Autistic with a 12-String and USB Laptop Mic -- Help with Singing Technique

[Wabatuckian]

Edit: WAV file didn't stick. Trying again. Solved: WAV not allowd. MP3 used.

I hate my voice.

That said, I don't objectively know what to make of it, or how to fix it or sing better. Being autistic, I've always had an issue with word hunting and just not being able to turn the pictures in my head into words as fast as the pictures came.

Singing, I don't know what I sound like to others, and I remember and hear everything I know I messed up when I listen back.

I think I need to relax. When I do, I sound a bit country. I don't like sounding country.

If anyone has tips, that would be great. I suspect that the first thing I need to do is relax more, and the second thing I need to do is find... what, a base tone maybe? One to return to each time I go up or down.

I know nothing about singing or vocal technique. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Slouching Raymond]

Love it, Wabatuckian!
Yes, it is all handmade and un-polished, but it has character.
The singing is a little out of tune, here and there.
I can offer one tip for singing:
Sing up. That means put the mic a bit higher than your head, so that you have to lift your head to sing to it.
As Rob said elsewhere, that opens your throat which improves the singing.
I do that, as my singing is not much to bragg about.

 

[Wabatuckian]

Love it, Wabatuckian!
Yes, it is all handmade and un-polished, but it has character.
The singing is a little out of tune, here and there.
I can offer one tip for singing:
Sing up. That means put the mic a bit higher than your head, so that you have to lift your head to sing to it.
As Rob said elsewhere, that opens your throat which improves the singing.
I do that, as my singing is not much to bragg about.

I appreciate it. My computer mic is above my head because it helps me keep my throat open, I guess; I wasn't thinking of it in those terms. It just made it more comfortable, and, thinking about it, that's probably why.

I had my other mic higher up and I lowered it, but don't like it as much. I'll have to move it back up.

 

[Wabatuckian]

Love it, Wabatuckian!
Yes, it is all handmade and un-polished, but it has character.
The singing is a little out of tune, here and there.
I can offer one tip for singing:
Sing up. That means put the mic a bit higher than your head, so that you have to lift your head to sing to it.
As Rob said elsewhere, that opens your throat which improves the singing.
I do that, as my singing is not much to bragg about.

I prefer doing my original stuff. I think it helps that I'm not comparing myself to an original singer (in the case of In the Pines above, I'm comparing myself to both Leadbelly and Kurt Cobain.)

Here's Happy Song, recorded in my living room on a couple cheap mics, an old Realistic mic mixer, and an MP3 player/recorder; mixed with Audacity:

 

[Slouching Raymond]

Here's Happy Song, recorded in my living room on a couple cheap mics, an old Realistic mic mixer, and an MP3 player/recorder; mixed with Audacity:

Could easily be Sex Pistols.

 

[PitchTempoAndriy]

For the “base tone” idea, try using a reference for the first note of one short phrase, rather than trying to return to one fixed note whenever the melody moves. Play that starting note on your guitar, sing the phrase without playing, then put the guitar part back in. That separates learning the vocal line from coordinating it with the accompaniment.

Since you prefer your originals, choose two lines of one of those and record a plain voice-only take. Before listening back, pick just one question: did I start on the intended note, did the words land where I wanted, or did the phrase ending stay controlled? Make the next take about that one thing, rather than whether you like your whole voice. Keep the same mic position so the comparison is useful.

You could also post that short excerpt with the specific thing you want help with and the melody you intend (a quick guitar version would do). That gives people a much clearer target than comparing you with Leadbelly or Cobain. This is a practice/checking approach, not a judgement on the recordings you attached.

 

[Wabatuckian]

Could easily be Sex Pistols.

I'm gonna have to go listen to some Sex Pistols now. Thank you.

 

[Wabatuckian]

For the “base tone” idea, try using a reference for the first note of one short phrase, rather than trying to return to one fixed note whenever the melody moves. Play that starting note on your guitar, sing the phrase without playing, then put the guitar part back in. That separates learning the vocal line from coordinating it with the accompaniment.

