a question about vocals

  • Thread starter Thread starter kylosius
  • Start date Start date
K

kylosius

I Like Rusty Spoons
i talked to my friend, he's a trained musician who can play guitar, play bass, and is a trained singer, but told me he hardly ever sings in key because it would make the songs he plays sound lifeless, and not unique. i tend to believe him since i like bands like rancid and green day and i'm pretty sure they don;t sing in key. is it just the genre of music you play in which singing in key is a necessity?
 
That's pretty absurd. Your friend doesn't know what scales and keys are. If he sang in a different key then he played it would sound like a cat in heat.

This is pretty basic stuff that is taught in the first few weeks of most music training. I think your friend needs a new teacher.

You are correct that those bands will often have off key parts in their vocals but that isn't by design. It's a screw up.
 
Maybe what he means that singing is MORE than just singing the notes right in the right key. You can sing a song perfectely correct in tune, but with no life. On the other side there are several singers who have their own specific sound and style and can affect the listener just by singing slightly out of tune sometimes and with lots of carachter (like Lou Reed or Iggy Pop).

But saying 'you need to sing out of key' is bullshit. There are two possibilities:

1 you misinterpretated what your friend tried to say

2 Your friend is clearly not a wise or great musician, but has convinced you he is.
 
Brett, you hit the nail right on the head.
 
I have heard of guitar players who will tune their guitars a couple of cents up from the key. Supposedly it makes the guitar more prominent.

I guess the concept is similar to a drummer playing slightly ahead of the beat.

I assume that this could done with vocals as well, although I wonder if anyone is actually that good. However, some people might tend to do it naturally.

Mind you, I wouldn't actually consider this as singing "out of key", and I doubt it's what your friend was referring to anyway.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top