already pointed out) because it can be distracting. He told a story of a piano player, bass player, and drummer (I forget who everyone is except the drummer, Louie Bellson) who were backing up a vocalist (I forget her name as well). All of them were known to sing as they play, and this night was no exception. When the singer came on stage (I guess the others played intro), she turned around and said, "Hey boys, do you mind if I do the singing?!"

He told it better than I did but a good story nonetheless. Later and a happy, healthy, and musical New Year to everyone!

Joe Connors · #39 12-31-2005, 07:29 PM

Like Vipercussionist, I do sing a few songs with my band, as well as singing harmony. I learned quickly that a headset mic wasn't going to be the answer, because I tend to hum (not loud enough for anyone to hear) when playing songs with more intricate timing patterns or breaks.

RamboKnife · #40 12-31-2005, 07:40 PM

Here's a couple pictures from my last concert where I was singing:

Kind of a wierd face.