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Hey, I'm a young guy wanting to make a demo CD so that I can take it to local bars to get into the acoustic circuit around my town. I purposely made the vocals nice and loud on this one because that's what I want opinions on. It may be pitchy at times, I'm interested about what you guys think about my timbre, range, etc. Give me your worse, tell me if its crap. And tell me if you'd hire me to play at your business! https://soundcloud.com/bigreddwood/demo-001/s-I6ERd

I covered this simple song, Dylan's cover of Billy Grammer's "Gotto Travel On". I just want to know what people think of my timbre! https://soundcloud.com/bigreddwood/gotto-travel-on Thanks

I (male) just tested out my vocal range. Please comment on that. Is it average? Or special in some way? I'm not a trained singer. I'm dissapointed about my chest voice because it doesn't have a higher range. chest voice: lowest: g2 highest: c4 (comfortable) g#4 (uncomfortable, pushing) head voice: lowest: e3 (comfortable) c3 (uncomfortable, weak) highest: c5 (comfortable) g5 (uncomfortable, pushing)

I may have to put my ears on Craigslist apparently they aren't doing me any good anymore. So far I am shocked by the responses. After listening to that several times I am surprised by any comment other than outstanding or excellent. I have listened several times and even looking for something I can't find anything to even nitpick about. I dare to say flawless. But hey, that's just me. If I were walking passed a bar or a hall of some sort and heard that, my first reaction would be ..."wow" who the hell is that...I have to go see." But we are all different with different tastes and different ears and different abilities. So maybe it's me....I may be missing something. I am impressed by how relaxed you seem throughout. No tension anywhere. A great example and I thought it was beautiful. Felipe. "OUTSTANDING!!" Personally I found nothing wrong.

Here is our (kind of fun) cover of One Way Out. This is based on the original version which was recorded in the 60's by "Sonny Boy Williamson II." Hope you like it. Thus far it has received lukewarm reviews. Oh well, can't have a winner everytime And of course the other two.

I thought this was a more solid performance than the first Mivke. I bit more controlled and steady/consistent.

Here is something I wrote (lyrics). I found a backing track on Youtube since I have no access to my own music or anyone to write for me. I put my lyrics to this to give an idea of what I had in mind when I wrote the words. If anyone could put similar music to the words that would be great. This is kind of a rough cut here just to give an idea. I heard a tune (instrumental jazz) in the car one day and started singing my own words to it and that is how this was born. I know you guys are metal heads but... Maybe someone can blues this thing a little or jazz blues? http://www.soundclick.com/player/single_player.cfm?songid=12085793&q=hi The song is about a girl from a down and out town who moves up (thinks she does) and and then seems to forget where she came from. But she is really no different. She just suddenly "thinks" she is. She just needs to come back down to earth. But she thinks "we" need to kiss her arse! Not gonna happen!! " I ain't comin up to you" Lyrics: Come Down To Me Baby You better come back down to me baby, cause I ain’t comin’ up to you You better come back down to me baby, cause I ain’t comin’ up to you But if you wanna meet in the middle, I’ll see what I can do. You left me for that money man, but he turned out to be a fool And now you think you’re someone, that can take us all to school. Ridin’ round in your fancy car like you know a thing or two You better come back down to me baby, cause I ain’t comin’ up to you You better come back down here woman, there ain’t nuthin’ owed to you But if you wanna meet in the middle, girl I’ll see what I can do. You got no time for me now, thinkin’ who the hell you are You better come back down here woman, you ain’t no superstar Just come on home now you’ve taken this too far. You better come back down to me baby, cause I ain’t comin’ up to you You better come back down to me baby, cause I ain’t comin’ up to you But if you wanna meet in the middle, I’ll see what I can do. You said get my act together, learn a thing or two Girl I don’t even know what that means but I’ll tell you something too, You better come back down to me baby, cause I ain’t comin’ up to you Yea, you better come back down to me baby, cause I ain’t comin’ up to you You better come back down to me baby, cause I ain’t comin’ up to you But if you wanna meet in the middle, I’ll see what I can do. © 2013 T. Pressimone

Ok, I know Xmas is over...but. Thanks to those who gave this a shot. As I said in the original post feel free to reshape the lyrics. Add/subtract whatever. I don't play an instrument so I couldn't add my own completely original submission but I'll give you what is sort of what I had in mind, although anyone is free to do what they like. As I said, I don't play an instrument so I found a backing track on youtube. It turned out to be long and had a twist or two to it so I had to sort of add lib the lyrics a bit and add some extra. Check this out. http://www.soundclick.com/player/single_player.cfm?songid=12073861&q=hi&newref=1

