Developing Unique Singing Through Bass Playing

If you love bass guitar and funk, you are probably familiar with Victor Wooten. He’s a five-time Grammy Award winner, a member of the influential band Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, and a bassist extraordinaire. His style, including his incredible bass soloing, is complemented by powerful vocals and enchanting stage presence.

Victor Wooten's bass playing style is all about paying attention to the nuances of music—all the little things happening as the notes come together. One of the first things you'll notice about Victor Wooten's playing is his mastery of rhythm. He does this through a technique known as thumb slapping, where the player strikes the string with the thumb of the picking hand. Of course, learning a unique instrumental technique is not the whole story. You want to aspire to sing like Victor Wooten.

To sing like Victor, start by analyzing the timbre of his voice. His voice is unique and melodic, with a tone that’s almost like a saxophone. By working on chest resonance, breath, and voice placement, you’ll be able to access his unique sound. Chest resonance comes from learning to resonate your voice in the front of your chest, where it will create a fuller, richer sound. You can also achieve this effect by practicing singing with less air, which gives the sound more body.

With Victor, it’s all about rhythm, and singing is no exception. Learn to sing with a rhythm and groove to get the most out of this technique. Try breaking down your favorite Victor Wooten bass lines and singing along with the rhythm. It can help you internalize his melodic and rhythmic motifs.

Practical Roadmap

Start by taking the Vocal Range Test on the Singing Carrots website. This test can help you identify the range of your voice and understand what you’ll need to work on next.

Focus on rhythm. This is the foundation of Victor Wooten’s music, and it's something you can practice even without an instrument. Try practicing rhythm exercises like box drums and clapping exercises. Take a look at Singing Carrots' Pitch Training, which is an interactive visualizer where you can practice rhythm for singing.

Learn about breath support, which is essential to sing with power and control like Victor. Start with Singing Carrots’ Breath Support article to build a strong foundation.

Record yourself singing, then listen back to it and assess your tone, timing, and articulation. Try to match Victor’s sound as closely as possible, and refine with each iteration.

Victor Wooten Songs to Practice With

Here are some of Victor's most iconic songs that you can use for inspiration. Try singing along with the recordings and honing your vocal technique as you go.

• “Resolution” - Victor Wooten
• “Me & My Bass Guitar” - Victor Wooten
• “The Lesson” - Victor Wooten
• “Amazing Grace” - Victor Wooten

Conclusion

Learning to sing like Victor Wooten requires a great deal of focus and dedication, but it's worth it. Start by getting to know his style and the nuances of his bass playing technique. Next, work to cultivate the timbre of his voice and learn to sing with power, control, and a solid sense of rhythm. Take advantage of tools like Singing Carrots' Vocal Range Test, Pitch Training, and Breath Support articles to aid in your journey, and practice regularly to perfect your technique. By following these steps, you’ll be well on your way to developing a unique voice like Victor Wooten's, and enjoying your journey there.