Since you prefer your originals, choose two lines of one of those and record a plain voice-only take. Before listening back, pick just one question: did I start on the intended note, did the words land where I wanted, or did the phrase ending stay controlled? Make the next take about that one thing, rather than whether you like your whole voice. Keep the same mic position so the comparison is useful.

You could also post that short excerpt with the specific thing you want help with and the melody you intend (a quick guitar version would do). That gives people a much clearer target than comparing you with Leadbelly or Cobain. This is a practice/checking approach, not a judgement on the recordings you attached.

This is very helpful, and I'll come back to it when I'm more awake. Thank you!

 

[Wabatuckian]

For the “base tone” idea, try using a reference for the first note of one short phrase, rather than trying to return to one fixed note whenever the melody moves. Play that starting note on your guitar, sing the phrase without playing, then put the guitar part back in. That separates learning the vocal line from coordinating it with the accompaniment.

Since you prefer your originals, choose two lines of one of those and record a plain voice-only take. Before listening back, pick just one question: did I start on the intended note, did the words land where I wanted, or did the phrase ending stay controlled? Make the next take about that one thing, rather than whether you like your whole voice. Keep the same mic position so the comparison is useful.

You could also post that short excerpt with the specific thing you want help with and the melody you intend (a quick guitar version would do). That gives people a much clearer target than comparing you with Leadbelly or Cobain. This is a practice/checking approach, not a judgement on the recordings you attached.

Ok, so, last thing first: I'm not sure what melody I intend. I just sing.

More to the point, the way I play guitar is, I dunno really what to call it. My son says it's like a mix between lead and rhythm. It's not a strict rhythm throughout the song, rather, I modify the guitar throughout. It's not always intentional but goes with what I feel, and I never really play the same thing the same way twice.

Everything else in my life is highly technical, and this is my emotional outlet.

I try to sing in harmony with the guitar chords, but that doesn't always (hardly ever?) works.

Cobain did this thing where he'd play a power chord, you know, root and fifth, and complete the chord with his voice as the third. I've always admired that but I do suspect it's beyond my abilities.

Musically, I barely know what I'm talking about. Terms, references, etc are generally beyond what I know.

I hear a melody in my head, put guitar chords to it, and write lyrics later that go roughly to the chord melody I've already established. Conversely, I've had repetitive phrases start through my head that ended up with melodies as they repeated. I'm weird, but that's ok. My brain subconsciously writes its own earworms and they only go away when I excorcise them with the guitar.

I can't proficiently read music, but I think I'm going to try something for the melody since I have an empty house today.

 

[Wabatuckian]

K, so "Happy Song" as written years ago:

First verse, thinking about the melody:

Melody, just dots, not actual musical notation:

 

[Slouching Raymond]

Musically, I barely know what I'm talking about. Terms, references, etc are generally beyond what I know.

A top notch classical musician I once spoke to, who was getting into 'free jazz',
told me 'You don't need to know anything'.

 

[PitchTempoAndriy]

You do not need to decide the whole melody before singing. Keep the spontaneous pass, then choose one short line you liked and use that recording as your reference. Hum it once without the guitar, then add a simple held chord before bringing the changing guitar part back. That separates remembering a phrase from coordinating it, while leaving the rest free. Your dot sketch can just remind you 'up / down / stays here'; it does not have to become formal notation.

 

[rob aylestone]