Actually there is no song here. But maybe there could be. I scribbled this last year. I altered the last verse this year to make it a little humorous. To be honest, this started as an idea for a Xmas Blues song. So it was unfinished and still is. Just scatch notes for a song idea. I forgot I had it and came across it today. I decided not to finish it or add anymore to it and just leave it as is and hand it over here (other than changing that last verse). Maybe one of you musicians, (guitar platers etc) can put some music to it and also sing it. Just take it and do what you wish (or not). Alter the lyrics if you like. But it's Blues so Blues it up I had a 12 bar progression in mind but I'm no musician so whatever. Do you Remember Last Christmas Do you remember last Christmas baby, sittin’ round the Christmas tree Do you remember last Christmas darlin’ hangin’ round that Christmas tree You had the nerve to tell me, that you was leavin me. Gave you everything I had, all my lovin’ too I tried to make you happy, woman what else could I do. Merry Christmas baby, hope it’s a good one for you I wonder who’s Christmas you’ll be turnin’ blue Do you remember last Christmas under the mistletoe I Said, Do you remember last Christmas under the mistletoe. I Tried to love you baby but I ended up out in the snow. I remember last Christmas, when you said we were through But this is a new year and I got someone new I hope you’re doing well and I want you to know That I still think of you, you ho ho ho ho.

I read something interesting today and it reminded me of this thread. It has to do with sounding like another artist. The author gave a link to a fantastic guitar player, one who copies Stevie Ray Vaughan. He even makes instructional videos on how to sound like SRV. The guy sounds just like him (guitar playing). The author however wonders in his writing about this. The guy is such a fantastic player, the author wonders how he would sound if he put his talent into sounding like himself. Does he expect to be a success on someone else's genius? Such a great and talented player why wouldn't he want to do his own thing? I can see being "influenced." But copying? The interesting point the author made was that in the art world this would be considered forgery. In the music world it is done all the time. It seems in the Critique my Singing Section it is preferred at times and singers are critiqued for not sounding like the original singer. Why would someone want to? Why copy someone? You should strive to have someone someday copy you! Be influenced by others' styling or vocals but don't try to re-do what they have made famous. That is my view at least. And it is something I consider in critiquing. I usually give points for what is done well in the sample but also subtract points in the same song for a sound alike performance.

My wedding song was Led Zepplin's "Thank You." I was a huge Zep fan since their first album. I met my wife in July of '82. In May of this year I posted a rough version of "Thank You" here to see if I could work it out for our 30th anniversary this passed July, of when we met. I would then sing it again on the Cruise we were going on in September for our 29th wedding anniversary. I made a CD of the recording and she loved it. She didn't mention anything about the singing as I think the sentiment got her. However, on the cruise, after I sang it live she asked. "How do you think that was?" Uh oh! When she asks that I know it's a nice way of saying it didn't sound so good. She puts it on me that sly one!!! You know what my justification is? She is deaf in one ear so I tell her that her pitch perception is off!!! So there! :D

Hey now wait a minute there hombre!! "You bad critiquers?" Don't lump me in with the bad critics. I think my critiques have been fair and have contained equal parts of good and bad. Not to mention constructive criticism and advise, to the best of my ability.

C'mon now You've been here a long time, I'm sure you've seen good reviews by Felipe. I know I have and I've been here less than a year. Actually I think my very first song post got a good review from him but it was almost a year ago so I'm not absolutely sure. So it seems to me it is not good to give bad critiques to singing but ok to give bad critiques on critiquing? :D

I agree and as I said above somewhere, while these ideas can't be translated exactly into singing instruction as well as many other teachings; the basic principles or philosophy of the method probably can. I agree with this also. I wasn't talking about just doing your own thing. I too study the original before recording or singing it my way. I also study other versions and interpretations by other artists as well as live versions. I try to learn the song as best I can in it's original form and then from there I take all I have learned from the various interpretations, add my twist and go for it. My comments about sounding like the original pertained more to the voice. People tend to critique if you don't mimic the originals voice or vocal stylings. For the singer I think you should familiarize yourself with the original first but for the listener/critic I think they should step away from the original or expecting a carbon copy or even mimicked vocal sound.

