MDEW

This was a contribution to the "Legends Lost" thread.  Glenn Fry passed earlier this year.
I found an old microphone while searching through my things and thought I would try it out. I am not sure how I ended up with it. It turns out that this is an Electrovoice 635A. An interview microphone used by reporters and such. I was using a Shure PE50 super pro(sm57 and sm58 were based on this) and I am not sure if the vocal improvement is from the Microphone or if Lessons are starting to pay off. Anyway I can tell a difference in the sound from this effort and songs recorded a week ago.
  Any comments welcome good or bad......improvement is the goal. I am aware of the harmony being flat in the final verse. It was getting late and time to stop. Still a major improvement from other efforts.
 

I guess that is why I could not pin down the accent. There is a little Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Kentucky,Tennessee, Carolina..........in there.   Nice sound though.............
If you like older Country and Western, check out Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys a weird mixture of Western Swing and Big Band. Once you get past Bobs "Hoots and Hollers" that has no business being there, it is not too bad.

Here is one for Glenn. I decided to just go ahead and post it as is. The more I messed with it the worse it got.
Comments welcome anyway.............
 
 

This was a contribution to the "Legends Lost" thread.  Glenn Fry passed earlier this year.
I found an old microphone while searching through my things and thought I would try it out. I am not sure how I ended up with it. It turns out that this is an Electrovoice 635A. An interview microphone used by reporters and such. I was using a Shure PE50 super pro(sm57 and sm58 were based on this) and I am not sure if the vocal improvement is from the Microphone or if Lessons are starting to pay off. Anyway I can tell a difference in the sound from this effort and songs recorded a week ago.
  Any comments welcome good or bad......improvement is the goal. I am aware of the harmony being flat in the final verse. It was getting late and time to stop. Still a major improvement from other efforts.
 

Sounds Good Bzean. Pretty healthy Country/western accent you have going on. Is that from your home town or something you work on? I like it, My accent just trips me up and I have to "Do" something about it or it will take over.
      The "Sleepy" sound in my voice is something I have been aware of for a long time and as you said it seems that getting a "Bite"  helps out a little. The last recording of Peaceful Easy Feeling" was the best so far at taking the Sleepy sound out. I watched Glenn sing it a few times "Live" with minimal backing.
     So many good Eagles songs to choose from it is hard to settle on one. I may even try a Prince song just for the sake of doing it. "Purple Rain" or "When Doves Cry".  I had Forgotten that Natalie Cole passed this January. So many Good singers and entertainers have passed............

Lovers Cross and Lifetime Lover for me...........Same girl ......... Jim really came through for me.
I always felt like Maury Muehleisen ....... in the background while others got the credit.  Kind of like Steve Goodman to John Prine. ...........   I played Bass and Lead guitar for quite a few bands......background vocals..........

Here is one for Glenn. I decided to just go ahead and post it as is. The more I messed with it the worse it got.
Comments welcome anyway.............
 
 

I think you are really talking about C4 to C5. Again that is still a typical male voice range F2- C5 and slightly above. What you are hearing as "Flat is the sound of "Falsetto". You are also using a configuration for singing that more resembles your Speaking voice, at least the way you use your speaking voice.
Your F2 is even brighter and more solid than mine and I normally speak around the G2 to A2 area. The way you speak can be considered an Accent. You speak light and in the general area of F3 and G3. A coordination for singing is more along the lines of the coordination of "Hulk Hogan" doing a wrestling interview with Mean Gene Okerlund(look that up if you have to). I am not saying you are going to sound like him, only that the coordination would be similar. Dampened larynx, Cord compression and airflow and intensity. The best way to learn this stuff for singing and training Is with a program like the "Four Pillars" a very good program well worth the money. Authored and Taught by Robert Lunte whose post is above.
Even though I have a Lower set voice I have found that I have to imitate Louie Armstrong just to get the sound out of my nose (we all have our own little setbacks). That is another reason to have a program like Roberts, We cannot hear ourselves the way others hear us and our own perceived adjustments can be off in ways we would never know.
 

Quit singing? Never!   It is true that we do not hear ourselves like others hear us. That is why you post on a place like this. Even when someone here tells you that you sing through your nose or your singing flat, it is not to make you stop. It is to give you directions on how to improve.
I went through the self learning and buying books on how to sing, singing techniques, and have been "Singing" for over 30 years. Even singing in public and getting paid for it ........... Guess what? I have(had) a terrible sound(I am now improving).
Even when you know in your heart you are doing everything right you can still have misguided concepts about your own voice  and what needs to change to make it better. How have you been trying to improve? what type of exercises?  Have you been recording yourself, listening to it and hearing where things sound wonkey and trying with a different type of sound? Using different amounts of Fold closure, Different intensities? Different vowels?   Or just singing the same song again the same way and having it sound the same over and over? There are certain ways to exercise that helps and certain ways that will hinder your progress.
Put the Link back up. Let more of us hear it. Realize that when or If we say something is bad or not working that it is meant to help you NOT discourage you.

