General Music Chat

Please, anyone at all that has time, listen and comment on my home-produced demos at http://www.bandmix.com/tom211/ I have been at this a while but I find it has been difficult to record a good demo. For one thing it's hard for me to hear flaws and be objective about my voice (if I was too critical of it I would probably have given up a long time ago) I tend to compare myself to how I used to sound and be positive about my improvements. But anyway, I need some objective, no-holds-barred feedback because I want to continue to improve. For example, are there any 'pitchy' parts, problems with timing, tones that could use more resonance, and in general are they intense/emotional enough (or as Simon would say are they too 'boring'). But really, I'm not trying to get signed I just want to be in a local cover band for fun. I know, I still need to learn to introduce more rasp, and am gradually trying to work that in. If anyone has time it really helps to have an example of where you heard something you didn't (or did) like. THANKS in advance. -Tom211

I like your voice, you pretty much hit all the notes, but the one thing I will recommend is putting more finess into your style. I think if you could control the attack and release of the notes it would sound really good because you have good sustain.

Ok, First understand I,m no singer, They even ask me to lipsinc in church. Here we go. Buy a better mic and put a good wind screen on it. Learn to vary your vocal distance from your mic will give more depth to what you are doing. The core of your lyric sounds good, starts and stops are really choppy, flow with the emotion of the song dont fight with it. If your going to do covers you will have to learn how to give the same flow as the original artist (or as close as you can get) If not you wont sound as if you are doing a cover you will sound like you are doing karioke. The last song you demo'd was not quite as choppy. listen to the difference and perhaps you will understand my meaning. Stick with it and stay in touch.

And I think the vocals are too loud in the mix, if you have acess to a compressor definitely use that.

ok lets get down to the nuts and bolts of it...first off i think you have an ok voice that needs some fine tuning but could be really good in time..i heard the three tracks and i think your tone is ok...you can make the right sounds when you want but the thing you should work on is your "control"...the only cure for this is practice you still have to find your own "true" voice ..you try and do to much by trying to run up and down notes that are to close together..thus it sounds like your spittin out too many notes..

another thing is that you sing far to "open" far to often..if you could imagine your voice is like a valve..to sing well you should be using your voice half-open most of the time ...and only open it fully when you really need to make a point...but you sing lots of parts when you have your voice of valve open fully...this makes it even harder to control if you dont hit it bang on it sounds like its killing the singer....

so to close i think you can be a good singer in time...you just need to learn to relax and need to learn your own voice and flow...try to sing something you like and can sing well with an accoustic guitar and you will learn alot more about your voice than singing with a band...dont try and sing things outside your range(this is the first mistake many singers make) and practice everwhere...try different styles and in time you should find your own style and voice...

good luck with it.

slain.

But, as a vocal demo, you want the vocals to be too loud, eh?
.
I don't play this style, but I grew up listening to it all the time . . .
Here's my take:
>"Running Away." Hit the note you want to hit, but sooner, w/o sliding up to it or down to it (which an audience can misinterpret as 'searching for the note.')
>"Diary of Jane." This seems to be better singing. Possibly a more recent recording?
. . .
With further regard to the sliding-into a note . . . many styles of music require this. Punk and Metal can use it to show . . . m m m, what? 'Petulance?' Disdain?
Whatever; if that's the effect you're going for, then it may be appropriate to the style . . .

Pretty good so far. being a vocalist I would say not to puctuate so much and let the words blend more. Take note to your volume when you sing you seem to be "pushing" to much when you may not need to. I like what you are trying to do and like you said, work on your timing. But I like Running away it definately is a rough example but I appreciate it just the same. You seem to have pitch down but it can be a bear balancing it all but you'll get it. Definately record with headphones to play it back and pull the mic away from your mouth when you get louder. Practice sitting down and breathing from your stomach and chest then start humming while you do it to get use to the results and gain control of it, then start singing and so on. Theres alot to the art of the throat, tongue, breathing and lips instrument. I really like the mellow part of breath.

Good stuff so far man.

PEACE!
Thom

I know im beating a dead horse with this but here we go....you are a bit choppy in spots so try and feel the song not just belt it out....after that get intouch with a good sound man and have him help you out.....all in all if you follow the advice you have been getting from everyone you should be right where you want to be.

Tom211. You vanished. Hope to see you soon. Would like to hear more from you.

PEACE!
Thom

Yea like "POOF" man. Kinda like my paycheck.

Was listening to Diary of Jane, and I don't think hard rock is your thing. When you sing that style, there has to be some grit in your voice. Not a lot, but enough to give it that...edge...Listen to the original track of Diary of Jane. He has grit. Try to mimic what he does.

1) That hiss has to go.

2) Running away is not a bad tune. You are trying to do it too fast. Take the BMP down a little. Practice that tune a little more until you hear it all the time in your head. I hear your voice struggling to find the right pitch/wavering slightly. Practice and don't sing it with so much force, that should help with the waiver. If you have to, sing it slightly slightly softer and make your vocal level higher. It might not be your style, but try to sing it more instead of speaking it.

3) Diary of Jane not bad either, but your performance of it is not as good as you can do it. You vocals need tweaked.

4) Breath - Guitar track is too high level-wise. When you can hear the cones waffling, you want to level down slightly. I even hear your voice mellowing out a little. Sing with less force and concentrate on the pitch. You sound little like Geoff Tate.

Listen to "breath" :30-:35 and then :52-:59. When you relax and do not force, your voice responds, sounds melodic and full. (30) When you force, your voice flattens out and sounds like you are 1/2 singing, 1/2 yelling. (:52-:59)

Rerecord the vocal tracks and relax, you have a voice but when you force it, that's when it gets off track.

1) That hiss has to go.

2) Running away is not a bad tune. You are trying to do it too fast. Take the BMP down a little. Practice that tune a little more until you hear it all the time in your head. I hear your voice struggling to find the right pitch/wavering slightly. Practice and don't sing it with so much force, that should help with the waiver. If you have to, sing it slightly slightly softer and make your vocal level higher. It might not be your style, but try to sing it more instead of speaking it.

3) Diary of Jane not bad either, but your performance of it is not as good as you can do it. You vocals need tweaked.

4) Breath - Guitar track is too high level-wise. When you can hear the cones waffling, you want to level down slightly. I even hear your voice mellowing out a little. Sing with less force and concentrate on the pitch. You sound little like Geoff Tate.

Listen to "breath" :30-:35 and then :52-:59. When you relax and do not force, your voice responds, sounds melodic and full. (30) When you force, your voice flattens out and sounds like you are 1/2 singing, 1/2 yelling. (:52-:59)

Rerecord the vocal tracks and relax, you have a voice but when you force it, that's when it gets off track.

Well thought out critique. Ok, who is this? Where is the real Captain? Is it possible the Vulcan mindmeld works?

Tom, I can't add anything more than what's already been said.

Okay, you wanted honesty. People call me "Simone". Female version of Simon. Here is my brutal honest opinion. I think you are trying entirely too hard. You seem to be yelling the words. Think of it this way, when you are in an argument with someone and you hear their voice go up and down while they speak. That is what your voice sounds like. Tone it down a bit and take your time. Instead of changing the tone (example" Why are you rUNning awAAY.) instead keep it steady, same make the word away sounds just as if you were speaking it, instead of putting so much emphasis on "way". You continue to do this throughout the song. I am not sure how clear I can actually be with typed words but thought I would give my opinion. Try it without the extra emphasis on the ending syllables.

This really has nothing to do with your vocals, but in your picture you kinda look like Woody from Cheers.