I am beginning to wonder if we may need to critique the critic. I think some people show how amateurish they are (no offense anyone) when I read things like Halford uses more rasp or Dio uses a bit more power in that chorus or any similar comparisons. Say what? I usually have a big grin reading things like this as if I am watching children imitate adults. How about the Five Finger Death Punch cover of Bad Company? If they posted that here I'm sure they'd get good marks for it but I bet my bottom dollar someone would say Paul Rogers sings it cleaner. I suppose someone once gave Joe Cocker crap for sounding so different than the Beatles. Oh no what about Jimi? That sounds nothing like Bob Dylan dude!! So yea, the whole critiquing thing should be looked at a bit deeper at times. Some critiques are technical and worthwhile. Some are not technical at all and based on taste which varies. Some like and some don't....stalemate. And others are pretty worthless because they are technical but based on the original, which amounts to taste as well as a small mind artistically. (imo) spanked!!!:D

Oddly enough, believe it or not I am the oddball here. I don't like magic pills but would rather do the work needed to get where I'm going. It always makes me feel more like I own what I am good at because I worked at for it. Depending on what you are teaching I believe in this method. However, it is too much for some things. But even then the philosophy of the method and fundamentals are still valid. I always find this idea humorous. Comparisons to the original etc. Geez, I've seen Zep 3 times and each time they sounded different. Most bands live perform different (live) versions of their songs. That is called artistry. Some are disappointed when they get to a concert and the songs don't sound just like the album. Personally I love the different versions. I don't think I have ever heard "Whole Lotta Love" played the same as the original. Not even the main riff. But even more humorous is that many times no one cares that the original band is playing the song different and the vocals aren't even the same. But heaven forbid if you do it different in a cover :rolleyes:

Someone needs to critique this thread :D

That's ok. You made my point. The reward thing works different for animals and humans. I don't disagree with the reward thing. Only with it replacing being hard on the mistakes. I think there is a middle road and the bad points need to be made example of while reinforcing the right things. I think some people start to get too reward heavy. When someone is failing at something they are rewarded for giving a good effort. I don't go for that. I think they may need to push for more effort. Then "mention" (not reward) the effort, support the idea that they can do this, with a bit more work, bolster the spirit and push onward. But the mistakes need to be highlighted. (imo):)

No feelings hurt here. I didn't feel compared to a dog at all. I was only addressing the concept of operant training and the comparison between animals and humans. And while dogs may be thinking creatures, which I wouldn't disagree with, they aren't "reasoning" which is what I said. You can't reason with an animal about what they may be doing wrong or right and why you might be hard on them and how they might see the benefits later in life. As you could do with a human. You could be tough on a human and explain to him why. An animal only knows he is being scolded or rewarded. He may know why to an extant, but not the reasoning behind the why. If you rewarded him every time he crapped on the floor or bit someone he would think that was a good thing. A human might do it too if he was trained that way by reward since childhood, but he would still know it was wrong by seeing that he was the only one doing that, and that others frowned on it.

Owen, thanks for the response. I understand your point and I agree. However I feel my point is being misunderstood by others. That is fine and I don't see a need to push the issue Getting a point across in text can be a daunting task especially with space constrictions. Some things require a book But the first thing is I should point out that I'm not comparing teaching martial arts to teaching singing. I was only using an example to illustrate my feelings on harsh reviewing as compared to what seems to be a modern way of rewarding. However it seems, probably due to poor writing style that I have been interpreted as being too harsh or only "one way." I only use a certain philosophy as a base as well as some old school methods. But Whatever I use is just that. Tools I "use." They aren't written in stone unchangeable ways. I remain progressive. However I am still against babying anyone. that only helps create dependent babies. I do believe in being hard when it comes to mistakes or in the case of something like singing where "hard" might not fit, strict. But at the same time that doesn't mean I don't reward the good points. Actually I seek to strengthen those areas as I try to fix the bad spots. But my point was more about the dog training theory. I can see how it works for dogs but with a person who you can reason with I believe giving them a dog biscut everytime the perform isn't the way. Reward the good but make no bones about it when it comes to the bad. I believe in "push." When I train anyone i don't just bark orders. I do everything right along with them. I don't make anyone do anything I have never done or still do. If I'm 25 years older than them and they can't do it I think that gives them incentive as well as a sure sign that they are lacking and need to pick it up. You have to teach students how to teach themselves. I only use this as an example as I did in my above postings. I wouldn't apply this "as is' to singing instruction. However I would still base my teaching methods on a similar philosophy. Tough where it needs it and boost the good. But never feel you shouldn't be firm and push the student to push themselves. And yes Owen, of course you have to teach this to the student also. But I don't believe in being a crutch or holding hands. That was my only point. It may have gotten carried away....probably by me. A bit verbose maybe But still not enough words to get my point clear. Even the rib thing. That wasn't a purposeful action and there are a lot more details too much to print here. But believe me there was a lesson there. The connection here was missed. Hey, it is a contact environment and it involves fighting. These things are common. If you want to know how to protect your head from getting hit you will have to experience getting hit first. Bloody noses and maybe broken ones go with the territory.

