Author Topic: Can sing but can't sing a song (Read 3018 times)

remak · « **on:** June 26, 2008, 08:26:14 PM »

You guys are in bands, right? You must have a fix for this ....

We have been looking for a vocalist for one of our projects. On the basis of a music ad I invited a young, would be, singerette to sit in one of our jam sessions a few weeks ago. She couldn't really sing, was a bit tone deaf, but was (unusually for singers) focused, nice and committed to improving.

A professional voice coach is financially out of the question for her. So we decided to invest one hour a week in vocal training for 6 weeks. Simple standard exercises - scales, arpeggios, breathing, making sure there was no straining or bad habits being learned. After a few weeks a nice soprano voice suddenly appeared. Now, play a random note on the piano and she can sing it, play a chord sequence on the the guitar and she can improvise a melody to it. Good tone, good timing too.

Only problem is ... when she tries a real song ... ya-ow! (:x)

Once faced with lyrics it all goes back to one droning note again, all pitch control disappears. Even simple 2 or 3 note rock songs go to pieces and sound er.... bad. I mean Karaoke bar sounds good, bad.

Did any of you ever see the same phenomenon in a singer? - someone who can sing technically but always flakes out in the middle of the tune?

Is there hope for the lass?
Is there a way to fix it?
Or do I have to be cruel to be kind?

Will · « **Reply #1 on:** June 26, 2008, 08:59:01 PM »

Well, the obvious option would be sending her to Tim for a rewind, or maybe a magnet change, the focus of a ceramic magnet is looking quite neccesary in this case

(Thanks Wintersun :P )
:lol:

FernandoDuarte · « **Reply #2 on:** June 26, 2008, 10:39:26 PM »

Well, I'm starting to sing by now... When she loses the thrill, stop and show how she should sing or try (for the beggining) put the original song in the play-back, to make she understand/catch what the singer is doing...

ilÿti · « **Reply #3 on:** June 26, 2008, 11:00:59 PM »

Quote from: Will

Well, the obvious option would be sending her to Tim for a rewind, or maybe a magnet change, the focus of a ceramic magnet is looking quite neccesary in this case

(Thanks Wintersun :P )
:lol:

Dino has been taking credit for my joke long enough. I said that during an MSN conversation with him, and he quoted part of it in his sig. Being the great sport I am, I didn't call him out on it... untill enough is enough and justice shall be mine! :shock:

:roll:

Sorry.

I did come up with it though...

plastercaster · « **Reply #4 on:** June 27, 2008, 10:53:06 AM »

Try playing a recording of the band to her- she should hear that her singing is out.

That, or get her to try singing a capella- will mean she only has to focus on the tune rather than arrangement, keeping time and in key.

*Remembers* Turn her monitor RIGHT UP! She might not be comfortable with her voice at first, but she'll have to get over it. If she can't hear herself, it's no wonder she's struggling with holding pitch.

gingataff · « **Reply #5 on:** June 27, 2008, 11:07:31 AM »

More practice at 'real' singing I guess.
It sounds like when I work on scales and modes for a while and then try to improvise over a track, all that comes out are the same old pentatonics again. :oops:

wintersun · « **Reply #6 on:** June 27, 2008, 12:42:58 PM »

Quote from: ilyti

Quote from: Will
Well, the obvious option would be sending her to Tim for a rewind, or maybe a magnet change, the focus of a ceramic magnet is looking quite neccesary in this case

(Thanks Wintersun :P )
:lol:

Dino has been taking credit for my joke long enough. I said that during an MSN conversation with him, and he quoted part of it in his sig. Being the great sport I am, I didn't call him out on it... untill enough is enough and justice shall be mine! :shock:

:roll:

Sorry.

I did come up with it though...

Well well, that's not exactly true!

So, I'm providing you with a part of my MSN messanger history AS EVIDENCE :D

12.12.2007 22:52:18 Casper
oh i'm enjoying my crawlers so much that i can wait

12.12.2007 22:52:36 Casper
when my honeymoon time with the crawlers is over, i'll move on to the mule

