Tough vocal ACDC

  • Thread starter Thread starter Lord Target
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Lord Target

Lord Target

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It´s been kind of a year now that I try to get close to the voice of Brian Johnson (ACDC). :listeningmusic:

He's got that grit (drive) and still achieves a peculiar and very high registers. Not an easy act, I admit. I use the mask technique most of the times, for not damaging to much my voice , a blend sometimes with the typical drive that hurts (I do not know the technical name of it)

I have researched various covers around the world, and few come close too. Here in Brazil, has a vocalist who came very close, but used the damaging drive and had to leave the scene for a long time. When he returned, one realizes that the voice is not the same.

my attempt:

https://soundcloud.com/ballbreakers-acdc-cover/back-in-black-1

Brian Johnson beginning career 1981


AC/DC - Back In Black (Live - Capital Center, 1981) - YouTube

Brian Johnson in 2011


AC/DC BACK IN BLACK (Live at River Plate) HD - YouTube
 
That's a very hard track to pull off. There was a Christian band called X Sinner back in the day that pulled off a respectable imitation of the whole AC/DC black metal sound with their song "Back in Red"; may be worth a reference.

I think you're getting there, but sometimes a guy needs his cheats. Check this out and see if it may help you get the throat right without killing yourself:

Antares Vocal Processing > Products > THROAT Evo
 
I think AC/DC vocals suck to be honest. It's a sort of Donald Duck sound that doesn't really appeal to me.
 
One interesting thing about his vocals is he actually sings them very quietly. It sounds like he is screaming but he is not doing them much louder than normal conversational volume. Not sure where I heard this (probably on this forum some time ago).

Your attempt is pretty damn close by the way. Good job.
 
dainbramage said:
One interesting thing about his vocals is he actually sings them very quietly.
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This is true. His vocals are just above a whisper. They just crank the gain.
I've been singing ACDC stuff for awhile and I found that just by relaxing, I get the notes. The "edge" was kinda easy for me but the high notes were hard on my voice until I found out how soft he actually "sings".
After I tried it softer, the high's came pretty easy.
 
Not fussed on Brian's vocals at all and can't see the point in mimickry/
AC/DC Back metal? Hmm, they were a pop band then a rock band. I didn't know they's trayed into Metal- leta lone BLACK meta;. Maybe She's Got The Clap is seen as evil by Praise metallists or something.
 
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AC/DC is one of my favorite bands. There are lots of good things about AC/DC to draw influence from. They have some of the awesomest guitar tones you'll ever hear IMO. Simple drumming, but you try to be that rock solid steady. It aint easy. And to top it all off, they have not altered their sound or style in 40 fucking years. I love that most of all. You know what to expect with AC/DC and they don't often disappoint. You're gonna get stripped down 3 or 4 chord rock solid rock and roll. That's it. Drums bass and guitars. They write the same song over and over and it's pretty much always awesome. So yeah, to me there's lots of good to draw from. But the vocals....why anyone would try to imitate that is beyond me. Everyone that tries just sounds like a cheap copy.
 
Greg_L said:
But the vocals....why anyone would try to imitate that is beyond me. Everyone that tries just sounds like a cheap copy.
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Well, if you play in an AC/DC cover band like the OP does, I can see why he would try to imitate that. Of course, if we're talking about a band who also does some covers, your own voice and style would be preferable, but for a party-playing coverband... Yeah.
 
dainbramage said:
Well, if you play in an AC/DC cover band like the OP does, I can see why he would try to imitate that. Of course, if we're talking about a band who also does some covers, your own voice and style would be preferable, but for a party-playing coverband... Yeah.
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Don't even get me started on cover/tribute bands........:mad:
 
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