ronws

i tried twice and my windows media player said the file was corrupted.

Actually, my copy of audacity has eq and reverb (called Gverb). I am not always satisfied with the results and I am still learning how to use those effects. When I did "Highway to Hell" I used an inverted RIAA eq pre-set. Otherwise, I tend not to use effects on the voice. But who knows, if I re-record with some softer singing volume and not overload the mic, I might get better results with those. And Shadow is pretty. In fact, Shadow is his name on his papers but my nickname for him is "Pretty Boy," because he is. And even before I had him neutered, people thought he was a she because he is so pretty. He is prettier than I am but I have learned to live with that. :lol:

Yes, yes, yes! I have learned that most of the problem comes from that. In part, due to singing over a guitar, sometimes my electric guitar (Hondo Flying V jacked into a Roland GS-6 rack mount special effects unit which is in turn, driving a Fender 85 200 watt guitar amp) and me with no microphone. So, I developed the ability to utter a sonic blast. So, I have been "oversinging" to be heard over my guitars. Now, jonpall says that I am using too much head resonance and I may beg to differ with him on that. Some of my problems, along with air pressure is carrying the chest voice to high. From what I have seen of the system represented by this site and forum, it's about bridging and connecting the head voice to the chest to create a complete range. In fact, the most soundest advice for a troublesome patch, even a passagio, is to approach it in head voice first and mix chest resonance little by little until you get the tone you are looking for. Now, there are times when a note is just going to sound loud, simply because it is placed right and the 2nd harmonic (I think) is coming into play, which amplifies that note. But yes, I have found, when I back off the air pressure, the note sounds stronger simply because it is truer, and the tone is more under control. In a roundabout way, I think that is what jonpall is talking about in using curbing and crying. I've heard some of his performances and he tends to sing at a softer volume than I have. But he also has some great tone. I also sing some really high stuff and at the upper end of my range, I have to resonate properly to get the note out, and so it ends up sounding loud. I simply will not ruin my chords trying to do, say, a Michael Bolton crying rasp at the end of my range. One of the things I was pleased with on this recording of "Stairway to Heaven" is that I did specifically watch and control my air pressure. Even the ending part that is in the mid to high tenor range, I held back on air pressure and just concentrated on resonating the note. And ended on a higher note than the original because that suits my voice better, not trying to show up Robert Plant, but I don't think I can do his 1/2 tone with rasp justice and I don't want to hurt my voice trying to do one sound effect. The reason it may have sounded like a scream or "oversinging" is the mic I am recording on. It's about as good as a cellphone mic. If mics didn't make the difference, then Heil and Rode would be out of business. Professional singers sometimes carry two or three mics to a gig, because different venues have different acoustics and one mic will sound better in one, but not necessarily in another. Even if I were to get software that helps with pitch correction, it can't do its full job if the mic giving it input is crackling and cutting out and, in some cases, is flattening the pitch because the volume and pitch are more than it can handle. It is a physical limitation. I could go deep into the physics and electronics of it but I won't. In some cases, I have had a recording that just didn't happen as I would like and it doesn't matter how well I have done before, how well I do live and in person, that one "Aw crap" erases it all. Fortunately, I am as stubborn as a Texas mule. I don't know the word "quit." And I greatly appreciate the advice and tips I receive here.

I thought it was good performance. You put some soul into the jazz. And, for me, the drums were fresh and saucy. Was that you on the drums? I really like the Robert Cray tones in your voice but the falsetto worked pretty, as well. Usually, I listen to guitar but on this, I found the drums very inspiring.

I agree with the others. At times, the harmonies were distracting but the lead vocal was really good. Singing in a softer volume, you had great tone and an excellent vibrato, in my opinion. Maybe we could hear it with, like the others said, harmony only on the chorus and in the form of the word "ah", which will highlight your lead vocal. I think you're hitting your stride, man.

My advice may not be worth as much as a wooden nickel. You have an nice tone in your voice. Even when you do a falsetto tone, it's good. You went off pitch on some of the higher notes and I think, for what it's worth, that it is because of forming the words, specifically the vowels forward in your mouth. Try singing it while smiling. Not because we want to see you smile, which would be great, but because it will change where you resonate, by causing the words to form in the back of your mouth. Also, I think, your pitch will get better after you have done this song a number of times, mainly because, by then, you won't have to stop and refer to the sheet music. That is, flowing along will change everything.

