Do You Sing?

[DrewJD82]

Pretty sure most here have heard me runnin' my mouth in my tunes.

The singing while playing thing wasn't a pain in the ass only because I realized it's the same independence you utilize when playing drums. Some stuff I still have to break down word by word to figure out where I'm coming in, but once I 'hear' it in my head it usually falls into place.

For a good 10 years I was far more focused on my vocals than guitar. I was still playing regularly, but that whole 10 years the guitar was definitely on the back burner while I continuously bombed live, forcing myself to 'get gud'.

 

[laxu]

I haven't been kicked off the stage at a karaoke yet so you could say I'm a bit of a singer myself!

 

[la szum]

 

[la szum]

Man, I am amazed at how many Lead Singers/Vocalists cannot sing a single Harmony line
to save their lives. If you put a gun to their head and demanded it there would be dead
Lead Singers all over the place.

I like to tell the story of how a Band I was in would Mute certain people in the group
because they couldn't sing Harmony, or would sing a Unison line all pitchy and shit.
No idea who that would be, though?



I've fronted bands and done the 40 songs 3 nights a week and hated it. Hated it! Singing
15 originals as a Headliner is way easier. Way easier!

Also shared vocal duties in bands. That was the best sound for me in a cover setting. No one
wants to hear the same timbre and tonality for 35-40 songs over 3 or 4 hours.

Those multi-vocalist bands also taught me how to sing Harmony. Much harder than being a
Lead Vocalist and flying without a Net, in my experience. Doesn't seem to come naturally for
most people. You have to hear the Intervals and know the basis of some Chords, as well as
how not to use Vibrato. Gosh I loathe vibrato when you are supposed to be harmonizing. Stop it!



Again, Lead Singers.

 

[TSJMajesty]

Man, I am amazed at how many Lead Singers/Vocalists cannot sing a single Harmony line
to save their lives. If you put a gun to their head and demanded it there would be dead
Lead Singers all over the place.

I like to tell the story of how a Band I was in would Mute certain people in the group
because they couldn't sing Harmony, or would sing a Unison line all pitchy and shit.
No idea who that would be, though?



I've fronted bands and done the 40 songs 3 nights a week and hated it. Hated it! Singing
15 originals as a Headliner is way easier. Way easier!

Also shared vocal duties in bands. That was the best sound for me in a cover setting. No one
wants to hear the same timbre and tonality for 35-40 songs over 3 or 4 hours.

Those multi-vocalist bands also taught me how to sing Harmony. Much harder than being a
Lead Vocalist and flying without a Net, in my experience. Doesn't seem to come naturally for
most people. You have to hear the Intervals and know the basis of some Chords, as well as
how not to use Vibrato. Gosh I loathe vibrato when you are supposed to be harmonizing. Stop it!



Again, Lead Singers.

Many points I can relate to!

Rob would always "gliss" into his notes, which made it SO hard to lock onto my harmony, since I use the note being sung by the other person, to "interval" off of. With Ward, it was a piece of cake!

And yes, having 3 lead singers, and great harmonies made for a very interesting setlist!

I probably mentioned the time we "found" the 3rd harmony at the end of Time..., "...spoken magic spell." It made the hairs on my arms stand up!

 

[la szum]

Many points I can relate to!

Rob would always "gliss" into his notes, which made it SO hard to lock onto my harmony, since I use the note being sung by the other person, to "interval" off of. With Ward, it was a piece of cake!

And yes, having 3 lead singers, and great harmonies made for a very interesting setlist!

I probably mentioned the time we "found" the 3rd harmony at the end of Time..., "...spoken magic spell." It made the hairs on my arms stand up!

Nothing gives me the goosebumps playing music like tight harmonies!

Instant electricity!

Was lucky to play with a lot of great singers who showed me how to submit
my ego for the greater good of mutual harmony. Literally!

 

[la szum]

The singing while playing thing wasn't a pain in the ass only because I realized it's the same independence you utilize when playing drums.

Great way to look at it. Never thought of it that way. Very comparable to drumming. Cool.

For me someone like Dave Mustaine deserves so much credit for how he can play those
snakey and syncopated riffs over his questionable vocals. He's a beast when it comes
to that kind of stuff.

I have struggled doing folky fingerpicked stuff and singing at the same time. For some
reason riffs and chords are always easier for me.