Cover of Mariah Carey - Hero (need your help)

[Sanger1989]

Hi all, I am a 24 year old male who loves Mariah's songs and pop ballads in general. Please help me improve by posting constructive comments and being specific. Here is the first one:

soundcloud.com/sanger1989/male-cover-of-mariah-carey

 

[Armistice]

Obtaining some vague idea of how to actually sing would be my recommendation. Pitch matters.

You're trolling, right?

 

[Sanger1989]

I am not trolling at all, actually. Are you? Also, can you point out the inconsistencies instead of being condescending?

Edit: Just realized I may be asking for too much. Upon reviewing your posting history, you contribute nothing more than uninformative one-liners to posts. Oh well. :|

 

[pegger]

You asked for it, and you got one answer already that you didn't like. Here's another that you can take however you want.

You are not a very good singer. There's no simpler way to put it. I'm not gonna bash and pick at every minute detail because quite frankly I am not a great singer either. But I learned what I can do with my voice, and through practice and exercise I have developed what I have (as little as it may be). And there are so many posts like this at this forum...everyone wants confirmation that they can sing, even if they can't. And they are all looking for some sort of tip to make them an instant success. There aren't any.

If you want to improve, then take the initiative upon yourself to get some training. You will reap benefits by learning to breath properly more than anything. Breathing exercises will actually translate into better pitch control. There's no short cut with learning to sing. Your voice is an instrument and you need to learn how to play it properly.

I've basically told you in long format what armistice said. If you are willing to open yourself up for criticism, then flaming the response with your 2nd response makes it hard for anyone to take you seriously. Roll with the punches dude.

 

[Sanger1989]

You asked for it, and you got one answer already that you didn't like. Here's another that you can take however you want.

You are not a very good singer. There's no simpler way to put it. I'm not gonna bash and pick at every minute detail because quite frankly I am not a great singer either. But I learned what I can do with my voice, and through practice and exercise I have developed what I have (as little as it may be). And there are so many posts like this at this forum...everyone wants confirmation that they can sing, even if they can't. And they are all looking for some sort of tip to make them an instant success. There aren't any.

If you want to improve, then take the initiative upon yourself to get some training. You will reap benefits by learning to breath properly more than anything. Breathing exercises will actually translate into better pitch control. There's no short cut with learning to sing. Your voice is an instrument and you need to learn how to play it properly.

I've basically told you in long format what armistice said. If you are willing to open yourself up for criticism, then flaming the response with your 2nd response makes it hard for anyone to take you seriously. Roll with the punches dude.

This is actually what I am looking for in terms of constructive criticism. You say that I can take it however I want, but I certainly take no offense to what you have posted here.

In addition, I have, at no point, indicated or even insinuated that I am looking for confirmation that I can sing. Isn't the point of posting here to gather constructive criticism, work on them, and improve? Maybe I am under a false notion.

I also disagree that your post is a "long format [of] what armistice said." If anything, you are simply sugar coating what he wrote. I have enough reading comprehension to know the difference.

Thank you, and I welcome more constructive criticism from anyone.

 

[Steenamaroo]

Hey,
I would do two things with a pitch reference. Piano/keyboard would be good.

One is pick a note that's very comfortable to sing. Not too low, not too high.
Now sing it and hold it. While you're holding it listen to it. What's wrong? Weak?
Change how you're singing the note as you hold it.
Make it fuller, stronger, rounder etc. Try to impersonate a famous tenor or sinatra with your tone.
Put your hand on your gut. Are you tensing? Supporting a smooth constant flow of air? You should be.

Two is an extension one, kinda.
Pick the note and do as above but quickly and just over, say, four seconds.

If the note is C, Go like this.
C---D---C---E---C---F---C---G---C---A---C---B---C---C---C

The aim here is to hit the correct pitch each time. Don't worry if you have to glide into it or find the note. As long as you get there in the end.
Do this regularly, especially before singing.

Think of your voice now as someone fumbling around on a violin. You want to go from that to someone confidently striking a piano key. What a kick ass analogy, right?

These two things should improve your pitch accuracy, your confidence, and the strength with which you sing.
Without even thinking about it, you're likely to see a big improvement fairly quickly.

 

[Sanger1989]

Hey,
I would do two things with a pitch reference. Piano/keyboard would be good.

One is pick a note that's very comfortable to sing. Not too low, not too high.
Now sing it and hold it. While you're holding it listen to it. What's wrong? Weak?
Change how you're singing the note as you hold it.
Make it fuller, stronger, rounder etc. Try to impersonate a famous tenor or sinatra with your tone.
Put your hand on your gut. Are you tensing? Supporting a smooth constant flow of air? You should be.

Two is an extension one, kinda.
Pick the note and do as above but quickly and just over, say, four seconds.

If the note is C, Go like this.
C---D---C---E---C---F---C---G---C---A---C---B---C---C---C

The aim here is to hit the correct pitch each time. Don't worry if you have to glide into it or find the note. As long as you get there in the end.
Do this regularly, especially before singing.