Singasong. I've played guitar since 1974 and have been working on my voice since 1988. And I still have people telling me I need lessons and work, in both. And they may be right. But hitting a wrong note won't stop me. I have been doing electrical work since 1983 and will be doing it a while longer but trust me on this, I will also be singing and may yet make something of a career out of it. None of us are finished products. There are a number of people here with better voices than mine. And yet, they are here, still honing their craft. So, you will do likewise. Here, elsewhere, whereever. I have a master electrician license. It took me a while to get. It took a number of tries to pass my journeyman's exam. And I passed the master exam on the second try, not the first. As I used to describe it, I am too stupid to quit. But what I mean by that is that if you have a goal, pursue it. The only person that stops you is yourself. Yes, you could be safe and finish your law degree. But pursue what you must do. Mick Jagger was in college for accounting. Duff McKagan went back to school after being in Guns and Roses and finished his business degree. And Jimi Hendrix used to be a sargeant in the US Army. And the singer for the Georgia Satellites mowed lawns for a living. Jewel lived in a van under a bridge. Madonna arrived in New York City with $35 in her pocket. Most of the members of Guns and Roses slept in the storage unit where they kept their gear, from time to time. Either there or on the couch and floor at Slash's mother's house. Do what you feel you must do. Damn the torpedos and full speed ahead ...

Believe it or not, jonpall, I had a similar epiphany at work today, while re-routing some 1 inch electrical pipes for floor boxes in the computer lab of this school we're remodelling. Putting things in their proper place, literally and figuratively. With my having posted so much in this section, it must have seemed that I was using it as a showcase. In my flash of insight, I realized that this is a forum and specifically a section to post things that need to be worked on. And I agree, I got pitchy in some spots. And I do engage in some exercises, I just don't think to post examples of them here. Long and short of it is that I will be posting less. Not because I am afraid of criticism but more to the need to be more specific when I am at a loss. Say I do some exercises and it's not helping. So, I bring it here for ideas. That kind of thing. Within reason. I did another version of "Dust in the Wind" with a cleaned-up guitar performance and slightly softer singing volume simply to see if that is what people were talking about and if that is the way to go in some of endeavors. I may still do that from time to time. Even in playback, which sounded better, by the way, I can tell that not all of the tone is being played. I'm on pitch, with good tone, I think, but not all of the overtone in my voice is making it through. Shoot, not even all the resonance of my cheapie guitar is coming through. And that is an equipment problem. So, much of the stuff I put up never received a single comment, good or bad. So, either people were bored or being polite, not wanting to hurt my feelings. I realize that "Brandy" is not "Back in Black" and sounding like a tenor version of Looking Glass is not as important as sounding like Brian Johnson. So, I guess I assumed that there wasn't any problems other than what I heard of myself and yes, I have heard some of the same things you have mentioned. So, you're not hurting my feelings and I do have these mistakes. One of the biggest things that has been helping me is a series of essays in the main site about using less air pressure. And such is my bad luck to submit so much stuff before I started any improvement. And, perhaps, you have simply had enough. I have been using more twang and curbing and using more head resonance lately, though I think that is not what you are referring to. I think you were talking about the highest notes, perhaps. Anyway, I'll quit bothering you guys.

In regards to tone, for example, I can do a pretty good (I think) impersonation of Clint Eastwood but it comes from having similar speaking voices. So, yes, there are things that can be done to change tone. But I have an easier time changing tone at lower pitches and not so much at higher pitches. At least for now.

Thanks, Fahim. I have been emailing you, by now. And jonpall, I get what your saying, I was just mystified with your response in this thread. As per your own words, you weren't referencing my performance of this song, specifically, but speaking more generally, no doubt in reference to other specific performances. I feel it would have been more helpful if you brought up the issue in the performance you had a problem with. Let's say I had a problem with "I Remember You" (which I did and think I sucked on that one). Criticizing specific issues with it while reviewing "Whiskey in the Jar" wouldn't make sense to me, unless it could be related in terms of "here's where you had it solid and here is where you veered" if such comparisons could be made. Two me, both songs require different singing volumes, which may have been my problem. I know vowel phonation was a problem, for sure, causing me to breath wrong and end up pitchy. I'm not ticked at you about anything. I value your input and I envy you having a band. I'm not sure what I could do about tone. To some extent, we all have a basic tone but I think we can modify it. And I will, in fact, take those in deep consideration and Fahim is going to try and share with me the "tools", so to speak, that he uses to monitor and correct pitch. And maybe it's a case of where taking care of pitch will bring tone into line. The only other thing I could ask of you is that, in the future, if there's a problem with a performance, please mention it in relation to that one. Sometimes, I do better with specific cases that I may generalize later. I have been learning a lot here, lately, and it comes from realizing that I can do better with a softer or lighter approach. That I don't have to sing loud enough to be heard in the Cotton Bowl Stadium at Fair Park in Dallas, without a p.a. That, alone, I think, allows a better control over tone. So, for example, your link to the lip bubbles, in that regard, makes perfect sense, as far as controlling breath and air pressure.

Thanks, guys. I hate to admit it, but I did not practice the guitar part in between this time and last time. I did clip my fingernails, though. And this is the way I have always played this song. It's one of the few that my mother did like. And, by the way, this song is actually played by two guitars, whereas I am playing it on one. I have seen Kansas live, as others here have, and it was usually played, at least live, on two guitars. As for the singing, I tried to sing it quieter than I have in times past. That seems to help with this cheapie mic that distorts on anything over conversational volume. And, I kid you not, even the guitar doesn't sound in recording like it does live, here in my hands. But I didn't like the guitar track on the previous one and I was glad to re-do it. And I have left it up for comparison. I'm going to work on pitch issues where I can, though I can't help the basic tone of my voice, just as I can't help being tall or blonde or blue-eyed. Some things I am just stuck with.

