Can I get an opinion of our vocalist?

slap-a-da-bass · #1 03-15-2011, 02:31 PM

We're a fairly new band, and our goal is just to play out every month or so. This is just a hobby for all of us. We started this in August, so we have about 8 months in, we know around 35 songs and feel we are getting close on material, but need to tighten things up. Locally, it's mostly the bar scene, and most places are the 50-100 people small places. Anyway, our last practice, our lead guitarist, really started hammering on our vocalist, and is talking about replacing her, behind her back. This will likely break the band up, as opinions are split.

The vocalist has a higher range, but we seem to keep giving her guy stuff, and she struggles on the low end and doesn't think it sounds good enough. She doesn't want to make fools of us.

Can you take the time to watch some vids & comment.

Facebook No Limit Link

Thanks,

bannybassman · #2 03-15-2011, 02:40 PM

A difficult situation you have here, your singer is not bad, but as you say, the songs are low in her range. It seems to me that with the type of music you're playing a male vocalist would suit you better. Maybe if you find a male singer, they could split the songs, each sing the songs that they feel more comfortable with, and do backing vocals when the other is singing the lead.
Of course, that's just my opinion, but perhaps that might fix your problem.

dj150888 · #3 03-15-2011, 05:04 PM

She doesn't have a bad vocal tone, but she's really struggling to project in the lower end of her range. Either you guys change key or she takes it up an octave methinks.

Winnb · #4 03-15-2011, 05:19 PM

Higher keys.
Turn down so she can be heard.
Tell the guitar player (the lead guy) to turn down when he's not soloing. Guy plays every note at 11.
The lower those keys are, and the louder you guys play, the more she has to strain to be heard.

Vocals are the most limited instrument in every band.

I listened to all the videos on the first page. You guys were way too loud for a rehearsal in most of'em.

slap-a-da-bass · #5 03-15-2011, 06:16 PM

Thanks for the comments so far. I though about changing keys, guitar player don't care for that too much and how it changes the sound of the song. I think we just need to pick songs that are in her higher register, so she can belt it out. She gets into ballroom blitz, that's kind of her thing. We also do Hot & Cold by Katy Perry, & goodbye to you. She is loud & nails those.

mathewcanhaz · #6 03-15-2011, 06:21 PM

yeah she just dissapears in the mix. you dont have to many options here if this is the music you wanna play. either she sings in a higher octave/ you guys turn it way down/ change the key/ get a new singer. thats all I can see

fenderhutz · #7 03-15-2011, 06:23 PM

Off topic. But did you setup stage lights in your living room?

slap-a-da-bass · #8 03-15-2011, 06:28 PM

That's not the living room. It's in my basement. I keep that room for practice & recording. I get jacked if I even leave a guitar or bass "upstairs". Guess that puts me in the man cave most evenings.

oi_pride · #9 03-15-2011, 06:30 PM

I personally don't like cover bands, but the video i saw was fine.

I think she was singing "talk dirty to me" to low actually.

Rockmusician · #10 03-15-2011, 06:31 PM

Voice isn't great. It could be that the songs are too low for her range but most of the 80's rock was in the high end for male vocalists. Her voice is getting lost. It might due to a lack of confidence in her ability to sing that particular song. You might be better off with a male singer who has a high range.

S. Katz · #11 03-15-2011, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slap-a-da-bass

I though about changing keys, guitar player don't care for that too much and how it changes the sound of the song.

Wait, let me guess, he doesn't want to turn down his amp because that's how he gets "his tone."

The vocalist in front is the center of the band. You have got to play in a key that flatter her (or his, if you switch) voice. There is nothing magic about the key the song was originally recorded in (or, as I suspect is really the deal here, the key your guitar player learned it in.)

Does he read music? Or work from tab? If the latter, that explains his phobia about changing keys.

big90sbasshorns · #12 03-15-2011, 06:36 PM

I'd go see the show! I don't think it's bad at all. I just think she needs to get a beer or 2 in her.. if she does drink - an exciting live show is when the performer's are relaxed and it doesn't come across like they're performing. That's just what I like to see at a show though.

Really, not bad at all I think...One more note of constructive critisism, suggest to the guitarist that they take a "tech" day and intonate their guitars. I don't think 90% would notice, but as a life long guitar player I'm really sensitive to hearing an improperly intonated guitar.

Peace!

Chrisk-K · #13 03-15-2011, 06:36 PM

Transpose the songs to higher keys. The guitar guy's rhythm guitar overpowers everything. He must turn down.

prd004 · #14 03-15-2011, 06:37 PM

Well, I could hear the vocals just fine. Maybe it's just a bad fit but I wasn't too impressed, also I saw no playing to the camera either (good front man/woman skills).

In my opinion you either need to get a singer that fits the material you're doing, or do material that fits you singer. John Q. Public knows nothing of bass playing, drumming or guitar playing but he knows weather or not he likes a singer, the singing has to be a match for the project.

Personally, I don't think she's good enough to warrant re-writing a 35 song set list and basically start over. This is just one mans opinion.

slap-a-da-bass · #15 03-15-2011, 06:37 PM

I think you hit it with...that's the way I learned it. It would screw him up to move it.

olalo · #16 03-15-2011, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by S. Katz

Wait, let me guess, he doesn't want to turn down his amp because that's how he gets "his tone."

The vocalist in front is the center of the band. You have got to play in a key that flatter her (or his, if you switch) voice. There is nothing magic about the key the song was originally recorded in (or, as I suspect is really the deal here, the key your guitar player learned it in.)

Does he read music? Or work from tab? If the latter, that explains his phobia about changing keys.

+100000
I hate when guitar players do that...It's a tempered scale, the intervals are the same in every key.

prd004 · #17 03-15-2011, 06:40 PM

PS:

I'm not in favor of changing keys for cover songs, I think covers should be played in the key they were written in. If you start changing all the keys, the audience will realize something else is wrong, they might not know what, but they will know something isn't right.

oi_pride · #18 03-15-2011, 06:40 PM

upon further review I think she sings all the songs to low and in ballroom blitz she couldn't hit the higher notes.

Does she know how to sing falsettos? Because the majority of that song is falsettos.

You guys sound great as a band and i think she draws to much attention away from the music.

get another singer, or have one of you guys cover low/higher harmonies to round out the vocals.

slap-a-da-bass · #19 03-15-2011, 06:50 PM

I just compared Ballroom Blitz, & someone said it, but she is low on most of the song. Hadn't noticed that before.

fenderhutz · #20 03-15-2011, 06:55 PM

She's not bad, but could use a few lessons on breathing and pitch. She was on for a good bit but when something isn't in her range she doesn't know how to work around it. That's all according to the video though, hard to tell if she could even hear herself over the wall of guitar. That could be a major part of the problem.

Get some 1x12 combos and let the PA do the work.