Sourtulip

Yes, you can learn to sing. You have to want it. It doesn't just get handed to you.

For me, I sing because I cannot think of not singing. Whether I have a good day, or not.

I thought it a bit odd that a bass player would not have a concept of pitch, or at least, harmony. Anyway, match yourself to an instrument. Don't stop until you match the note.

But here is your magic pill for the day. You do not sing like you speak. Yes, both activities use the same organs but singing has greater range, greater longetivity of the note, and pitch is paramount. Speaking lives inside singing, not the other way around.

So, there's a magic pill. Drink it with water.

I was actually considering not to answering on this on, but as you can see, i did.

I dont quite "get" what your post is all about? What i get from it is the following.

First you tell me that being able to sing wont get "handed" to me. Well, I think that is pretty obvious to everyone and I dont see how you could think that I dident know that already but trust me, i know it will take a lot of practice, as a matter of fact, i first came here to find out if it was even possible for me to learn how to sing

You go on to tell me (completly out of context) that you ,"cannot think of not singing, whether you have a good day or not" like this is the only way to go. Whats that all about?

The third "point" of your post is a quick comment, based on the assumption that i "dont know the concept of pitch and harmony". I guess you get this from the video I uploaded? Have you ever considered that its possible to have an idea of what you want to create but not having the skills to actually pull it off? I dont know about you, but i imagine all kinds of music in my head which im not able to play as my skills are inadequate.

You finish off, by giving me this "magic pill" which content i already know but again - I have an idea of how my vocal should sound like then Im trying to sing a specific piece of music but then I open my mouth, it sure as hell aint whats coming out

The bright side of your post is this part: "Anyway, match yourself to an instrument. Don't stop until you match the note."

So, thanks for that one....

The ideas on singing what you play is great! Iv done it in the past few days with scales and I really think this can help me - maybe not with my singing but then at least to be a better musician in general.

And thanks to you all for your replys

David: Im sure you are not alone on that one. Unfortunatly, that is actually how I "sing" ;)

When I started out about a year ago I couldn't sing any notes in tune.

It really helped me to play a single note on my guitar and just make sound with my mouth.

I'd raise and lower the pitch of the sound until it rang in unison with the note, just like when you are tuning your strings.

I did that over and over until I got used to the sound when it was in tune and when it was out of tune.

I still can't sing in tune very well but since doing those exercises I've improved and at least now I can usually tell when I'm out of tune.

I play bass too and it's not so easy to sing with a bass, so if you can get access to a keyboard or guitar it will really help you.

Best of luck.

Also, I'm a real believer in the power of the mind.

If you state that you are going to be very bad it generally becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.

If you wish to improve stop calling your videos "really poor" etc. Remember your mind is listening and it will respond!!

Sounds great that you have been abel to improve that much, it really gives me some motivation to give singing a shot.

Well, i dont think i work like that. Most of the time, if i feel like im really bad at something that i find interesting, I will find a way to become better, its kind of a motivation factor to me

Yet, I also want to be realistic and if it would be nearly impossible for me to learn how to sing then I would rather use my time on getting better at playing bass, thats why i made this thread.

Every sound made with the voice can be assigned to a note. When you speak, you are usually staying around the range of maybe three notes or so.

How do you tune your guitar? If you have ever tuned your guitar with a reference pitch, it can be much like that. Use a reference pitch with your voice, say C3 (That is the C below middle C on the piano). If you tune your voice to that note, you are singing that note.

Then if you want to do an exercise, sing up a scale. C major (play all the white keys on a piano one at a time, starting with C) and sing along with it.

I start of by using a tuner to tune my e string and then I use the 5th fret method to tune the remaining strings.

I just tried what you said and its a pretty nice exercise, I will be doing this in the future as part of my daily practice rutine, thank you :)

The thing is, I actually already know this stuff, but I have no idea on how to apply it through singing. I have no idea what key im singing in (even if i know the key of the song) and I dont know how to sing specific notes.

Do you know a good place to start if i want to improve on the above stuff?

You are not harsh at all, I really want to hear peoples opinions on this, even if its "you suck and should never sing again"

Thanks, seams like a pretty nice forum.

Hey.

Okay, so I just joined a band for the first time, playing the bass guitar.

But as we need backup singers, it would be great if I could sing backup vocals.

Only problem is, I cant sing. I sound horrible

Now, if i just asked you guys if i could learn it, i quess you would just tell me to practice and I will!

But im worried that im so bad at singing that it will take me forever to just get a little better and If you think thats the case (that im just born bad at it) then i would really like to know as i might use my time on other instruments instead

So, to help me out and have a good laugh at the same time, please watch this 2 min video of me trying to sing Come together by The Beatles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omO_MI-TNeI

Any thoughts on how bad this is, how to improve, things i should start practice and things like that are more than welcome. Also, if you honestly thing that this aint going to happen for me, then please, let me know

EDIT: It should be mentioned that it was recorded on a phone. Also, my apologies for not knowing the lyrics ;)