Here it is, with a cleaned up guitar track. Please excuse the tone and pitch problems in my voice as they sound on this little mic that I have.

I have re-recorded it with a clean-up guitar, though there was a data glitch that produces an odd tone repeat. Probably because it's Audacity. It's saving right now as a wmv and then I can upload it to youtube. I will start a new thread for it. And apologize in advance for my tone and pitch problems.

Thanks a bunch, Keith. I guess it depends on what day it is as to whether I get a good review. Someone just go through telling me I have pitch and tone problems. I'm singing into a mic that overloads on anything over a conversational volume (standard desk mic for a computer.) So, I appreciate it. I still plan to re-record it one of these days, at least for the guitar part, which did get fouled up. I have played it better but now, it seems, one bad mistake and I don't have a clue.

Keith, I think you sounded smooth. Your voice actually reminded me of blues great Robert Cray. And I can say that because I saw him perform about a month or so ago (friends paid for the tickets.)

Thanks for the advice. I was not being snotty. You said there was a need for lessons so I was trying to figure out what. So, my problems are tone and pitch, which is pretty much everything in singing, regardless of range. I am here to learn.

I thought it sounded fine. Spectacular register shifts.

I hate to bother you with one more question. I have to pay my car note, insurance, phone bill and credit card bill, all this week. And I'm on temp assignment (it's the best I can get). Do know of instructors in either guitar or voice who work cheap or don't mind trading lessons for electrical work? Barter still happens these days and after I pay the bills, I will be near broke. I won't bore you with the details of the job market around here but I am blessed to even have this temp assignment. I can't even afford a decent mic.

That's Shadow, a few years ago, laying on the back porch.

Thanks, jonpall. Lessons for which? Guitar? Singing? Both? I can explain the problems with the guitar, it being a cheapie with an tall action. What part of the singing was wrong? I can't do much about the mic, right now. It distorts and flattens at anything above a conversational volume, so you may not be able to accurately hear what you may think is wrong with my singing. But I am always learning. As for the guitar, I am so used to playing and singing this at the same time that I still miss cues on playback that I wouldn't while playing live. And it seems I run into this on any song I have played for a while. And I miscalculated. I have only played this song for 31 years, not 36. Or do I need lessons in recording? I was wondering if you could be a little more specific. And here's a giggle for you. I linked this song to another site I go to for fans of a certain band (not a Led Zep fan site). Another member on that forum who has a band thought the singing was fine but the guitar was rough. And, here's the funny part, he thought I was trying to sound like Robert Plant. I explained that I was most specifically not trying to sound like Plant, because I can't, for one thing. Plus, think each person should develope their own sound. Anyway, he asked if we could collaberate some time in the future. I guess there's no accounting for taste, eh? :lol:

Updated version of "Heaven and Hell" from Black Sabbath. I deleted the previous one. This one has better air pressure involved.

I have been playing this song for 36 years. But I have been able to sing it in the proper range for only about 22 years. That being said, I still learn things about it. I end it on a higher note which is more comfortable for me than trying to manage a 1/2 tone with rasp. Plus, I'm not trying to sound like Robert Plant. I'm trying to sound like Ron. When I was a teenager and playing guitar, the surest way to gain the affections of young ladies was being able to play this song. They always asked, "Can you play "Stairway to Heaven"?" "Stairway to Heaven" from Led Zeppelin.

I redid the song with a backing track I found. Same crappy mic but at least the music is better. I had to keep the mic at least two feet away and so some overtones are lost but such is life until I get a better mic. "Sweet Child o Mine" from Guns and Roses.

True. One of my friends from high school was a guy named Arun. His family was from New Delhi but I think he was born in America. Funny thing is, he and I were classmates in 1st and 2nd year German.

I meant to add bio on Shadow. He is almost 7 years old. A male mix of Siberian Husky and Black Labrador Retriever. I had a Lab breeder appraise him and he estimated that Shadow is at least 80 percent siberian. He has 4 colors, black, brown, red, and a white undercoat. Small pointed ears that can stand up or lay down. A bushy tail carried in a curl. A deep runner's chest. I once estimated his top speed around 35 mph. 26 inches to the shoulder and about 3 feet long, not including tail but he only weighs 65 pounds, thanks to having the bone density of a Siberian Husky. His metabolism and temperment is siberian. The siberian metabolism is quite special. They eat very simple food and not a lot at one time. Their metabolism is geared to getting maximum nutrition out of very little. This pic was taken a few years ago. His eyes are iridescent amber and in direct sunlight, his coat has a prismatic visual effect. In the right light, he looks like a timberwolf and more often than not, people have asked me if he was a wolf or part wolf (wolf hybrid). He gets along great with cats and little dogs.