Anyone else working on vocals at the moment?

[Twinfan]

I've started singing backing vocals in my rock band, and in the new blues band I've joined I'll be singing a few leads.  I've always been able to sing in tune, but thought my range was a bit naff and I didn't have as much control as I'd like.

I though about getting some singing lessons but they're WELL pricey, so I thought I'd get a tuition book of some sort.  After digging around a bit, and finding a lot of rubbish books about classical singing I came across the book below.

The author, Roger Kain, is head of the Voice Department of the Brighton Institute of Modern Music.  The book is superb, and aimed at rock singing for both males and females (with specific exercies for each).  It covers the theory, types of voices, ranges, power, tone etc and even screaming.  This guy knows his stuff, and it's all about what the rock guys and gals have done to disprove all the classical singing theories.  I've been running through the basic exercies for a few days (which take about an hour) and I can feel a difference already.  I now understand more about how the voice works as an instrument, and why some notes were/are easier to reach than others.

Totally recommended, and at £13 including two tuition CDs it's an absolute bargain!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Vocal-Workout-Step-step/dp/1844920038/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240480897&sr=8-1

[AndyR]

That sounds really good - I might even invest in it... :D

I'm working on my vocals at the moment - for me, so far, it's just a case of actually singing again and getting my lungs and throat "fit" enough to put a decent performance on a recording.

What I've been doing is stealing my favourite 60s songs off the internet and preparing a "set-list" as if I was getting ready to front a covers band. The missus, who cannot escape the racket this produces, says that it has noticably improved my singing and that she now understands, in part, what I'd been moaning about for months ("sigh... I can't sing anymore :(") :lol:

But this book sounds the biz...

[psy]

I've been thinking about getting an instructional book or CD for ages.  Just was never sure which to get.  Just ordered a copy of this one after that glowing review :)

[Twinfan]

Nice one  :)  Let me know what you think of it.

[blue]

think you better contact amazon for a commission fee twinfan, i just ordered it too!! :)  i've been struggling with my voice for some time now, and fearing that i've damaged it through poor technique.  i'm currently looking at a number of things to protect what i have and hopefully get it back somewhere near what it used to be.  looking forward to getting this now, we'll be setting up the Bareknuckle Choir next!! :D

[psy]

I need the help like.  The singer in my band is really good, so in comparison I don't sound so good.  Hopefully improving my technique will help.

Now to find a book to help me with playing guitar & singing at the same time...  :)

[Twinfan]

I like to share good stuff, and this is by far the best book I came across.

Enjoy it folks!

[hamfist]

It's a great discovery Dave.

Although I wonder if there's any help for my voice. I gave up on mine years ago. I can sing reasonably, but my range is just so low - destined always to be a baritone, which is exactly the opposite of what rock singing is usually about.
  It's certainly a lot cheaper than singing lessons. I might splash out and treat myself to it for Xmas maybe.

[blue]

listen to Danzig or Type O Negative, even Nick Cave, plenty of baritone going on there!!  all rock doesn't have to be howling screamers

[Twinfan]

A key thing of the book is that a true bass can still sing really high notes with practice.  You can extend your range, contrary to what the classic guys think.  The author is about the only one who's researched into rock singing and the guys from the 70s who broke the rules  ;)

You should give it a read, Alan  :)

[Will]

I heard about that singing from the chest thingy last year, and was curious.
Whenever I am in the tractor I try to sing to pass the time, and I think its getting better.

[blue]

Whenever I am in the tractor I try to sing to pass the time

i come from a rural area myself, so please don't take offence, i just found that line very funny  :)

[hamfist]

listen to Danzig or Type O Negative, even Nick Cave, plenty of baritone going on there!! 

Agreed, but they were never particularly popular were/are they.  One has to really scr@pe around to even find a couple of male artists who have really quite low voices who have had any real success. Almost always they're into very alternative music.
  That compares to the masses and masses of mainstream male singers who all have higher voices.

Lets be honest here, virtually all mainstream rock/pop/indie type male singers are expected to sing pretty high. I suspect it all goes back to the "teenage worship" thing that all of these genres of music hail towards.  High voice = younger = sexier.

I think I'll probably stick to guitar. At least on that I can still play the high notes !

[Philly Q]

I'd love to be able to sing, might make up for being totally shite at guitar.

For lessons, there's always this chap of course   :

[mikeluke]

Biggest tip that I would give you in terms of singing in the band is to make sure that you can HEAR yourself! Get the monitors well set up. If you can't hear yourself not only is it difficult to sing in tune but you end up forcing the volume and this causes no end of problems. My best investment was a set of in-ear monitors  - looks naff but at least I can still talk at the end of a 2 hour stint of competing with screaming guitars and a monkey on the drums.

Bass players don't count 'cos it just makes you feel sick rather than blowing your eardrums!

Mike