Help with pitch in a song

[naccoachbob]

Hi, I'm new to this forum and to singing vocabulary, so some of the topics here are slowly but surely coming into focus for me.

But one thing I'm unclear on is when someone talks about a B4 or B5 note. Where are those on the piano? Are they the 4th and 5th B notes starting from the left?

Another question. I'm trying to sing this song, and having trouble getting to the high notes at certain parts of the song. The words are "anymore" and located at time 1:08, 2:09, and three times starting at 3:24.

The song is "Anymore" by Travis Tritt, so there's some Country Music content here.

I'm to where on some days I can get to these notes, but some days not. I had carotid artery surgery about 9 years ago, and used to have to really strain to try these notes, and even then couldn't hit them. Heck, I still can't even whistle because of that surgery.

Thanks all for your help.

Bob

[Sarit_Aloni]

Hi bob. Your example will be much more effective if you could let us hear yourself singing. even something short. About your surgery - I didn't understand exactly where it has been made.. Unfortunately every change in our body may effect the way we (can) sing. Think about that I am a singer for almost 15 years and I after I have gave birth to my child I didn't feel my support as I felt it before.. Because the stomach had to go back to its "normal " place... so... as I said I would recommend you to work with some professional teacher. Because someone should be able to give you exercises that will meet your special condition. It can be something to over come, while it can be something that is not.. sometimes we are afraid to harm our body (if you've gone through a surgery) and that fear doesn't help us coming to sing. on the opposite. Tell me if you need more guidance. and have a very good luck

[Ronron]

When we say ' B4 ' or ' B5 ', we usually refer to the B right of Middle C (C4) for B4, so almost one octave higher, and the B right of B4 for B5, so almost two octaves higher than middle C.

[Stretto]

You cannot use the "left" or "right" of a piano as judgement. Not all piano's are made the same. The best way to know is to memorize middle C = C4. C4 is the one ledger line below the staff on a treble clef and one above on a bass clef. Basically it's the note where the bass and treble overlap. You can find pictures of it by searching google. e.g., it shouldn't be hard to tell C3 from C4 and C5. First locate C4 on the piano. If you are really not sure use a tuner of some kind or some other instrument that you can play. Once you locate C4 figure out if it is easy or hard for you to sing compared to C3 and C5. Once you get some idea you'll be able to tell the difference quite easily regardless what piano there is(within reason of course).

Note that B3 is the note right before C4(to it's left) and Db4 is the note right after(to the right). B4 would be the note right before C5. Also, in some sheet music the music is transposed for vocals so it will fit easily in a staff(supposedly). The main thing to realize is that C is the first note in counting. So We start C1 C#1/Db1 D1 .... B1 C2 C#2/Db2 ... B2 C3 .... B3 C4 ... B4 C5 .... Some piano's have more notes than others and some less(such as synths/keyboards). Digital instruments usually have the ability to transpose and mine keyboard starts an octave lower than normal.

You can buy cheap tuners that can help how if you really need to. They can even be useful to help with your pitch identification(since you'll have some feedback).

[naccoachbob]

Stretto, thanks a bunch, that helped. And Steeve as well, much appreciated.

Sarit, thank you as well. I was just trying to figure what notes the singer was hitting in the song.

I was going to gauge off of it.

Bob