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Post by delb0y on Feb 1, 2017 13:07:20 GMT
# 1
It's no wonder my singing isn't up to much. I've been practicing a particular run on the guitar all year. I'd hazard a guess that I've played this run, in isolation and in context, maybe 500 times so far and (see random thought # 2) I'm only just edging up from being able to play it slowly to slightly less slowly. But it's getting there. It's a Jerry Reed, right hand, three finger reverse roll (sounds like something a diver might do) and probably isn't difficult but it is using muscles in an order they've seldom been used in until now. I'm also struggling to get the left and right hands cleanly aligned. On top of that I often hit a wrong note with the left hand as there's one particular long stretch. But down at 100 bpm I'm getting there. And I'll keep practicing until I nail it.
Whereas singing, I try it once and if I hit a wrong note or sing off key I just assume I can't sing.
# 2
Metronome's are cool. The aforementioned run forms just one bar of Cannonball Rag. I was practicing the song at 100 bpm and not getting it. But I persevered. Then this week I've been really frustrated as I've been making mistake after mistake after mistake and I was actually wondering if age is finally catching up with the fingers. Yet I turned the metronome on again and discovered that, in the metronome's absence, I have been practicing it (and messing it up) at speeds well in excess of 100 bpm. Back down at that tempo and lo and behold I'm nailing it every time. In fact I'm able to edge the 'nome up to 105 now. So it's a real good way of measuring progress and also ensuring one doesn't race ahead, practice mistakes, and get all grumpy :-)
That's all.
Cheers D
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Riverman
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Post by Riverman on Feb 1, 2017 13:19:25 GMT
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Feb 1, 2017 14:06:52 GMT
Agreed - great observations, and it makes sensible and positive reading!
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Post by andyhowell on Feb 1, 2017 16:58:26 GMT
Practice with singing is kind of important. Practicing/rehearsing with some kind of amp or small PA is a big thing to. It reveals a lot and helps gradually build confidence and helps reveal subtlety and nuance.
The other thing about singing practice is phrasing, which is half of the challenge. Iv'e been writing some new songs recently and lyrics kind of work OK on the page — but they will chance significantly as I get into singing the damn things.
I really enjoy singing but without practice you never get through that "oh shit, do I sound like that" phase.
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Feb 1, 2017 18:33:55 GMT
There's something about singing which at times makes it almost a no-go area. With the little group I teach guitar to, 80% say 'I can't sing'. They're probably right in that I wouldn't like to hear them in Carmen. But most have a voice in there; but have reconciled themselves to not using it. We have made a lot of progress through group confidence and although we will never be a top choir we get by now pretty well.
It's also funny how I'm sure most of us at one time or another have paid for guitar lessons; or gone on a guitar workshop; or indulged in our passion with expensive accessories. But how many have considered having a few private singing lessons? Not to sing in a choral society but just to get a bit better. Most people have a voice in there somewhere but for some reason we get embarrassed at the thought of a singing lesson.
I'm getting a vocal coach along for our group for a few sessions later this year and all (bar 1) are really up for it; I know safety in numbers helps but why not do it privately; I won't tell!!
FFJ
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Riverman
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Post by Riverman on Feb 2, 2017 0:45:03 GMT
I only started singing when I started writing songs, after years and years of playing instrumentals. I remember hardly opening my mouth, almost hoping that no-one would hear my pathetic, tuneless croaking. When I first recorded, I was so appalled at my vocal tone that I arranged, through a mutual friend, to take a few singing lessons with a professional teacher who used to be in the Swingle Singers (remember them? ), and had even performed at Carnegie Hall. She made me sing as loudly and naturally as I could, and immediately announced that I had a perfectly good tenor voice when I moved sufficient air over my vocal cords. I picked up a few exercises from the two or three lessons I had but, more importantly, realised that confident singing is much better than hesitant mumbling. I still don't think of myself as any great shakes in the singing department, but I do know that you have a much better chance of sounding decent if you forget your inhibitions, open up your lungs, and go for it. It also becomes more enjoyable and, to my immense surprise, I really like singing now. Maybe the trauma of being rejected for the school choir at age 11 has finally been laid to rest... And yes, practising singing (particularly, for me at least, pitch control and phrasing) is really important. If you play to an audience, a good vocal performance will beat guitar pyrotechnics anytime!
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Post by vikingblues on Feb 2, 2017 7:30:25 GMT
Spot on about the lack of practice at singing Derek! I've been very aware of that lack of practice in my case for some time ..... though I don't seem to have done anything about it. Interesting about the metronome, but I haven't encountered that issue, quite possibly due to not playing fast enough for anything, let alone too fast. After a long period of not getting on with metronomes I have only recently found that a metronome can work for me ... IF I set it to NOT beat for every beat in the bar, but maybe every other beat. If it beats too often I find it inhibits any expression at all and it all grinds to a halt. If I play along to a drum track I don't find a problem with expression - odd that the metronome should be a problem on this. Bit off your topic but an experiment I've used to check progress on sense of timing is to record playing a piece a few times on separate tracks of a DAW and then check how well they line up. I'm pleased that works much better these days, and occasionally a couple of tracks can be played back together and they almost match perfectly for most of the tune. The long-term practice must be paying off! Mark
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