singing

[arbis82]

ive been playing dmb for about 3 years now and im confident in my skills. when it comes to singing though im a big wimp. do you guys (or gals) have any techniques to get over my fears when it comes to singing in front of people. i only sang once in front a girl because she kinda made me (and she was hot). I wanna play a open mic night this fall, ive seen the people that play guitar there and im much better than them. I just cant get the balls to get up there and do it.

[lzldmb]

Yeah I am the same way (minues the confidence, skill and open mic thing). I sang once in front of someone, but she was hot. In front of anyone else, I just tell them to sing and I'll play. Suggestions would be nice.

[seekup34]

get a hot girl to sit front row...?
ha, work on it, its easy after a while. i started out in front of my mirror, worked my way up to one girl, then eventualy got bigger, then did some open mic stuff, just gotta get one thing to break the ice really.
besides that, on a more technical level, start with songs that are relatively easy, yet none the less crowd pleasers. i find that grey st. is the easiest song to play and sing and there is only slight vocal range on the chorus, its real easy to sing.
other suggestions i find easy...
-gravedigger, spoon, ill back you up, crush, 41 (kinda rough vocal range), long black veil...etc.
ha, i dont know if any of this answers anything but hey i tried

[Root]

Originally posted by seekup34
get a hot girl to sit front row...?
ha, work on it, its easy after a while. i started out in front of my mirror, worked my way up to one girl, then eventualy got bigger, then did some open mic stuff, just gotta get one thing to break the ice really.
besides that, on a more technical level, start with songs that are relatively easy, yet none the less crowd pleasers. i find that grey st. is the easiest song to play and sing and there is only slight vocal range on the chorus, its real easy to sing.
other suggestions i find easy...
-gravedigger, spoon, ill back you up, crush, 41 (kinda rough vocal range), long black veil...etc.
ha, i dont know if any of this answers anything but hey i tried

thats good advice, that what i have been doing, I have worked my way up to just friends so far. Its so much fun, like when I play for my friends (dave fans) guys and gals, they kinda cheer and clap and request songs. After the first time that happened, you get pumped and start to not care about anything and just sing your best. I myself get lost in the music and forget they are there until the song is over. Hopefully I will get to play out at a bar or something sometime soon, if i get the balls to do that. Its a little bigger step from the friends. Plus all I have is about 5 songs of my own. The rest is pritty much all dave stuff.

So my advice is do what seekup34 said, and to just forget what anybody else thinks. Nobody will ever tell you that your bad. They dont have the balls to say that.

Good luck

[dmb1spe]

Originally posted by rootbmw
thats good advice, that what i have been doing, I have worked my way up to just friends so far. Its so much fun, like when I play for my friends (dave fans) guys and gals, they kinda cheer and clap and request songs. After the first time that happened, you get pumped and start to not care about anything and just sing your best. I myself get lost in the music and forget they are there until the song is over. Hopefully I will get to play out at a bar or something sometime soon, if i get the balls to do that. Its a little bigger step from the friends. Plus all I have is about 5 songs of my own. The rest is pritty much all dave stuff.

So my advice is do what seekup34 said, and to just forget what anybody else thinks. Nobody will ever tell you that your bad. They dont have the balls to say that.

Good luck

As someone who manages bands, you really don't need a whole bunch of your own stuff right off the jump. In fact, most bands start playing all, or all but a couple, covers. So work in your own stuff slowly. By then you should have a pretty solid fan base. But don't be offended when you start to play your own stuff if the crowd kind of loses interest. It's not personal...

[dmb16]

try singing stuff that is pretty repetative and simple, that you can play without thinking about it. Like for me satellite, the stone and jimi thing are easy because they repeat alot and I know what they sound like. Sometimes the ones that are the most difficult to play are the easiest to sing to.

[Root]

Originally posted by dmb1spe
As someone who manages bands, you really don't need a whole bunch of your own stuff right off the jump. In fact, most bands start playing all, or all but a couple, covers. So work in your own stuff slowly. By then you should have a pretty solid fan base. But don't be offended when you start to play your own stuff if the crowd kind of loses interest. It's not personal...

Sorry for the late response, thanks for the advice, I feel more comfortable with reasurance. Oh and i like those quotes you have there, have not seen them before but i like them very much.

peace man

[worthyjoe]

I've been playing out solo for a couple of years now and I still get nervous when playing for friends. It's a strange thing. I'm much less nervous playing for a bar full of strangers than in front of a girl.

