History Main / FreeHandedPerformer

[[folder:Comic Books]]
* ''ComicBook/ScottPilgrim'': The band Clash at the Demonhead is led by Envy Adams, who only provides vocals.
[[/folder]]

[[caption-width-right:350:"Can the guitarist and the drummer do THIS ?"]]

* Music/{{Blondie}}'s frontwoman Debbie Harry remains the sole singer of the band and has stated that she doesn't know how to play any instruments.

* Music/CrystalCastles featured Alice Glass performing as the singer while Ethan Kath managed the production. They also applied that formula on stage, even after Alice left and got replaced by Edith Frances.

A [[TitleDrop Free-Handed Performer]] could be a SingerSongwriter. If their singing and songwriting skills save up for the rest of the band's performance, IAmTheBand also overlaps. Contrast LeadSingerPlaysLeadGuitar, Type B or LeadBassist, and LeadDrummer.

A [[TitleDrop Free-Handed Performer]] could be a SingerSongwriter. If their singing and songwriting skills save up for the rest of the band's performance, IAmTheBand also overlaps.

But some bands don't do that and prefer to have the singer do... [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin the singing duties only]]. While you may think that those singers are lazy compared to other band members who play the instruments, this is wrong as it can give them a chance to provide more stage presence (and don't forget that singing is an acquired skill which the other band members don't necessarily have). Such a band dynamic showcases how the lead singer acts as the FaceOfTheBand. Granted, you might see a singer who also plays the tambourine on stage, but such instrument is easy enough to master for anybody who can hold one.

A [[TitleDrop Free-Handed Performer]] could be a SingerSongwriter and may also be the FaceOfTheBand. If their singing and songwriting skills save up for the rest of the band's performance, IAmTheBand also overlaps.

* ''Film/AcrossTheUniverse'' features a band called [[ArtistAndTheBand Sadie and the Po Boys]], whose singer Sadie only provides lead vocals. [[spoiler:After the band temporarily splits, Sadie still sings while being backed by a band]].

* In ''VideoGame/ParappaTheRapper 2'', the rock band [[VideoGame/UmJammerLammy MilkCan]] reappear with an extended lineup. One of the extra members, Sunny Funny, takes over as frontwoman without playing an instrument.

** ''VideoGame3'' features Deep Cut, the idol trio who are Splatsville's counterpart to the Inkopolis idol duos mentioned above. Like the Squid Sisters, none of Deep Cut's members play instruments on stage.

** ''VideoGame/Splatoon2'' succeeds the Squid Sisters as hosts and main performers with fellow idol duo Off the Hook. Unlike the Squid Sisters, they actually ''do'' incorporate instruments into their performances, with Marina handling keyboard and [=DJing=] duties in addition to singing, but Pearl still just sings and dances. For the duo's real-world hologram performances, meanwhile, both members just sing and dance for most of their songs.

** ''VideoGame/Splatoon2'' succeeds the Squid Sisters as hosts and main performers with fellow idol duo Off the Hook. Unlike the Squid Sisters, they actually ''do'' incorporate instruments into their performances, with Marie playing keyboards in addition to providing vocal duties, but Pearl still just sings and dances. For the duo's real-world hologram performances, meanwhile, both members only sing and dance.

* {{Enforced|Trope}} by Music/{{Audioslave}}. Chris Cornell can play the guitar, as showcased by his other band Music/{{Soundgarden}}. However, his guitar parts clashed with Tom Morello's guitar sound, thus it was decided by the band that Chris would only do the vocals.

* Music/MickJagger exceptionally played guitar on Music/TheRollingStones' ''Music/StickyFingers'', but remains known as a mic-exclusive singer with an energetic stage presence.

** [[VideoGame/{{Splatoon}} The first game]] features the Squid Sisters, an idol duo whose members, Callie and Marie, sing and dance without playing any instruments. The duo both serve as the game's hosts and perform on part of the soundtrack.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/6838555568_7825222634_z.jpg]]

* ''Splatoon'':

* Music/{{Clipping}} is pretty much Creator/DaveedDiggs being backed by producers William Hutson and Jonathan Snipes. This is reflected on their live performances which feature Daveed rapping while William and Hutson provide the music.

* Music/BarbraStreisand's song "Piano Practicing" is about a little girl who wants to be a soprano while her mother wants her to learn the piano. She hates playing it, gives up and becomes a singer, just like Barbra.

* Music/JohnLydon, better known under his Music/SexPistols pseudonym Johnny Rotten, generally performs as an animated instrument-free singer on stage, whether it be with the Pistols or with Music/PublicImageLtd. On albums, however, he performs keyboards, guitars and various percussion instruments. His first solo album, ''Psycho's Path'', was mainly recorded by him.

* Music/FleetwoodMac has had many iterations over the years, but perhaps their best recognized member is Music/StevieNicks, who was solely a lead vocalist for the group despite being self-taught on the piano and guitar.

** Yukina Minato of Roselia is the band's vocalist, but does not play an instrument.

* ''WesternAnimation/TurningRed'' showcases 4*Town, a BoyBand group who only sings and dances on stage.

