Any singers out there?

[toneguy86]

I recently went from being the guitar player who sang a couple of songs a night to...the singer. First motivation, a pain in the butt singer that I decided to fire. Second motivation...well I never thought of the voice as an instrument OR that I really even had one and decided to find out. My mom is gifted singer...maybe it runs in the genes. At the very least I could save some money and be able to have most of my songs sound more or less the way I wanted them to sound IF there was hope for my voice (and I definately wasn't sure).

Well, outcome is that I found some singing methods that showed promise and started to work. Most are based on the idea of "speech level singing (developed by Seth Riggs--vocal coach for Stevie wonder and others)" and the idea of being able to do this and maximize tone and range was intrigueing. I was unsure at first, but there has been an amazing and noticable difference. Tone and range have developed significantly and for the first time in my life I can sing for a night and not lose my voice. What a concept. I also don't cringe everytime I hear a recording of my work.

Are there any other singers out there (I discovered that considering yourself one was a major first step)? Any tips, discoveries, etc. that you have run across?

Mark

 

[ryjan]

I have recently been promoted to singing duties because I'm the only one in our band that can play guitar and almost carry a tune at the same time. I had no idea what I was getting into. I just thought it would be like karaoke ot jamming in your car. Now it's no alcohol or spicy food on practice nights, practicing scales and excersises constantly, and explaining to my bandmates that Guns & Roses isn't an option! :lol:

 

[lesterpaul]

...I do a few songs...I use the David Lee Roth concept....tune down 1/2 step and hope all of the patrons are drinkin' more than I am!!!

 

[Sixstringpsycho]

...I do a few songs...I use the David Lee Roth concept....tune down 1/2 step and hope all of the patrons are drinkin' more than I am!!!

+1 on tuning down half a step it makes it seem like i have a strong range lol :mrgreen:

 

[dylan7620]

Whenever I let people know I can sing, then people want me to sing, the only thing with that is that I have to back off some guitar duties and I eventually have to find a guitarist to replace my lead duties. win some loose some i guess. That came off way more egotistical than I intended, but that's what you get for me drinking and posting. :lol:

 

[Heritage Softail]

Singing is a whole different ball game. I met my wife at a church home group thing. Started playing acoustic and leading singing there. That morphed into playing acoustic with a friend every Sunday morning Church and leading singing, about 5 new songs a week. Then add going to the old folks home once a month to play for them and read a little devotional thing. Now that was the most 'redeeming' thing I have ever done with music. Them old folks LOVED to have someone come in to see them and play them songs. It got to be beyond playing and singing.

Singing was a new type of concentration, playing acoustic only was also a little different. I gained a new respect for Willie Nelson..... Still can't play a nylon string and have that sweet style he does... I can hear them blue eyes cryin in the rain...

 

[toneguy86]

I have recently been promoted to singing duties because I'm the only one in our band that can play guitar and almost carry a tune at the same time. I had no idea what I was getting into. I just thought it would be like karaoke ot jamming in your car. Now it's no alcohol or spicy food on practice nights, practicing scales and excersises constantly, and explaining to my bandmates that Guns & Roses isn't an option! :lol:

Just doing that much matters doesn't it. When I first started working on this, I went to YouTube and looked for any free lessons that might be available. There are a ton actually. Do a search on "speech level singing" and a bunch of things will come up. I actually bought the "singing success cd program." That has been really good, but the whole idea was developed by Seth Riggs and there are videos no his method there too. I also met one of Seth's students on another musical forum named John Henny. He has some free podcast/mp3 lessons here:
http://web.mac.com/jhvocals/iWeb/Site/Podcast/Podcast.html

Honestly, reality is that GNR is not really out of the question. I used to think so also. My range has gone from a straining G (on high guitar E string) to a comfortable C. D is really the top end, but it's all head voice. I'm working on filling the tone out on that upper end (what they refer to as a high mix). For the first time, my band is seriously working on a Zep tune or two. The great revelation to me is that singing higher is actually easier and requires less breath support then singing lower or in a mid chest voice. My biggest challenge right now is building tone in my lower and mid level range. That's a lot tougher really.

Anyway...check this stuff out and see if it helps.

Mark

 

[ryjan]

I have recently been promoted to singing duties because I'm the only one in our band that can play guitar and almost carry a tune at the same time. I had no idea what I was getting into. I just thought it would be like karaoke ot jamming in your car. Now it's no alcohol or spicy food on practice nights, practicing scales and excersises constantly, and explaining to my bandmates that Guns & Roses isn't an option! :lol:

Just doing that much matters doesn't it. When I first started working on this, I went to YouTube and looked for any free lessons that might be available. There are a ton actually. Do a search on "speech level singing" and a bunch of things will come up. I actually bought the "singing success cd program." That has been really good, but the whole idea was developed by Seth Riggs and there are videos no his method there too. I also met one of Seth's students on another musical forum named John Henny. He has some free podcast/mp3 lessons here:
http://web.mac.com/jhvocals/iWeb/Site/Podcast/Podcast.html

Honestly, reality is that GNR is not really out of the question. I used to think so also. My range has gone from a straining G (on high guitar E string) to a comfortable C. D is really the top end, but it's all head voice. I'm working on filling the tone out on that upper end (what they refer to as a high mix). For the first time, my band is seriously working on a Zep tune or two. The great revelation to me is that singing higher is actually easier and requires less breath support then singing lower or in a mid chest voice. My biggest challenge right now is building tone in my lower and mid level range. That's a lot tougher really.

Anyway...check this stuff out and see if it helps.

Mark

Thanks a ton man! It's nice to not be the only one in this boat.

 

[toneguy86]

I have recently been promoted to singing duties because I'm the only one in our band that can play guitar and almost carry a tune at the same time. I had no idea what I was getting into. I just thought it would be like karaoke ot jamming in your car. Now it's no alcohol or spicy food on practice nights, practicing scales and excersises constantly, and explaining to my bandmates that Guns & Roses isn't an option! :lol:

Just doing that much matters doesn't it. When I first started working on this, I went to YouTube and looked for any free lessons that might be available. There are a ton actually. Do a search on "speech level singing" and a bunch of things will come up. I actually bought the "singing success cd program." That has been really good, but the whole idea was developed by Seth Riggs and there are videos no his method there too. I also met one of Seth's students on another musical forum named John Henny. He has some free podcast/mp3 lessons here:
http://web.mac.com/jhvocals/iWeb/Site/Podcast/Podcast.html

Honestly, reality is that GNR is not really out of the question. I used to think so also. My range has gone from a straining G (on high guitar E string) to a comfortable C. D is really the top end, but it's all head voice. I'm working on filling the tone out on that upper end (what they refer to as a high mix). For the first time, my band is seriously working on a Zep tune or two. The great revelation to me is that singing higher is actually easier and requires less breath support then singing lower or in a mid chest voice. My biggest challenge right now is building tone in my lower and mid level range. That's a lot tougher really.

Anyway...check this stuff out and see if it helps.

Mark

Thanks a ton man! It's nice to not be the only one in this boat.

I think there a ton of guitar players who have had major issues with singers and thought they just had to put up with it. Hey if we learned to play guitar...we can learn to sing.