I'm trying to do a recording of myself dubbed twice for Simon and Garfunkle's sound of silence.
I know both parts very very well, I can sing both independently no problem.
But it just falls apart when I try to put the two pieces together, I JUST CANT DO IT.
I will record the first one, and put it on, play it, and try to follow it with the second part. I just can't do it, I kept losing it, trying to following the first part and ending up singing something somewher ein between that's for no good sounds awful.
What is the trick, if anyone know, I will be SO grateful...
I am not entirely clueless with music, I have been playing classical guitar for 4 years and I composed some little songs here and there, and I play instrument (guitar or ukulele, mostly uke) at least 1 hr a day and Jam alot with friends.
The thing is it is alot easier with guitar to harmonize since you figure out the fingering and there is NO WAY for you to lose your own voice trying to imitate the other person... but singing... I dunno, I just kept losing it...
It's incredibly important to learn the part you are going to sing independently of any other parts. Figure out the exact notes you are singing, write it down somewhere, and play it back to yourself over and over. Then sing to it over and over.
Trying to sing harmony against a strong melody is very difficult and is a skill that you will only acquire through practice.
If I understand correctly what you're trying to do here...why don't you just record the second part without listening to the first recording? You can synchronize by doing both with a metronome set to the same setting, or other timekeeper.
Of course the less ghetto solution is to just keep practicing, but I guess that hasn't worked out yet?
Learn the tune of the harmony you want to sing and internalize it so you think about the harmony instead of the melody when you sing. Singing harmony on the fly is totally different issue but if you already know what you want to sing, learn to "hear" it in your mind.
Umm.. no parallel 5ths, don't cross melodies, and fill gaps after you step. In contemporary music, try listening to the bass parts - backup guitar is a joke.
Once you know where the tonic is, try stepping by a 3rd, 4th, or 6th (no parallel 5ths though). Pass through 5ths, don't resolve on unison, and if you're out a 7th don't go any farther.
In my music theory class, we had to sing harmonies from random notes. I'll tell you how we practiced for this
1. sit down at a piano 2. play a note. don't look at it. 3. determine what intervals you need to get good at (major/minor 3rd and 5ths are pretty solid to get good at first) then sing what you think it is based off that piano note 4. play the note, adjust as needed 5. repeat with lots of different notes lots of different times train that musical mind muscle enough and you'll be able to do some awesome simon and garfunkle
i almost typed perfect 5th but who gives a shit lol
On May 28 2010 16:30 Myrmidon wrote: If I understand correctly what you're trying to do here...why don't you just record the second part without listening to the first recording? You can synchronize by doing both with a metronome set to the same setting, or other timekeeper.
Of course the less ghetto solution is to just keep practicing, but I guess that hasn't worked out yet?
I mean there's no point just record it, I already did it independently. There's no joy in that, I'd wish to be able to sing with someone someday with harmony.
yep learn your intervals so you can jump pitch (UP AND DOWN) without having a reference. I often actually listen to like, commericals or something on TV and when I hear a "theme" or sequence of notes, I say "Thats a minor 6th!" or something to that effect.. I used to do it like at least 3-4 times a day, even like if I was outside and heard two birds chirping, id guess their interval..
Obviously, after lots of practice, you get to the point where it is practical. The most important thing to remember though, is you have to have a CLEAR DEFINITION of that note. It can't be processed in your brain as a "sequence".. it has to be CLEAR separation between the individual notes.
Its kinda why really fast guitar solos are so hard to transcribe, because they appear to our ears as a "sequence".. where as slow melodies like Mary had a little lamb as so spaced apart, you instantly hear that separation between the notes and you can replicate it easier.. With time though, you can make logical guesses thru theory to break down fast sequences, and often times they turn out correct. Thats what pros do on the spot if you don't have time to transcribe the fast runs (say you are doing an improvising call and response, if you are talented you can replicate someones run by knowing the first pitch and last pitch, and filling in the notes in the middle by guessing thru theory, often times it will work.)
also.. look into reading Barbershop quartet pieces maybe, or find a hobbyist barbershop quartet to practice with. CONCENTRATE ON YOUR SPECIFIC PART! Don't be swayed by someone elses line, even if its the main melody (which im assuming is your issue with that song)
Find what vocal range you are, maybe theres an issue because the 2nd part is slightly out of your range, or maybe if its a higher part you are going into your falsetto too easily and its throwing off your strength.. Its important to know your weaknesses as a singer to work on them.
The best advice for singing against someone elses part though, is just have a very strong focus on YOUR line. Not only singing it, but think it too.. think "Ok heres a major 3th coming up" as the part comes, and never be pulled by the other singer, only thing you need to keep an ear open for is just to make sure timing is correct, everything else is 100% focus on your part.
(I've done barbershop quartet singing before for afew weeks, its very fun times)
you need to take time and develop your ear. it can take anywhere from days to months to years.
get a piano or instrument some sort and play a note. then play the major 3rd of that note. then play both notes at the same time. then practice playing one note and singing the major 3rd of that note. then repeat with the 4th, and 5th. Eventually learn to do this with every chromatic note, both up and down, by at least one octave. dont rush this, itll take a long time
if you need to learn a part FAST and dont have time to learn the above, a temporary solution is to learn how to listen ONLY to your own voice while blocking out others. To do this, practice by playing one part very quietly, and sing your harmony on top. then slowly raise the volume of the original part until you can sing your harmony while other part plays at the same volume.
however, that is just a a temporarily solution. in the long run, DO NOT just memorize your part and sing harmony based off of memory. a lot of people just try to block out other sounds and just sing their own part, but this leads to you eventually singing out of tune, and other problems. you need to learn to hear harmony, not just memorize it
Try if singing the second part with the sheet music in front of you helps. It gives you something to focus on other that the first recording.
It works for me atleast when we have to practise for a new piece with the choir I'm in. That way you can listen carefully to the other parts and hear if you are still in harmony and at the same time focus on singing your own part correct.
It really helps when you miss a note because in my experience it's easier to pick up the right line again this way.
EPT