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Metalocalypse}}'', Nathan Explosion is the vocalist and unofficial leader of Dethklok, but has never been shown playing an instrument. He is skilled in other areas of creating music beyond his vocals, including serving as the main producer of Dethklok's albums with apparent mixing responsibilities and final say.

* Music/MikeLove of Music/TheBeachBoys is a slight subversion of the trope. Early in the band's career, he provided (very limited) saxophone input on songs such as "[[Music/SurfinSafari Ten Little Indians]]" and "[[Music/SurfinUSA Shut Down]]" and would later play a simplified version of the theremin during on-stage presentations of "[[Music/SmileySmile Good Vibrations]]." Following the mid-seventies, he went back to being the band's regular tambourine-shaking lead singer (something he still does, [[LongRunner 60 years into his career]]).

* ''Film/AcrossTheUniverse'' features a band called [[ArtistAndTheBand Sadie and the Po Boys]], whose singer Sadie only provides lead vocals. [[spoiler: After the band temporarily splits, Sadie still sings while being backed by a band]].

[[folder: Hip-Hop]]
* {{Music/Clipping}} is pretty much Creator/DaveedDiggs being backed by producers William Hutson and Jonathan Snipes. This is reflected on their live performances which feature Daveed rapping while William and Hutson provide the music.

[[folder: Metal]]

* {{Music/Nightwish}} had three lead vocalists and all of them performed using only their mic during concerts.

[[folder: Pop]]

* {{Music/Lorde}} has admitted focusing on her stage presence and songwriting. "I'm hyper-musical, but I don't really play anything."

[[folder: Punk]]
* Music/JohnLydon, better known under his Music/SexPistols pseudonym Johnny Rotten, generally performs as an animated instrument-free singer on stage. On albums, however, he performs keyboards, guitars and various percussion instruments. His first solo album, ''Psycho's Path'', was mainly recorded by him.

[[folder: Rock]]

* {{Music/Blondie}}'s frontwoman Debbie Harry remains the sole singer of the band and has stated that she doesn't know how to play any instrument.

* Music/TheDoors: Jim Morrison is the only member of the band that didn't play any instruments, relying instead on his powerful voice.

* Music/MickJagger exceptionally played guitar on Music/TheRollingStones' ''Music/StickyFingers'' but remains known as a mic-exclusive singer with an energetic stage presence.

* Music/MikeLove of Music/TheBeachBoys is a slight subversion of the trope. Early in the band's career, he provided (very limited) saxophone input on songs such as "[[Music/SurfinSafari Ten Little Indians]]" and "[[Music/SurfinUSA Shut Down]]" and would later play a simplified version of the theremin furing on-stage persentations of "[[Music/SmileySmile Good Vibrations]]." Following the mid-seventies, he went back to being the band's regular tambourine-shaking lead singer (something he still does, [[LongRunner 60 years in his career]]).
* Shirley Manson provided backing vocals and keyboards for the band Goodbye Mr Mackenzie. Following that, the founding members of Music/{{Garbage}} were looking for a female lead vocalist and she took on the role. Despite playing guitar on some of the band's albums, she only sings on stage.

* Michael Stipe, during the 31-year career of {{Music/REM}}, stuck to vocal and songwriting duties, adding that he couldn't "play an instrument to save his life". However, following the split of the band, he played keyboards on the soundtrack of the 2014 film ''The Cold Lands''.

[[folder:Comic Book]]
* ''ComicBook/ScottPilgrim'': The band Clash at the Demonhead is led by lead singer Envy Adams who only provides the singing.

[[folder:VideoGame]]
* ''[[VideoGame/Earthbound1994 Earthbound]]'' features a Jazz band called the Runaway Five. Despite bearing that name, the lineup consists of four instrumentalists and two frontmen who only sing and dance à la the [[Film/TheBluesBrothers Blues Brothers]].
* ''VideoGame/Splatoon2'' has part of its soundtrack performed by the pop star duo Off The Hook. Outside of their RealLife hologram performances where they only sing, the songs they perform in the game feature Marina on Keyboards and vocals while Pearl sings and dances.
* ''VideoGame/UmJammerLammy'' is centered around the Rock band Milkcan, which reappears on ''Parappa The Rapper 2'' with an extended lineup and Sunny Funny performing lead vocals only.

* Music/RonnieJamesDio was a bassist on his first band (The Vegas Kings, a high school RockAndRoll act). Following his venture with the band Elf, he sticked to vocal performances for the rest of his career.

* Music/LimpBizkit's notorious frontman Fred Durst is also unfortunately known for not being a good guitarist since he usually only writes and raps lyrics for the band. Rare footages of him playing solos on stage have been mocked, and he has stuck to the mic since.

* {{Music/Nightwish}} had three lead vocalists and all of them performed with only their mic during concerts.

* Zack de la Rocha was previously a guitarist for the Hardcore bands Farside and Hard Stance. Following those bands' split, he would form Music/RageAgainstTheMachine and leave guitar duties to Tom Morello while he focuses on writing lyrics and rapping (as demonstrated by his exuberant stage presence).

