Grateful Dead Music Forum

The more I try and sing and play the more I find that it is really, really hard to do. Clearly, I wasn't born with good pipes, but I think I know how to carry a tune. However a lot of times I find that the key is either too high or too low for my narrow range. Has anyone taken lessons? Is just a matter of practice, practice, practice?

If your main problem is with being out of range, just transpose the song to a key that you are comfortable in. This is done all the time to make it work for the singers.

Wisedyes gave the best answer, but if that cannot be done, then try to relax. Hitting high notes is hard, and we tend to strain to try and hit it like we would strain trying to lift somethign heavy. Straining actually limits your vocal range. Try to relax your throat (man does that sound bad) when you're hitting the hard to reach notes. With practice, you'll find them easier to hit. Another thing to make sure of is that your throat is well lubed (man am I going to catch hell on this one). Beer and soda dries your throat out making it scratchy on the high notes. Wierd as it is, but I find keeping a bottle of milk around and hitting that really helps me.
Lastly, try some vocal excercises. Remember mi mi mi mi going from low to high notes? That will help your voice rise up to the high notes and make them a little more definite when you go for them on stage. But practice and finding the right key is the best way to go.

Peace,

Gil

Laytonco wrote:Wisedyes gave the best answer, but if that cannot be done, then try to relax. Hitting high notes is hard, and we tend to strain to try and hit it like we would strain trying to lift somethign heavy. Straining actually limits your vocal range. Try to relax your throat (man does that sound bad) when you're hitting the hard to reach notes. With practice, you'll find them easier to hit. Another thing to make sure of is that your throat is well lubed (man am I going to catch hell on this one). Beer and soda dries your throat out making it scratchy on the high notes. Wierd as it is, but I find keeping a bottle of milk around and hitting that really helps me.
Lastly, try some vocal excercises. Remember mi mi mi mi going from low to high notes? That will help your voice rise up to the high notes and make them a little more definite when you go for them on stage. But practice and finding the right key is the best way to go.

Peace,

Gil

Man is this the most unintentionally funny post I've read in awhile. Too bad we're not on Fark.

Don't Koonse me!I am inocent. i am not a criminal!

ROTFLMAO!!!

Yes, when singing and playing at the same time, make sure to keep your throat moist and relaxed and always remember to lube your nut before you start. This is, of course, more fun if you have a couple of your friends over to help you with all of this, don't go it alone. Once my throat is relaxed and lubed and my nut is lubricated, I find I am ready to head up the highway, which has been known to help my friends hit those high notes with ease.

Hope those high notes are at least going to take you out to a nice steak dinner first!

I found that when you are thinking of what you are playing you seem to lose the concentration on the singing parts. Most of the guys I play with that sing and play well know the song chords and changes like the back of their hand. I guess then they can concentrate more on hitting the right notes from a vocal standpoint. I also have timing issues it throws me off and then out of key I go!

I don't think I even know how to sing. I can't seem to find a range or a way that feels comfortable and sounds remotely decent. I think I'll take some lessons. I've heard that unless you are born with muse, you have to work on singing, just like you have to work on playing.

my wife bought me singing lessons for our anniversary last week. When I scheduled the appointment I told the teacher she was going to have a challange on her hands. (might be a mistake for my wife since she will have to hear me practicing)

So I went to the lesson on Tuesday morning. The teacher didn't show up. I suppose I intimadate her!

I called several times since tuesday and have gotten no call back. Now I just want a refund.

Singing is fun. I never considered myself a singer, but end up with the job often because the other guys totally suck at it.

Here are a few thoughts that I hope prove helpful:

Start off singing in the car (the windshield bounces the sound back at you), or in a resonant space like a tile bathroom.

Sing a capella a lot so you can learn your own voice and how to control it.

Don't sing amplified until you know your own voice.

Try singing simple scales like "do re me fa so lat ti do" and sing them in different places high and low.

Sing whatever simple folk or other melodic songs you can think of even if they are children's songs or hymns.

Don't go all Mariah Carey - sing the pure notes for the words and don't try adding in bluesy or other "color" until you have the basics totally down

Good advice. I've started doing some of that stuff. The problem is even if I am by myself, the audience can't stand the noise.

Winterland made a good point of knowing the instrument part rote. If you have to think about the instrument, you cannot concerntrate on the vocals. Oddly enough for anyone who knows me, I sung opera in High School.....in Latin. It would take me about 15 hours to memorize the lyrics. Until I knew the lyrics, I could sing the piece. Memorization is key.

Peace,

Gil

Forget about songs for a moment. Learn to match notes you play on the guitar, and try consciously to hold the pitch while "saying" something (any old blather), without sliding flat or sharp. Start with just one note, then alternate between two different notes, practicing different intervals (pitch differences between notes) like m2, M2, m3, M3, P4, P5.