|
|
Joined:
July 2005
Posts: 3411
Location: GA USA | Originally posted by 2stix:
So I take it that nobody likes Kenny Loggins... Stix, I commented on Loggins way back, see above. A great singer and songwriter. He could have been on par with JT as one of the great American singer-songwriters were it not for his need to reinvent himself in the 80's. Going GQ and becoming the soundtrack king tarnished him.
Still, one of the great singers. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 4833
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Originally posted by Mark in Boise:
I'm trying to think of any classical or Spanish guitar players, or something similar, who also sing. Well, a surprising amount of classical music has no lyrics......
But; to partially answer the question
Glen Campbell
Lee Roy Parnell
Bonnie Raitt
Vince Gill
Joe Walsh (ok, a squeaker..)
All of them session players also known to turn in a damn fine vocal. Generally, nothing applies to everyone. Every single one of us has a different collection of abilities. Some of us get to find out what they are....the rest don't fail enough to find out.
...............................................
Then there are those 'singers' who really aren't, but are still fine entertainers.
Doug and the Slugs
Suzi Quatro
Slade |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | I can't sing. I think that's why I learned to really play guitar. So many female guitarists with good voices only learned to strum strum behind their vocals. They are still doing it. I have heard some great voices that were diminished by so-so guitar playing. Because I can't sing, and strumming didn't sound like the song, I learned to finger-pick so I could get the melody in there and make the song recognizable. Now that I'm in South Dakota, 2,000 miles away from the woman who sang for me for over 20 years, if I want people to hear any of the songs I have written, I have to sing them. I do it, and people say I sing well, but I hate it. I get stage fright, and I feel like a fool.
There are some excellent guitarists who sing and play at the same time. Dan Crary and Tony Rice come to mind. But I will never forget the liner notes on one of Leo Kottke's early albums, where he compared his own voice to geese farting on a foggy morning, or something to that effect. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 425
Location: SE Michigan | I agree with Kaki King. Well, sort of any way, like all rules there are exceptions. But what I really notice when watching other's perfom is someone who can sing well and play guitar well.
I have seen countless examples of a great singer standing there in front of a mic without an instrument, or a great guitarist who plays very well but never sings a note, these people have talent and I dont want to detract from that, but again I really notice the performers who pull off both parts.
And quite honestly they dont even have to be very great at either, I just have a lot of admiration for those that can do both. I remember back a long time ago trying to get over that hurdle of playing and singing at the same time. It just takes the performance to a whole other level.
And to cite a few more examples, how about Paul Simon, Dave Matthews, David Byrne, John Fogerty, Paul McCartney, Nancy Wilson, Lindsey Buckingham, David Gilmore, Jimmi Hendrix, Steven Stills, Matt Smith to name a few.... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2007
Posts: 143
Location: Feeding Hills, MA | Originally posted by Captain_Lovehandles:
Originally posted by 2stix:
So I take it that nobody likes Kenny Loggins... He could have been on par with JT as one of the great American singer-songwriters were it not for his need to reinvent himself in the 80's. Going GQ and becoming the soundtrack king tarnished him. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | Not that I'm great at either, but one thing I've noticed is that one of them has to be so over learned that it is automatic. Usually this is the guitar bit - I can sing when I'm playing well known chords that change at standard times (the beginning or middle of a bar) with an over-learned (and regular) strumming or picking pattern.
I suspect a lot of the people Brian named are playing guitar well within their peak capacity when they are singing - it's no coincidence that the most fancy guitar work (lead breaks etc) happen when they are not singing. e.g. Nancy Wilson does not sing during the intro to Crazy on You. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2004
Posts: 2487
| I do pretty good doing both on the acoustics. I do see a difference when I just sing though. Playing seems to tap some volume and concentration from my vocals. and they are only fair to good at best anyway. My biggest wish is that could play Bass and sing better. Every band project I have been involved with needs bassist/vocalist. Playing bass lines takes way more concentration for me while singing than playing guitar for some reason? You would'nt think that would be true. At least I never did.
I think someone in here once said;
"playing bass is easy playing bass well is hard"
So true, so true. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 1487
Location: Michigan | Somebody tell this guy that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoxHGxQw9ws
Im not buying into that statement.GWB |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | GWB - I see how he does it - chew gum! Lets see him do that with a harmonica. :eek:
NC, playing bass and singing is difficult because you are trying to produce 2 different melodies at the same time.
It is easier to strum, even finger pick, when you sing, coz the guitar bit is usually pretty much muscle memory. Assuming it's a well rehearsed, repetitive strumming/picking piece. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Singing and playing the guitar go hand in hand.
When they teach ragas in india, or so they say on tv, they teach them to sing the raga first, then to play it.
Being able to sing the tune, helps you play it (and visa versa) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2005
Posts: 486
Location: North Carolina | Originally posted by Mr. Ovation:
I read a comment that Kaki King made in the recent interview "most great guitar players also know how to sing" Absolutely not. Singing is a skill that must be acquired and honed like any other. The voice is another instrument; singing ability does not come free with the guitar like picks or a set of strings.
