Gsoul82

Well, working on this one. Thinking about it like I said in the Nationals Challenge. I want to do the song differently throughout.

Well, I did the thing : D

13 minutes ago, Bzean123 said:

GSoul: It's nice to see someone posting in the Challenges section. You can never go wrong with Brother Ray - and this is one of my favorite songs!

Your voice really shines when it lightens up a bit and in falsetto. If you do rerecord it he more lightness you can incorporate, the better, IMO.

Thank you very much. I've been changing my style up. Being a bit more selective with the vibrato. I recently sang about half of Fire and Rain this same way and put it in the Review section.

I just think some roughness would have been nice near the end here, but like you, distortion is one of my resolutions. I can use it but not like I'd like to here.

Alright, here it is. I was right, so the challenge I made for myself was to change things up throughout the song to keep things from being repetitive and a little stale. This is one song I would do over again after I achieved the things from my Musical Resolutions 2K17 thread. There are parts towards the end where I would rather ramp up on the intensity a bit and add a little distortion, but I had to slide into falsetto. I guess I could have still used my reinforced falsetto, but It's not the same, lol.

Still may re-do some of this. Might even use some production software instead of singing the whole thing over again, which would fulfill one of my resolutions.

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Look who it is! Where have you been, man? My favorite Bruno Mars song too.

Nice arrangement. Smooth delivery. A little more ad-libing here than I remember you doing, which is good. Very nice cover.

1 hour ago, Robert Lunte said:

Very cool Gsoul... so is it any Holiday song?

Any holiday song, indeed.

It's that time of the year! A number of artists have just put out Holiday-themed albums, such as R. Kelly, The Rascal Flatts and Neil Diamond. Christmas, as well as some other holidays, are now upon us. There are literally tons of songs that can be sung here.

So, who would be up for a Holiday Season challenge?

I think I'll do Georgia On My Mind. I want something a little more challenging stylistically, but can't think of anything. 

Another challenge that people wanted to do, The Nationals Challenge! In this challenge, we will sing songs about our countries and songs about the places within. It's great for people to sing their national anthems but lets challenge ourselves and not just select short songs.

17 hours ago, muffinhead said:

I'm not too sure I'm up to that yet. But I can definitely attempt it. 

Don't worry, these are not challenges against each other. These are challenges against yourself. We select songs that aren't easy and work on them. I heard your clips. You are certainly capable. No pressure though. It would just add another element to your practice.

Great going, Muffin! You should come join us and take on the challenges in the Challenge forum. 

16 hours ago, Bzean123 said:

That's what the chicks call me, but I'm too humble to refer to myself that way! 

 

Now the moderators on tmv have picked up on that too!

I think I will look at a Bowie song next. Also doing the I Can't Make You Love Me Challenge. Nationals Challenge also! Smooth sailing.

1 hour ago, Bzean123 said:

Good job GSoul - I think the 4 Pillars training is working for you. You sound stronger in this version!

You might want to consider a name change to Mr. Wonderful

There! Used some distortion towards the end. A little different for me, but gave it a shot. That's the point of the challenge, right? Guitars to the sky for The Purple One! 

9 hours ago, ronws said:

Awesome work. And you have a silky, beautiful voice. And having built such a strong and consistent foundation, you will be at C5 soon enough.

Thank you. Anything in particular that needs work?

2 hours ago, Robert Lunte said:

Cool, your using the guide files with the "chanting monks"... thats fine. Recognize that as you scroll down the "My Training" page, you will see "Solo Piano Vocalize (C)"... these are the same workouts Geoff but:

- No chanting monks.

- You have fast and slow versions.

 

Your Review:

 

T&R: 

Well done Geoff... however:

- Don't train 20 notes, sing 2 phrases Geoff. Your training has a sort of "poking" at each note, which is common with beginners. This can get you into some problems. Stop thinking about the vocalize as a series of notes lined up.. and start perceiving them as phrases. Which is what you are going to need to do for singing anyways. More "legato" in your perspectives here.

