Using the same voice for melody and harmony

  • Thread starter Thread starter leavings
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that thing about not enunciating consonants is especially useful with certain sounds at the beginnings and ends of words, like t's (beginning and end) and s's (at end). The problem becomes when multiple parts are sung with slightly different timing, so you end up with t-t-t-t-t or sssssssssss. Sometimes I just edit them out later.
 
I'll post this in the mp3 forum as well, but I thought I'd mention it here to show you the results...

You can listen to the song I'm working on here (it's called "Anne" for now):

www.poemadept.com/Recording/recording.htm

I recorded the harmony on a cheapo dynamic in a different spot in the same room where I recorded the lead. I added some compression and reverb (I increased the reverb decay time to push it back a little further). I think it came out pretty well.

Thanks again for all of the suggestions!
 
I have had good results just using the main vocalist doing their own backups on rock/pop stuff, but of course that depends on talent level and their ability to harmonize.

There is no hard and fast rule, but I think it is more common to use different singers in R&B as opposed to something like rock music. Or say R&B when the male lead is backed by sultry trio of female vox.

Another seperatation application is when the band is live and needs to be able to sound "like the album".

You know at the end of the day it is just what works and what sounds good. There are no rules!

Gordon
 
Alot of 10,000 Maniacs songs have Natalie Merchant harmonizing with herself. Sounds fine (well, more than fine!) to me. ;-)
 
I've had fairly decent luck doing my own bgv's. It can be a little difficult to mix though since you're so married to the parts. I usually hit up a couple of other people to mix the vocals for me, that way I can get the LV out in front a little more.

Lead and BGV's:


cholo
 
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