Anyhow, keep in mind that it's often easier to play in a pressure situation like that. Because you get sooooooo nervous that it just kind of tops out and releases... and it turns into more of a rush than anything. That being said, if possible you may want to just accompany someone you know first.. play or sing back up just to get used to being up there a little. That will help build your confidence. I never had the balls to sing until I was playing in a band where I just played geetar... built my confidence a lot.

Also, on the singing tip, pick songs that work for you and transpose the key if necessary. If something's too high, lower the key - no one will know or care. And try not to imitate the singers you are covering.. try to keep yourself in check and make sure you are using YOUR voice. That's one of the biggest things that has helped my vocals improve.

hope this helps!
peace

[Root]

Thats more good advice. I try to sing the notes just like the singers i'm covering. I guess I want to sound just like them. I still a begining singer so I like to try new things. Let me ask another question, would it be a good thing to visit a vocal teacher to find my voice? I sometimes try to imitate other singers and really don't have a original voice.

[worthyjoe]

Originally posted by rootbmw
Thats more good advice. I try to sing the notes just like the singers i'm covering. I guess I want to sound just like them. I still a begining singer so I like to try new things. Let me ask another question, would it be a good thing to visit a vocal teacher to find my voice? I sometimes try to imitate other singers and really don't have a original voice.

Very true. I think it's natural to do that without even thinking. I have to constantly remind myself not to do that. A vocal teacher is a great idea if you can do it. But if you practice singing and make an effort not to imitate, you will most likely recognize right away when you find your voice.. because you won't be straining and you will have more power. The hard part is keeping yourself from slipping into imitation. Not that it's a bad thing, but hardly anyone sounds as good as the person they're imitating, so you usually sound better using your own voice.

good luck!

[davehead1]

a couple things...

most people who have never used a microphone before dont know how to use it. make sure you sing directly into the microphone because if you dont, you'll most likely not be heard. you'll look like an amature and the sound guy will probably be pissed at you. they can only turn you up so much, they can always turn you down. my lips are all over the microphone when i sing... but that might not be cool at an open mic.... two fingers is close enough though.

also, when you sing, dont wimp out. if you get scared about hitting a note or just in general your going to fall flat and sing wrinog notes. its really about cinfidence in that aspect.

and if you fuck up dont recognize it. alot of people make it worse by making it a bigger ordeal. chances are alot of people in the audience wont notice it until its pointed out.

and again be confident and enjoy yourself. if you dont look like you are enjoying the show, how can you expect anyone else to?

[Root]

More great advice, I am using every bit of everones advice. Everyday I go home and practice. I just bought a mic about 2 months ago and I think practicing on a mic helps me hear what I really sound like. I have improved more because of it in 2 month than ever since I have been playing. Before I thought I was hitting notes and sounding just like who I was imitating and now with the mic I can adjust the way I sing to who I am portraing. I am getting alot better and its so much fun. I try to stick to songs I can Play on the guitar very well and the singing parts are not to hard for me. The songs I feel real comfortable with playing in front of friends are Grey street, Lie in our Gravers, So Much to Say, Typical Situation, Ants Marching, and Too Much. I always like to have a couple of drinks before I play to loosen my nerves a bit. Well again thanks gor the great advice everyone.

[Rizza]

i think somethine that hasnt been mentioned here yet.... and might be the most used method of getting over "stage fright" by musicians is this...... GET FUCKED UP! Dont get sloppy so that you cant go on, but, pound a few beers, a smoke a little, then go ahead out there. :D good luck

[Roi&hisbentsax]

Any suggestions on singing more loudly? I'm pretty good with the breath support b/c I play the sax, and i've taken advice on breathing from people who take vocal lessons, but i still can't get very loud. You can hear me fine if i strum without a pick, but when i play with a pick i end up drowning myself out. When i begin to play shows, i'll obviously have a mike, but i don't know what to do when a friend or someone asks to hear a song...i don't carry a mic and a pa with me, ya know?
Jason

[davehead1]

Originally posted by Rizza
i think somethine that hasnt been mentioned here yet.... and might be the most used method of getting over "stage fright" by musicians is this...... GET FUCKED UP! Dont get sloppy so that you cant go on, but, pound a few beers, a smoke a little, then go ahead out there. :D good luck

this is horrible advice