The thing with singing is to treat it like an instrument - practically all the same rules apply. People like Jacob Collier decide to play an instrument - Musically he is amazing - he invented new tuning and new chord patterns to suit what he did. It worked fine! It sort of like if the music is in your head you need to get it out the best way. Not everyone can sing, for loads of reasons. Some is sadly they just cannot process pitch and tone. They might sound like an angel or painful but have no clue. Lots of poor singers realise this and develop a style that uses a rough voice to their anvantage. The Pogues, Bob Dylan and Joe Cocker would have been useless in church singing a hymn, but great doing the songs they were famous for. Some people cannot sing a long note and stay in tune - So they turn it into a style. The snag is that you don't know for certain. Strangers like us have an idea, but a really good idea is to find a local singing teacher and ask them to have a listen. What they can always do is stop you leearning really bad habits - some will damage your voice. They can do what was suggested up a bit in the topic - learn how to open your throat up a bit. A good example is David Gilmour. Look carefully - he always has the mic stand about his nose height, so has to sing head up. He NEVER looks down at his guitar and sings. My guess is that as he's got older, if he does that, his throat closes up and strangles his voice. Other people discovered their voices did different things when they did more unusual things with their voice. Karen Carpenter had a very characteristic voice - and live she favoured an omni mic so whatever EQ was dialled in sounded the same no matter of she went in close or not. She had an excellent voice, but maintained it for her live shows with technology. The worst singers are the ones who cannot pick up pitch and rhythm. They don't know they are singing the wrong note - excruciatingly awful. If they are that bad, they need gentle pursuasion to find another outlet for their, er, enthusiasm. I can sing, but I am not a singer. Lots of people think they can sing and cannot. Some think they can't and can. What is 100% is that an evaluation - an honest one - from an expert will point you in a direction.

 

[ecc83]

I have always firmly believed that virtually anyone CAN sing. A bit, i.e. "tone deafness" is very rare. Many people don't sing because they don't have the confidence, a few insist on signing who perhaps shouldn't!
However, not everyone can be Freddie Mercury! Only you can decide if your voice is good enough to unleash on the world. Some people have the native ability to turn a tune in their heads immediately into great song...Eric Clapton once said his fingers just do on the guitar what is in his head. Most of us don't have that talent but then I suspect Eric's has come also from 1000s of hours playing covers in his bedroom!

As with all abilities and especially musical ones, practice, practice, practice and of course, with the voice, a degree of CV fitness is required! Most people can benefit from lessons.

Dave.

 

[Wabatuckian]

The thing with singing is to treat it like an instrument - practically all the same rules apply. People like Jacob Collier decide to play an instrument - Musically he is amazing - he invented new tuning and new chord patterns to suit what he did. It worked fine! It sort of like if the music is in your head you need to get it out the best way. Not everyone can sing, for loads of reasons. Some is sadly they just cannot process pitch and tone. They might sound like an angel or painful but have no clue. Lots of poor singers realise this and develop a style that uses a rough voice to their anvantage. The Pogues, Bob Dylan and Joe Cocker would have been useless in church singing a hymn, but great doing the songs they were famous for. Some people cannot sing a long note and stay in tune - So they turn it into a style. The snag is that you don't know for certain. Strangers like us have an idea, but a really good idea is to find a local singing teacher and ask them to have a listen. What they can always do is stop you leearning really bad habits - some will damage your voice. They can do what was suggested up a bit in the topic - learn how to open your throat up a bit. A good example is David Gilmour. Look carefully - he always has the mic stand about his nose height, so has to sing head up. He NEVER looks down at his guitar and sings. My guess is that as he's got older, if he does that, his throat closes up and strangles his voice. Other people discovered their voices did different things when they did more unusual things with their voice. Karen Carpenter had a very characteristic voice - and live she favoured an omni mic so whatever EQ was dialled in sounded the same no matter of she went in close or not. She had an excellent voice, but maintained it for her live shows with technology. The worst singers are the ones who cannot pick up pitch and rhythm. They don't know they are singing the wrong note - excruciatingly awful. If they are that bad, they need gentle pursuasion to find another outlet for their, er, enthusiasm. I can sing, but I am not a singer. Lots of people think they can sing and cannot. Some think they can't and can. What is 100% is that an evaluation - an honest one - from an expert will point you in a direction.

That "singing up" thing has been one of the most helpful pieces of advice from this group.

I found it harder to sing downstairs than upstairs in my office, and I initially thought it was because I was sitting down upstairs. Singing up was mentioned, and I realized that was the difference: my USB computer mic is up higher so I can use it while still seeing the screen.