12.12.2007 22:52:42 Casper
then the crawlers will get jealous

12.12.2007 22:52:48 Casper
and i'll shred on them for awhile

12.12.2007 22:53:01 Casper
then they'll learn to to live together in harmony

12.12.2007 22:53:02 Casper
eventually

12.12.2007 22:53:05 Casper
thats my plan

12.12.2007 22:54:13 Dino
hahahahaahahaha

12.12.2007 22:54:15 Dino
:D:D:D

12.12.2007 22:54:50 Dino
wish it was that easy with women, ha? :D

12.12.2007 22:54:56 Dino
heheheehehehee

12.12.2007 22:55:12 Casper
oh just one woman for me, mate

12.12.2007 22:55:21 Casper
but yes

12.12.2007 22:55:31 Casper
i think we all wish women were like pickups

12.12.2007 22:55:35 Casper
only say what they are told to say

12.12.2007 22:55:36 Dino
hahahahahahaa :D

12.12.2007 22:56:02 Dino
if they lack output, you sell them... or give them to Tim to rewind them :M

12.12.2007 22:56:05 Dino
hahahahhahaahahahaha

12.12.2007 22:56:08 Dino
:D

12.12.2007 22:56:09 Casper
haha

12.12.2007 22:56:13 Casper
brutal

12.12.2007 22:56:28 Dino
oh man I'll put that on BKP

12.12.2007 22:56:29 Dino
hahaha

12.12.2007 22:56:29 Dino
:D

12.12.2007 22:56:32 Casper
hahah

12.12.2007 22:56:33 Dino
forum

12.12.2007 22:56:36 Dino
hahahahahahhaa

12.12.2007 22:56:39 Dino
WATCH ME

See what I mean? :D now you see who initiated all that, and who concluded it :) bold text is a living proof ahhaaha

Now you know the backgroung story behind it! And now I'm putting that signature back! :shock: so sue me!

ilÿti · « **Reply #7 on:** June 27, 2008, 07:13:23 PM »

Ahhhh $%&# you Dino, I initiated it:

12.12.2007 22:52:36 Casper
when my honeymoon time with the crawlers is over, i'll move on to the mule

Thus indicating that we're comparing pickups to women. Hah!

:roll:

But yeah, your rewind joke is definitely the best of the bunch.

wintersun · « **Reply #8 on:** June 27, 2008, 07:34:44 PM »

well, ok, lets say you inspired me :)

now, back to the topic...

This girl we're taking about doesn't need rewiring, just needs to learn how to handle VOWELS :)

I reccomend her SINGING SUCCESS from Brett Manning. 12 cd course. This should do the trick :)

FELINEGUITARS · « **Reply #9 on:** June 27, 2008, 08:09:55 PM »

And for EMO singers

http://www.amazon.com/Zen-Screaming-Vocal-Instruction-Breed/dp/B000AVZVTY

wintersun · « **Reply #10 on:** June 27, 2008, 09:56:27 PM »

Quote from: FELINEGUITARS

And for EMO singers

http://www.amazon.com/Zen-Screaming-Vocal-Instruction-Breed/dp/B000AVZVTY

Yeah, tried that too, but it's only if you wanna learn how to SCREAAAAM, and sound more extreme. And if you wanna be THE singer, then do the Brett Manning course, then apply some tricks from Zen of Screaming, just in case you wish to sound more raspy... without hurting your self (unless we are talking about an emo singer of course :D)

remak · « **Reply #11 on:** June 28, 2008, 07:27:43 PM »

I've heard differing views on the Brett Manning package. Some like it some hate it. Its a bit expensive too. Is it obtainable from anywhere in the EU?

Alternatively has anyone an opinion on this http://www.amazon.com/Voice-Lessons-V-3-Pure-Vowels/dp/B0019A8WFU/ref=dm_ap_alb2 or possibly this ... http://shesingsout.com/index4.html

Johnny Mac · « **Reply #12 on:** June 28, 2008, 10:57:46 PM »

Sounds like she's having a problem phrasing. When to breath as well?

remak · « **Reply #13 on:** June 29, 2008, 07:10:52 AM »

The problem seems to be accurate pitch memory rather than breath or range limitations.

If I play the melody on piano or guitar she sings fine. If I switch back to chords, she immediately sings flat and quickly looses it completely, switching to drone mode.

wintersun · « **Reply #14 on:** June 29, 2008, 08:26:12 AM »

Quote from: remak

The problem seems to be accurate pitch memory rather than breath or range limitations.

If I play the melody on piano or guitar she sings fine. If I switch back to chords, she immediately sings flat and quickly looses it completely, switching to drone mode.

ahaaa, well why didn't you say so in first place. Then she needs to PRACTICE, and also needs to LISTEN to herself while she sings. I think it can be fixed pretty fast, if persistent.