- Shift your resonance forward to a hard palate, edging position. It is a bitt to backward in the resonance. 

- Engage more compression / twang Geoff... your being too soft on the glottis in my opinion. Of course, if you shift forward to the hard palate, the body will naturally want to compress harder anyways, which is a good thing.

- Why are you not bridging this and taking it to a G4 at least? You really need to work on bridging Geoff... just because its hard or sounds bad, doesn' mean you "retreat" and don't work it. Commit to the hard stuff! Shoot some baskets, don't just dribble... get on with "it".

 

D&R:

- A dampen & release onset does not have respiration escaping through the glottis. Way too windy... way too pampered, too light Geoff. POP that sucker!! /b/ is a PLOSIVE consonant and plosive rhymes with explosive... where is the energy? Your D&R needs work Geoff... you have to improve this because your missing out on a HUGE benefit you can get from this onset. Your larynx is not lowering as well, which is really the main goal. This needs work.

 

Q&R:

- Again, the glottis is too open, too windy. Does it have to be? The Q&R onset is about producing HYPER-compression... a tight, squeezed, quacky compression for resistance training benefits. 

- 1:00 - not bad...

- Ok, pay attention to this... you are getting the compression... but when you open the embouchure, listen how the compression is weakening and wind is blowing through. This is VERY common when people being doing the Q&R onset... when the embouchure is shaped, the glottis blows open... THIS IS THE #1 THING TO FOCUS ON WITH Q&R ONSETS... AS YOU RELEASE THE VOWEL AND SHAPE THE EMBOUCHURE, HANG ONTO THE COMPRESSION.

- Actually the last one you did in this sample maintained the compression... this could be better.

 

W&R:

- Under powered, no energy? Geoff, inhale and blow that thing! Why is this so meek and weak? I am not convinced that this what you have in you. You need to execute a lot more aggressively Geoff.

 

W&R + Glissando:

- Was windy..

 

ok, so overall... you are under-resourcing these onsets and workouts. You are way, way too light and meek. Geoff, you need to start hitting these onsets harder and I did say "hit"... which you know I don't say very often. Watch the videos of me doing the onsets in the "My Training" page and match my energy, execution as best you can. You have got to train harder, this is so passive and light, your not building strength with this.

I think you are getting coordinated and there is some benefit from this, but your missing out on strength building. Your not moving any "weight". 

You should get in front of me for a skype lesson so i can get you on the right path.

Thank you for coming and seeing my exercises.

T&R: 

Alright, I understand what is being said here. I need to look in the book at edging. I actually did keep the Track and Release exercise going until I was on a note that I couldn't quite maintain pitch on. I trimmed this audio file and a couple others so that you could see just the notes I could do comfortably. Now that I know you want to see me go all the way, I will leave that on next time.

D&R:

Cool. I need to look at respiration in the guide because that's another term I don't understand. I will also keep in mind to lower the larynx. 

Q&R:

I do notice the change that can be heard when I open the embouchure. I will work on it.

W&R:

Oh, is the idea to do every exercise as loud as I can?

W&R + Glissando:

Oh, it's windy as well.

I think I'm coming to see the way things need to be done. Increasing the volume is an easy way to channel the aggression and the aggression makes it easier to maintain the compression. I also do have a breathing problem but I did see a guide last night to repair that.

Did the exercises. Stopped right where things started to constrict. Don't usually sing with much volume, so I gotta get used to it. Also did a siren 

Track and Release with Guide:

http://vocaroo.com/i/s0iwMmkNtl4L

Dampen and Release:

http://vocaroo.com/i/s02MkLkMAeQY

Quack and Release:

http://vocaroo.com/i/s1hvLKV9vX7r

Wind and Release:

http://vocaroo.com/i/s1mR89TZQ6mq

Wind and Release Siren:

http://vocaroo.com/i/s1RczcRW7bVa

Think I gotta work on my resonant tracking. The vibration is there but I don't think it's strong enough and it's definitely not as loud as done on the instructional videos.

