It is currently Tue Mar 17, 2020 10:40 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 28 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
Post subject: Can any of you play guitar but not sing (at all)?
Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 6:57 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2008 11:21 am
Posts: 959
Is it possible to be a good guitar player and not be able to "carry a tune in a bucket"? I am not talking about having a pleasing tone or range. I mean being a guitar player who can not sing in tune with a song.

If you can play, are you able to figure out guitar chords by ear?

Thank you for your input.


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: hi
Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 7:07 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Tue Jun 16, 2009 6:34 am
Posts: 908
Most people who start learning guitar cannot sing and never sing. The important thing is to learn how to play the instrument and a proficient guitar player will always have a job in a band ( I dont mean youll make heaps of money maybe you will ) a job. All and most bands really only care about good rythm or lead players and keeping in time and not stumbling on chords too much. Being out of tune in voice has no bearing whatsoever in learning to have a good ear in copying songs from radio etc so GO FOR IT !!!!! Pleased to meet you toooooo.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 7:09 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jul 30, 2009 6:08 am
Posts: 16
Ironic you would bring this up because I was in the middle of discovering a new technique to help with this yesterday!

Like you said, singing is about being in tune with the chords of the song, but if you don't know the sounds of each note (or chord) by ear, this is a great exercise to help with both.

I use my top E string (bass/low E) but you could use any string for different pitches etc.

Start humming at a consistent tone/pitch, start low, try to reach down for your inner Barry White. :) I started with G, so I would fret the 3rd fret of my low E string and hum until I heard the tone of my voice match that of the amp, you'll get the same fluttering effect when the two tones match much like you do when you tune a guitar using the 5th/7th fret tricks.

Of course this can be taken much further. You could start playing a basic progression like G, C, F, C or something and just do basic sounds with your voice until you can match the key, then start using words.

I'm not the best singer in the world, but practicing this will absolutely train both your ear and your voice. I hope I explained it well, because I showed it to a few of my friends and they really enjoyed it. :)


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 7:19 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Sat Jan 17, 2009 5:33 am
Posts: 722
Location: Australia
If I were ever to attempt to sing, I would produce a sound like geese farting on a muggy day (to paraphrase Leo Kottke). I'm pretty sure I used to be able to carry a tune as a child, before my voice broke.

In my time I've picked out some reasonably tricky stuff by ear, though... it's been a while since I've had the opportunity, but I used to learn all my flamenco pieces that way, constantly pausing and rewinding tape. I still find that the easiest way, as can never get back to the exact bit that I want on a digital recording.

I took this test the other day and scored 90... I know it's best to take online test results with a grain of salt but it seemed quite comprehensive. I know my ear is better than average (or maybe it's perfectly average for a musician), but I can't sing to save my life. Perhaps if I allowed myself to practice without inhibition sometime I could get over that; guess there's only one way to find out!


Top
Profile
Post subject: hi
Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 7:26 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Tue Jun 16, 2009 6:34 am
Posts: 908
If I dont sing for many weeks or months at a time I find that my voice sounds crap and it takes me at least 2 solid weeks of practice singing to get it back again the way it was: PS: My voice isnt a great voice but I have learnt to colour it with feel to make up for my technical prowess which in rock pop is ok.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 8:15 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue Jul 07, 2009 11:05 am
Posts: 11
There is no need to sing and play guitar at the same time. I did instrumental music for awhile to take a break from singing, and I also know plenty of guitarist who never sang. For some of us there is a strong association with doing both. But most guitarist I want playing lead beside me, don't really sing.


Top
Profile
Post subject: hi
Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 8:22 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Tue Jun 16, 2009 6:34 am
Posts: 908
Correctomondo.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 8:34 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jun 30, 2008 10:47 am
Posts: 15336
Location: In a galaxy far far away
I have near pitch perfect hearing, its something i've dilligently worked at for well over 20 years now. Although i can imagine and pitch a note in my mind i just cant vocaly articulate it. I know its due to nothing more than vocal practice, something i've never invested any time in.

_________________
No no and no


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 8:49 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Apr 11, 2008 5:06 pm
Posts: 560
Location: Vale, North Carolina
Yeah me :D

_________________
The time has gone, the song is over, thought I'd something more to say.

Image


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 9:05 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2009 10:27 pm
Posts: 3355
Location: Houston, Texas
I never had any desire to sing until I had to start dealing with singers. I'm tired of singers in my band saying that they should be the band leader for no other reason but because they can sing. Singers are also very hard to find and very hard to convince that they need to come to practice. So I'm going to start learning to sing, even though I haven't really done any singing for quite a while.

_________________
Website: http://www.rebeccalaird.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebeccalairdmusic
Twitter: https://twitter.com/beckslaird
Instagram: http://instagram.com/beckslaird


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 9:19 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jun 30, 2008 10:47 am
Posts: 15336
Location: In a galaxy far far away
texasguitarslinger wrote:
I never had any desire to sing until I had to start dealing with singers. I'm tired of singers in my band saying that they should be the band leader for no other reason but because they can sing. Singers are also very hard to find and very hard to convince that they need to come to practice. So I'm going to start learning to sing, even though I haven't really done any singing for quite a while.


Texas
a singer as a frontman in a gigging band is in a lot of ways the band leader. You can be sure no one is going to be enthralled at a lead guitarists ability to front a band unless they sing. Ordiances identify with singers, its a fact of life. The only people that identify with guitarists are other guitarists. That said a singer or any other memeber who refuses to rehearse is a dosser and needs sacking.
Heres some inspiration for you
Hendrix wouldnt have gotten anywhere unless he took the plunge on singing as well as playing. He saw dylan and thought well he cant sing either but he does it.
Its pretty much the same for clapton too.

Off to it that man, sing away.

_________________
No no and no


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Can any of you play guitar but not sing (at all)?
Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 9:38 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jul 26, 2007 4:57 am
Posts: 13164
Location: Peckham: where the snow leopards roam
stratoBobster wrote:
Can any of you play guitar but not sing (at all)?


I have that talent, yes! :D :cry:

Cheers - C


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 9:50 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Mon Feb 25, 2008 8:47 am
Posts: 2967
Location: Westchester County, NY
That reminds me of the first time I saw Kenny Shepherd play live. I thought the kid sung but to my surprise some other guy was.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 10:04 am
Offline
Amateur
Amateur
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 9:42 am
Posts: 197
Me and John Mayer can play guitar, but can't sing a lick. :wink:


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 10:10 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Wed May 07, 2008 9:58 pm
Posts: 1348
Location: Motor City
My focus is playing guitar or bass, but I do sing as well. I have a pretty good range, and a decent chest voice. Throat/middle voice is my strongest, and my head voice, when I can hit it consistently is my best sounding. I can falsetto decently and hit some solid high notes as well.

I don't sing as much as I should though, but I've been working on that more.

Although I have a great sense or rhythm, certain songs throw me off when I have to play on rhythm but sing a very different rhythm. I end up playing what I'm singing, which isn't always a good thing. That's another thing I'm working on though.

Here's an article to read on that....
http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/lessons/ ... uitar.html


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 28 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: