Guest

Thanks yes it's helpful. I don't like to use a lyrics sheet but find that lately I have been resorting to one. This is because I have been singing new songs or songs I don't completely know. I prefer owning a song before singing it so I am very comfortable with the lyrics and phrasing allowing me room to breath and play. However, lately while recording I have been hanging the lyrics up with tape in front of me. I think that this causes me to have to re record a few times now. When I'm reading lyrics I tend to lose the little feeling in the song. So I finally say...."ok...one more time and forget about the damn lyrics....just sing the song Tommy...just sing the song". For this song I didn't use a lyrics sheet. I know this song too well. That is how I changed it to my version. That was the long answer....sorry.:D

Thanks man, glad you liked it. I have a few things planned. Many of you guys practice scales, I practice by recording songs...over, and over, and over... Actually I just purchased and a few Hendrix backing tracks. More Bluesy Hendrix though. Also a better backing track for Stormy Monday so I can redo the one I posted last week. Thanks again brother

Well thank you ladies! Yea Keith that would be cool.

I think it would have been easier to time if I played it and sang it at the same time. But I can't do that So I recorded the guitar alone first. Problem is I had to sing to myself in my head as I was playing to try and figure out how many times to play a line before moving to chorus etc. Then when to end! Normally I would just play the tune on and on. So the trouble came when I later tried to match my vocals to the kind of crazy out of sync strumming pattern and timing. Too many beats in some bars not enough in others....who knows. lol.

Ok, I'm going out on a limb here but so be it. You have to have guts if you want to make it. Spirit!! I post a lot of songs because for me that is my practice. It is the application of technique. It's my exercise, I exercise live. Anyway, this song can end up making you cringe a bit, but... This is an attempt at my singing to my own guitar playing. However I don't play guitar. What? You say. I have two acoustic guitars here that are about 12 years old. One still has the original strings and the one I'm playing, well the strings are very old also. Man, did the playing hurt. I haven't played any guitar in years and when I did I was just trying to learn and didn't actualy play. I couldn't play with anyone nor did I know any complete songs. Just a few riffs and some scales. Not good either. But that was a very long time ago. So Tommy gets the bright idea the other day to whip out a guitar and try to do a song. I had to practice for about half an hour to get the chords somewhat close. Then I tried to sing to it!! Holy crap that was hard. I had to play with the vocals to match the playing and alter phrasing, catch up...slow down...yikes!!! I couldn't find the timing to match the guitar mess! I had to mess around with the phrasing a little (a lot). What came out was a slight departure (vocal melody wise) from the original. The guitar and vocals are a bit distorted and the mic overloaded on guitar as well as vocals but here goes. I hope it isn't too bad. Don;t be afraid to throw tomatoes at me I'm posting it because I'm proud of it none the less. I was proud of the fact that I was able to make "my version" of this song. good or bad. I know it isn't most of you all's genre, but. Ok "Dead Flowers" by the Rolling Stones." With me playing guitar and singing vocals. Special meaning for me....it represents me, or a part of my life long ago. My "other life." My wife saved me from that "basement room." http://www.soundclick.com/player/single_player.cfm?songid=11704821&q=hi&newref=1

Yea I never realized what a good song this is. I was looking at one of my karaoke CD's with about 15 songs on it and came across this one. I played it and the light bulb went on in my head! I immediately had a stage vision of the song. The only problem was that I also never realized how much I didn't know the song. It's coming round though. Thanks for the listen.

This one's for all the ladies out there. Just kidding. I found this backing track I didn't know I had and thought I'd give it a shot. I never sang this before and didn't know the words or phrasing so I went for a ride in the car and got the gist of it and general feel. Sometimes for me that's better because then it adds more "me" to the song rather than a copy. Anyway I came home and recorded it and this is what we got. The recording isn't so great but I didn't have time to do it again. http://www.soundclick.com/player/single_player.cfm?songid=11704683&q=hi&newref=1

Your voice sounded very good The recording was a bit muffled as well as the mic overloaded, as has been said. But I understand that because I am terrible at recording myself But just note that I have found (at least for me) that singing for recording and singing live differ as far as mic placement Live, there are times when I can hold a mic close to my face/mouth, and maybe move it away a few inches or 6 or 7. While recording my mic is always a foot or more away even for not so high notes. Otherwise it overloads. Well, for me anyway. Well, to be hones I clip the mic always....I stink at this recording stuff. Experiment.

Thanks Olem. RE; clipping. Yea I know, I tend to sing loud. I can get pretty good vocal power when I want. Problem is it happens sometimes even when I don't want I have to keep moving the mic closer and then further. I never know when I might go louder or with more power or softer and lighter, it happens more by feel than by plan. I feel an emotion I let it out! I don't think I sing a song the same twice. Thanks Olem

Yo! This is a rough sketch, so to speak of "Stormy Monday." I haven't done this song before because I don't have a good backing track. This one sucks as do most (all) I've found. It doesn't sound like Stormy Monday, it only sounds like a (any) blues progression. I can't get the feel of the song. There isn't any emotion in the backing track for me. I don't feel it. Anyway, here's a quick run through/test run. Short, straight, and too the point. Maybe some time down the road I'll get it done right http://www.soundclick.com/player/single_player.cfm?songid=11704126&q=hi

Nice job Olem. I tend to agree with the other two comments; well somewhat. For me, I'm not sure if it was too high as much as it was closer to a scream which caused the actual "singing" to be flatlined. If that makes any sense at all. Halford is singing this even though he is really up there and attacking the notes. But there is still a melody. I think you tried so hard that the melody flattened out. I don't mean as in a flat note...I just mean it became less melodic and more like screaming the words. But that was a good attempt Olem, good job and I'm sure you're not far from getting this...it wasn't Mickey Mouse!! :)

There are a few ways of practicing pitch but something so simple was mentioned here by someone (I think it was slstone?) that I had to smack myself in the head....duh! I have a simple tuner I used to use for guitar and I just plug my mic to that and go through a scale. I guess you can use a regular pitch pipe but I use an online pitch pipe. I hit "A" on the pitch pipe then sing to the tone using whatever suits me that particular time. oo or ah or ee whatever. Then make sure I get the note by the tuner. Then Ab, then B, then Bb etc.

Actually, to me they both sounded like chest, just different variations. The first one sounded stronger, although it was almost like you were speaking rather than carrying a melody. Then second one sounded like chest but very airy and light. Something that helped me was when I stopped thinking of chest voice and then moving up toward head. I now start up top. Everything is from top down. So I don't go up to head, I go down to chest.

Well other than the fact that it ended abruptly, I thought it sounded very good.

Actually I did miss this one. I thought that was good. But as Ron eluded to, they're all good. Nicely done. Not my genre but good is good Especially considering they're original tunes.

Thanks, that's good to hear I think my biggest thing is that I think my ear is too good for my own good!! I tend to hear off pitch notes and "bad spots" when no one else seems to hear them in others' recordings as well my own; especially my own. Which causes me to dislike many of my own covers so at some point down the road I end up make a new recording of songs previously posted.

Thanks Ron. I've been having a tough time with this particular backing track.

Here is my version of "One Way Out." Most people associate this with the Allman Brothers but it is really an old Blues song. It is unclear whether it was written by Elmore James or Sonny Boy Williamson II. I am more familiar with Sonny Boy's version since he is a harp player and pretty much one of the original icons. My version here is a mix of Sonny Boy's and the Allman Brothers as far as the vocal style goes. However, I am obviously limited by the fact that the track is in the Allman Brothers style including the long acapella ending which isn't in the original. But I altered one or two lines to pay omage to Sonny Boy as well as to add my own flair. I also alter the melody and phrasing just a touch. http://www.soundclick.com/player/single_player.cfm?songid=11691868&q=hi&newref=1

I thought the same thing when you sent the first scratch track. Your voice is lower than I expected. I think I can go fairly low

Thank you Tex ;)

That's pretty cool that you wee able to remove the vocals. I've tried before unsuccessfully. Anyway I thought the song sounded good especially since you learned it in a day? That's some work brother :D

Thanks Quincy. Yea, I usually keep the basic (original) version in my head then play with the sounds and notes to see where I can take it. Sometimes it's just jumping and hoping I land on my feet. My trouble part seems to be the high parts of "let it be, let it be, let be yea let it be" Connecting the high "be" to the "let it" that comes before it. Sometimes it's a breeze and sometimes it just doesn't work to my satisfaction. I love singing this though and especially coming back to the vocals after the break. The whole feel changes for me and I feel i sing it better at that point.

Thanks guys. And I almost didn't post it!! Much appreciated.

Here is my rendition of the Allman Brothers' "Statesboro Blues" (Actully this song was originally done by Blind Willie McTell) http://www.soundclick.com/player/single_player.cfm?songid=11693619&q=hi&newref=1

Thanks Vocalist. RE: Thank you. I put it on a CD and it sounds pretty good but too much (to close) to the original melody. I'd like to do it over and add my own vocal touches to it. But in answer to your question I am only planning on getting her in the car for a drive and then throwing the CD in. No parties However in September (the month of our Wedding anniversary, I will definitely sing it at karaoke. A little harp? All harps are small ...hahahahaha. Yes I do...but not that well Thanks for commenting.