* BoyBand and GirlGroup acts are known for featuring singers who focus on stage performance and would rarely provide instrument-playing or songwriting.
** Notable exceptions are Music/RobbieWilliams, former Take That member, and Music/OneDirection members Music/HarryStyles and Niall Horan who all have skills in playing guitar.
* {{Music/Lorde}} has admitted to focus on her stage presence and songwriting. "I'm hyper-musical, but I don't really play anything."

* Florence Welsh, lead vocalist of Music/FlorenceAndTheMachine, has previously claimed in an interview that she can't play any instrument. However, she has been credited as a percusionnist and a piano performer on albums of the band (starting with their album ''How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful'' and continuing since).

* Music/JohnLydon, more known under his Music/SexPistols pseudonym Johnny Rotten, generally performs as an animated instrument-free singer on stage. On albums, however, he performs keyboards, guitars and various percussions. His first solo album, ''Psycho's Path'', was mainly recorded by him.

* {{Enforced|Trope}} by Music/{{Audioslave}}. Chris Cornell can play the guitar, as showcased by his other band, Music/{{Soundgarden}}, however his guitar parts clashed with Tom Morello's guitar sound, thus it was decided by the band that Chris would only do the vocals.
* Matt Berninger, of Music/TheNational fame, claimed in an interview that he has no knowledge in music theory and can't even play the tambourine right.

* Music/AliceCooper is known for his stage presence as a singer. He did play the guitar early in his career (as a member of Alice Cooper, the band) but sticked to vocals, saying: "I'm always totally surrounded myself with really accomplished guitarists, there was no reason for me to play.".
* Music/TheDoors: Jim Morrison is the only member of the band that didn't play any instruments and instead relied on his powerful voice.

* Joel Gion is a backing vocalist and the official tambourine player for Music/TheBrianJonestownMassacre (since we apply the tambourine rule, we might as well include him). Outside of his ventures into minor percussions, he also plays guitar and has a discography of his own.
* Music/MickJagger exceptionally played guitar on Music/TheRollingStones' ''Music/StickyFingers'' but remains known for being a mic-exclusive singer with an energic stage presence.
* Anthony Kiedis, though he had formation in guitar and drums, has rarely played any instrument in the discography of The Music/RedHotChiliPeppers. Outside of being known as a hand-free energetic singer on stage, he eventually played bass during an encore performance of the band in 2016.
* Music/MikeLove, of Music/TheBeachBoys, is a slight subversion of the trope. Early in the band's career, he provided (very limited) saxophone input on songs such as "[[Music/SurfinSafari Ten Little Indians]]" and "[[Music/SurfinUSA Shut Down]]" and would later play a simplified version of the theremin while performing "[[Music/SmileySmile Good Vibrations]]" on stage. Following the mid-seventies, he would go back to being the regular tambourine-shaking lead singer (and he still does, [[LongRunner 60 years in his career]]).
* Shirley Manson provided backing vocals and keyboards for the band Goodbye Mr Mackenzie. Following that, the founding members of {{Music/Garbage}} were looking for a female lead vocalist and she took on the role. Despite playing guitar on some of the band's albums, she only sings on stage.
* {{Music/Morrissey}} is seen playing guitar in the music video for "How Soon is Now ?" but in reality, the lead singer of Music/TheSmiths didn't master any instrument (blaming it on a lack of patience when it comes to learning how to play).
* Michael Stipe, during the 31-year career of {{Music/REM}}, sticked to vocal and songwriting duties, adding that he couldn't "play an instrument to save his life". However, following the split of the band, he played keyboards on the soundtrack of the 2014 film ''The Cold Lands''.

* Denki Groove is notorious for Pierre Taki and his humoristic stage antics. Even though he is credited as a producer of the band along with Takkyu Ishino, he exclusively dances and sings during concerts.

* ''Anime/TheIdolmasterCinderellaGirls'': [[GirlGroup All of the girls are vocalists only]], playing no instruments for themselves.

* ''[[VideoGame/Earthbound1994 Earthbound]]'' features a Jazz band called the Runaway Five. Despite bearing that name, the lineup consists of four instrumentalists and two frontmen who only sing and dance à la [[Film/TheBluesBrothers Blues Brothers]].
* ''VideoGame/Splatoon2'' has part of its soundtrack performed by the popstar duo Off The Hook. Outside of their RealLife hologram performances where they only sing, the songs they perform in the game feature Marina on Keyboards and vocals while Pearl sings and dances.

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Metalocalypse}}'', Nathan Explosion is the vocalist and unofficial leader of Dethklok, but has never been shown playing an instrument. He is skilled in other areas of creating music beyond his vocals, including as the main producer of Dethklok's albums with apparent mixing responsibilities and final say.

* Henry Rollins remains mostly known for his vocal performance as part of Black Flag, as well as his [[SpokenWordInMusic spoken-word]] performances. He hasn't been credited as an instrumentalist during his career.