Grateful Dead Music Forum

Well, I feel I can do the Dead some better justice if im singing(or worse ) but I dont really know where to begin with singing. Any suggestions? Sorry if this has been done.

lol niether did jerry on some nights

ive been realizing as your ear becomes more trained and you can hear notes and intervals better...with a bit of regular practice its only natural your singing will improve...just find a room to practice in where no one can hear you...so your not ashamed of your voice, and belt it out...practice singing scales and stuff if you want to or to warm up i guess...but just sing songs it will come along just as your picking did, by just doing it

+1 to Doc's post. Also consider lessons.

yeah that definitely helps, but I really belive that a singing talent is to a certain degree inherent or it is not....
Without saying I can really sing, but I know some guys who just don't hear intervalls at all and don't even notice that they're totally off key.

i used to believe that be able to sing was something you had or you didn't....now having a good sounding voice with great tone is something that you are born with, but you can take any voice and make it workable. I do believe you can take anyone with some musically ability to teach them to sing...lesson for sure, teaching you how to breathe, what and how to practice and most importantly having someone with a trained ear to give you immediate feedback is the quickest way to better singing. I used to suck as a harmony singer, never could tell when I was sharp or flat or most often singing someone else's note, but over the last year of having my guitarist/lead singer work with me, I've gotten better. I always was able to do an OK job singing lead (simple Dylan like tunes)..also I would consider getting a vocaltraining CD, seems like there are some decent ones out there.
keep working on it...you can improve your singing with practice
http://www.theCAUSEjams.com

Yo Causebass you gotta hear me sing,then you might change your mind on the "teach anyone to sing thing."
Thank God I record all practices and never took that show on the road.
My wifes a music lover too.She says all my singing is flat.
Maybe I need to tune my guitar down?
What if I find some keys;will they have to transpose what they are playing?
Also I have a weak nasaly high voice.Yuck.
Its hard to pull off the Dead when you cant sing.
Gonna still try to help w/the back ups.Cant quit.
Would love to do 'Brokedown'.But you need vocals.

I've got a question. When singing, should I try to sing the root note of the chord I am playing or something else that complements that chord?

Benthegoodbum wrote:I've got a question. When singing, should I try to sing the root note of the chord I am playing or something else that complements that chord?

Yes. Depends on the song.

In most cases:
If you are the only singer sing the root.
If you are the first harmony sing the fifth
If you are the third harmony sing the third
If you are the fourth harmony sing an octave up of the root

All that said I struggle to sing harmonies...

Hmm...thanks strummin.