singing help!!!!!!!!!!!!

[the dude]

would anyone happen to know of any sites that I can go to and get info on becoming a better singing. I also want to learn the theory behind harmony vocals. I am a somewhat proficient singer, can stay in key and sing harmonies, but really only do it by way of an unconscious effort! in short, I can do it but dont know what notes I am singing along with the melody and why they are those notes. know what I mean? ANY help would be cool!!! peace the dude

[powderfinger]

anyone here would probably suggest the books by roger love and/or seth riggs........both probably will help much more than any singing website i've seen.......

as for harmony vocals.......theory wise, it's the same as basic harmony theory.....different notes combined form harmonized passages.......start out by picking a note on guitar or piano or something, and try and get to where you can hear that note, and then sing the third and fifth of that note w/o hearing them....it will give you a better ear for harmony.......

[the dude]

hey thanks man! could you give me an example of the 3rd and 5th of say a c note. (c chord) We arent' talking about 3rd and fifth octave of the note are we? thanks bro

[wjierd]

on a C scale
C is 1 (and 8 from the next octave down)
E is 3 and
G is 5

Originally posted by the dude
hey thanks man! could you give me an example of the 3rd and 5th of say a c note. (c chord) We arent' talking about 3rd and fifth octave of the note are we? thanks bro

[the dude]

ahhhhh i totally get it bro! thank you. I am off to sing harmonies!

[powderfinger]

dude,
wjierd got to it before me, but it looks like you get the idea now. also, find songs that have an extended note held for a couple seconds....start trying different harmonies w/ just that note....then as you get better, try harmonizing with a moving melody line

[mikeh]

powderfinger hit it on the head.

While not trying to over simplify harmony concepts, if you can figure out the 3rd and the 5th you can cover a vast majority of vocal harmonies.

I have done hundreds of freelnace or "pick-up" gigs where everyone has to jump on harmony parts that aren't rehearsed or practised (often with songs being played for the first time).

All the seasoned players know to focus first on the 3rd & 5th of the lead vocal - the people with the highest range looks to jump on the 5th and someone else will catch the 3rd. Naturally this could mean a note below the lead vocal as well as above.

[the dude]

hey thanks for all the advice!!! i now know technically what I am doing, which is always a good thing. Thanks again! I am off to practice!!! peace the dude abides

[Tucci]

One thing you might consider if you have a little extra time and money, is to enroll in a music-theory/sight-singing class at your local community college. You can pick up a lot and it really helps sometimes to have a little bit of theory in your background.

Tucci
www.locuststreettaxi.com
Horns, Harmony, & Humor

[Skysaw]

Don't forget that lower harmonies are pretty typical as well. If the melody has the tonic, a harmony can be a fourth or sixth below. I particularly like harmonies in sixths, or better yet, those that move in contrary motion or oblique motion.