Think of your voice now as someone fumbling around on a violin. You want to go from that to someone confidently striking a piano key. What a kick ass analogy, right?

These two things should improve your pitch accuracy, your confidence, and the strength with which you sing.
Without even thinking about it, you're likely to see a big improvement fairly quickly.

Wow, thank you! Just when I was beginning to get a bit dreary from the previous responses, you come along. Your analogy also makes a lot of sense... I'll add to it that I might be fumbling, but I am certainly persistent and I will work hard. If you have any other tips, please let me know.

 

[Steenamaroo]

No problem.
I think you're capable. I get the feeling you just lack confidence and strength. Hopefully that'll help. ^^^

 

[Armistice]

OK, sorry about the trolling comment. I have little patience for the "Can I sing?" threads here, I'll admit... this is a home recording bulletin board, where you learn how to record, not a singing bulletin board where you learn how to sing, but to say that I contribute only one liners shows you haven't ventured out of this particular forum.

Now, you have a weak, wavering voice that has a lot of pitch issues and you chose to sing a Mariah Carey song? Bad choice. Isn't that what the singing talent shows say? "It's all about song choice..."

I see I've got you angry. Good. Put a bit of that anger into your singing and you might come up with something half decent.

What most concerns me about your future singing career is that you (apparently) can't hear pitch very well in your own recordings - you (apparently) don't know that you're way off pitch in places and sliding around like an ice road trucker... you need to work on that.

I'm a crap singer too... but I know my limitations and how to get the best out of what I've got and hey, I can write songs and play instruments and lordy lordy I've got an album and have played live all over the joint. What else can you do?

Many a crap singer has become a musical legend. Dylan, Bragg, Young etc. etc. They didn't sing Mariah Carey songs, strangely enough.

Get a bit of volume, a bit of power into your voice and perhaps you'll have a better outcome. Get angry. Kick the cat*. Do something. Put something into the song, and don't, for fuck's sake, sing Mariah Carey songs. If you must sing girl songs, try something that's not so "diva" - at least to start.

Sing into the DAW you either don't have yet or don't know how to use and put the pitch corrector plug in on, but don't use it to correct, because they're not that good, use it to look at how your pitch is going all over the joint. Sing a single note and see if you can get a straight line happening. Try moving between notes then. Listen back. Ditch the backing track, just listen to your voice.

There you go. Solid useful advice. Practice, practice, practice and come back in six months and show me that I was wrong about your voice. I dare you. PM me. I'll be waiting.



*Don't really kick the cat. Cats are cool.

 

[Krowten]

People who have amazing singing voices had to do a lot of work to get those voices. Some people are just naturally gifted and don't have to work as hard. But most of us have to really work at it, and I mean many hours, months, and years. Hearing one's own voice objectively is a difficult thing that takes practice and patience and a honest criticism from others. Lots of people think they can sing well but can't because they haven't put in the time and/or have not been able to hear their own voices objectively. I listened to your recording - you do have a nice tone that you can work with, but you haven't practiced enough yet to stay on key, to make a run of multiple notes, etc. There are many aspects of singing that you will learn over time if you practice and study your voice. You sound about like I did when I was 17. It took about 3-4+ years of very hard work for me to be able to sing a song and get a compliment on my singing. I am now 50, and after 30 years, I can sing just about anything that is in my range. That last part is really important - I have to stay in my range, and that includes a lot of music, but I will never sing Led Zeppelin, and I will never sign Johnny Cash. Work hard and you will sing well. And as Armistice said, please do not sing Mariah Carey. Many people with great voices cannot sing a Mariah Carey song. Start with something simple, Learn to crawl, then walk, then run, and if you work hard enough, maybe you'll even fly a little.

 

[Steenamaroo]

Sing into the DAW you either don't have yet or don't know how to use and put the pitch corrector plug in on, but don't use it to correct, because they're not that good, use it to look at how your pitch is going all over the joint. Sing a single note and see if you can get a straight line happening. Try moving between notes then. Listen back. Ditch the backing track, just listen to your voice.
cool.

That's actually a really good tip if you struggle to hear right from wrong.
Nice one!

*Don't really kick the cat. Cats are cool.

Definitely don't kick the cat. Play the game bra! That's just not cool.

 

[Mickster]

The positives are;
1. You're trying.
2. You have guts enough to ask.

Lots of people never get that far.

The negatives are:
1. Your pitch is terrible.
2. Your timing might be questionable as well.

But your not 90 years old and can learn.

The question is:
1. Are you serious about singing?
2. Are you TRULY willing to put the time and dedication into it?
3. You will be criticized along the way.........can you take it?
3. What is your overall goal? Hobby??? Pro???
4. What did you yourself think about your singing BEFORE you asked us?

It's not about what we think. But I can tell you that what we do think and write here.........is what 99% of the people who hear you will be thinking whether they say it or not. So........good bad or otherwise........this forum is "real life". If it bothers you too much........solve that issue first. Then go for it.