 

[Wabatuckian]

I have always firmly believed that virtually anyone CAN sing. A bit, i.e. "tone deafness" is very rare. Many people don't sing because they don't have the confidence, a few insist on signing who perhaps shouldn't!
However, not everyone can be Freddie Mercury! Only you can decide if your voice is good enough to unleash on the world. Some people have the native ability to turn a tune in their heads immediately into great song...Eric Clapton once said his fingers just do on the guitar what is in his head. Most of us don't have that talent but then I suspect Eric's has come also from 1000s of hours playing covers in his bedroom!

As with all abilities and especially musical ones, practice, practice, practice and of course, with the voice, a degree of CV fitness is required! Most people can benefit from lessons.

Dave.

As far as voice lessons go:

When I started trying to sing, I was following the advice I remembered from elementary Christmas programs at school. The teacher said to use your head voice, sing clearly, make hard any consonants on the ends of words.

I sounded terrible.

Axl Rose, I believe, got his range from messing with his choir teacher. I don't get how.

I think I learned a lot of stuff back then that, while not "bad", doesn't fit with what I'm doing. Additionally, I'm a very controlled person and am trying to learn to "let it out".

As far as cardiovascular fitness goes, I mountain bike and seem to be pretty good in that area. I realized yesterday that I don't take breaths when I should while singing, and that's something I need to work on, especially the faster songs or those with long lines.

 

[TalismanRich]

I have found that breathing is especially important. Taking small short breaths leads me to running out of air, which immediately sends me off pitch. Catching a good breath means I can hold pitch much better. It's something to work on . It's easy to try. Take a small breath and try to hold a note for 30 seconds. Poof, you run out of air and your note either completely dies or you drift off. Take a full breath and do the same. MUCH better.

When playing live, I have had to do both singing and playing. I can easily screw it up... a quick thought trying to keep the lyrics straight means I miss a chord change, or the wrong verse comes out. I've played it 100 times before.. why does this happen? Nerves. You don't want to screw up and lose concentration and flow. When I record, I do it separately. Do the guitar track, maybe just singing it in your head to keep things in proper order, THEN go back and do the vocals. With your DAW, if you blow the 3rd verse, just back the track up and redo that verse until you get it the way you want. As long as you keep the setup the same, the sound should be mostly seamless.

 

[Maya Clars]

Edit: WAV file didn't stick. Trying again. Solved: WAV not allowd. MP3 used.

I hate my voice.

That said, I don't objectively know what to make of it, or how to fix it or sing better. Being autistic, I've always had an issue with word hunting and just not being able to turn the pictures in my head into words as fast as the pictures came.

Singing, I don't know what I sound like to others, and I remember and hear everything I know I messed up when I listen back.

I think I need to relax. When I do, I sound a bit country. I don't like sounding country.

If anyone has tips, that would be great. I suspect that the first thing I need to do is relax more, and the second thing I need to do is find... what, a base tone maybe? One to return to each time I go up or down.

I know nothing about singing or vocal technique. Any help would be appreciated.

When I started singing every day, it helped me to control my voice more. I'd say this one always helps a lot.

 

[ecc83]

When I started singing every day, it helped me to control my voice more. I'd say this one always helps a lot.

Most here are too young to know but when tape recorders (not cassette) first came into homes people would record* friends and family and they say "that's not me!" They almost always did not like the voice they heard either. Yes, keep singing. Familiarity can breed LESS contempt!

*The fact that these recorders were supplied with pretty grotty crystal mics did not help! All except Grundig who provided a capacitor mic by crickey. And thinking about it now? Those crap mics were omnis so you got all the dreadful room effects as well.

Dave.

 

[R D Smith]

When I started singing every day, it helped me to control my voice more. I'd say this one always helps a lot.

I agree.

I sing everyday. When I'm driving in the car, listening to the radio, or playing my guitar. Sing things that are out of your vocal range too, it will help you expand your range. If you have a problem playing and singing at the same time, record the vocal track separately. I always record the vocal separately unless it's a live performance. You have much better control just concentrating on one thing at a time.