In my experience, many people who play guitar even a little do assume they can sing. I have heard Kaki sing, and her comment explains a lot. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Stevie Ray Vaughn. Kurt Cobain. Jimi Hendrix. Dave Mason. Richard Thompson. Brian Setzer. And especially George Harrison. All played and sang lead. Tom Petty played bass and sang the leads on the Mudcrutch tour.
Of course, you can argue that none of the above know how to sing, but they are certainly all unique and memorable. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | Come to think of it, My ex is a fine fine guitarist, but if his life depended on it, he couldn't carry a tune. I think for a lot of us, the voice is like any other instrument. You have to learn how to use it. BUT, a lot of us have Estebans for voices. No matter how much we practice, it's never going to sound any good. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Originally posted by CanterburyStrings:
BUT, a lot of us have Estebans for voices. :D
I gotta remember that one. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 1487
Location: Michigan | I used to think that the group "Santana" had Carlos doing most of the lead singing and then realized that he did very little of it.
I don't really know if I consider Carlos a GREAT PLAYER or a very cool style player.
I still like his music alot.GWB |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 4833
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Santana sings? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | If your going to sing the guitar has to be automatic, that way you concentrate on the singing.
If the guitar ceases to be automatic then both tend to go south real fast. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 4833
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2004
Posts: 2487
| Temps comment is very interesting, I have been playing and singing for a while. For me, learning my limitations and trying to break through them is more than half the fun of playing to begin with. With that said I am now being schooled using Matts tools I bought from him a while back and a friend who is a stunning guitarist. (I mean he does Joe Satrioni's Midnight for fun kind of stunning) Anyway I am beginning to understand how to form lead scales and take first second & third parts of these scales to work them into a more personal sound. double picking faster and faster as muscle memory slowly kicks in. I find that when I try and build a good sounding lead scale so it is less mechanical sounding and I put some pulls and stops in, Your right Paul, I try and think about it, like I am singing. It is like a super high octave voice I am trying to hear.
As for great guitarists who sing. I'd say there are a few like Steve Howe and Jimmy Page that don't sing much, if at all. Then there are guy's like Clapton, and Hendirx, Gilmore who are great guitarists or were, and can sing fine but not great. These lists must be extensive if I took the time to think but I can't think of many great guitarist who were also GREAT lead vocalists. By great guitarist I mean outstanding unique lead guitarists........not the thousands of great musicians like John Denver, or James Taylor or even Sting. Can anyone help me name some guitarists who could do both really really well??? I am blanking out. ??? lets compile a list that might settle this. By the way Kenny Loggins is great! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | I still like my list above. But I can add to it.
Steve Miller.
Henry Garza. Brother Jojo Garza doing the bass/secondary lead vocal thing. Together they are spectacular. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 2150
Location: Orlando, FL | OK Here's a very small list of some who do both well:
Eric Johnson
Sonny Landreth
Robben Ford
SRV
Brian Setzer
David Gilmore
Mark Knopfler
BB King
Rory Gallagher
Buck Dharma (Blue Oyster Cult)
Warren Haynes
Adrian Belew
Peter Frampton
Alvin Lee
Bruce Cockburn
Dave Mustane
Jorma Kaukonen
George Benson
Some guitarists can sing and play others can't. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | "Sing" should be in quotes. She's making the case for being musical... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2004
Posts: 2487
| Good list, those guy's can sing for sure. Personally when I think of each of those guys I do not think of great lead vocals. SRV & BB King they were their own style, David Gilmore is a good singer as well but I would never pick one of them if we were trying to make a list of great "lead singers". I would put them in the thousands of great musicians who do both list.
I can't think of one musician who was a tremendous lead guitarist as well as an outstanding lead vocalist.
If I missed anyone elses list I mean no disrespect. And I do not want to change the direction of this thread (my personal take is there is an overwhelming number of great guitarists who can sing quite well) I am just honestly curious if anyone else can think of someone that you could call a great vocalist as well as lead guitarist. Think about it; would you put Eric J. or David G. on a "great lead vocalists" list? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 2150
Location: Orlando, FL | I think most of the guys on my list hold their own with lead vocalists from a lot of bands, past or present.
Sonny Landreth and Eric Johnson are both very good singers in my book. Warren Haynes (Allman Bros, Govt Mule) has a great soulful rock voice. Bruce Cockburn is easily as good a vocalist as guitarist and he plays very well.
Yeah I stand by my list, each guitarist on it, is very good in their particular genre.
But, please, if Steve Howe ever grabs a microphone again, somebody stop him! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2004
Posts: 2487
| Never mind. I think my question is lost here. I also think your list has some good vocalist on it. I mentioned that twice now in fact. I also mention Steve Howe is a terrible singer. Did you miss that? Sounds like we agree to me. Perhaps my post is vauge? Sorry for that if it was.
Can anyone think of someone who could be considered a "great vocalist", with the same stature as they are as a "great guitarist"? I am thinking someone who would be in your top 10 greatest guitarists list and in your top 10 greatest vocalists list.
Seriously, if I was listing great vocalists David Gilmore would not make the top 50 and I love all his work. He would be in my top 10 guitarist list though. If you see my point.
Thanks, I am not looking for a fight just one name that stands out?? |
|
| |
Opinions on Singing and Playing