 

[Chili]

OK, sorry about the trolling comment. I have little patience for the "Can I sing?" threads here, I'll admit... this is a home recording bulletin board, where you learn how to record, not a singing bulletin board where you learn how to sing,

I fought pretty hard to get the admins to add a singing/vocal forum to the site. I wanted topics to discuss singing techniques, mic techniques, vocal treatment, annunciation, and how singing relates to recording music at home and the special challenges presented by singing in a less than adequate studio. I never meant for this place to be the "Can I Sing?" forum, but sadly that's what it turned into. Now, people google "Can I Sing" and this place pops up on their search results. (Same for podcasting and USB mics )

So, if you come here asking if you can sing and you clearly can't; don't get offended when asked if you're trolling. That in itself is a valid response.
[/Rant]

But there are people here who can sing and who can give good advice to improve a singer's capabilities.

 

[Sanger1989]

I fought pretty hard to get the admins to add a singing/vocal forum to the site. I wanted topics to discuss singing techniques, mic techniques, vocal treatment, annunciation, and how singing relates to recording music at home and the special challenges presented by singing in a less than adequate studio. I never meant for this place to be the "Can I Sing?" forum, but sadly that's what it turned into. Now, people google "Can I Sing" and this place pops up on their search results. (Same for podcasting and USB mics )

So, if you come here asking if you can sing and you clearly can't; don't get offended when asked if you're trolling. That in itself is a valid response.
[/Rant]

But there are people here who can sing and who can give good advice to improve a singer's capabilities.

Hi all, I am a 24 year old male who loves Mariah's songs and pop ballads in general. Please help me improve by posting constructive comments and being specific. Here is the first one:

soundcloud.com/sanger1989/male-cover-of-mariah-carey

So the above is my original post. How are people reading this and concluding that I am asking, "Can I sing?" There was no assumption anywhere in that post that I think that I can sing well. I am posting under Singing & Vocals, and I am asking for advice. For those who gave constructive responses, I have taken them gracefully and listened. For those who came in only to bash, then I have addressed them as well and I have no more interest in communicating with those types of people. I have already started practicing with using the constructive responses.

 

[Steenamaroo]

To be fair, there's nothing here to suggest that "Can I sing?" threads aren't welcome and, as the OP said, he did ask for advice to improve his singing.
Maybe this thread got off on the wrong foot but no harm done, eh? Let's keep it constructive.


PS. I'm not a mod. I just figure there's two ways this can go.

 

[Chili]

So the above is my original post. How are people reading this and concluding that I am asking, "Can I sing?" There was no assumption anywhere in that post that I think that I can sing well. I am posting under Singing & Vocals, and I am asking for advice. For those who gave constructive responses, I have taken them gracefully and listened. For those who came in only to bash, then I have addressed them as well and I have no more interest in communicating with those types of people. I have already started practicing with using the constructive responses.

Okay, fair enough and I apologize.

I included the embedded link in the first post for you and gave it a listen.

It seems to me that you couldn't hear the backing track very good and you were probably more pitchy than you might usually be. Also seems like you were singing low-keyed or softly. Like you were in a place where you didn't want others to hear you. You were singing too softly for any kind of emotion to convey or to entertain a listener. And that's what singing is all about.

Fix those two things and you can probably do much, much better. Find a way to hear the backing tracks better and sing louder and more in control, with conviction.

hth,

 

[Sanger1989]

Okay, fair enough and I apologize.

I included the embedded link in the first post for you and gave it a listen.

It seems to me that you couldn't hear the backing track very good and you were probably more pitchy than you might usually be. Also seems like you were singing low-keyed or softly. Like you were in a place where you didn't want others to hear you. You were singing too softly for any kind of emotion to convey or to entertain a listener. And that's what singing is all about.

Fix those two things and you can probably do much, much better. Find a way to hear the backing tracks better and sing louder and more in control, with conviction.

hth,

Wow, haha... I'm actually sitting here kind of stunned. You were able to tell my singing environment and circumstances just by listening to that one audio. Yes, you are right. I hold back a bit when I sing because I am shy and don't want others living near me to hear. I adjust by singing more softly. Thanks for noticing!

 

[Steenamaroo]

In the kingdom of the blind....

Some of the really good singers on this site have talked about having the same problem.
Most wait until the house is empty to do their recording, although building up your confidence would be great too.

 

[Chili]

You were able to tell my singing environment and circumstances just by listening to that one audio.

Well, actually only a few seconds of the audio clip, I really don't want to listen to Mariah drivel if I don't have to. No offense.

I'm not a good singer, but I do what I can.... and when I'm recording, I don't like to have others listen to me. Mostly because I'm still writing the song as I'm recording it and I may not know exactly how I will sing a part until I get down to doing it. I don't like people watching me go through that process. It can be painful at times.

 

[simon22]

very good music.