That wasn't my point. The number is meaningless. We didn't even do 100 we only did 50. What I said in that quote was that it was a test. I was testing him to see if he just at least attempted it without a word of complaint or if he was already going to give me five different excuses why he may not be able to do it. I only want you to try. If you can't you can't. That's fine. I don't need the song and dance first. That was my point. That already tells me a lot about the student. My whole point of my post wasn't about what one dojo does compared to another. It was about my way and how I don't buy the "hurt feelings and giving up because someone was pushed to hard" attitude. There are many ways. I understand that. I have my way. I trained very strict traditionally but I have also trained in more modern methods of boxing as well as MMA. On my buisiness card it says " Training concepts for the progressive martial artist" "where old meets new." I keep progressing and modernizing but I don't give up the old ways either. It's a blend. But it's tough. It builds character. (in my opinion).

A group of monks were shown a big block of stone and asked what did they see. The reply was "an Elephant." An Elephant? I only see a stone. Eventually it was carved by a sculpter into an elephant. Wow...how did you do that? He replied that the Elephant was always there and all he had to do was remove everything that wasn't an Elephant. With that same philosphy, I am not really a "teacher." I am only a guide (sculpter). I chip away at you like the stone, revealing what is already there. The true You. However, sometimes the truth hurts. And sometimes you fight against the chipping. We never want to give up anything we only want to recieve. I teach against that. You must give up all you have. If your question is "when do I get my next belt?" that is the wrong attitude. You don't get anything, you only empty yourself. After that the rewards are many. Maybe not trophies and acalades but personal triumphs. There is no fight to win other than one. That fight is with yourself. If the truth revealed after the chipping away hurts too much, that is when you need to pick up the slack and help the Elephant come out. Start finding your own way. My job is to make you a better you. To make you better than me. But I only point to the way. The work is on you. The success is on you. As is the failure. So while I guide along the good points and compliment when necessary, I also shoot down the bad points and I definitely don't hold anyones hand or coddle them. I make them work. Whether they are learning martial arts, singing or house painting. I teach them how to teach themselves. The lesson starts the day you speak to me about joining my class.

By the way. A good example is how you said I failed as a teacher. If not for my training that might hurt me. But, just like in singing, I carry on anyway based on everything and not what one or two people say that may sting. I have been very successful and sought after in my teaching over the years ans still today. Even the busted rib guy still calls me and text msg me to keep trying to get me to teach him. But I no longer teach and he refuses to listen I keep telling his teacher to tell him to stop!! So things like that over ride anyone who has anything negative to say. I understand there will always be those that are for and those against. It's what makes the world go round. I just keep on keepin' on and that is my point. Strength of mind and strength of will. Not the thorns of other peoples insults or lack of support. I like to teach strength but I like "you" to find it. That creates true strength. Not me pointing it out to you. You have to work your own brain Thanks Jens....interesting and stimulating. Boring to others though :D

I can see your point and after close to 40 years of experience I have considered it before many times. Especially after being almost forced to modify my ways or "the old ways" to conform to the new softer methods. "BUT!" There are still the non commercial dojo out there that many don't know about. They aren't well known because they are not in it for money. Only the true way. Students are accepted by interview and by letter of introduction. Not all are accepted. This is the way. However, what seems a failure at teaching may also be perceived as a failure by the student. If the perspective student figures it out and comes back to try again he may make it the second (or third) time. Then he has already taught himself a valuable lesson. And has also taught me and others around him. That is true martial arts. If he decides, after being turned down the first time, to walk away with his tail between his legs and try an "easier" dojo, then he has set himself up for failure at some point and has already missed the message. All hope is not lost. After a time he may realize and come back. In both cases I end up having indirectly taught something as well as learned. So in some small way this concept overlaps into other endeavors in life. I don't fully believe in not knocking someone down a peg or two to build character and help them succeed. If they can't take it then maybe there are other issues that need addressing and they should solve those before pursuing a baseball or singing career or the Presidency or whatever.