Bash me :)

[tsitalon1]

7/9/09 ***UPDATED WITH NEW SONG***--> Apologize --> Bash it

Background vocals were part of instrumental track...

Hey guys,

I've been singing for about a year and trying to get better. My main inpiration is Craig David (r&b style). I have noticed that I can make several different tones. I am struggeling with trying to find my tone. My strongest is somewhat harsh, my breathy tone sounds better but is very weak. I have attached a couple covers that I performed in my home studio...again, please provide honest positive feedback.

I just bought a ART PRO VLA II compressor (waiting for it to arrive) that I am hoping will tame some of the harshness in my strongest tone. Before anyone tells me to look up vocal instructors, I have...only a few in my area and they are mostly opera based, so I am not sure how it would work out. I would gladly pay for vocal lessons from someone I think could actually help.

[texasradiofish]

Listened to BootyMan. Sounds resonably well done for the genre and target audience.

[irawan gani]

ok this is coming from a non-vocalist, worse still, coming from a bad singer... but i will critique this as a musician and sound engineer.

firstly, the vocals are pitchy. probably not because of your singing but not enough practice and vocal prep. other reasons for that is that, you probably have never heard yourself or much in a proper recording environment etc etc etc. and no expensive equipment will improve your voice and vocal performance. the product is done before the record button is pressed.

secondly, i know you like craig david, but you are not craig david. he has different voice from yours. just be yourself. if you have written your own songs, record those instead.

thirdly, despite whatever i have said above, you do have a good voice tone. practice more and do what i have said in the second point.

i hope that helps.

[tsitalon1]

Originally Posted by irawan gani

ok this is coming from a non-vocalist, worse still, coming from a bad singer... but i will critique this as a musician and sound engineer.

firstly, the vocals are pitchy. probably not because of your singing but not enough practice and vocal prep. other reasons for that is that, you probably have never heard yourself or much in a proper recording environment etc etc etc. and no expensive equipment will improve your voice and vocal performance. the product is done before the record button is pressed.

secondly, i know you like craig david, but you are not craig david. he has different voice from yours. just be yourself. if you have written your own songs, record those instead.

thirdly, despite whatever i have said above, you do have a good voice tone. practice more and do what i have said in the second point.

i hope that helps.

Thanks for your feedback, I currently do not write anything...I guess I can try to yeah, I know vocal lessons would help, just can't find anyone around here really. Thanks again.

[irawan gani]

Originally Posted by tsitalon1

Thanks for your feedback, I currently do not write anything...I guess I can try to yeah, I know vocal lessons would help, just can't find anyone around here really. Thanks again.

the effort was good. if you dont write any music, perhaps do a different rendition of it. dont have to do anything too difficult or different, maybe with just an acoustic guitar (if you do play an instrument) or piano.

one thing about recording is that, if you are doing a unison, the second vocal track has to almost be sung identically. otherwise it will sound pitchy even if its not.

i have a feeling that you sing live very well and that in those songs you recorded each vocal track 'live' or once through. pro recordings have tons of vocal tracks of the same line, thats how they get it right. on top of that, theres autotune.

in a live setting, vocals will sound great with performance and energy, despite some pitchiness. vocal lessons would help of course but it has more to do with recording technique, mic techniques simple breathing. what you can do now is record more, and listen and identify areas where you are pitchy. rerecord and and see if you have been able to solve it. thats even better than spending money on a half-ass vocal coach.

seriously, your voice is very good. now you have to find your niche and not just imitate others.

come on man. believe in yourself. i hear some crap music here (brandon dont kill me) but its a learning process. but the thing is, they have one thing in their heads and heart. commitment to better themselves and a sense of enjoyment when delivering performance.

[tsitalon1]

Thank you for your positive comments. I will continue pushing forward. I have made an appointment with a vocal coach that is Opera based, so I am not sure how thats gonna work out We'll see.

I'll post a few more when I get a chance.

[jagcmos]

Originally Posted by tsitalon1

Thank you for your positive comments. I will continue pushing forward. I have made an appointment with a vocal coach that is Opera based, so I am not sure how thats gonna work out We'll see.

I'll post a few more when I get a chance.

Craig David does Pavarotti . Should be interesting.

[irawan gani]

Originally Posted by jagcmos

Craig David does Pavarotti . Should be interesting.

dont listen to him Tsitalon... go on chase your dreams. we all want to see you succeed.

[tsitalon1]

Originally Posted by tsitalon1

Thank you for your positive comments. I will continue pushing forward. I have made an appointment with a vocal coach that is Opera based, so I am not sure how thats gonna work out We'll see.

I'll post a few more when I get a chance.

I had my first lesson with my vocal coach, and I have mixed feelings. I was told to sing with my throat open and sing from the back of my throat. While this definately produces MUCH more strength and volume, it sounds very resonating/operatic ( and low) to me instead of a smoother r&b style that I prefer.

She actually asked me why I'm trying to sound black!!! folowed with a "just kidding" ( I live down south...racism is hard to get away from down here)

I was told to learn this style first/perfect it, then tweak it to my style later...does this sound right to you seasoned vocalists? I would choose another coach but all 4-5 coaches in my area are Opera based

[chiduce]

Hello,

This is coming from a fellow lead vocalist, learning sound engineer, and fellow musician. Bootyman has a degree of difficulty for you. So, you have to be honest with yourself and have the humility to take action. Most good vocalists are very critical of themselves as to how they sound on audio. This is the key to improving vocals on any level or degree of difficulty. I personally will feel like i sound ok and listen for the mistakes in vocal clarity, tone, and expressive delivery. Remember that as a vocalist you will never get a perfect audio vocal track take. Though, with honesty, practicing tone, clarity, and physical expressiveness; you will get real close to what the music is projecting. Now juxta posing your voice and changing your vocal pitch expressivness requires practice, practice. practice. Start with a simple say jazz piano track and check your tone and vocal pitch freedom. If you are say too far out of pitch or the tone you want for you expression is too hard; just change your key signature to what will give you a comfortable, expandable, expressive vocal range. Then try your degree of difficulty in that range first. As you progress, change the key signature to a more difficult key and work in that range until you nail it. Last, remember to try with each expressive vocal sound to actually become the bootyman character and let him sing to the audience. The mark of a true vocalist is that he or she can become the part of expressive delivery that the audience can identify with through the emotions of joy, sadness, happiness, craziness, tears, smiles, and insightive thought. Wishing you well through humility!
Duce Out!