Another Singing Thread

[Lunch Money]

Well...

I suck as a singer.

I can hit notes in key only about 70% of the time, and I hate the timbre of my voice. I try not to sing through my nose, but it always ends up with a slightly nasal quality anyhow. Grr.

BUT, luckily, that is not the point of this thread-- to the point, then!

I find that my performances differ drastically depending on what my headphone mix is like. I've had some real beauties that inspired and got me to do some good stuff.

But lately it's been the dogs... I can't seem able to reproduce a decent combination of mix and effects to inspire a confident performance.

Any specific pointers? Very vague tips like "use a bit of slap-back delay" won't help much, because I've already tried the various 'general' tips. Specific advice, however, is very appreciated!

Greg

[multree]

here's one tip..... put away those headphones and use your monitors ....use a mid volume.... (there will be some bleeding but who gives a f**k) it sounds way better and you have more feeling... try it and you'll see how weak the bleeding actually is

[DaveL60]

here's one tip..... put away those headphones and use your monitors

I'd have to second this, at least to say give it a try. Apparently at least a couple of the famed Motown singers from the 60s and 70s worked this way, and you can't argue with the results!

I'm struggling right now with my own vocal tracks, which are mostly coming out kinda flat. My wife says she's heard me do much better, but I guess that isn't helping you or me in any specific way.

Good vocals are tough. There's a reason the guys who can do it well get such respect.

DaveL

[garret]

I can hit notes in key only about 70% of the time, and I hate the timbre of my voice. I try not to sing through my nose, but it always ends up with a slightly nasal quality anyhow. Grr.

I know you said this part wasn't the point of the thread... but I'm curious.

When you say "70% of notes in key", do you mean 30% of the notes you hit are in tune, but don't match the harmony (key) of the song?

Or do you just mean you're singing out of tune... like the notes you hit warble in pitch, start sharp/flat, etc.

For me, these are two very different problems. I sing out of key when I don't know a tune well enough (happens often when I'm still working out the changes in a new tune). For that problem, just keep singing the tune. Hum it, or sing it in your head every spare minute for a few days, and work out how the melody fits in the changes, how the hooks work, etc. Get it rock solid in your head before you have the microphone in hand and tape rolling.

To avoid singing out of tune, I like to keep the headphone mix as simple as possible, so I don't have to struggle to hear the absolute pitch I'm matching. So I typically mute out everything except the drums, bass, and rhythm guitar/piano/organ. Usually I end up cranking the bass and snare more than a true mix, and overlaying a snare clicktrack on quarter notes just to help nail the timing.

I can't imagine recording with a monitor mix, headphones for me...

Keep at it, sing all the time, and you will improve. It might take 10 years though... just ask windchillfactor (a.k.a. my friend bill from grad school) how weak my singing was back then... I hope it's improved.

-Garret

[opiadream]

ah phooey
I thought this thread was actually gonna sing

If you can't sing in the first place monitor over headphones aren't gonna help too much
I'd wager those famed motown singers had the chops to begin with and simply had a preferred method of working.They probably practiced alot too.
I really don't understand how ditching the headphones is going to give you more feeling
unless maybe not having those things on your head made you less conscious of having your voice recorded,thus being a little more relaxed about the whole thing
but if your really just not a singer I don't see how being more relaxed is going to make much of a difference.

sorry if it sounds ugly,but that's my honest opinion

but if you can sing at all my advice is learn how to relax and just sing dammit

I'm not such a great singer but some people do like my voice,and for me the toughest part was learning not to be self conscious about it.
I could sing away with no problem and then when I hit that record button I'd get all uptight about it and f**k up.
It might help to record one less than stellar version and just sing along with for a few days til you've got the words memorized pretty good and don't have to worry about that too much either.

or you could just slam down a few brewskis beforehand and see how that works
just remember to get all your belching done first.