General Music Chat

To answer the OP question quickly, I write music for myself first, my bandmates second and my fans third. Clubs don't even count.

I can't write for others... I suck too much to do that just yet...

I only write for me. I write each part to be perfect in my mind. I don't even think about the fact that I'm writing it to be perfect to me. I just think I'm writing it to be perfect period. If other people like it, great! If not, I know when I've hit my mark.

I can't help but think you're likely right about me staying the lead vocalist. Its just that, like in our last practice vs driving down the freeway singing to my instrumental versions where I mixed out the vocal, that sometimes I can hit my highest note, range, other times I can't and it feels partly due to never having taken formal vocal coaching (even that lost cause Axel Rose took coaching from an elderly lady who coaches many heavy rock vocalists so they don't develop "nodes") and its part my smoking. There have been plenty of great singers that smoke, but they already had a natural gift of a golden throat. Taking care of that gift is up to them. Look at Layne Stayley (RIP) from Alice In Chains; one of my favorite hard rock vocalists, especially his lush harmonies and "I'm a Smack Head but I love her to death" angst ridden screams. Heroin as I understand can really f**k up your voice but I've heard them live many times and Layne is just spot on. Maybe I should pop some Hall's Cherry cough drops and drink beer with lime before hitting the stageLOL LOL!! We are just three guys but once I get a second guitar rig like the one I use now to place on the opposite side of the stage fed by a cord from a stereo pedal into the second rig's input, it will create a semi-digital stereo wall of HEAVY GUITAR. I don't play that loud on stage if the sound man knows what he is doing - in fact, I usually turn my speaker cab away from the audience so the SM has more control over the mains mix and he really pushes the guitar through the monitors. I find also that we need MUCH BETTER practice PA gear. Right now Im singing through a cordless mic that runs into, get this: a stereo hi-fi amp that constantly distorts and shuts down automatically because the signal its receiving is not running through any kind of mixer, just straight into the back of this crap amp. So I could easily ruin my voice this way. We rented one of those by the hour pro practice places here that have amazingly high-end PA gear, mics, sound treated walls; I find I'm not having to project my voice so much as it comes out HOT as in HOT SIGNAL and so I can still sound powerful without blowing my pipes. Stage nerves also causes me to go sharp on the high notes. What do you think: just close my eyes and concentrate on the vocal and not worry so much about making eye contact? YES, IF YOU EVER SOMEDAY CAN, STOP IN AT PHOENIX AND YOU AND I WILL SHARE A FEW TEQUILA SHOTS AND HAVE A BLAST WITH YOU SINGING AS A GUEST ON A FEW SONGS LIVE? It could be.

Awww Tox, you're making me blush over here. I wish I could come to Phoenix, but I'm stuck here due to lack of funds.

You're music is very good, fatten up your guitar with more layers, and you can layer your voice. My favorite is No Redemption, I love the sound of the guitar. Just bring up your vocals a tad more. Your songs are great and they keep me listening. You just need the right production. I mean, I know our stuff could get beefed up with the right production, which we're constantly working on.

You should focus on being the lead singer. There's nothing wrong with your voice. Think of Hendrix. He didn't like his voice, but somehow it just worked with what he was doing, I couldn't think of anyone else doing Jimi's stuff. Work on getting your own style, something that makes your voice YOU, so when people hear it, they know it's you. That comes with confidence. For instance, I know I don't have the best voice. I can't sing all those winding soulful loopdy-loops that all the female vocalists like to spout off now, but people know that's me when they hear me. When I hit the stage, I came to kick ass, I know that and I do it my way.

I feel your frustration and I know most of it comes from the fact that you know your good. Being in that position makes one pretty much feel like a Who down in Whoville screaming "WE ARE HERE!"

Who knows what the future holds, perhaps we can hit a trip out to Phoenix in the near future.

Sorry guys, but Springsteen just didn't do it for me. As far as representing America, the working man and so on, I preferred John Cougar Mellencamp. Bruce's voice drove me crazy. I saw a tribute band my friend plays in and I swear, did all this dude's stuff sound the same or what? The fifth song in I just wanted it all to be over.

Chaeya

(even that lost cause Axel Rose took coaching from an elderly lady who coaches many heavy rock vocalists so they don't develop "nodes"

I find it impossible to believe that Axel Rose took even one voice lesson. I'd bet he played hookey and spent the money on peep shows.

That said, you are a much better singer than him, imo. It sounds like you need to work on your "chudspah" (confidence) more than your voice actually. If you practice each song over and over and over and over again, you'll be confident in your ability and it won't seem so scary. I suggest doing that without the band, btw.

A good PA does make all the difference when playing with a full band though. I've got my mic turned up so high above everything else that I can whisper and it's heard clearly above the music. Usually stand about 4 inches back to sing normally, and when I hit a high note I'm as much as 12'' away from the mic (or more)

Let the amp do the work of "loudness" and just sing naturally.

I'm in Phoenix but leaving in a few minutes for Vegas. Wish I would have had the chance to meet you this time...but next time for sure.

Sorry guys, but Springsteen just didn't do it for me. As far as representing America, the working man and so on, I preferred John Cougar Mellencamp. Bruce's voice drove me crazy. I saw a tribute band my friend plays in and I swear, did all this dude's stuff sound the same or what? The fifth song in I just wanted it all to be over.

Chaeya
______

I'm so glad that I'm not the only who thinks Springsteen stinks.

I confess he's pretty good with a lyric, but that's where it ends.

YOD, PAPERDOG, JIMMY, VERY COOL TO KNOW THIS BANDMIX FORUM (AND CHAEYA, SORRY GIRL!) HAS MUSICIANS ON IT THAT CAN BE A SECOND PAIR OF EARS AND NOT ONLY MAKE ME FEEL MORE CONFIDENT ABOIUT TAKING THE HELM, BUT THROW IN SOME OTHER SIDE NOTES THAT ARE SO TRUE. THE OVER AND OVER PRACTICE HAS BEEN A SAYING FOR DECADES: HEY MAN, HOW DO I GET TO CARNEGIE HALL? "PRACTICE MAN, PRACTICE!!!!)

(even that lost cause Axel Rose took coaching from an elderly lady who coaches many heavy rock vocalists so they don't develop "nodes"

I find it impossible to believe that Axel Rose took even one voice lesson. I'd bet he played hookey and spent the money on peep shows.

That said, you are a much better singer than him, imo. It sounds like you need to work on your "chudspah" (confidence) more than your voice actually. If you practice each song over and over and over and over again, you'll be confident in your ability and it won't seem so scary. I suggest doing that without the band, btw.

A good PA does make all the difference when playing with a full band though. I've got my mic turned up so high above everything else that I can whisper and it's heard clearly above the music. Usually stand about 4 inches back to sing normally, and when I hit a high note I'm as much as 12'' away from the mic (or more)

Let the amp do the work of "loudness" and just sing naturally.

I'm in Phoenix but leaving in a few minutes for Vegas. Wish I would have had the chance to meet you this time...but next time for sure.

Sorry guys, but Springsteen just didn't do it for me. As far as representing America, the working man and so on, I preferred John Cougar Mellencamp. Bruce's voice drove me crazy. I saw a tribute band my friend plays in and I swear, did all this dude's stuff sound the same or what? The fifth song in I just wanted it all to be over.

Chaeya
______

I'm so glad that I'm not the only who thinks Springsteen stinks.

I confess he's pretty good with a lyric, but that's where it ends.