Quit singing? Never!   It is true that we do not hear ourselves like others hear us. That is why you post on a place like this. Even when someone here tells you that you sing through your nose or your singing flat, it is not to make you stop. It is to give you directions on how to improve.
I went through the self learning and buying books on how to sing, singing techniques, and have been "Singing" for over 30 years. Even singing in public and getting paid for it ........... Guess what? I have(had) a terrible sound(I am now improving).
Even when you know in your heart you are doing everything right you can still have misguided concepts about your own voice  and what needs to change to make it better. How have you been trying to improve? what type of exercises?  Have you been recording yourself, listening to it and hearing where things sound wonkey and trying with a different type of sound? Using different amounts of Fold closure, Different intensities? Different vowels?   Or just singing the same song again the same way and having it sound the same over and over? There are certain ways to exercise that helps and certain ways that will hinder your progress.
Put the Link back up. Let more of us hear it. Realize that when or If we say something is bad or not working that it is meant to help you NOT discourage you.

Quit singing? Never!   It is true that we do not hear ourselves like others hear us. That is why you post on a place like this. Even when someone here tells you that you sing through your nose or your singing flat, it is not to make you stop. It is to give you directions on how to improve.
I went through the self learning and buying books on how to sing, singing techniques, and have been "Singing" for over 30 years. Even singing in public and getting paid for it ........... Guess what? I have(had) a terrible sound(I am now improving).
Even when you know in your heart you are doing everything right you can still have misguided concepts about your own voice  and what needs to change to make it better. How have you been trying to improve? what type of exercises?  Have you been recording yourself, listening to it and hearing where things sound wonkey and trying with a different type of sound? Using different amounts of Fold closure, Different intensities? Different vowels?   Or just singing the same song again the same way and having it sound the same over and over? There are certain ways to exercise that helps and certain ways that will hinder your progress.
Put the Link back up. Let more of us hear it. Realize that when or If we say something is bad or not working that it is meant to help you NOT discourage you.

you dont have to "quit" something just because it doesnt come easily and you dont have to quit just because you wont be a star overnight. Sometimes you just have to take your time and look into it a little bit
ANYONE can sing to one degree or another and maybe you are just missing something basic like decent breathing or something similar?
 
Many people told me I cant sing or play guitar etc....but I cant quit because I suck at gaming too...so im stuck.

I am having trouble posting there also. The problem is being worked on.
I like your tone and the song but I have to mention that I cannot understand the words. It may not matter in this day and age. Some of the words to Nickelback I would rather not know.

"(guitar) play it properly (something I can't do "
Learn the Basics first.........Chords........Progressions.......Rhythm............    The rest is subject to opinion and choices.  First and foremost a single guitar provides a basic rhythm (beat) and basic chord structure accompaniment for the singing.  The rest is embellishment that is learned a little at a time while gaining confidence.  Much faster this way than trying to perfect the embellishments first.

"(guitar) play it properly (something I can't do "
Learn the Basics first.........Chords........Progressions.......Rhythm............    The rest is subject to opinion and choices.  First and foremost a single guitar provides a basic rhythm (beat) and basic chord structure accompaniment for the singing.  The rest is embellishment that is learned a little at a time while gaining confidence.  Much faster this way than trying to perfect the embellishments first.

I love Bonnie Rait.  I already thought about learning this. I thought it would look like I was trying to copy Robert or something so I stopped. Good or Bad I'm in.

How about "New York's on my home quote and "I love you in a song".
 

I'm now remembering that, some months ago, we were working on voting for a song for one of our new genre challenges. One song seemed to get a lot of suggestions, but because of the selection process, it did not get chosen. 
Things must be kept uniform and fair, but the most important thing that goes on here is that we choose the challenge songs that everybody wants to sing. 
 
With that being said, who would still be up for an I Can't Make You Love me Challenge?
 
 

This is just a quick recording, Using what I call "Fake" voice. I am playing with a little rasp. While growing up and singing with relatives they would condemn me for NOT using "MY NATURAL" voice. So I got stuck thinking to "Fake it" was a wrong thing to do. I think that some of this is on the right path to "Singing" rather than what I was doing before and thinking that I was "Singing" using my "Natural" voice.
   So if you would .......... Point out what is "Right" rather than just saying it sucks and I need more lessons.           Thanks.
 

Sounded great Robert, I credit Jim for teaching me how to play guitar(such as it is).  I had two 8-track tapes of his "Life and Times" and Photographs and Memories". I spent hours just trying to figure out the chords. This was one of my all time favorites. "one less Set of Footsteps" is another.
Jim got me through a lot of bad times.
    Also another reason that I put the Song over the singer. Nothing wrong with Jims singing but those words and melodies are gold no matter who sings them.