I was about to upload an exercise but it would make too much noise now. I was going to do the Track and Release along with the mp3. I will just do it real quick tomorrow. I'll probably do a few others like Dampen and Release, Wind and Release and Quack and Release. Just gotta practice the vowel transitions on that first tuning workout a little more and I can use it.

Once we post a clip of our singing, it becomes a Review My Singing Request. Please avoid doing this. I have edited out the link

On July 24, 2016 at 5:00 PM, ronws said:

I enjoyed it, G, and I totally got an Aaron Neville vibe off this, too. I think that was the right feel for it.You don't sound like Aaron but you had his style of expression in this.

It was just a little spur of the moment thing. I've been working on toning down the vibrato and focusing on clear voiced singing lately. Trying to make things sound good that way. I have one or two guys I kind of try to take my clear voiced approach from. I wonder if you'd still say I sound like Aaron Neville more than who I'm talking about if you heard them, lol. Going to finish that Do Me Baby by Prince within the next few days and do more with this. Things had been paused for a second because the mic on my headphones, which I use to sing with, stopped functioning. Now I've got a new pair, so I can put a period behind that one. I'll also be looking at what else I can do as far as something else for the Late Legends Challenge goes. Might take aim at Bowie.

Finally, I am one of the first

You really sounded right at home on this one. Is it one of your favorites?

Blended right in. Great cover.

16 minutes ago, 2 cats in a dust bin said:

Can no one tell by listening to the tracks I have uploaded where I am out of key

Are these lessons going to cost me 1000's of dollars

If you're pitch keeps going off, you keep going out of key. Like ronws said, its going on throughout. It wouldn't he helpful to you to pinpoint every single spot where you go out. 

A teacher could really help you tune those ears, and then once you recognize how good pitch should sound, you'll be able to feel it without anyone telling you.

It depends. Its all up to you. You go as long as you want to.

I asked before, but I think you missed the question. What are your goals with singing? Are you trying to develop some sort of career? Do you just want a decent voice? Do you want more than that?

16 hours ago, Bzean123 said:

Well, it sounds like you have it clearly mapped out 

But seriously, I think you should use that great falsetto as much as possible!

I'll see. I know you people in here don't want to hear anybody use a lot of falsetto, lol. I think I'll be using it for some part in each chorus for sure.

6 hours ago, 2 cats in a dust bin said:

OK Jarom 

I going to give that Marry Poppings thing A try and will post back

Thanks

 

Gsoul82

Well if the pitch is just pressing the wrong key on the piano then there is need for some lessons

But on the other hand, if my vocal cords dont stretch to that key then there is little point trying

Should I look at "how to test your vocal range" on google thingy and post back resalts?

 

Singing lessons  $30 for 30 minutes well I guess we are only half way there to solicitors and accountants fees

How much training do you think I need?

 

Well I think thats about 3 people now that have told me "you sounded just like me when I started" 

So maybe I should not ditch this song after all

"Well if the pitch is just pressing the wrong key on the piano then there is need for some lessons

But on the other hand, if my vocal cords dont stretch to that key then there is little point trying"

I wouldn't look at it like that. I think you're capable of singing on-pitch.

You just could really use somebody to tell you every time you're off-pitch and on-pitch, just like my teacher did, while they're right in front of you. Then you'll start to recognize things and you'll be able to feel it.

I can't tell you exactly how much, but I think your pitch would be at the point I'm talking about in less than 2 years, with serious practice. Might seem long to a beginner, but people train for decades. I think @ronws up there has been singing at least 20 years. Think about it. When in your life are you ever going to stop singing?

I don't think you should do a vocal range test right now because you're not able to sing what you're hearing correctly just yet. It would be somewhat inaccurate.

If you mean you should not give up on that song, then I agree that you should keep working. If you mean you shouldn't throw away that cover of the song, I agree that I wouldn't throw it away either. Keep it so you can monitor progress. I believe I still have recordings from when I first started, around 5-6 years ago.