Does anybody here sing?

[The Czech Republic 0]

I've been doing a lot of writing lately in hopes of getting a band started this spring, and while I think I've written some decent lyrics, I'm not really the best singer, or at least as good as I'd like to be.

 

Is anybody here an accomplished, semi-accomplished, or at least competent singer here? Preferably from some sort of band? If so, maybe you could give me some tips on how to improve my voice, or say what you do, some sort of help, insofar as one can give vocal lessons on a message board. It'd be appreciated, since I feel with all my years of playing jazz and classical trumpet, I should be able to pick up good singing fairly quickly. It's probably just a matter of sticking to it and finding the time to build up the old vocal cords.

 

Not chords. Unless you can create your own harmony, in which case you are very special.

 

ok thx bye

[The Man in Blak 0]

If you've got a commute, just practice some scales on your way to work. They're not the most glorious thing in the world to sing, but they do make you focus a lot on pitch control, which is important in the beginning. Do one key in major, then in minor, then shift up one half-step and do the same again. Just like on any instrument, you'll start to get some speed and some strength (in this case, lung strength) as time goes, if you practice fairly consistently.

[Kardo 0]

Yeah, I do alot of cafe nights here in Melbourne opening for my singing teacher. Scales are the only way to get anywhere, it also helps if you know when you are in and out of pitch (have a natural ear).

 

Start off with songs like Can't Help Falling In Love by Elvis, as it helps with holding a steady pitch.

 

Singing for the Stars: A Complete Program for Training Your Voice (Book & 2 CD's) - Is also very useful

[Nighthawk 0]

You can cut corners by speaking rythmically instead of singing. You can often pass off yelling as singing as well.

[1234-5678 0]

I like to think of my vocal style of a ripoff/combination of Jim Morrison/Robert Plant/Elton John all combined. Just remember, no one ever said having a decent voice was a requirement to front a band.

[Jingus 0]

I was in a few musicals back in my theatre days, and can do a mean Nick Cave in any karoake bar strange enough to have his music, although I'd certainly never call myself a professional singer. But in my limited experience, pitch and volume are the two elements that are most important in singing. Volume you can improve thru breathing exercises and the like (breath all the way from your belly, not just thru your throat), but pitch and staying on key seem to be things you kinda have to be born able to do.

[Matt Young 0]

I was always under the impression that those things could be learned, J*ingus. I've met a couple people who couldn't sing on key for shit until they received professional instruction.

 

I'm interested in the responses that this thread may get for reasons similar to Czech's. I just got my guitar back after a year plus and I'm wanting to get a band started now that I'm out in California. I want to sing the lyrics that I have written since they are deeply meaningful to me. I've sung a few songs in front of crowds, but I'm merely an average-slightly above average rock singer. I'd like some pointers to improve my confidence and range (since I have an extremely low voice),

 

Czech- What type of music will you be performing? Obviously vocals for some genres are a lot less complicated than others.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

I can do throaty gurgling death growls, snarling ones on a good day, and sort of a Captain Beefheart on "Dachau Blues."

[Murmuring Beast 0]

Sing along to some Leonard Cohen.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Breath control is key. Also, since I take it you'll want to practice singing for performance purposes, it doesn't hurt to do some karaoke, as silly as it sounds. You'll build your confidence that way, and it helps for singing in a big way (especially when you're up there competing among the likes of drunken businessmen and bored housewives).

[The Czech Republic 0]

Czech- What type of music will you be performing? Obviously vocals for some genres are a lot less complicated than others.

jazz/prog/rock. artsy shit.

[Jingus 0]

I was always under the impression that those things could be learned, J*ingus. I've met a couple people who couldn't sing on key for shit until they received professional instruction.

Oh yeah, you have to be trained in order to do it well. But in order to do it at all, you have to be able to hear specific notes and accurately reproduce them, which lots of people are literally born unable to do. (I'm assuming Czech isn't one of them, so he'll probably be just fine.)

[The Czech Republic 0]

Eight years of music education, God I hope I can do that.

 

Oh also, if an album gets recorded, I must call it "Camera Six Is The Worst Case Scenario."