Thanks Gneetapp, This was an experiment, Now that I have the idea to use someone else's voice if you do not like the tone, I have been making a little progress. This is a lighter version of Louie Armstrong.
I have been imitating "Speaking" voices since childhood but with "singing" I had the impression from many sources that it should be natural without manipulation. Most Vocal Technique books and Videos on singing would have you do scales and sirens "Slightly Above" your speaking volume and "Relax" extrinsic and intrinsic muscles.
Imitating voices is the opposite of that. Some people may have a natural tendency to compress the vocal folds, engage the twanger and really fill the lungs before speaking but that is not my tendency with normal speech.  For imitating I purposely manipulate these elements.
Luckily for me Roberts Program has you Compress, Twang and Dampen the larynx with purpose for the sake of "Working out" the vocal mechanism. If it was presented to me like that a long time ago I would not be in the shape I am in Vocal wise.
Other programs would have you Do the Meh, Meh, Meh for resonance, Nae, Nae Nae, for twang, Buh, Buh, Buh for compression and Vocal fry for fold closure but they would have them independently with slightly above speech volume never giving the idea that these things are used purposely together ALWAYS.   Robert puts them together with Work flows and that is why there is such a difference in his program than others. AND he shows the intensity and passion that goes into it. 
 

Thanks Gneetapp, This was an experiment, Now that I have the idea to use someone else's voice if you do not like the tone, I have been making a little progress. This is a lighter version of Louie Armstrong.
I have been imitating "Speaking" voices since childhood but with "singing" I had the impression from many sources that it should be natural without manipulation. Most Vocal Technique books and Videos on singing would have you do scales and sirens "Slightly Above" your speaking volume and "Relax" extrinsic and intrinsic muscles.
Imitating voices is the opposite of that. Some people may have a natural tendency to compress the vocal folds, engage the twanger and really fill the lungs before speaking but that is not my tendency with normal speech.  For imitating I purposely manipulate these elements.
Luckily for me Roberts Program has you Compress, Twang and Dampen the larynx with purpose for the sake of "Working out" the vocal mechanism. If it was presented to me like that a long time ago I would not be in the shape I am in Vocal wise.
Other programs would have you Do the Meh, Meh, Meh for resonance, Nae, Nae Nae, for twang, Buh, Buh, Buh for compression and Vocal fry for fold closure but they would have them independently with slightly above speech volume never giving the idea that these things are used purposely together ALWAYS.   Robert puts them together with Work flows and that is why there is such a difference in his program than others. AND he shows the intensity and passion that goes into it. 
 

Tony Rice was born in my hometown lol. (though he moved away as an infant)      He did a show here a few years back. he was still getting it pretty good.
 
I gotta say it....you reference your childhood and your perception of families expectations or feedback they gave you or whatever. at some point though, as regards singing, you need to let all of that go
Im only reading between the lines because I dont know your background that well.
Im gathering that you are saying that you came up with a strong bluegrass background, or other traditional "mountain" vocal style. But now you want to get into more traditional, middle of the road rock type sounds
 
In that case maybe youd be better off to actually try to OVERCORRECT a bit.  For instance maybe actually go for a real Dio sound. A really heavy compressed, super supported sound. Or maybe even a Bruce Dickinson tone, which can be a heavy covered sound.
Those sounds are OPPOSITE of what you have now. and you may never actually reach those sounds....but in doing so, you'll probably end up dead in the middle with a good basic rock tone
 
its kind of like if you have $50 and want to become a millionaire. Whats the best way? Well a good way is to aim to make $10 million...then even if you only get halfway there you easily reached the 1 million lol
sometimes it better to make a radical mind shift as opposed to inching along
 
Peace, JJ

Joe,
Its cool. Pretty choice for a song. I like the color of your voice.. has a pinch of Dylan in it... 
- Pitch is good.
- Interpretation is tasty and artful.
- You would benefit from opening up your resonance / formant with more "ou" resonance Joe... refer to the Curbing vowels... mid narrowed Blue vowel.  It would add a bit of warmth to this.
- The very last "stay...." , wavered on pitch... but what ever.
Tastey.. nice work Joe. 

This is just a quick recording, Using what I call "Fake" voice. I am playing with a little rasp. While growing up and singing with relatives they would condemn me for NOT using "MY NATURAL" voice. So I got stuck thinking to "Fake it" was a wrong thing to do. I think that some of this is on the right path to "Singing" rather than what I was doing before and thinking that I was "Singing" using my "Natural" voice.
   So if you would .......... Point out what is "Right" rather than just saying it sucks and I need more lessons.           Thanks.