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Location: NJ | Add Springsteen to that list, as well . . .
I heartily agree about the "choir" thing. It's a real good way t'learn. |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Okay, I gotta ask...what's the code?
01.20.09
???????
January 20, 2009
Cliff gets his next haircut...! |
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Location: south east Michigan | Great thread.
As brutal as it is at times, recording yourself helps.
Woody.... I think you have a great voice. Please have it tuned up in time for the next tour.
So many things come into play besides just hitting the note. Cliff's "singing to the back of the room" is a good example. I'm working on "Halleujah". I'm finding that it's a song where you can't just hit the notes and remember the words. If you don't put any passion into it, it just falls flat.
I wish I had Cliff's range and more importantly, his passion. Your my hero, Cliff!! But I'm not going to let that stop me for doing the best I'm capable of. Every time you strike a chord and open your mouth you take a risk that your'e going to hit a bum note. But it's to much fun not to try. |
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| Your voice is an 'instrument'...singing is 'speaking with sustain' as they say, and anyone can learn to tune their instrument, as it were, and sing... (I actually think Dylan could sing a straight tone, he just don't want to... :) ) |
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Location: NJ | ". . Every time you strike a chord and open your mouth you take a risk that your'e going of hit a bum note. But it's to much fun not to try . ."
'zACTly. |
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Location: closely held secret | It's the day all the libs are excited about. New President day.
Some of us just hope it's not another 'day of infamy'... |
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Location: SoCal | In the summer, I get together on Friday nites with a jam group that meets outside. Lotta people come to listen and I'm very aware when it's my turn to play and sing that I need to project. Gotta be willing to push it.... Oddly enough, I can never remember seeing anybody when I play or sing. I know I'm not looking down at my guitar, but I really don't know what I'm looking at. |
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Location: Isle of Man, UK | I do a lot of singing, and have picked up a few tips from coaches along the way.
Don't strain it. The voice is just a muscle - you must MUST MUST warm it up first or you'll damage it. Just a few simple exercises will do it. Either that or start out quietly before you really start to push it.
Don't push it. If you can't hit a note, then the only thing to do is work up to it - don't push for it and reach for it, as you'll just damage things.
Breathe. You can't sing without it!
I can vouch for all this - In the show I'm doing at the moment I have to belt (i.e. not a nice falsetto) a top D [10th fret of the high E string for most of us]. Not bad for someone who was singing bass 4 years ago...
If you get into serious singing, I would say that your best bet is to get some pro help - they will teach you what to do, what not to do, how to breathe, how to get that air out in the right way...
Best of all, though - enjoy. It can be a good workout, and I love the feeling I get after singing - gets oxygen moving around, ups the heart rate etc. Fabtastic!!
JB |
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Location: NJ | If y'wanna sing better, sing standing up (you can breathe and flex you diaphragm better).
(I don't know why, but I also seem to sing better when I'm bare-footed - maybe it's a "comfort"-thing") |
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Location: closely held secret | I think you're right, Cliff. I sing better barefoot as well. I play better, too. Sandals are a nice compromise. |
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Location: NJ | Originally posted by fillhixx:
Bob Dylan
Leonard Cohen
Doug Bennet
Neil Diamond
If these people can get paid to sing, so can you.
Join a choir for a little while to learn pitch and harmony. Learn what your range is, and how far you can push it.
Singing is almost as important as laughing. Do both every day, especially laughing. There is always some kind of sound that you can make with your face that will be entertaining...go find it. add me to that list.
I always wind up singing. I never liked my voice but was forced into it since no one else wanted to do it.
FWIW people seem to say "al has an INTERESTING voice"
ok I get it just like saying "she has a beautiful face"
it's code |
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Location: Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey | ...reminds me of the old Steve Martin bit (from the "wild and crazy guy" days)
"My friends singing teacher was sick, and I mean SICK! He kept wanting her to sing ...from her diaphragm!!! |
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| Cliff, When you stand you have better natural support from the body's diaphram, which helps control the lungs and the muscles used to move your vocal chords. Good advice JB...reminds me of the techniques we learned in music school. After that it's all range, dynamics, interpretation.. |
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Location: NJ | what did you do with the money?
what money?
the money your mother gave you for singing lessons! |
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Location: NJ | ". . what did you do with the money?
what money?
the money your mother gave you for singing lessons! . ."
- asked of Ringo Starr.
His response:
"I spent it on Fish&Chips" |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Originally posted by Todd G.:
Wow Dave!! You would make a great audition contestant on American Idol. Why do you people insist on encouraging him?
My brother can sing like a fu¢king bird. Right from the womb (petri dish?). I've spent his entire life resenting him for it, though I sure do enjoy hearing him cante... |
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Location: closely held secret | Originally posted by alpep:
FWIW people seem to say "al has an INTERESTING voice"
ok I get it just like saying "she has a beautiful face"
Al, I think the phrase you're looking for is "Yeah, but she's got a great personality!"
I think your voice is fine, it fits the styles of music you seem to like. |
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Location: Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey | "ok I get it just like saying "she has a beautiful face"
Actually, I think that one is "she's fun at a party" |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Sing! Sing with passion and conviction! Sing with joy and abandon!
If we learned nothing else from Mrs Millers recording 'back in the day' (and Tiny Tim) it's that even bad can be good if it's get enough heart in it. |
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Location: SoCal | Dave "Just call me William Huong" Witko..... Gotta nice ring to it..... |
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Location: USA | This is going to sound so cloche...
But your voice is an instrument. The more you work with it the better you get.
When you're driving along in your vehicle ...listen to your favorite music...now dont try to match pitch for pitch...because you do not want to hurt or strain...but start out in a low octive. Keep one range...sing it all the way through until there is no cracking of your voice...then hit a highr octive...etc...youll know when youve come to your full voice.
Then go back and put it all thogether to find your own voice in what you've worked with. |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
Dave "Just call me William Huong" Witko..... THAT's what he meant when he said, "I'm Will Huong!"
I gotta get my ears checked.... |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Range...
I have precisely 1/4 octave range... and would have to tune down to "D" to be in my natural range...
... though I've been told I have a great radio voice (and face to match... sorta like the girl with a great personality who's fun at parties) |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | "Will Houng"....
hee-hee. |
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singing
